Page 62 of Stitches
“Prrp!”
Aurora’s chirp was heard so near their heads that they lurched apart, only to both begin laughing. She darted between them, prancing through the air.
“I believe Rora approves of our attire as well,” Ashmedai said and took Levi’s arm, “or she’s upset she’s losing her playmate for the day. Shall we?”
Together, they began the short trek into town. The festival lightswere always a joy to witness, still made up of crystals, like most lighting in the Dark Kingdom, but smaller ones and so many more of them, all strung together and covering every square inch of the stalls and larger buildings. Ashmedai had seen it all many times before, but he had been looking forward to watching the experience unfold across Levi’s face.
Levi looked entirely entranced as they drew closer, but then Ashmedai had to wonder.
“You already saw most of it, didn’t you? On your way to the castle?”
“I tried not to look too closely, and then Yentriss was kind enough to enchant me to see it as it was before,” Levi said without tearing his eyes from the sight. “I wanted to experience this for the first time with you.”
Ashmedai held onto Levi’s arm a little tighter, since he feared his companion might trip, focused as he was on everythingbutthe path they walked.
Most of the buildings, whether residential or businesses, had the Shadow Lands shimmer sanded from their wood, like the carriages to Emerald, but not for the festival. All the added stalls and new construction sparkled, accentuating the vibrancy of the lights. The only unique item was the addition of Braxton’s black dousing crystals littered amongst the rest.
Moreover, sounds that had seemed muted and distant from even only a few paces away were suddenly amplified the moment Ashmedai and Levi crossed onto the grounds—a spell to ensure that anyone who eventually returned home to sleep wouldn’t be kept awake at all hours.
Levi must not have noticed before, or honestly hadn’t heard the difference after Yentriss enchanted him, for as the new noises erupted he clung to Ashmedai in surprise at how loud it suddenly was.
“Chicken skewers!” a vendor cried.
Items had a cost during Festival Day, but food and activities were free from bartering. Ashmedai nodded to the vendor and snagged twoskewers, handing one to Levi, who marveled at it with the same level of fascination as he was everything else.
The hunt had provided a good amount of the food being consumed today, and plenty more had been saved and prepared to keep everyone’s bellies full of unique fare.
“Go on,” Ashmedai said when Levi continued to stare at his skewer.
“Did he say chicken?”
“Yes. There’s a live one back there.” Ashmedai pointed behind the stall, where one—no, three live chickens, actually—attempted to fly away in fear of being the next offering, but tethers around their necks prevented them from getting far.
They didn’t used to have the ability to fly, Ashmedai recalled, though they also didn’t used to have scales.
“Aren’tchickenswhat they were called before and outside the Shadow Lands? Why didn’t their name change like so many others?”
Ashmedai shrugged, taking an easy, tearing bite with his teeth. “They still taste the same.”
“Ash! Levi!” A familiar voice found them just as Levi took his own eager bite, and through the crowd appeared Dreya.
A somewhattipsyDreya, Ashmedai thought, given she was without her customary hat and the leaves of her hair looked especially ruffled, as if a storm had blown through and she was the lone casualty.
Dreya latched onto Levi’s arm while he was attempting to finish his bite, causing him to end up with a rather large mouthful of chicken.
“Best day of the year!” Dreya tittered, dragging Levi forward so that Ashmedai couldn’t quite latch back onto his arm. “Months of hard work finally pays off, and we can enjoy ourselves. I hope the festival meets all your expectations, Levi. You’re one of the reasons these stalls are standing, after all.”
“Oh, Grillo did the difficult work,” Levi dismissed with a duck of his head. “I merely handed him planks of wood and the right tools asneeded.”
“Pfft,” Dreya huffed her own dismissal. “Every contribution, no matter how small it may seem, leads to the glorious celebration you see before you. Enjoy it! And accept your praises. You’re practically a celebrity now.” The scrunch of her face with a conspiratorial glance at Ashmedai—though that may have still been the drink shining through—made him wonder if she meant Levi’s celebrity as savior of Grillo or romantic gossip.
Dreya tripped just then, as a performer pranced past them, kept on her feet only by Levi’s quick reflexes. Various entertainers were about, leaving only a narrow walking path. Ashmedai could tell Levi was surprised by some of them.
Myrra, for example, being large and made of stone, was a striking figure to be playing a lyre, though Jedic, a Gegenees with six arms, made perfect sense as a juggler.
“Urg.” Dreya swooned slightly. “I’ve been conjuring last-minute requests all morning. I need a snack.” She eyed Levi’s half-eaten skewer.
Ashmedai plucked a popover from another passing vendor and handed it to Dreya before she could divest Levi of his first festival fare. She bit into it ravenously. She must have celebrated her hard work with more drinks than food, though he did recall that using up too much of her magic at once made her more susceptible to inebriation. Either way, she’d earned it.
