Page 61 of A Winter Awakening
“It is.” Gracie smiled.
Gael beamed and took a sip of the mulled wine. A child’s joyous scream filled the air as they flew down the hill.
“What are you drinking there?” Alisa asked.
“It’s mulled wine. Want some?” He handed the mug to Alisa.
She took a sip and moaned. “Delightful! Here, Gracie, drink this.” She handed the mug to Gracie.
“Mmm. That is delicious.” Gracie returned to the mug to Gael. “I’m surprised more people don’t come to Ores for this event,” Gracie said, gesturing around. “By horse, it isn’t so far. You could leave in the morning and be back in Castle Evermore by night.”
“Although if you had to ride here and back in the same day, you couldn’t stay here very long,” Alisa said. “And you’d want to spend as much time as you could here! One needs to soak in the atmosphere.”
“True,” Gracie said. “But others could do what we did and stay at the inn. It’s rustic and comfortable enough.”
“Or maybe people could stay somewhere in the village,” Gael said. Then he frowned. “Although, I don’t know if there are many places to stay here. I got lucky finding accommodation.” Gael laughed and smiled at Orteo. “Maybe they could sleep in a cave like I did.”
“You slept in a cave?” Gracie asked.
“Well, yes, but it wasn’t by choice,” Gael said. “And I would have been in a lot of trouble if Orteo hadn’t turned up and started a fire. I was freezing!”
“A cave! How absolutely charming!” Alisa said. “Could we do that, Orteo?”
“Well, you wouldn’t want to do it like Gael did,” Orteo said. “But caves can be set up very nice, with blankets and furs and a fire. It can be very comfortable.”
Alisa clapped her hands together. “Let’s do that! We should organise a whole party from Castle Evermore next year and descend on the village.”
“It does sound fun,” Gracie said. “Don’t you think, Gael?”
“Well, yes, but not sleeping in the cave part!” Gael said.
“It won’t be like what you experienced,” Orteo said. He suddenly had a desire to take Gael to a cave and spend the night there with him. “Perhaps I can take you sometime. I’ll make sure you enjoy it.”
Gael frowned.
Orteo leaned closer and whispered so only Gael could hear, “I’ll ensure your time in a cave isveryenjoyable.”
Gael’s cheeks flushed as he caught Orteo’s meaning.
For several minutes, the four came up with ideas for a group travelling from Castle Evermore, sleeping in the caves nearby, and then celebrating Winter Solstice in Ores.
“If you’re serious, we could talk to some of the oreads from the valley about it,” Orteo said. “They’d be the best to talk with about the caves.”
“Yes! Let’s do that,” Alisa said. “Let’s organise something!”
“But first I want more of that mulled wine,” Gracie said.
“My nephew and his partner run a stall selling it. Just over there.” Orteo pointed.
“Let’s go!” Alisa exclaimed and dragged Gracie. “We’ll talk more later,” she called out.
Orteo slipped his arm around Gael. “Looks like next year, there will be more visitors from Castle Evermore.”
“Sounds like it,” Gael said.
They continued walking. “Do you hear that?” Gael asked.
A light and sweet tune could be heard amongst the sounds of the festivities.
