From Embers

34 - Rise and Shine

The east wind blew rain clouds over Portstown during the night, drenching the soil until morning and scent of wet earth hung in the air. The ground, now moist and pliable, sunk under Jai-Jai's heavy footsteps. Liquid mud soaked through her sheepskin shoes and squished between her toes with every step.

Europa woke everyone before sunrise, citing that all must participate in a ritual before they set sail this afternoon. "Can never have too much good luck," she tutted while pulling the blankets off the sleeping dragon. Waking the sleeping dragon up with a gentle shake hadn't worked, so Europa moved onto another strategy.

"I've accumulated over three lifetimes of bad luck and have made my peace with it." Jai-Jai tugged her covers back.

The faun bucked her hooves and down came both the blankets and its sleeping occupant. Jumping up, Jai-Jai tried to play off her fall and the throbbing pain on her hip. This is why you shouldn't sleep with knives strapped to your sides.

"Well, normally I don't end up on the ground," grumbled Jai-Jai. She threw on the robes that Europa had laid out on the table and followed the faun to wake up the others.

Getting the twins up proved to be a dangerous job. Europa walked into the room full of confidence, but, she walked out with a defeated look in her eye. Patting the singed fur on her legs, Europa made a beeline for the exit. She looked less than pleased while a sheepish Rhistel stood ten steps behind her. Alanis beside her sister, giving the elf an earful about how her temper would get the better of her one day.

Twig and Kraneia, who surprisingly looked wide awake, had already joined the group of fauns outside. All the travellers were wearing the same outfit; blood-red cloths with handstitched gold-threaded runes adorning the seams. The villagers still wore no clothes but instead caked their bodies in black mud. The dried dirt cracked with each movement, smaller pieces falling. The children giggled as they weaved between the adults, throwing mud balls at each other. Twig flew frantically trying to avoid getting hit by the dirty globs.

"Where are we goin'?" Sleep was still thick on Alanis' voice. She rubbed her half-shut eyes. "Couldn't this have waited until later? A havenna had breakfast yet, me stomach is goin' to eat itself, am starvin'."

"Our Lady of the Shores requires morning prayers. Please, follow us." Atlas pulled out his flute and the others followed in suit. The fauns danced and played music as they paraded up the mountainside. The notes were soft and seemed to coax the sun up over the horizon.

Speaking to no one in particular, Jai-Jai questioned who the Lady of the Shores was, trying to gain the attention of any faun who could answer. They only grabbed her hands and tried to dance with her, shushing Jai-Jai every time she opened her mouth to ask the question again. Frustrated, Jai-Jai sought out her other friends. However, they were busy dancing with the locals. Even the twins' jerky movements resembled some form of dance moves.

"Elves who can't dance," scoffed Jai-Jai. "Who would have thought they existed."

Twig laughed. "You should have seen them when they were younger. This is after their mother forced them to attend dance lessons whenever they visited home. She used to moan that she had sons for daughters."

Tree branches came into Jai-Jai's peripheral view. "Let them be. There isn't much to celebrate in this world; let them act their own age while they can. The world will mature them far ahead of their time."

Outstretched arms blocked Jai-Jai's view. "Tha sinn an seo," Atlas spoke with authority. The world around went quiet without the flute's music.

Europa gathered the travellers together. "We've arrived," she translated. "Please, stay quiet and don't move until told."