By late afternoon, the function hall had been transformed again, this time into the gathering point for the starlight ride. We’d lit the fireplace on one end, and flames crackled behind the safety screen. Tables held thermoses of hot chocolate and cider, along with bags of cookies and pastries people could take for the ride.
I found Becken at the sorhox pens, supervising the final preparations. Dester and Thrakul stood patiently as children helped attach bells and ribbons to their harnesses. Eight other sorhoxes waited nearby, already adorned with Christmas finery and hitched to sleighs, their dark green hides gleaming in the fading sunlight.
“Need any help?” I asked.
“Always.”
I walked over to a boy trying to secure a silver bell to Thrakul’s harness. The sorhox rumbled, clearly enjoying the attention. As the boy twisted the thin wire, I scratched behind the sorhox’s ear the way Becken had taught me, distracting the beast.
“They’re all so beautiful dressed up like this,” I told Becken, who’d followed me.
“Reminds me of celebrations in the orc kingdom. During the Deep Season, we’d decorate the sorhoxes with carved clay beads and leather strips painted with protection symbols. Sometimes, they’d carry messages.”
A small crowd of tourists gathered, listening to him speak.
“What kind of messages?” a woman asked, her phone raised to take pictures.
“Invitations to gatherings. News of births or matings. Trading opportunities or requests for skilled workers.”
“Do the decorations have special meanings?” Another tourist stepped closer.
Becken nodded. “Different patterns signify different clans. The placement of beads can indicate the urgency of the message. And certain symbols are for protection during winter journeys.”
“Like Christmas cards,” a child said.
“More or less.” Becken’s mouth quirked up on one corner. “Though our messages don’t have Santa or elves on them.”
Watching him interact with the tourists made my heart swell with pride. This grumpy orc who’d barely tolerated humans a few weeks ago was now an ambassador for his people, building bridges between our worlds.
As the sun sank toward the horizon, people began gathering for the starlight ride. Beth and Ruugar arrived, Beth moving carefully, one hand supporting her lower back. Hail and Allie joined them, followed by Tark and Gracie, Ostor and Rosey. The entire community had turned out, along with dozens of visitors eager to experience this new Christmas Eve tradition.
“Ready?” Becken appeared at my side. “You’ll ride with me.”
Peeka stood nearby, hitched to a sleigh.
“I can’t wait.”
He helped me into the sleigh and joined me, tucking a blanket around us both. I leaned into his side.
“Everyone ready?” Ruugar called from the front of the group, Beth sitting beside him in their sleigh, with a family of tourists in the row behind them. “Follow the lanterns and stay on the trail. We’ll stop at the overlook for the starlight viewing.”
The procession moved out as the last rays of sun slipped behind the mountains, sorhox bells jingling with each step. Children squealed, pointing out Christmas lights visible from town. The atmosphere vibrated with holiday magic.
Becken kept his arm around me as he guided Peeka along the trail. The world transformed as darkness fell, the snow-covered landscape turning silver beneath the rising moon. Stars appeared one by one, then in clusters, until the sky blazed with light.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, tilting my head back to take in the view.
“It really is.”
We traveled across the vast open plain with the mountains rising around us, the only sounds were the soft squeaks ofrunners on snow and the jingle of bells. The intimacy of the moment felt fragile, precious.
“What makes you happiest?” Becken asked, his question floating on a cloud of frosted breath.
I considered what to say, watching my own breath merge with his in the cold air. “Moments like this. Connection.” I hesitated. “For years, I thought success would make me happy. Contracts, recognition, and building a name for myself were my lifeline.”
“And now?”
“Now I wonder if I was searching for the wrong thing all along.” I shifted to see his face better in the starlight. “What about you?”
