by Eric Vall
“When does the festival start?” I asked Shida before he could slip out the door, and the dark-haired man turned with a broad grin.
“Once the sun goes down and the moon comes up. The lanterns,” he pointed towards the red lanterns dipping in a soft breeze, “we will light them, and that’s the signal for all of the townsfolk that the festival is starting.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for everything, Shida,” I said as I lowered my head to him, and he bowed to me.
“If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to call for one of us,” the innkeeper said as he closed the door behind him.
The rest of the day moved slowly as we lazed about our rooms and the balcony. Carmedy curled up in a chair and promptly fell asleep to the soft sounds of people chattering below, I watched each of my women as they moved about our rooms, and Annalise found a worn leather book and snuggled herself down in a comfortable wicker chair to read. It was the first time in a few days that we were allowed any downtime as we waited for the festival to start, and I enjoyed the calm silence of my minions.
Rana sat on the wooden floor between my legs and reclined her head back in my lap, and her bright blue eyes opened and closed lazily as she stared up into my face lovingly. I ran my fingers through the soft curls of the fox-woman’s hair, and her red tail thumped hard against the wood flooring.
Morrigan stood at the railing of the balcony, wearing the plain black dress she had on underneath the red coat. Her wispy white hair blew in the wind as she leaned out and examined the shops far below us.
“What do you think this Wailing will entail, Master?” the pale elf asked over her shoulder as she leveled her dark eyes in my direction. “That girl Popī said it would be the townspeople giving offerings to the Tichádáma, but it seems strange to me.”
“Leaving offerings for the gods is not unheard of,” I told her. “In fact, during my time, it was something you were supposed to do when visiting a temple or shrine. You leave gifts for the god in exchange for something, like an answered prayer.”
Morrigan blinked as she thought over my words. Then the elf turned her head back to the streets and watched people pass by below as they prepared for the festivities.
“I only say that because it seems strange to me,” the High Elf said as she tucked her snow-white hair over her shoulder and out of her stunning face. “As you said, maybe it comes from the time we live in, but there is something amiss. I do not like the unwillingness to speak about the happenings of this ritual. I come from a society of people who have many rituals and ceremonies that take place each day, and if you were to ask, I would tell you of them.”
“You would tell me because I am your Master, would you not? If it were any other person, you wouldn’t.” I chuckled to her, and Morrigan turned to face me fully this time. Her lips were pressed into a hard line, but I could tell she was struggling not to smile.
She sighed loudly and ran a pale, delicate hand through her hair. “Maybe you are right, maybe Popī is right, and we will have to see this Wailing with our own eyes to understand its beauty.”
Chapter Fifteen
As Shida said, once night descended upon Kanashimi, the red lanterns strewn about the city lit up one by one and citizens poured into the street. My minions and I watched as vendors striped off the covers of each cart and got to work cooking foods at each separate station. As darkness took over the city, the once warm air of afternoon and evening turned chilly, and my minions put their coats back on one by one. When we were ready, we tramped down the stairs single file. The front room which had been bursting with life earlier in the day was now silent and completely clear of children as Shida and Yuri prepared for the festival also.
Yuri and Shida were dressed in formal clothes similar to the ones that Popī wore earlier, adorned in bright red and gold silks, each article intricately embroidered. They nodded to us as they locked up the pension house and walked off into the crowd hand in hand. They were a fine-looking couple, Shida was tall and thin with an angular face and sharp features, and Yuri the exact opposite, short and ever so slightly stout with her protruding belly. The dark-haired woman had very soft features, round cheeks, and large eyes. I liked them immediately, they were good people and ran a respectable business while rearing their growing family. Though the inn was a little too loud for my taste, Shida and Yuri’s children were polite and well-mannered.
My minions and I stood on the porch for a short while and watched the jovial crowd pass. Everyone wore the same colors, but each outfit was different in its own way, and I could tell they were all handmade. A group of male teenagers passed, and each boy toted a large banner on a wooden pole, and I examined them with interest. Each picture on the flags was hand painted and expertly made, like everything else at this festival. The paintings were of a beautiful woman with long flowing black hair, and if I were to guess, the banners depicted the Tichádáma herself.
Popī told us the Dáma hadn’t been seen in thousands of years, but from the commonalities in each of the paintings, this had to be at least a resemblance of the real goddess. Her face was long and oval-shaped, her bright gray eyes were soft and slanted in slightly, giving her a kind and benevolent appearance. The goddess was adorned not in reds and golds but instead whites and soft grays that signified honor and purity. The Dáma wore long, billowing robes, the sleeves of the gown were long and bell-shaped, and her long-fingered, delicate hands were pressed together in one of the depictions. She was a very beautiful deity, and her face had a familiarity I couldn’t quite place.
“Master, I know it is not what my sisters would like to do,” Morrigan said from my elbow, and I turned my head to look at the emotionless elf, “but I think it would be best if we infiltrated the Tichádáma’s dungeon while everyone is at the festival.”
The High Elf’s stare was hard and cold, and the faces of my other three minions fell at her words. I could see the excitement for the festival die in each of them. Carmedy especially, who had been rocking back and forth on her feet happily, now dropped her hands to her sides, and her twitching black ears lowered in disappointment.
