10. Alira
Alira
Where would the Krinsle be in the hours leading up to the festival?
He’s an old demon with odd gifts from Mortem.
I can’t forget the way my skin prickled when he spoke at the cathedral as he married Kalel and me.
His gift is unknown to me, but I lean toward believing he has some sort of foresight.
All I have to base that on are the Krinsle’s ominous riddles though; it’s more of a feeling.
I think about it as the three of us finally come into view of the festival’s full display.
The path we took is on elevated ground, so I can see all the colorful tops of the tents below.
Bright banners of reds and blues, string lights casting a warm glow, and music and flags of all shapes and sizes come together in perfect chaos.
Mingling demons dressed in extravagant dresses and suits.
Even the knights on duty wear their best armor and cloaks.
I was worried I was dressed too formally, but I fit right in with the crowd.
The festival is so beautiful that it puts an ache in my chest. The smiles and laughter are so infectious that the corners of my lips draw upward. If there was even a dash of this happiness in Alzhor, I’m certain more of the demigods could come to see the demon-folk as I do now.
“That tent there! That’s the best sweetgops you’ll ever taste.” Nikolai is already grinning from ear to ear. I’m pretty sure he skipped supper to make sure he had room to gorge himself here.
“And what exactly is that again?” I say with a breathy laugh. It feels good to be dressed like the demons and to celebrate a day I didn’t know was different from the rest.
Nina shares in the excitement of going around tasting the food, hooking arms with me as Nik takes my other arm. I almost forgot that Tessa isn’t with us.
I hope she’s okay.
We head down to the tents first, and Nikolai makes me try the sweetgops. They are small circular fried bread with sugar and berries on top. I eat at least five pieces before the two of them drag me away so we can try the other food tents.
There are so many people here that I’m a bit conscious of them realizing who I am and turning their disdain onto me. But to my delight, no one seems to be paying attention to me. They’re too invested in their magical evening of the winter solstice festival.
A large smile plays on my lips until sunset turns to evening.
The string lights all flicker brighter to accommodate.
It’s so odd to go from the freezing temperature on the other side of the veil to the pleasantly warm one within.
It feels like a cool summer night, the air crisp, but comfortable enough for me to wear this dress.
I take another long sip from a mix of tea that Nina got me. My eyes wander to the tea tent she bought it from, and my mind starts going.
They might have the herbs I’ve been searching for.
Today has been one of those numb days, where your thoughts from the night before are so loud that you space out all day and let your mind be empty.
While I still have guilt tugging at my heart, I can’t ignore the worrying vision of young Kalel from the wisp.
“I’m going to browse a few tent shops. I’ll be right back,” I say quickly as I stand up and make for the row the tea one is in.
Nikolai waves back. He’s lounged against a large tree and is holding his stomach, looking like he might be sick.
I told him not to eat that last bagelpop, but he insisted he was fine. I chuckle and head straight for the tea shop.
The woman standing behind the booth greets me. For a second, I forget that I’m different than them. I’m just a girl shopping for herbs, but the shop owner picks up on my features and must realize who I am because she gets quiet, and her smile vanishes swiftly.
I offer a weak grin, more for courage for myself if I’m being honest, and ask, “Do you have flocke-fennel?”
She’s a short woman with dark hair and weathered eyes. She gives me a suspicious look. “Why would you need flocke-fennel, demigod? That’s an herb you don’t have in the Holy Lands of Alzhor.” Her voice is filled with suspicion.
Oh gods, I didn’t know that. I think quickly.
I lower my head and say quieter, “My husband was an apothecary before his servitude as a knight. His rations at the palace are low, and he asked me to get a new supply of them.” I hate having to lie, but there’s not much I can do.
I want to break the sacred oath, to protect myself should it come down to it.
It’s not easy to not trust someone you love.
Her expression softens, and I find a wealth of sympathy in her gaze. “Lord Lornhelm isn’t cruel to you, is he?” she asks, eyes scouring over me for a shred of evidence of mistreatment.
I shake my head. “No. Why?”
