Chapter 98: Ch: 90 Life In Blooming Color

Ch: 90 Life In Blooming Color

Gary staggered out of his grotto in the evening, leaning on his stick, holding his back rigid and favoring his left leg. He shambled into the garden and started rooting in the vegetable patch for a salad. 

Before long, he was resting on a conjured stool, cutting vegetables with his Contract weapon, in the form of a large bronze kitchen knife. 

No one else was around, so he dumped a huge tossed salad into a conjured mixing bowl and drizzled it with black pepper tzatziki sauce he bought from Bibbi Hadith at the shawarma stand.

Gary sank into a seat with a huge cup of tea, a giant salad and half a baguette, toasted with garlic and butter. The girls and Wilford were out, no doubt enjoying the festivities before the festival. He moved in on his meal like a starving dog, conjuring silverware into his hands, stabbing at the leafy pile, drizzled with yogurt and cucumber mint dressing. 

 

Gary’s fork struck empty air, as his salad and loaf vanished into Sonja’s hands. “Oh, that looks fine… let’s trade boy, Mine for yours.” Her gleeful cackle told him this was Shai’s handiwork. She slid a tray over to him, holding a gray, softball sized… object, resting among roasted beets and carrots.

“What is it?” He asked, giving it a poke. One touch told him the tale, one touch revealed the dark secrets.

 

Haggis, roasted root vegetables. This traditional meal is the ultimate form of Shai’s ‘Blood and Loins’ menu. Finely minced organ meats and offal, mixed with minced onions, garlic, cut oats and beer, sewn into a sheep’s stomach and boiled in vinegar water. This is not a meal for the faint hearted. Those with weak constitutions, should shut up and eat more.

 

With fading hope and little recourse, Gary produced his knife and cut the animal bladder open. A crumbly, gray mass erupted with a gout of liver and kidney scented lamb steam. He spooned a bit of it up and tasted the disturbing thing.

 

Challenging… that was the flavor. Imagine liverwurst decided to become a professional wrestler, late in life. He took a job, cleaning up at a famous wrestling gym and worked his way into the program. Finally, after years of training, dedication and hard work, he was ready to come in off the highest turnbuckle, directly at Gary’s throat.

So moist, meaty, rich and satisfying on the palate, not too fatty, with a hit of beer and the pungency of onions. Too bad it arrived on a cloud of funky lamb gameyness and weird vinegar twang.

 

Sonja laughed in his face, then split the salad and loaf with him, claiming half the haggis for herself. “She is a tangled line, I’ll help ye wit it, dint tell Shai.” 

As a salad topping It was far less challenging. He even began to enjoy the gamey and hearty flavors… As long as yogurt and mint were there to help him get over the hump.

 

Shai and the kids came back, sprinkled with flower petals and smiling happily.”Ah! Ye did eat yer haggis! Fine! That be fine! I’ll be letting ye have what ye will on festival day… within reason.” 

She sucked her teeth in disappointment at the state of him, still shaky and leaning on a stick. “Tawny, kin ye mend this boy? I expected him to be much recovered.”

 

Tawny swept in and dragged him off to a private room with Shai, leaving the kids in Becky’s charge. The two women had him brusquely stripped and his wounds inspected before the indignity of it all hit him. 

“His gift for wildly accelerated healing seems to have failed. This is what I would expect from a few days of mundane medical care in a mundane human.” She prodded the lance wound on his left shoulder gently, making him gasp. “See? Barely closed, any worse off and I would have to suture him.”

 

He held up his hands and waved feebly. “Keep you needles woman, I need to grow my shadow back first. Until that heals, I’m not entirely whole.” He sat on the bed with a wheeze. “I’m working on it as we speak, see? My shadow is almost back, but he’s still a little cheeky.” His shadow stopped doing embarrassing, childish shadow puppets when Shai and Tawny looked down. 

 

“We had a chat with Becky, she says Thirp has confidence in you, that this new… ability will not harm you. From what I hear, this extraplanar spider demigoddess that haunts you, is wise and clever.” Tawny smiled weakly, very weakly. “The things you did while climbing that seashell leave me less than confident…”

 

“I can’t with you Tawny…” He laughed softly and low. “I’m getting there, maybe you should come by and meet Thirp tonight.” Gary levered himself to his feet with one leg, without moving his back in one smooth, well practiced move. 

“Dannyl has the ring, he stopped coming by, cause joy was making too much noise.” He said, as he dressed himself again. Shai shut that Idea down hard.

 

“I hae that ring stashed away, boy. Yer soul is nae a public tavern, Ye must get yer house in order ere any others come calling.” She flicked his ear and wrapped him in a vast embrace from behind.

