“Brother Gardinal?” A youthful, if still deep, voice called out. Turning, Gardinal found Kriss striding through the crowds, covered head to toe in multicoloured powders. The boy looked ridiculous with his blonde hair caked with dye. Gardinal nearly cracked a smile. After seeing the boy risk his life for Her Radiance, he had grown a small fondness for the lad. Just a bit though.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to find you here now should I lad?” Gardinal asked, striding over and nearly embracing the young man before thinking better of it. He really didn’t want all the dye getting into his robes or on his armour. “How have you been?”

The boy, from what Gardinal had been able to pry out of him, had been born to the streets. A whore’s son he’d reckon, and from the boy’s musculature and talent in battle, likely a pit fighter. But as a youth, he had been The Prophetess’s first friend. Before she had been found by His Grace of course. Gardinal had been concerned that the boy would slip back into that dark place, being torn from Her Radiance again. Gardinal knew how easy that could be, he felt it himself even now.

“I’ve been… well.” Kriss answered. The boy was a terrible liar, a pain in his voice betraying his dishonesty. A pain that Gardinal knew well. It was hard to be away from her once she’d touched your soul. Once you’d tasted the grace of her light. “How are you? Is the Old Temple treating you well?” The boy tried to move the conversation on, and Gardinal humored him.

“A bunch of spoiled noble boys playing at soldier.” Gardinal scoffed. “That’s all I’ve been given.” He shook his head in shame. Looking at the boy, a small grin on the young man’s face, an idea began to grow. “Y’know, I could use a capable lad like yourself. Could even get your initiate fees waved as well.”

Kriss looked taken aback for a moment, then smiled warmly. Eventually though, he shook his head. “Vallerian offered me something much the same though with the gate guard.” Kriss explained, oddly using no title for the lord. So they were close now. “I took him up on it. Should be starting up with them in the coming weeks.”

Gardinal nodded. Shame, the boy knew his way around a spear and had the bravery to match. Though more likely than not it would have been a waste of said talents cooped up behind those walls.

“Been seeing our little lordling a lot then, have you?” Gardinal asked. It would be a lie to say that Gardinal hadn’t thought about the count in the three weeks since they parted ways, not that he’d admit it though. Still, some camaraderie had formed even there. They had fought for their lives side by side, had fought to protect The Prophetess, and despite any other misgivings, that was a bond not easily broken.

“We spent a fortnight drinking our way across Southshore.” Kriss chuckled nervously. “But it’s been half a fortnight again now since I’ve heard from him.”

Gardinal shook his head. It was little surprise that that waste of a lord would spend his days drinking in public houses; the man had no shame at all. “Well, if you’re here then I think it would be safe to assume we will be seeing him tonight as well then won’t we?” Gardinal asked. Just as he spoke, a large, golden-plumed, hawk alighted on his shoulder as if on cue. Gardinal rolled his eyes. Of course he would wait to make a dramatic entrance.

“Did you miss me you, oversized grump?” Vallerian chuckled, striding up to their group in a velvet doublet of a deep purple so dark it was almost black with golden ivy embroidery running up the sternum and twisting into gold leaf shaped clasps. Flung over one shoulder he wore a loose silk black cape secured with a golden cord with ostentatious tassels. Not a single splotch of dye seemed to have touched it yet. Gardinal rolled his eyes.

“Your absence was noted.” He responded dryly. The lord grinned with that smarmy smile of his, then patted Gardinal on the back. “Though I think I missed Charlotte more.” Gardinal added, stroking the bird under her beak.

“Everyone seems to say that.” Vallerian responded, proffering a hand to Charlotte. With a little hop she swept onto the count’s gloved hand. Gardinal gave the man a blank stare.

“Shall we make our way to the festivities then?” Kriss asked, breaking the tension and motioning deeper into the throng.

“This isn’t the festivities?” Gardinal asked. Kriss chuckled and shook his head.

“Come on you two.” Kriss stepped away from them and grabbed up a handful of the powder from a nearby bowl, tossing it into the air with a flourish. Gardinal leapt back to avoid the colours, and Charlotte let out a disgruntled squawk. At least the bird agreed that the powder was odd.

As they descended deeper into the mess of tents, bonfires, and low shacks that made up Korek Town, the celebration itself grew more chaotic and packed. Bodies pressed tight against one another as they shuffled and shoved past the singing and dancing and shouting of revelers. And as they bumped through the crowd, Gardinal noticed a stronger, more brilliant light take form ahead.

“How large is that blasted fire?” Gardinal asked in shock. Even as late as it was the inferno ahead seemed almost to make it day. Eyeing the cluttered tents of wood and leather, Gardinal gulped nervously; if they weren’t careful a fire was sure to break out.

“You’ve never seen the great bonfire of the Korek?” Kriss asked with a mischievous grin before turning to Vallerian. The lord returned a shrug and shake of his head. “Oh my friends, you are in for a treat tonight.”

Gardinal shared Kriss an odd look but shook his head. He was a good lad, but having never passed into the city proper Gardinal could hardly hold what he said was ‘impressive’ in that high of regard.