Soon it was cold enough that the largest of the ponds within the palace had frozen over and had been deemed thick enough for play, one of my favorite times of the year. Small blades were strapped to the bottom of hardened sole shoes, which were put on top of our normal shoes, allowing us to glide upon the ice. Servants pulled small children, both those of nobles and staff, along behind them on large blankets, their giggles filling the air. To the side, small tents much like the larger ones in the main courtyards had been erected, allowing us to warm our hands and feet between skating attempts.
Many of the other adults found it a bit too juvenile to be out on the pond, but I enjoyed it each year, the ice letting me glide in ways I could never hope to do across a floor. The heavier clothin
