“No way! We’re still young enough to enter the children’s scavenger hunt. There’s no way we’ll lose to a bunch of kids!” another boy sniggered. “We won’t stand a chance if we enter the real hunt.”
Jahrra was simply dripping with anticipation. The only problem was, she was a little on the young side herself. Mostly adults took part in the nighttime hunt with anyone under the age of seventeen limited to the children’s challenge. That’s alright, she told herself with a degree of confidence, we’ll be in costume. Besides, Scede and Pahrdh look old enough. She shivered with delight. No one would ever suspect them. Jahrra tried to distract herself by counting down the days before she would be taking part in the sights and sounds of the Fall Festival, but there was too much talk and anticipation buzzing around the schoolyard and around town that it was hard to concentrate on anything else.
As the fall progressed and the days grew closer to the Harvest Festival, the stories of the season became more and more tantalizing. The very week before Sobledthe, Jahrra, Gieaun and Scede were stretched out on top of their granite slab when they overheard more students talking of the festival.
“Last year, they sacrificed a dozen live snakes!”
It was one of Eydeth’s closest friends that spoke, but Jahrra remained rigid.
“And the year before that someone threw his friend into the fire, claiming he was overtaken by evil spirits!”
“No way!” answered someone in his small audience, obviously eager to hear more horror stories.
Jahrra sniggered mentally. Many of the Resai and upper class families frowned upon Sobledthe, calling it an ancient, unruly holiday that only the “barbaric lower class Nesnans” celebrated. But Jahrra was sure Eydeth would be there and perhaps even his witch of a sister.
During the past few weeks, she’d seen Eydeth acting extra-secretive and had even heard him say “festival” and “plan” a few times when he thought she wasn’t listening. Thanks to Yaraa’s exercises meant to enhance one’s sense of hearing by closing one’s eyes and focusing on specific voice tones, she was able to pick up on much of what Eydeth was saying behind her back. Unfortunately, this didn’t always result in positive news. Great, she thought miserably after hearing her enemy’s secret conversations, he’s going to find a way to ruin it for us!
Jahrra didn’t let it get her down, however. She had much to do before she could begin enjoying the festive holiday. On the weekends, Jahrra, Gieaun and Scede had spent most of their time in the Black Swamp listening to Denaeh’s bewitching stories and working on their costumes. Jahrra had always hoped Denaeh would tell them more about the story of the prophecy, but she never mentioned it, not since that day a few years ago. Instead, Jahrra just tried to enjoy this year’s tale, one about a fearful boarlaque terrorizing the people of northern Felldreim, while completing her costume. The three friends decided on animal costumes that were traditionally associated with the ancient tales Denaeh and Hroombra told. Jahrra was going to be a black raven, Gieaun a white horse, and Scede a red boar. The costumes were greatly detailed and the three friends were very happy with the results of their hard work.
Finally, after many weeks of anticipation, costume-making and story-sharing, the Harvest Festival was here. The schoolhouse took its customary three day holiday in order to accommodate the traditional days of harvest, and many shops closed as they got ready for the big holiday. On the night before Sobledthe Eve, Jahrra found herself reluctant to sleep. When she finally did drift off, her dreams were awash with the colors and sounds of the amazing Sobledthe celebrations that took place after dark.
-Chapter Ten-
The Fall Festival
“Hey Jahrra! Are you ready to go?” Scede shouted from outside the Castle Guard Ruin.
He didn’t have to worry, however, for Jahrra had been up for hours, dressed and waiting for her friends to come and get her. She was beside herself with glee. It was Sobledthe Eve and in just a few hours’ time she would be in Lensterans among the hustle and bustle of the season.
“Jahrra! What are you doing?!” Gieaun bellowed. “If you keep stalling we’ll miss the street plays!”
Jahrra smiled to herself. Typical, they’re late and I’m the one holding them up. She jumped up from her bed, hastily braided her long blond hair, and ran to the front door. She waved out at her friends, Gieaun on Aimhe, Scede on Bhun, and Rhudedth and Pahrdh on their own horses.
She turned to Hroombra, still beaming, “Are you sure you don’t want to come for awhile?”
She’d hoped Hroombra would explain some of the symbols the festival participants would be displaying in the ceremony, but he had declined to join them.
The old dragon looked up over his specially made spectacles, a sight that always made Jahrra grin, and smiled at her. “No, young Jahrra, I’m afraid I’ll only delay you. You would miss the scavenger hunt, and that would be criminal.”
His mouth curled at the edges and his eyes twinkled. “Besides,” he added, “it would be no fun with me hanging around. You go and enjoy the festival.”
“Alright, but are you sure you still want me to go?” Jahrra teased.
She’d been running off to dangerous places so often of late that she felt guilty when Hroombra told her she could go to the festival with her friends without supervision. If only you knew where I’ve been without your permission, she thought ruefully. Jahrra dashed these thoughts from her mind; no level of guilt was going to keep her from the Sobledthe festival this evening.
“Oh, yes, I’m sure,” he said. “Remember, this isn’t just a vacation. I expect you to learn something, so be sure to pay attention. I’m going to test you when you get back.”
Hroombra’s eyes had wandered back down to his manuscripts as he spoke, and Jahrra’s smile suddenly vanished. She stared blankly at him, but just as she was about to protest, his eyes shot up and gleamed at her.
“I’m only teasing,” he insisted. “Now go. Your friends are waiting.”
Jahrra’s face broke out into a wide smile and with no further delay she shot out the door.
“Finally!” Scede said in a mock-exaggerated tone.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jahrra breathed. “What took you so long to get here?”
“Gieaun slept in,” Scede sniffed.
“I did not! You couldn’t find part of your costume!”
Before the two could start arguing, Jahrra cut in, “Don’t worry, we have plenty of time, it’s not even noon yet! If we ride like we mean it, we’ll get there just before sunset.”
“As long as we get there early enough to register for the advanced scavenger hunt,” Pahrdh said, his face taking on a worried look.
Jahrra had badgered all of them into agreeing with her about partaking in the later challenge. Although Scede and Pahrdh had liked the idea, they were afraid the judges wouldn’t let them enter.
“You have to be seventeen!” Scede told her. “I’m barely sixteen.”
“What if I sign us up?” Pahrdh suggested.
He’d been seventeen for a few months already. “And besides, Scede looks seventeen. If Scede and I sign us up and you girls keep your masks on, we should be able to pull it off.”
Jahrra had grinned from ear to ear. Gieaun, naturally, groaned and rolled her eyes. “Oh come on! Let’s just do the children’s scavenger hunt! Jahrra, I don’t know why you always have to pick the hardest challenge presented to you!”