They both settled into a more comfortable silence than when they began their walk, continuing into the town. Small buildings became more frequent along the side of the road and more people also traveling to the main festival grounds filled the streets. When they entered the town proper they were swept along with the throngs of people pouring into the festival grounds in the market square, the vague but unmistakable sounds of celebration and joy growing louder.
Sage could feel the excited energy around her, threatening to overwhelm her senses; she felt the familiar impulse to retreat to the edge of activity, find a quiet spot to observe it all from a safe distance. But Alex’s curiosity was plain, and Sage could see their eyes sparkling with possibilities. She forced her focus onto them despite feeling her attention being pulled a hundred different directions at once, like tracking a single bee in a swarm. She showed them some of the things she did enjoy about the festival - her favorite treats, offered in miniature samples by the bakery in town; colorful garlands and chaplets carefully woven by the florist; candied and sweetened fruits of various kinds that she didn’t know were traditional only in Ayla’s Ridge until she saw Alex’s delighted surprise. Eventually they made their way to the edge of the gathered tables and benches, where Sage sat as far as possible from the flurry of dancers while she awaited Alex’s return from the crowded bar with mead and fruit wines to sample. She almost felt that if she stared into the organized chaos of the dance floor she might see a pattern, vaguely hoping she might be able to learn how to dance without suffering the embarrassment of being seen practicing. She felt her eyes relax as she took in the whole blurred image of the swirling mass of feet and legs somehow remaining untangled. She heard Alex say her name and her eyes snapped back into focus, turning to face them and accept her drink. It was only after she had turned that she fully processed the large, unblinking yellow eyes she had seen when her eyes had momentarily refocused on the crowd, but when she turned back, drink in hand, they were nowhere to be found.
“What’s that?” Alex gestured to a large booth in the distance, children seated in a semicircle around it in rapt attention as a puppet show played. Sage still felt unsettled, unable to shake the feeling of being watched by those yellow eyes, but did her best to explain her favorite part of the festival to Alex.
“It’s a puppet show that the Church puts on every year. It goes through all the Signs and explains what they are, how they might show up.” Sage remembered every year being so enthralled by each possibility, drawn into daydream and fantasy about what she might do with each Sign well before the show got around to explaining why they were something to be feared. Alex tilted their head to the side. “Huh, I guess we don’t have that at the Crossing because we have a Church there. They go over that stuff pretty regularly during the services.” The show wasn’t audible from where Sage and Alex were seated, but Sage could tell by the small puff of smoke that they must be on the Sign of Creation now. As an adult, it had become clear the sleight of hand and alchemical effects they used to simulate the magic of creating a mystical artifact, but as a child she had been convinced it was real every time. “It’s a good thing they go over at least the Signs, since there’s no Church here. I can’t imagine what would happen if you didn’t even know what to watch out for.” Alex shuddered for dramatic effect and took a sip from their drink.
“You’ve never thought it might be cool to have magic abilities?” Sage felt defensive. Alex was unwavering and gave her a look of disbelief.
“No, of course not. It’s dangerous! I’ve also never thought it might be cool to be stranded on a desert island or attacked by bandits on the road. It’s basically the same thing.” Sage was silent. She couldn’t describe why she disagreed despite knowing the danger, and decided it wouldn’t be received well if she tried. “I mean, they also include in that puppet show what happens if you show Signs and don’t become a Warden, right? How you get taken over by the magic and lose your humanity? I heard that usually it’s so sudden, people go berserk and end up killing their loved ones when they turn.” Alex’s shudder was involuntary this time. “Don’t get me wrong, the Wardens can be creepy too, especially the Seekers, but they’re a million times better than the monsters the Signed would be turning into if we didn’t have them.”
Sage seized on the small scrap of common ground they seemed to share, gently steering the conversation to more amiable gossip. “I heard that the Wardens aren’t really human anymore, either.”
