Behind them, around the edge of the room, was everyone else. Still a small group, so mostly important people in Northern society and to Sehra. Of them, Vi only recognized three—Jax, Jayme, and Andru. Quite a few leaders from the outer townships of Shaldan had come to Soricium this year, it seemed, so the usual attendees from the fortress had been edged out.
Clearing her throat, Ellene stepped forward.
“The world was young,” she began, her voice wavering initially before she caught her stride. “Young enough that only the Mother Tree which stands here now, oldest in the land, is the only one who can recall the hours. This land was dark, absent of the sun’s light.
“Then, a star fell.
“The star was caught in the boughs of the Mother Tree. As the branches swayed and shook, the star was jostled, collecting the tree’s life energy on the way down to earth. This energy—part godly, part mortal—became the young Dia when it reached the earth. Her skin was made of the bark of the tree and her hair shone with the stardust she brought with her from the heavens.
“The Mother saw this falling star, and the holy light that radiated in her, and said, ‘Take this axe, my child, and by its blade, carve a new society in my name. Teach its people the ways long forgotten in this land of night. Use the magic within it to guard and guide them.’”
Ellene stepped back, and Sehra stepped forward.
“Dia did as the mother asked,” the Chieftain continued. “She guarded and guided the people to prosperity. And when the end of her life drew near, she returned to the Tree and asked the Mother for one more gift—an heir.
“Yargen told Dia that the power lived in her. So Dia cleaved a seed from the Mother Tree and consumed it. In nine months’ time, she gave birth to an heir that carried on a part of her light.”
Vi’s eyes drifted to Ellene as Sehra spoke. She’d heard the story many times before. But every time, at this part, Vi couldn’t help but wonder as to the exact logistics—a mystery she’d likely never have the answer to.
But she believed it. Because she also had powers supposedly from the Mother, was visited by a man made of light, and was hunted by a red-eyed assassin who worshiped the godly incarnation of evil itself. Was it really so hard to believe that a woman could get pregnant by a magic tree?
“We, descendants of Dia, remain steadfast in our mission to protect our people.
“We honor the old ways.
“And we still have not lost the command of her light to guide us through dark times.”
Sehra raised her hand and Vi watched closely. Every time she’d seen this ritual before, she’d missed it. A small sigh escaped Sehra’s lips, one Vi knew to be the sound “durroe.”
It was true what Sehra had said, that in time she had learned the words to the point of hardly needing to speak them. It was an illusion, nothing more, but the usualoohsandahhsfrom those gathered showed that they saw it as the Mother’s pure blessings.
The ball of light Vi had stared at for hours on end filled Sehra’s palm. Sehra turned to the statue, and placed it in the Mother’s outstretched hand. It stayed there after she took her hand away, and Vi knew it would remain for the better part of the day before fading with sunset.
When she was younger, she too thought it was the Mother’s blessings fueling the orb. Now, she knew it was nothing more than a spell and the Chieftain’s own power. Vi honestly couldn’t decide which was more impressive.
“On this day, as we prepare to endure the longest night of the year, and go the longest stretch without seeing the Mother sun, Yargen’s visible force on our world, we pray she will watch over us from her heavenly throne.” Vi could’ve sworn she saw Sehra’s eyes flick in her direction. “We are those who keep Dia’s light alive.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Vi hada mug of steaming cider and couldn’t feel more content. She’d needed a day of merriment and relaxation, and that’s precisely what the solstice provided.
Music lofted through the air near midday. The bands had been playing non-stop after the noru races had concluded in the morning, immediately following the rituals. The solstice festivities were so large this year that the dancing alone had sprawled across three separate clearings in the city—one Vi suspected was made by some determined Groundbreakers to have their own dance floor when everything else was full.
Everything muddled together like the spices in her drink. It was impossible to focus on any one singular thing—but she didn’t want to anyway. The sum of all the parts was too wonderful to try to separate them. Vi wanted to take in everything, as much as she could. This would be her last solstice to enjoy in the North and she was awash with nostalgia, and regret over the worry that she had never really spent long enough enjoying it before.
“How long does this go on?” Jayme asked from her side. They sat on a raised platform of stairs with Andru, others escaping the dancing, and those merely enjoying the merriment. Though none sat too closely. It was the invisible force field of nobility keeping others at bay. With an elfin’ra on the loose, for once Vi wasn’t irritated by the imposed isolation.
“They celebrate as long as the sun is in the sky, so the Mother can see joyous appreciation for her goodness before she settles in for her long sleep. When the sun is gone, there will be one more ritual and then everyone braces for the long night.”
“Braces? Braces for what? Is there some kind of ritual combat in honor of the Father?”
“No. Braces as in goes to sleep.” Vi laughed.
“You could’ve just said that, you know.” Jayme shook her head, exasperated, but a smile spread across her cheeks. “The drama of the ritual from earlier has you swept up.”
“Perhaps.” Vi took another sip of her drink, savoring the way the flavors drifted over her tongue before burning down her throat due to heat in both temperature and spice. There was a lot of drama Vi was wrapped up in, way more than Jayme would likely ever understand. “Isn’t that part of the enjoyment, though? Getting lost in something that seems as if it should be impossible?”
Impossible… like a man made of light. A smile fought its way onto Vi’s face at the thought.