“Come, I would take ye intae the market fer a stroll. Ye hae the strength fer that. If not, I’ll hae Tallum carry ye home.”  

 

She pulled him by the hand, out into town and down to the market ward, walking slowly as he took careful steps on the way. 

The town was coated with flower petals and blossoms; apple, plum, cherry and almond petals blew on the gentle breeze, wafting springtime scents up from the greening fields.

All the shades of white and pink scattered on the road, in the trees and in the happy strollers’ hair competed with explosions of color in the window boxes and hanging planters in town. In the outlying wards, the battle for the best front garden rose to absurd heights. 

Roses planted in wheeled pots that had been lovingly coaxed and groomed in greenhouses all winter, climbed elaborate trellises and cages in fanciful shapes. Bonsai gardens in miniature or exquisite topiaries greeted the eye wherever he looked. 

 

“Wow… the garden society is really getting after it. Is it like this every spring?” He asked in a tone of happy wonder.

 

“Nae, tis extraordinary… Liam does say that tis the work of the dryads an Axio, spreading their influence now they are awakened. Methinks t’will be a fine harvest on all accounts.” Shai winked at a number of other couples, strolling in the early evening.

There were a lot of couples, weirdly a lot. Old, young, married, courting, they were everywhere. Holding hands, chastely canoodling, or in some cases, making out where they thought no one would notice. 

“Ahh… My young friends!” Otho pounced on them shining with so much radiant happiness it was difficult to look at him. “I see you are on the mend Gary, excellent! Have you and Shai come to look at your handiwork?”

 

“Our handiwork? We can’t take credit for this…” Gary started. Until Otho laughed joyously and clapped the pair of them under his arms, inserting himself between them. 

 

“Look at the people, boy… You and Shai scattered your gifts around the craft ward every morning for weeks, while your own bond was growing so well… Lady Joy is heartily pleased with the crop you have sown.” He wrung his hands in glee at the wandering, happy pairs. “So many weddings, so many babies…” 

He spotted the tall and lithe form of Gunnar, walking with a handsome blonde man with wide shoulders and a swimmer’s build. “Gunnar! Wait for me! I must interrupt you!” Otho shouted, dashing off with the skirts of his robes held up hilariously. 

“Wait! We must discuss the upcoming…” The old priest vanished into the crowd and flying petals, chasing down his quarry.  

 

Children carried wicker baskets filled with petals to and fro, hurling fistfulls at their playmates and elders, while cackling with joy. Green capped orphans skulked about, slipping brightly wrapped treats into the baskets of unwary shoppers. Others hustled charcoal sketches, drawn for a few iron bits, or sold bouquets to strollers. 

Dannyl had his guitar out by the fountain, playing softly for a small crowd of listeners. His dexterous fingers thumped and tapped the body of his instrument as he laid down a mellow fingerstyle groove.

 

Shai led him through a tranquil street fair, relaxed and quiet, while bustling and exciting. “It’s so quiet…” He murmured over the thrum of the crowd. Even a half block away, Dannyl’s sweet music still lingered on the breeze.

 

“Spring Festival be one of quiet contemplation and enjoying the new life all around, Tis also the feast fer folk of all ages tae take time fer an with, those they love.” She took him by the hand and pulled him into the happy throng. 

“I will hae a dance wi thee in the orchards tonight… an we retire tae my home by the river fer the evening. Ivy an Tallum did say they would stay wi the children tonight.”

 

“Be gentle with me… I’m stuffed full of haggis.” 

 

She laughed and swatted him on the rump as she led him to a pasture, where Otho’s Joyous were laying down a sweet, mellow waltz. They drifted together, in time to the music, but in their own world. Swaying in a warm embrace, they danced until Gary faltered and had to sit for a while.

They could still hear the music as they bathed each other in Shai’s home, just a few dozen yards away from the dance pasture. 

The soft tunes and splashing waters eased them into a slow, gentle embrace that lingered long into the night. Delicate caresses and whispered thoughts took the place of heated passion. They shared a kiss around a good pinch of duskmoon pollen, to assure that the evening remained entirely private. 

#

 

They woke together, tangled limbs entwined in soft bedding, with the morning sun just poking her glowing eye over the hills. 

Rather, Shai woke, as the first rays hit her face, turning the world behind her eyelids to blazing glory. Gary was still passed out in an undignified sprawl, his pale limbs flung everywhere. 

She prodded him gently in the ribs, he failed to even stir, lost to the world. The red haired vixen smiled happily and wiggled under the blankets to enjoy waking first… for a change.

