Page 17 of Stitches
“Time to head back!” Grillo called, hefting the final tree into the cart.
Levi scrubbed away his tears, smiling at Kenner and then beginning to chase him once more back toward Grillo.
He’d lied though. He had no idea why he’d been crying.
Ashmedai
“Ash.” Dreya’s tone was both reprimanding and playful, pulling Ashmedai’s attention back from the path leading to the wood.
While his people all knew to forego formalities with him, only his advisors were comfortable admonishing him—Dreya most often, despite being the youngest.
Perhaps because of that.
“You are a million miles away,” she continued. “Someone needs to choose who gets to run the archery booth, and that someone needs to be you. Otherwise, Sarek and Nonn will hem and haw until my earswilt.” Her ears sagged as she said that, hanging low along the sides of her head.
There were always plenty of volunteers for the festival, and usually an appointed organizer, though Dreya had taken over that task ever since ascending to her role as advisor. The entirety of the market would be transformed for the event, but some of the activity would be in the area just outside the start of the residential sector, by the market steps, where Ashmedai and Dreya stood now amongst the bustle of initial stalls being planned and built.
Festival Day was the biggest event of the year, like the liveliest of city fairs. Since many of the booths, such as archery, were an excuse for advertising a person’s profession or wares, sometimes a lottery needed to be waged. Other times, Ashmedai had to pick someone, for he was the only person the people believed to be impartial.
He was often more mediator than ruler, really, which was fine by him.
“Sarek,” Ashmedai said. “Nonn has supplied bows for the hunt all year.”
“Very fair,” Dreya agreed.
Ashmedai meant to stay focused after that, but when his gaze drifted once more to the road, this time, he caught sight of Levi returning with Grillo, Kenner, and a full lumber cart. The delight that fluttered through him dwarfed putting attention on anything else.
He’d hoped that having Levi assist with the festival would mean more time to get to know him, that maybe he could have snuck away to watch over Levi. He’d had any number of excuses for Dreya, but she’d shot down every attempt he made to escape.
“He is rather fascinating, isn’t he?”
Ashmedai startled. There was no denying where his attention had shifted. “Yes, he is.”
“I can barely remember being a child, and for me, it wasn’t that longago.” Dreya laughed lightly. “Can you imagine what it must be like to experience the world for the first time as an adult? I suppose I might get to find out if the barrier is ever gone. My parents have told me stories of the world before the curse, but they’re farmers. They never traveled. Not like Luccite, who came from Ruby and had seen the world before settling here. Levi is lucky in a way.”
“Yes, I suppose he is. My dear Dreya,” Ashmedai said before she could jump into whatever topic she planned on next, “can we resume tomorrow? We have made much progress due to your diligence, but we do have weeks yet before the festival.”
She seemed about to protest, but like last night after the council meeting, a kind request was often enough for her to acquiesce. “It has been a long day. Will you be at the castle tomorrow morning or somewhere I need to track down?”
Ashmedai smiled at the gentle tease. “I will be there.”
Levi and the others were nearly back when Ashmedai left Dreya to intercept—
“Ash!”
—only for Klarent to intercepthim.
The tentacled scholar blocked Levi from Ashmedai’s sight. He held a load of books and was clearly excited, given the way his beard tentacles quivered.
“Yes, Klarent, how may I help you?” Ashmedai hoped to settle this quickly.
“The festival could use more culture, I thought—more stories and performances, rather than just games and feats of physical skill. So, this year—”
“You’re planning a booth to allow the people to show off more artistic talents?”
“Exactly so! I myself hope to do a few dramatic readings, but it would serve the booth schedule well if your voice joined mine in recruiting. Wehaven’t filled the open slots nearly enough, and I want the booth to be a resounding success!”
“Certainly, Klarent. I can even mention it at the next city council meeting. Now—”
