Page 101 of The King is Dead
I’d been in conversation with Jhonas, the blonde, sunny-natured Captain from the Advisory Council, when the call went up to gather outside. I had followed him and the others out of the Palace and deep into the gardens, to a manicured field where a massive fire was already crackling and popping, tended by several of the gardeners.
Yilan had warned me that this portion of the festivities were part of their old histories—and that tradition dictated that a Shadekin’s first attendance was “blind,” so she hadn’t told me what to expect. But the combination of nerves and thrill that reached me through the bond when she spoke of it briefly had made me curious.
Most of the women had disappeared after the feast to change clothes. But they hadn’t joined us in the walk out here. The entire noble court was attending though I was surrounded by men. Only a very few women were present, and most of them were middle-aged. None of the children were here.
At first I thought that couldn’t be right because I’d been struck by how open the Shadekin were, bringing their children and young people to all the meals during this festival day. But now I couldn’t see any face younger than mid-teens.
That piqued my curiosity.
The fire made me frown—it was huge, and as I watched, the men added more logs, along with long, dried branches that still heldleaves. Those went up like kindling when they were added to the hot fire, but the smoke and haze took on a lovely, fresh scent.
Was there dark magic afoot here?
Because of my size, I’d positioned myself at the back of the crowd. Most of the Advisory Council and many men from their military ranks stood ahead of me. I wasn’t sure if I’d subconsciously stuck closer to these men that I knew, or whether they were keeping an eye on me. But as darkness fell, and even the sky overhead deepened from gray to black, I scanned the entire clearing. I couldn’t find Yilan anywhere.
I frowned as the drums began and more fuel was added to the bonfire.
The thunder of the drums rose from the trees around us. I couldn’t see any of the drummers, but the sound was deep and rich, vibrating in my chest. I wasn’t sure if that thudding resonance, or the herbs on the fire were what made my heart pump harder.
After a few minutes, the drumbeat picked up pace.
That was when the men around me murmured and shifted on their feet, stretching to look over and beyond each other and the fire, though I couldn’t see anything moving. Their voices were hushed, but tight with excitement as they peered past the flames, and turned their heads like they were listening for something.
Finally, distantly, the sound of high, quavering voices rose in the night—so quiet at first that I almost missed them. I leaned forward with the others, eyes peeled for any sight of the singers, but for minutes all I could hear was a chorus of feminine voices.
Their singing reminded me of Yilan’s in my tent during the months before.
I looked for her eagerly, but no matter how I stretched and squinted, all I could see was the blazing light of the fire, and the deep black of night beyond it.
The voices crept closer, rising and falling in a melody they repeated over and over.
There was a murmur among the men when the glow of white robes billowing appeared at the other end of the clearing.
Finally,the crowd of women appeared singing, swaying, milling in a large, loose cluster as they emerged from the trees well beyond the fire, and now I could make out their words.
See her walk, her skin like silk.
See her sing, her voice raised to God.
See her, see her.
She stands in strength in the shadow of the Almighty
She stands in peace, her heart against war.
See her, see her…
I was still looking for Yilan among this crowd, still trying to find her as the women split to walk in two thick lines around the fire, and the rhythm of the drums shifted as their melody changed.
The Father of Light illuminates her skin
Her hair glows with health and fertility
Her smile brings His light, like the sun
While you stand and gaze on her beauty
The Almighty lights her fire within
