Chapter 32

Tirr woke up slowly and stretched, noticing immediately that Maria wasn’t there. He could hear sounds from the kitchen though and quickly change before heading out. Once the door opened, delicious smells immediately flooded in and Tirr felt his mouth water. Maria and Nora were busy at work, preparing a large amount of food and treats.

Nora noticed Tirr immediately and greeted him happily explain they were preparing food for the celebration tonight. She sat Tirr at the table and gave him some breakfast before getting back to work, rolling out dough for pies and other treats.

Tirr ate silently for a while, watching them work. “Isn’t there anyone else that can make food for it?” He finally asked, somewhat upset his priestesses were stuck doing the work.

Maria laughed, “We aren’t the only ones cooking or baking. For celebrations and festivals, everyone in the village brings or contributes what they can.”

“Everyone brings something?”

“Yeah, that way no one has too much pressure put on them and there’s plenty of good food to eat. It’s always the best part of festivals! Lots of families have their own recipes and secrets they only bring out to share during celebrations. Some might just help with the set up or bring something other than food. Everyone does their best to help out in some way.”

“Interesting.” Tirr said as he continued eating.

“Yeah, even Garm agreed to go hunting so that there is plenty of meat tonight.” Maria said, licking her lips at the thought of all the delicious food.

“Eh, even Garm? Should I help then if everyone’s doing it?”

“How could we make God help us with this?” Nora said quickly, upset with even the idea. “You’re the only reason we can even have this celebration so you should just relax and enjoy yourself.”

“You don’t have to worry about it Tirr, everyone already knows how much you’ve done for us. Just wait for tonight, I’ll show you all the best food.” Maria added with a smile.

Tirr agreed and finished up his breakfast and continued to watch their work in the kitchen untill he got bored. Wondering if maybe the other village children wanted to play, he left the temple and went down the hill towards the village.

He could already see many of the villagers hard at work, helping prepare things for the celebration. As he reached the village center more villagers were there, setting up tables or preparing wood for the fires. More surprising was when he saw some of the children he usually ran about with, they were hard at work as well. Each one helping their family prepare for the night.

He noticed Doron on one side of the square, leading a group in setting up a small stage. Seeing them moving the heavy boards into place, Tirr asked proudly if Doron could use his help, but was disappointed again when he was refused. Doron waved him off and told him to just relax and look forward to tonight.

Tirr continued to wander around, occasionally asking the villagers if they needed his help, but was given the same response each time. He even ran into Claire and Jill both helping out with the musicians and dancers. Jill was apparently a talented musician and Clare had promised to teach some of the dances from the capital.

At some point in the afternoon Garm came back dragging an enormous horned rabbit along with him. As the villagers worked to butcher it Tirr grabbed the now cub sized Garm and continued his wandering, watching as the preparations started to come together. There were torches and decorations set all around the village and the smell of food was overbearing.

As the afternoon passed and night approached Tirr ran into Roan. The old man looked down at him flustered and Tirr made to quickly escape but was asked to stop for a second. Roan apologized for how he had first treated Tirr and thanked him for all he had done for the village.

The apology caught Tirr by surprise, the embarrassed old man finished his apology and told Tirr the Celebration would be starting soon. Roan then left heading back to direct the last of the preparations.

Tirr headed back to the village center and quickly found Maria in time for the celebrations to start. Roan started everything off with a quick speech thanking those that had fought for the village and promising that those that had died for it would not be forgotten.

Afterwards the music started and Tirr was caught up in the rush as Maria pulled him along from table to table, pointing out some of the best food. The whole village was alive with laughter and singing. Tirr ate hungrily, passing whatever he didn’t finish to Garm.

As the music picked up villagers started to dance in the village center, Tirr was dragged along by Maria and sent swinging this way and that as he awkwardly tried to keep up with her. He was passed on, dancing next with Nora as the villagers switched partners.

As he danced with Claire, he noticed Maria talking to a young man that Tirr remembered as Roan’s son Roger. They had moved away from the dancing a bit and were talking in private. As Tirr’s curiosity grew Claire grabbed his hand and told him not to worry with a cheeky smile.

Soon a disappointed looking Roger and an embarrassed Maria returned. As Maria came towards them Claire just gave her a smirk which just made Maria blush harder. Tirr could only watch confused as he was soon led into another dance.

As it got later the music started to wind down, and soon the village gathered once more. Maria led Tirr along and explained it was time for the funeral. The villager walked together as the family and friends of the deceased carried their coffins to the large pyre that had been built just outside the village’s new walls. As the more somber mood set in the coffins were set down and last goodbyes were said. The village watched as the pyre was set and started to quickly burn, quietly grieving for those that had been lost.

Tirr watched as the flames surrounded and enveloped the coffins on the pyre. He looked around at the now familiar faces of the village suddenly knew what he could contribute. It would be difficult as weak as he was now, but should be possible if only for a second. He thought, as he put his hands together in prayer and concentrated on his Blessing.

Maria standing next to him was the first to notice the soft white glow that shown off of Tirr as he concentrated. She started to ask him what he was doing when the glow spread and grew. Forming a mass of glowing light that floating just above him and the other villagers.

The villagers watched in surprise and wonder as the light shaped itself into the form of a beautiful faceless woman. Wings of light spread from her back as she floated above them. As they watched she slowly bowed towards the burning pyre, before her wings started to slowly dissolve away into hundreds of floating feathers of light.

As the woman disappeared the feathers of light stayed, slowly floating down as each one came to a different villager and was absorbed. After absorbing the feather, each villager felt a kind of soothing refreshment, leaving them with a sense of peace.

Maria was so caught up in the sight she only noticed Tirr’s state when he collapsed onto her. She held him and noticed him breathing fine as he slept. The villagers came then to offer their thanks for the respect Tirr had given the dead, but Nora shooed them off.

The rest of the village returned to the celebration with renewed vigor as Maria carried the sleeping Tirr back up towards the temple. She wondered briefly over the power she had seen him use before setting him down in her bed.

She sat nearby, listening to the sounds from the celebration down below as the villagers sent the kids to bed and broke out the alcohol intent on staying up most of the night. Eventually she drifted off to sleep as well, still listening to the music coming from down the hill.