He turned up the lamp, filling our lodge with cozy light. His face was utterly serious as he lowered himself to one knee in front of me.
He held out a beautiful crimson scarf. Stitched in colorful thread, symbols danced over the fine cloth from end to end.
I gasped, running my finger over them all. A key, a mask, a bell, a wave, a lily, a group of trees, a firefly, a moonblood, an axe, a small knife, a lizard, a mountain, a fireflower, a spear, and a falcon.
“What is this?” I whispered.
“It’s us,” Aiden said softly. “It’s our story. It’s our love for each other and from others.”
I couldn’t breathe. Tears blurred my vision as I kept stroking the silky cloth.
“It’s tradition to give someone you love a scarf like this on Arduen’s Night,” Aiden continued. “I threaded most of the symbols myself the past few days. Maz, Ruru, Jek, Yarina, Sigrid,Frieda, Helene, and Isabel all added their own. I would love to get Everett and Delysia to add a few as well.”
I crumbled, tears racing down my cheeks. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Relief thawed the tension in his face and shoulders. “If you accept my token, wear it to the dance tonight.”
I reverently took it in my hands, gazing up at him. “Thank you. I will.”
He kissed me one more time and left for the coast.
I sat and stared at the scarf for a long time. I’d noticed other men and women with them around camp. I’d thought perhaps it was just a traditional decoration. But I’d also seen Dags clutching them at funerals of loved ones.
Still in awe, I tucked the scarf in my pocket and went to visit Maz.
“You seem distracted, lovely,” he said as we sat together in his lodge. “Are you not excited for tonight?”
He looked much better than he had when we first arrived. His skin had lost its pallor, and his appetite was voracious. He crammed freshly cooked venison in his mouth even now.
Being home was good for him.
“Yes,” I said, picking at a loose thread in the quilt wrapped around my shoulders.Except I’ll have to tell Aiden my plans tomorrow.
“Aiden said I could attend,” Maz said around a mouthful of meat. “Can’t dance, of course, but watching is fun, too. Has he... spoken to you today?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes. This morning before he left. Why?”
Maz hummed and avoided my gaze.
I sighed. “He gave me the scarf, Maz. He told me you helped him with it.”
Maz beamed. “I did. Did you like my axe? My needlework is normally smoother, but my hands are still shaky.”
“It was perfect.”
He frowned, licking his fingers clean. “Then what’s with the sad eyes? Do you not want it?”
“Of course I do. I’m just worried, is all.”
“He loves you, Kiera,” Maz said gently, patting my knee.
“I know that, and he knows I love him. I’m worried about what happens next.”
Maz waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, the dance is easy to learn. Just follow Yarina’s lead. Or Bruna’s—Sigrid gave her a scarf two days ago.”
I froze, my thoughts torn from Aquinon. “I have to dance?”
“Yes, it’s tradition. When one gives another a scarf, they do the fire dance on Arduen’s Night.” He cocked his head to the side. “Aiden didn’t tell you that?”
