The sun had barely been visible over the edge of the horizon when the huntmaster set off to scout for the stag, junior hunters in tow. It had been fully over the edge for a short amount of time when they returned, happily reporting that the stag was in the area and traced. There were no maps of the woods and fields for specific trails as far as Fergus knew, but most people doing the planning had been on enough hunts to know the areas that were being discussed. Not that there was much planning going on at that particular second, a number of people had yet to make it down to the hall.

Already the hall - still warm as the fires were never allowed to go out and gradually growing lighter - was filling with people, the ranks of the nobility trailing in from their assorted chambers, greeting friends, bowing or curtseying to the higher ranks of the nobility and settling down for the morning meal before the hunt began. The food on offer was breads, some cheeses and cold meats with weakened wine. Roughly the same thing would be available later, after the hunt was finished, although there would probably be a greater variety on offer and possibly some more intricate pieces of food.

With the hunt setting off generally soon after breakfast many people were already dressed for riding even if the assortment of colours was no different to what it usually was. The cloths might be different, there was no point wearing velvet if you were going to be charging around on horse back, but they were all still richly coloured and embroidered. Fergus hadn't seen Aedan yet this morning, but he didn't doubt that his older brother was going to be as well dressed as ever. He himself was in his usual clothes, seated to the right of Aedan’s chair, looking out over the growing crowds.

It was promising to be a fine day, there were few clouds in the sky and when they were there they were small, white things which looked as if the sun would shrivel them up before it allowed them to block it. The ground would be dry, it hadn’t rained for several days now – perhaps a little unusual, but nothing to be worried about. Outside the noise of the stable hands getting all the horses and dogs ready for the day could be heard, some would be heading off to the relay posts. Servants carrying platters were constantly moving around the hall. A complete hive of activity. It was going to be a long, busy day.