Page 149 of Dawn Caravan
“They have no idea.” Tenzin looked around the crowd. “This could turn ugly.”
“We have to time it exactly right.”
As if on cue, Kezia stepped forward and raised her hands. “My brothers and sisters, welcome to Vashana!”
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd.
“As all of you know, this is the Vashana Zata, a special night held only once every hundred years. Because of this occasion, we have invited a few trusted guests from the kamvasa.” Kezia nodded to the raised sitting platform. “Our guests honor this trust and the privilege they have been granted.”
Ben leaned down. “Meaning talk about our shit out of turn and be hunted to your grave.”
“Exactly.”
“This night will decide the next hundred years of leadership,” Kezia continued. “Some of us may move on from our humble seats of servanthood—”
Hushed whispers from the area around the candidates, who appeared to be calculating their chances.
“—and some of us will remain, sharing the wisdom of the terrin with the newest member.”
“That’s smart,” Ben said. “So they won’t all choose a new member?”
“Despite my extraordinary wisdom and knowledge—”
“Not to mention your humility.”
“—you know as much about this as I do.” Tenzin glanced at him. “It sounds like you’re correct.”
Someone shouted from the crowd. Ben didn’t understand much of it, but one word stood out as the crowd around them began to chant.
“Dishana!”
Kezia’s face froze.
“Dishana, dishana, dishana!”
“The goblets,” Tenzin said. “They’re asking for the goblets.”
The crowd grew in energy. Ben could feel it rising around him like a fog rising from the ground. The Hazar flew into the air, surrounding the crowd. The crowd quieted, and shouts turned to muttering and whispers.
“Sadly,” Kezia continued, “the trust of the kamvasa has been breached.”
Dead. Silence.
“Someone has used our hospitality against us,” Kezia said, her eyes turning like lasers to the platform where kamvasa guests were sitting. “The dishana, the goblets gifted to our first terrin, have been stolen.”
“No, my sister. Not stolen.” Tenzin spoke, and as she did, she raised her hands and lifted Ben with her in a giant whirlwind.
Ben turned to her, shouting over the roar of the wind. “What are you doing?”
“Making an entrance!” She smiled wide and pulled the scarf from her hair, letting the wind whip around her, gathering a storm of flower petals from the crowd. “You have the emerald goblet?”
“Yes.”
“Follow my lead.”
Ben moved with her, adding his own power to hers until the air danced around them. They rose over the crowd and the stage, up and into the air, surrounded by a storm of flowers.
While Tenzin conducted the wind, Ben encased them both in a calm cushion of air.