She sighs with a bit of relief. “Well, flocke-fennel is used to heal unyielding wounds or marks.”
At least she seems to care enough about me despite our differences. I’m glad she doesn’t seem to know anything about the oath bond.
She flattens her lips and gives me a small huff before she disappears behind the colorful red tarp of her tent. She must not be fond of Kalel if she feels that bad for a demigod like me.
Hopefully she comes back with it and isn’t just leaving me standing here for nothing, but I’m not holding my breath.
I glance over my shoulder to see if Nina and Nikolai are still by the tree waiting for me.
They’re both chatting and facing out toward the remaining shops we’ve yet to get to.
Ustel walks up to Nina a second later, and she jumps into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling like a lovestruck girl.
I’m glad he finally showed up. My smile fades as I realize I’m unconsciously looking for Kalel too. He’s still nowhere to be seen.
I return my attention to the tent and let out a relieved sigh when I hear the tent flap move again.
The woman extends her hand and drops a small pouch into mine. I blink down at it and quickly close my palm so no one sees what I have.
My eyes flash up to hers as I’m about to thank her.
She lifts her hand to stop me and nods her head for me to leave. I swallow the words and instead offer a gracious bow as I leave some money Nik gave me to use tonight before turning to go.
I don’t waste any time shoving the pouch into my pocket.
Now I have two things that I shouldn’t. The herb that will break the oath bond and the golden laurel that will show me terrible things from the past. A small prickle of anxiety moves up my neck. Hopefully, no one will be able to identify either if they catch me.
I’m halfway across the field getting back to the others before I bump into someone.
Strange, I didn’t see anyone standing there.
I stop and focus on the dark figure I ran into.
It’s someone wearing a dark cloak. My eyes follow the form higher and higher until I recognize this abnormally tall creature.
“Krinsle?” I say in a hushed voice.
The hood is pulled down over the demon’s head, but it’s without a doubt the Krinsle. He stares down at me, and chills crawl up my spine just as they had when I met him the first time.
“Alira. I’ve been waiting for you,” he says. The Krinsle’s voice is loud but has a whisper-like quality. It’s incredibly calming to listen to. Well, it would be if we were speaking under different circumstances.
“Waiting for me?” I repeat.
He nods. “You have concerns.”
My skin is clammy, and I’m not sure I want to know how he knows I was searching for him. The Krinsle is a frightening creature. Some think him to be a Fate with all his foresight. Myself included.
“The Gates of Mortem are open,” I blurt out. No one is near us, but I still look around to make sure. The last thing we need is widespread panic.
The Krinsle is quiet for a beat and then nods. “I am aware. And it is the winter solstice, when Pluto’s magic is at its greatest.”
My heart hammers in my chest. “What does this mean?” All sound seems to fade into the back of my mind except for the smooth and chilling voice of the Krinsle.
“Nothing good can come from the gods playing with reality. Making the world twist and bend in ways it should not. Tempting fate with tricks and poisons.” His riddle sounds more like an omen.
I hold my breath as he finishes. “But Alira, you are watched closer than the rest. The gods speak to you, and you will soon know what the past and present are guiding you toward.”
He knows that the gods speak to me? I take a nervous breath, not letting my gaze move from the Krinsle’s. Nikolai told me that if any demons knew I had been speaking with the gods, that I’d be dead, but the Krinsle is calm. His energy peaceful.
I swallow thickly and take him in. He has no reaction to it, as if he’s indifferent to what awaits us all. Has he known since the first time we met in the cathedral on my wedding night that the gods speak to me?
“So I should finish the vision, then?” I whisper, keeping my eyes lowered to where the laurel is in my pocket.
The Krinsle doesn’t answer directly. “The vision will come to reap what it claims, no matter what, little god. The choice to know and to act on which path you will take is something only you can choose to do.”
How will I know? A sense of loss flows through me.
“Thank you… I hope you enjoy the festival.” I slowly bow with gratitude.
I’m not feeling so good now, so I leave him with that. He bows slightly in return.
“Be careful, little god, and trust your heart when all seems lost.”