What the pale woman said was true. It would be the best time to take over the dungeon while the whole city was distracted, but all throughout the day, my minions had been fed little tidbits about the celebration that slowly built into their pent-up anticipation. I moved my eyes to each minion. I started first with Morrigan then worked my way through them and ended with the upset black cat as she sadly stroked her tail.
I didn’t like disappointing my minions, especially now when the city was nearly bursting with music and the chatter of happy citizens. I had to admit I too wanted to go to the festival and to see this Wailing everyone spoke so highly about. From where we stood on the porch, I could lean out and view hundreds of different carts selling food, and others promised games and prizes. There were even some stalls of merchants I was particularly interested in. I met Morrigan’s cold stare and gave her a smile as I brought the pale elf to my side and held her there softly.
“That is an excellent idea, my love,” I uttered as I stroked her snow-white hair. Her face didn’t change from its usual cool demeanor, but the faces of my other three minions fell even more from over her shoulder. “But you know, I’ve never been to a festival like this before. I’ve seen them happen, witnessed them from the god’s realm, but was never able to actually go to one. How about, just this once, we enjoy ourselves and immerse in their culture?”
“As you wish, Master.” The white-haired woman bowed her head to me, then brought it back up with a small smile, and her cheeks tinted pink as she spoke again. “I have no qualms with your decision. In fact, I hoped that would be your answer.”
“Don’t scare us like that, Elfy,” Rana shouted as she placed her paws on Morrigan’s shoulders and gave her a rough shake. “We seriously thought you were going to try and ruin all of the fun!”
“Please, do not call me that name.” Morrigan giggled as she placed a hand over one of the
paws on her shoulder. “I simply made an observation no one else had … Foxy.”
“Did you … you just … ” the redhead stuttered in disbelief as she dropped her hands from the elf’s shoulders. “Y-you just gave me a nickname! A nickname from the elf herself!”
“I like it.” Carmedy nodded with a grin.
“It suits you perfectly.” Annalise laughed as she ruffled the unruly curls atop Rana’s head, and the fox slapped the swordswoman’s hands away with a lopsided smirk.
With a chuckle, I led my women out into the middle of the street and into the crowd. They followed after me and kept tightly to my side in case they got separated from our group. The red lanterns hanging from above bathed the street in a sultry glow, and when I glanced back at my minions, they looked beautiful as ever, and I could easily imagine them dressed in the same dresses of red and gold that other women in the crowd wore.
Carmedy, of course, was the first to break from our little group, and she headed towards a cart selling some type of exotic meat. Behind the wheeled cart, the vendor had set up a primitive fire pit with a cast iron grill placed over the crackling fire. The sizzling meat was sold by the stick, and the feline ordered three and quickly downed the first two.
“What are you eating?” Rana asked as she sniffed at the skewer the alchemist held towards her nose.
“I’m not sure, but it’s delicious!” the dark-haired girl chirped as she turned back to the vendor. “Sir, what is this called?”
The vendor turned his head with a broad smile as he flipped another skewer over the fire. “That’s marinated Bantam drizzled with Machstein honey, miss.”
“B-bantam? L-like the big birds?” the feline asked as the last skewer wobbled in her paw. “Like the really big ones people r-ride around?”
“Yes, miss,” the owner said as he rose to his feet, and his brows furrowed in concern. “Is there something wrong? You look pale, is it undercooked? I can get you another one, free of charge.”
“I feel sick,” Carmedy groaned as she thrust the last skewer into the fox’s paw. Rana shrugged and bit into the meat. Then her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she savored the taste.
“Oh man, Carmedy, this is great. Are you sure you don’t want it?” the redhead said through a mouthful, but the alchemist shook her head and covered her mouth.
“No, you can have the rest of it. I don’t think I can eat for the rest of the ni-- Oh! They have cupcakes over there!” The cat ran off towards another cart, and my minions and I laughed at the feline’s change in attitude when it came to food.
The night went on, and we stuffed our bellies full of different foods. We even played some of the games that were advertised by certain stalls. Rana especially liked a small fishing game where the goal was to scoop up as many fish as one could in a cup in a set time for a prize. The redhead scooped up as many fish as she could with her cup, and when the vendor turned his back, she reached her paw in and snatched up more. She then slipped them into her cup, and when the owner turned back around, his eyes bulged at the amount she had collected. He squinted his eyes down at my fox companion but said nothing when I raised my eyebrows menacingly at him and dared him to accuse her of cheating. In the end, my foxy companion walked away with the largest prize the vendor had.
When I turned back to speak to my minions, someone bumped into me. It was a man so short I had to crane my neck down to look into his face. He was shorter than Carmedy and probably Haruhi too. He wasn’t wearing red or gold like the other festival-goers but instead whites and grays like the depictions of the Tichádáma. His face was square, but his jawline was soft and feminine. He stared up at me suspiciously, and I glared down at him with raised eyebrows as I waited for the apology that should have been coming since he bumped into me.
“You’re one of the foreigners I’ve been hearing about, aren’t you?” he asked in an unpleasant nasal voice.
