Pasha nodded and turned his eyes back to where he had last seen the balloon. "Perhaps we could give our children one on each of their birthdays and let them make a wish. They do come true, after all." Tale gave him a somewhat questioning look, and he nodded. "Completely sincere. Give me a moment and I'll see if I can put it into words..." Pasha moved so he was standing behind Tala, his arms around her waist and his chin resting on top of her head.
"The winter is clear, just cold enough that I can see my breath as I stand on the battlements of the Marlax castle, but not cold enough to be uncomfortable; there is little wind to chill the blood and bone. Spread out before me is the city, painted by the setting sun, and I watch the people gather in the square before the castle. It's the first and only time I see this ceremony." He paused, reliving the memory. "I am not the only one on the walls. Dysevik stands on a raised platform to my left; on his other side is my brother Ilsken, the royal treasurer. Beyond Ilsken are Galmaar, Alray, and Lonnath; favored younger half-brothers under my command. To my right is my favored sister Leikrys and beside her is her mother Winata. Beyond her are my other favored sisters, Orlina, Bortera, and Terena. Leikrys is young and, besides me, the one who despite her youth looks the most like our father."
Pasha took a moment to recall everything. "Leikrys is not yet a teenager and shy around me; I have not been in Kothitas for more than a week. After staring at me for some time, she gives me her wish balloon and says she doesn't have anything she wants to wish for. At first I don't want to take it. It's a stupid idea that only children would believe; wishes never come true, but I do not say this. I don't want to hurt her feelings. Before she can say anything further, a hush falls over the crowd as Dysevik motions to his men standing below, at the gates of the castle. With great care each soldier lights a taper, and begins to march among the commoners, giving each a moment to make their wish before he lights their candle. One by one the balloons lift into the sky, and it's the most beautiful ceremony I have ever seen. Cloths of every color float up, carrying hopes and dreams."
"Leikrys is still offering hers to me and I thank her for the generous gesture; I'm seized by the desire to make a wish too and have it join the others. Of everyone on the walls, only Galmaar and myself have a balloon. Dysevik lights mine with a taper, and I make a silent wish in my heart that soon I'll find a place I belong. He lights Galmaar's next, and we release our orange balloons together. Although the sun has yet to set, the sky is already shining with hundreds of points of light, shining brilliantly in the winter air. People depart, some sooner than others; eventually only Leikrys and I are left, watching the last balloon as it is carried away west, to the sea, where it fades into the horizon. She tugs my hand for attention and I turn to her. She asks, 'what did you wish for?' Lost in the moment, I do not think of lying, and merely answer 'a home.'"
Pasha smiled, a bittersweet expression. "'Welcome home, big brother,' she says, hugging my leg before leaving to find her mother. The air has gotten colder and the moon has risen, but still I do not leave the wall, convinced that I can still see my balloon drifting ever westward. It is the happiest I had ever been." He looked down, met Tala's eyes, and shook his head. "Here's where I ruin the mood by announcing I corralled a pair of serving girls and a case of wine, then spent the night and half of the next day in not entirely wholesome ways. It probably would have been the whole day if Ilsken hadn't drug me away so we could plan a strategy for taking a few territories close to the lowlands - a meeting I attended in nothing but a blanket being worn like a cloak, I might add, as it was all I could grab before being hustled off."
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Topic: You Are King II: Tales of the Storm Coast (Winter 416a) (Read 239307 times)