8. Chapter 8 #5
Luccite was a bit stiff and difficult to lead, despite the natural grace afforded her by being a cat—though she was also a good head or two shorter than him—but it wasn’t long before her distrustful smile turned to something genuine.
The song hit a bridge where all the instruments dropped off save the ones keeping rhythm, a signal for a very specific set of movements that involved one partner lifting and spinning the other through the air.
Ashmedai did so with Luccite easily, and she erupted with a rare giggle.
The rhythmic beat continued for a second lift and spin that Ashmedai knew would culminate in final uproarious percussion that ended the song, and he eyed their surroundings, spotting Levi and Dreya and catching Levi’s eye again to ensure they both spun their partner in just the right direction.
He lifted Luccite, and after their twirl and subsequently setting her down, she and Dreya were back-to-back as the song ended to wild applause.
“Dreya, I believe it’s time I stole your partner.” Ashmedai turned a stunned Luccite just as Levi did the same with Dreya, and they pushed the women toward each other. “You can take mine.”
As Ashmedai anticipated, the musicians didn’t pause before continuing into a softer ballad to allow the dancers a break. He pulled Levi to him and quickly spun them away before any dissention could be spoken.
Ashmedai naturally started to lead, and Levi’s footing didn’t stutter as he shifted roles to follow.
They watched Dreya and Luccite fumble with overlapping words at first before Dreya, her tipsiness proving useful when it came to squashing nerves, seized Luccite by the waist and let the music take them.
“Do you think it’ll be enough?” Levi asked, gazing at them fondly.
“If we see them straying, we’ll just have to intervene again.”
When Levi turned to look at Ashmedai, it seemed to only dawn on him then that they were dancing, close and slow to the gentler song. There were still steps to follow and mild spins, but this type of dancing reminded Ashmedai of the calm tide of the Black Lake .
During the song, Levi rested his head on Ashmedai’s shoulder, and it was easy to imagine that, although they were surrounded by other couples, the dance floor was theirs alone.
“What else would you like to see, my darling?” Ashmedai asked.
“Everything,” Levi said.
Beyond the dancing was a row of stalls for games such as archery, ring toss, and Hoodman’s Blind.
At the bottom of the market steps was a larger open area for Prisoner’s Base, where two teams were equally set on stealing the other’s flag, positioned at opposite ends, and if someone from one team touched someone from another, that person became a prisoner in need of rescue.
The flag was the prize, but another way to win was to imprison everyone from the opposing team.
Ashmedai and Levi played each game above the market at least once, but when they made it down the steps, Prisoner’s Base was in midsession. The red team was almost entirely captured, but the guard they had set up at their flag was Grillo, who stood his ground.
“ Ash ,” Levi hissed, grasping Ashmedai’s arm.
He looked where Levi indicated and saw what the blue team had yet to notice. Kenner, on the red team with his father, had snuck onto the other side of the field and snatched up the blue flag.
“The boy has it!” someone cried, and all the blue members spun to give chase.
Kenner bolted for his side of the field, far too small and nimble for anyone to catch him. He made it across the line with a narrow miss of a hand trying to slap his shoulder, but his feet were too quick.
“I did it!” Kenner dropped the flag and threw up his arms in triumph.
Grillo raced toward him, happily scooping up his child and setting him on his shoulder for the other members of their team to applaud. Kenner looked overjoyed, especially since he’d outdone a team of adults.
Ashmedai smiled to think that next year there would be a multitude of new babes, and in the years to come Kenner would have many playmates closer to his age.
Ashmedai was going to ask Levi if he wanted to join the next game, but when he looked, Levi had wandered toward the subsequent row of stalls bearing wares from various vendors, including Daedlys in front of his shop, and Gordoc, who had set up a stall directly beside Daedlys.
The rivalry never ended with those two, since they sold similar items, each displaying garments of Emerald silk as well as an assortment of jewelry and accessories.
“There’s my Stitches!” Daedlys declared.
But Levi’s eye had caught a silver ear cuff with an amethyst stone on Gordoc’s stall. Ashmedai could imagine its elegant coiling design looking quite fetching adorning the curves of one of Levi’s half-elf ears.
Levi looked cornered, however, when he realized the cuff was not part of his friend’s wares.
“What trade would you ask for this, Gordoc?” Ashmedai breezed past Levi and plucked the cuff from the stall.
“For you, my king?” Gordoc’s fish lips puckered and then spread into a smile.
“No trade at all. It’s Festival Day! Your day.
I can allow our protector to claim one item with my compliments.
