“What do you mean by ‘otherworldy’?” Sarah pouted while she held her arms tight across her chest.
“I mean ethereal, spiritual, transcendent,” Malik waved his hand at the sky as he spoke, “but you are as always, grounded to this world and would never understand such an experience, let alone feel and live it.”
Sarah scoffed, “well, at least I get to experience this world and learn all bout it while you drown in your swamps of ‘otherworldy’ desires.”
Ethan stood watching with a grin that was getting bigger by the minute, but suddenly Sarah turned at him, her face turning red and said, “what are you grinning at?”
“I like the way both of you talk about almost the same thing from completely different points of view,” Ethan explained while his grin still dominated his face, “you know that you are both right, winter solstice is an event that is very real and grounded in our lives, and also is ethereal and transcendent.”
“This is completely beside the point of the discussion,” Sarah insisted, “Malik wants to spend the night around the older kids, and winter solstice is a time to be around friends and we are his friends.”
“I forgot how this all started,” Ethan lost the grin, “is it about the tree concert this night?”
“Yes,” shouted Malik, “I will play my lute with the other kids tonight, then join them in their own festivities,” he mumbled something then said, “but Sarah, wants me to stay around, while I want you two to join.”
“They are far older than us,” Sarah complained to Ethan, “plus there is no added benefit to joining them.”
“As I said,” Malik sighed, “they will play music, recite poetry, sing, and dance, it will be otherworldy.”
“Now I remember,” Ethan smiled and nodded, “why can’t we do both?” he continued, “eat with the others after the tree concert, then join the musician with Malik, it would be something new for winter solstice, maybe we will have our own tradition.”
Sarah frowned, “I guess we can go after the winter solstice dinner,” she sighed as she faced Ethan, “just don’t let him mock my gift from the keeper again.”
“It is not really a gift,” Malik protested to Ethan, “she got a quill and parchments in a binder, you can get that from the hall of supplies any day of the week.”
“It is symbolic,” Ethan said, “like my new quiver, it is just the same.”
Before Malik could protest or Sarah could seek retribution, Ethan said, “come, the night is still far off,” he led both of his friends by the arms, “we can go get some hot chestnuts from the tree maintaining team.” And he left their arms and ran towards the grand tree that stood at twenty feet tall beside the fountain.
Characters from Nafoura
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