#

 

The pleasant warmth of sunshine on the bed woke him slowly, as did the pleasant warmth embracing him under the sheets. Gary opened his eyes and found Shai’s pale pert bottom beside his face, as she went to town on little Gary. 

He reached out on instinct, caressing that beloved backside and ran his fingertips over her most sensitive locales and environs. With a muffled giggle, she stepped one leg over him and the world became a dark, warm, comfortable place of smooth skin and moist, delightful secrets to explore.

#

 

“Mayhap I shall use Sonja’s ointment on thee again… the hair be growing back, by an by… mayhap I’ll use a bit on meself as well.” She whispered, curled up in his arms and aggressively snuggly.

 

“Ohh? maybe… though I love the way it tickles my chin.” He giggled, lost in the afterglow and warmth of her embrace.

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“I hae other things tae tickle ye wi as well lad, and other things tae tickle…” She rolled on top of the helpless boy and made her arguments, until second bell rang out, clear and sweet.

#

 

They dressed after bathing together… and having to bathe again after… 

 They spent a leisurely half hour wandering the sleepy streets and buying a huge basket of pastries for breakfast from the bakery. Eventually they made their way to the door of their home in the adventure compound. 

 

In the shade of their own window boxes and dangling flowers, they found a basket filled with craft tokens.

“What’s this, Job offers?” Gary asked, rubbing his hands together in glee. “I could really use some workshop time.”

 

“Nae, tis invitations. Wedding invitations. Look boy, the tokens be in pairs, tied wi a bit of ribbon. Each of these be an invitation tae a wedding in the craft or market wards.” She said, just a little smugly. “We hae a bit of a hand in all of these I think.”

 

“That’s a lot… I don't even know how you guys do things here. Do we go? Send a card? A gift? Hide under the bed and hope they stop bothering us so we can work?”

 

Shai cuffed him lightly behind the ear and dragged him inside with a laugh. “Tis our own fault. We will hae a busy festival.”

“Tradition be, that ye drop yer tokens in the baskets of those ye would invite, on Spring Festival day. Most folk hae their weddings on midsummer, or on a feast day of their choosing. The ribbon color be a clue tae the date.” She smiled and jingled her basket of tokens.

“An the tokens be tied wi a pink ribbon, tis a public wedding on the second day of Spring Festival. Mayhap there were a bargain tae be had on pink ribbons…”

 

Gary took a quick paw through the basket, a few blue ribbons, a few were the brown and white of Craft… Many were golden, indicating midsummer and the feast of Healer. 

So much pink, the not pink ribbons stood out in a profusion of pale and rosy hues that covered the spectrum from, ‘is that red?’ to ‘I’d swear that was white.’ and everything in between.

“Uhh, do we bring gifts? I don’t know most of these people… or recognize who’s tokens are who’s…” He shrugged helplessly. “I’m a weirdo from out of town, just cause I’m with the most popular girl in two wards doesn't make me any less of a geek.”

 

“Three wards, boyo!” She crowed happily. “In crafts, market or uplands, sweet Shai be on every guest list. The temple an noble quarters are nae discerning enough, preferring more lofty celebrants fer their dull an dour doings.” Shai passed him the hefty basket and replaced it with an empty one from her storage gift with a smile and a wink. “Tis yet early.”

 

Amy and Wilford, still in pajamas, blasted into them full force when they came in the door. “You stayed home last night too! No fair, Wilford and I wanted to watch Scooby Doo with you.”

 

“Taking a break from Disney? You feeling ok Amy?” Gary laughed as she kicked his ankle with her slippered toes. 

 

“Wilford likes it… it’s ok.” She sulked halfheartedly. 

 

“We will be getting in the Mystery Machine and going to another town soon, to solve a mystery… but it sounds like you aren't interested. Maybe you can stay with a babysitter…” He stroked his chin in contemplation. “You can stay in the dormitory while we travel…”

 

“Nooooooooo!” 

 

Gary swept her up in a hug before her voice did more than make the instruments on the walls sing out in harmony. “Never love, we stay together.” 

With one arm full of child and a basket over the other, he drifted into his home with a laugh and the rest of his family all around. “Who’s ready for a festival?”

#

 

In Wheatford Town, Festival day hit like a storm. Third bell sounded and the town became a carnival. Garden society members were out, in the uniform of their ‘secret society’ long brown aprons and gardeners gloves. 

If that was too subtle, each one had a ceremonial trowel sheathed somewhere on their person. Typically they were elaborate heirloom items, passed from parent to child for generations and embellished every step of the way.