I blinked down at him with disdain. “I am,” I boomed in my deep voice as he squinted up at me, “and you are?”
“I am Lord Akuno,” he said proudly as he adjusted his white robe and gave me a pious look. “I’m the ruler of this land and proprietor of this festival. You must have seen my manor when you first entered the city. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
I already didn’t like this man. Any man who put wealth and prestige before honor was nothing but a sniveling weasel. He had only said a few words to me, and I already could tell he was pompous and full of himself.
“Are you trying to impress me?” I asked as I tilted my head at him, and he flinched slightly in my commanding presence.
“We don’t get many outsiders who visit the city, so as the lord, I demand to know why you are here?” Akuno asked as he puffed himself up and tried to make himself appear taller in my towering shadow.
“It simply is none of your business.” I laughed as I waved him off, but the lord didn’t move an inch, and when I attempted to walk away, he moved into my path stubbornly.
“You and your women could be thieves or threats to my city,” the short man shouted, and a few passing citizens glanced warily in our direction. “I demand to know what you’re doing here in Kanashimi.”
“I can assure you we are no threat to Kanashimi or its people,” I growled between my teeth. “We are passing through on our journey. Please move out of my way, or I will make you.”
Though Akuno recoiled, he refused to step out of my path.
“I am the blessed protector of Kanashimi, a title that has been passed down through my family for generations from the Tichádáma herself, and I demand to know your reasoning for staying here in my city!” The short man’s face was beet red now as he screamed.
“A title from the Tichádáma, you say?” I questioned with interest.
Akuno seemed to calm down as he smoothed the front of his robes with chubby, little hands. “Yes, my great ancestor Yoi was given the title thousands of years ago before the Tichádáma fell from the heavens, and it has been passed down through my family,” he informed me with an arrogant smirk. “Once the Dáma fell to earth, we kept our faith strong in her, and she has blessed us each year tenfold.”
“Tenfold, you say?” I asked as I stroked my chin with mock thoughtfulness. “So you have bountiful harvests each year?”
“Enough to feed each house four meals a day with some to spare.” Akuno nodded haughtily as he rested his hands over his belly.
“I heard from people in Tamarisch that you have enough food barely to go around, and that’s why you cannot trade with the Tamarischian merchants who stop here,” I said with mock confusion.
“Why would we want to trade with the Tamarischian scum when we have Tintagal, their leader, and their leader’s money on our side?” Akuno sniveled through a dastardly grin.
“From what I heard, Akuno, Tamarisch has been very good to you. Are you turning your back on them for Baudouin and his riches?” I asked as I raised my eyebrow in surprise and took one threatening step towards the much smaller man.
“Tamarisch turned its back on Machstein, and Machstein should do the same,” Akuno stated boldly.
I crossed my arms over my chest as I stared down at this insolent, money-hungry weasel. “I must tell my wife then, she will be very displeased with this information.” I snorted through my nose as I scanned the crowd for the proud brunette.
“Your wife is of no consequence,” he snapped as he lifted his nose into the air. “Why would I care what you tell her?”
I chuckled darkly as I spotted my swordswoman and gestured with my head for her to come to my side.
“Akuno, I have friends in Tamarisch, very good friends who would be quite dismayed to hear that you’ve thrown off the Tamarischian protection they’ve given you so far. In fact,” I said as Annalise reached us and I brought her to my side in front of the lord of Kanashimi, “I’m married to the High Queen.”
Annalise stared down at Akuno with a coldness in her eyes I had never seen before. The swordswoman hadn’t heard the meat of
our conversation, but she heard enough to know this man was a traitor to the land of Tamarisch. Akuno’s eyes went wide, and his mouth hung open as he stuttered to form words in front of the queen of the land he was just slandering.
“You’re the … the High Queen,” Akuno stuttered as he pointed one trembling finger at my wife, and his beady brown eyes swiveled to my face as realization swept over him. “That must mean … ”
“I am the High King of Tamarisch,” I said through a smile laced with maliciousness. “You’ve insulted not only the land of Tamarisch but my wife. Do you know what we do to traitors?”
Right as I reached out for him, an earsplitting gong sounded, and the people of Kanashimi who swarmed around us cheered. In that moment of raucous distraction, Akuno dove into the mass of people and even went so far as to push a young woman in the way of my reaching hand. I carefully righted the innocent girl and gritted my teeth. I searched the crowd for the insolent leader but only saw his receding back as he scurried away in terror. My fists clenched in rage, and I moved to go after him, but Annalise rested a calming hand on my forearm and stopped me.
“He can be dealt with later,” the swordswoman whispered. “After all, we know where he lives.”
I smirked wickedly at that and nodded. Our attention swept back to the celebration as we watched the crowd around us surge forward. They grabbed baskets and bundles teeming with food as they went. The smiles on the faces of the people of Kanashimi were wide, and they chattered excitedly to one another. Rana, Morrigan, and Carmedy appeared at my side as they made it free from the horde of citizens.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone grabbing their stuff?” Carmedy asked, her adorable face smeared with frosting as she shoved an entire cupcake into her mouth and chewed heartily.