You too, Levi. I wouldn’t have a stall at all if not for you and Grillo, and I do have the best items in the kingdom. ”
“Pfft.” Daedlys crossed his arms. “That’s subjective, but I suppose the cuff isn’t hideous. If anything catches your fancy here, sweet Stitches, you can accept it as my personal gift.”
Levi looked over the assorted items once more. He seemed to understand that Ashmedai had chosen the cuff as a gift for him , because what caught his eye on Daedlys’s stall was a simple but equally elegant gold circlet with a ruby at its center.
“I know you’ve never worn a crown,” Levi said to Ashmedai as he picked it up, “but I think this would look quite lovely on you, Ash, if you like it. ”
For Levi, Ashmedai would adorn himself in anything. “It’s perfect. And we’ll be certain to let anyone who asks know we found these items at the two best stalls in the market,” Ashmedai added to appease the competing vendors.
First he secured the cuff on Levi’s right ear, and then Levi placed the circlet atop Ashmedai’s brow, where the drop of the ruby rested comfortably on his forehead.
“I’ll admit,” Daedlys said with a wink, “looks like the perfect match .”
Ashmedai tugged a corner of his tunic and said, “Thank you.”
It was only then Gordoc seemed to recognize what Ashmedai’s outfit was made from, and he crossed his arms to mirror Daedlys. “You’re getting the next round of drinks, banshee.”
Daedlys laughed. “Deal.”
They took their time after that exploring other stalls, trying other foods, even tried a few ales, meads, and wines, though in moderation since Levi had a performance later. Eventually they returned to Prisoner’s Base to play a round.
Hours passed like minutes, and still so much more of the festival was left to be enjoyed.
“Is that the time?” Levi glanced at a candle clock on the wall of one of the stalls. “We better hurry. I can’t be late for Klarent’s opening act.” He grasped Ashmedai’s hand and began to speed them back up the market steps.
Klarent’s stage was at the end of the row of smaller gaming booths but twice the size of normal stalls, even sporting a violet-colored curtain as the backdrop.
“You’re assisting Klarent, is that right?” Ashmedai asked, keeping hold of Levi’s hand even after they reached the stage and could see Klarent behind it, mostly hidden by the structure, muttering to himself in practice.
“It was all his idea,” Levi said, “but I hope you like it. ”
“Give Klarent my best. I’ll be watching from right up front.”
Levi squeezed Ashmedai’s hand, and before letting go he leaned in to gently kiss Ashmedai’s lips.
The light, contented feeling in Ashmedai’s chest persisted as he moved in front of the stage as promised, where a small crowd was gathering.
“Aren’t you the fetching pair?”
Ashmedai turned, amazed to see Braxton wheeling toward him. If Braxton had seen Levi, then he’d also seen them kiss, which shouldn’t have made Ashmedai feel a flutter of guilt, yet there it was.
“All Daedlys’s doing,” Ashmedai said, indicating his tunic.
“I’m sure.”
Ashmedai moved to stand beside Braxton, still with a clear view of the stage. “I don’t remember the last time you attended Festival Day. It is good to see you here, old friend.”
“And you… old friend. It felt a worthy night to celebrate.” Braxton motioned for Ashmedai to lean toward him and whispered, “I’ve done it.”
“You’re finished?” Ashmedai asked in his own fervid whisper. “You can….”
“Very soon. Only one small component remains, and then it will be time.” Braxton leaned away, bringing his voice back up to normal volume. “Perhaps then you will spare me a walk by the Black Lake, if I am so lucky.” He tapped his chair. “Maybe even in the daylight.”
“Attention!” Klarent’s voice drew Ashmedai back to the stage. “Please, join me for the inauguration of a brand-new celebration of creative talents, beginning with a reading from my newest historical account, and accompanied by young Levi’s masterful illusions.”
Applause sprang up as Klarent took center stage with a low bow and Levi gave a smaller bow from his position in the corner. The crowd quickly grew from a small gathering to a bustle of bodies, and Ashmedai shifted to make room.
Braxton was no longer beside him.
Before Ashmedai could look for where Braxton had gone, Daedlys took up the empty space.
“I truly am a miracle worker,” he said with a perusing glance down Ashmedai’s body.
“Indeed you are.” Ashmedai chuckled. “Thank you again, friend.”
“My pleasure.” Daedlys floated closer so that his head bobbed nearer to Ashmedai’s. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
“Oh? On what?”
“On how you and our sweet Stitches are soon to be godfathers.” He gestured up at Klarent, and Ashmedai turned to gape in wonder, for the implication was clear.