The Garden society did not stroll aimlessly, they marched from one society member’s house to another in tight knit groups, debating and discussing the merits and flaws in each garden as they passed.

Heather Shraefer stood tall and proud at the heart of the most senior band of Gardeners, her gilt and gem encrusted trowel shining in the sun.  It was a custom job from Gary’s bench, embossed in twining vines in brass and bronze with gilt accents. She wore it in a sheath of worm hide leather, gilt and beaded with shining gems. The scabbard was cut away, to best display the cunningly wrought scene of a cherry tree in flower on the blade.

Of course it was all glass gems and gold leaf… fun was fun, but sensible farmers and shopkeepers needed to keep their feet on the ground. Gary gained a fair few bolts of fine woolen cloth and a small stack of bronze ingots for that bit of gaudy fun.

He made her promise to keep secret just who had crafted it for her. That ensured he would not be forced to dedicate the remainder of his career to crafting ever more elaborate ceremonial garden tools.

“Gary… Shai!” She waved happily and bustled over with her society members in tow. “Sweeties, darlings…” She embraced Shai and pressed a motherly kiss on each cheek, before enfolding Gary in a hug that made him jerk awkwardly, in pain and social discomfort. 

Her entourage washed over and around them and she was gone, as though visiting royalty had paused to enlighten the day of her lowliest peasants.

 

“Tis a grand day fer Heather. Lady Helene were head of the garden society ere ye camped on her hilltop. Now she do mock her ladyship’s highhanded ways in pantomime.” Shai whispered in giddy excitement. “Tis all part of the gossip society’s workings.”

She made an elegant courtesy to the garden notables, Gary did his best, bless his heart. Shai pulled him back into the crowd and giggled with naughty pleasure.

“I’ll nae explain it all now, simply play the humble supplicant tae mistress Heather Schaefer. An word of this procession reaches lady Helene… which it surely will, she shall be furious.” 

 

“I thought the Garden society was for commoners?” Gary wondered, deeply lost.

 

“Poor fool, there be naught fer us, save that which nobles dinnae wish tae take.” She paused, looking confused. “I did mean tae say, there be no rule tae exclude nobles… I dinnae ken why I did speak elsewise…”

 

“No babe, you had it right the first time… I’m a bad influence on you.” He gave her that old Gary grin, crooked and mad, with that hidden sorrow behind his eyes.

 

“Aye, a bad influence indeed. Perhaps I shall become as thee, a breaker of rules and foolish beyond all toleration.” Kissing a beautiful girl, while she laughed with pure, unalloyed Joy received high marks in Gary’s books. 

 

“Everyone should try that… they gotta find their own girl though. This one’s mine.” He said, enigmatically. 

 

Gary and Wilford strolled hand in hand, while Shai carried Amy through the festival. Booths, shopfronts and tables were everywhere, manned by oldsters or youngsters, selling all the various crafts folk got up to over the winter. 

Knitted scarves and shawls, embroidered vests and such, small housewares carved in wood and bone or other works of idle farmers’ hands were everyhwere.

So too were second hand goods, outgrown children’s clothes, houseplants, garden seedlings and virtually any other thing one might expect to find at a flea market or swap meet.

 

The happy little family wandered and browsed idly for a while, watching skits and playing games of skill and chance for iron bits and small prizes. 

They spotted  Becky and Levin, wandering arm in arm and chatting, sharing a towering funnel cake type confection. Gary and Shai steered clear, leaving them to their own devices. At noon Liam and Tawny took the children to play with the other little ones, under their supervision.

 

Feeling at loose ends without the kids, Gary started browsing more aggressively, while plying Shai with questions. “So, wedding gifts… are they a thing here? I never really paid much attention to that stuff back home. I think most folks bring something to weddings?”

 

“Nae, tis a fine thing tae bring a token or drop some coins in the temple well wi wishes fer long life an good health, but tis simply the joining of two lives, whae dae ye need a pile of things fer? An Tallum an Ivy wed, we shall come together as a family tae set them on their way, as is proper.” 

 

“That was really getting under my skin. I don’t wanna be that clueless guy. Still…” He smiled as though some great crime were afoot.

 

“Ye hae been sewing slippers intae silly shapes again boy, I know it. Fie, would all yer quirks and madness were so gentle and sweet.” She kissed him, right in between the fried dough stand and the dart game. “Ye may give our friends yer silly slippers boy. I will nae stop thee.” 

 

He tried to caper about in happiness, but his half healed wounds brought that to an early halt. “Let’s go trade with Liam and Tawny. We can watch the kids while I try to not fall down.”

 

 

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