“Makes sense to me. I mean, they go through The Substantiation to control their magic but it doesn’t cure them. I’ve heard they’re basically part monster themselves, and that’s why they’re the only ones who can fight them.” Alex made a face Sage saw a lot from people in the town discussing a friend of a friend going through a misfortune, a face that said, “Well what can you do? It is what it is.”
“I’ve always wondered what The Substantiation really is, and why it’s so dangerous. What could they possibly be doing to tame their magic that’s so deadly? Surely there’s a better way.” Sage swirled the honey colored liquid in her cup. She thought it must be alchemical in nature, and tried hard not to give form to the thought that perhaps if she only knew the ingredients they used she could recreate it.
Alex suppressed a grin, unaware of Sage’s heretical inner struggle. “You know, you’re a little odd, Sage.” They took another drink from their cup, eyebrows raised playfully. Sage blushed, afraid they had realized she hadn’t quite let go of her childish fascination with the arcane. Not knowing what to say, she also took a drink from her cup and looked around desperately for a new topic of conversation.
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Her eyes landed on a tall, strong-looking figure eyeing her cup with disdain, standing at the edge of the crowd behind Alex. She was clearly a Warden - a Hunter, it looked like, based on the two short swords sheathed on her back and her dark leather armor. She had thick black hair kept firmly but messily in a pile on top of her head, a strong, square face, and warm, dark brown skin. She wore a faded grey cloth sash with a zig-zag matte yellow pattern wrapped tightly around her waist, and another darker cloth wrapped around her left forearm and hand. The sash on her arm had no pattern; instead, it looked iridescent in the torchlight as she brought her cup to her lips. Alex turned to follow Sage’s gaze, and the figure tossed the empty cup onto the grass, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Wow, a Hunter! I’ve seen a couple passing through the Crossing before, but never really up close. Sven didn’t tell me there were any monsters around the village.” Alex threw a questioning glance at Sage, who shrugged. She hadn’t heard of any monsters either, except the old stories about the forest. It occurred to her now that some of those stories had apparently been true, although she was still uncertain whether she considered Ayala a monster or not. Before she could turn her attention back to Alex, the Hunter made eye contact with her and started to walk over.
Sage’s heart raced and Alex, clearly hoping to continue to never see a Hunter up close, also quickly turned back to face Sage and slouched over their drink as if deep in thought. Sage couldn’t tear her eyes away from the hard, determined eyes of the Hunter. She felt certain it was obvious on her face where she had been, what she had seen in her dreams; that the Hunter could sense she had done something wrong and would make her explain about the grove – no, she would be forced to lead her there herself and to watch as she destroyed Ayala. Maybe she would be taken to prison, or worse, executed on the spot and –
No. She will do no such thing. The thought bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her, breaking the tension of her fear. Sage took a steadying breath deep into her stomach as the Hunter finally reached the table, towering over her and Alex. Whatever she asks, I won’t say anything about the glade or Ayala. She felt assured by this thought. She could almost feel the warm smooth stone in her hand again, soothing her racing thoughts.
The Hunter took a moment to look over Sage and Alex, assessing them both. Alex refused to look up. From this close, Sage could see faint scars on both of the Hunter’s hands and the edge of a tattoo at the base of her neck, disappearing beneath the shoulder piece of her armor. “Hello. Who are you?” Sage was surprised to hear her own voice so steady and casual.
“Rohan. Hunter. Either of you seen a Gryphon anywhere around here?” Her voice was low and rough, cutting straight to the point.
Alex shook their head silently. “A Gryphon?” Sage asked, again surprised by her own boldness.
“You know - giant bird looking monster, eats livestock and overly curious villagers?” Rohan was unphased and vaguely annoyed. She looked disinterested, like she had already had this same conversation repeatedly for several days in a row.
Sage shook her head, feeling a little disappointed. She had heard Hunters were valiant protectors – this wasn’t what she had pictured at all. Rohan’s indistinct boredom and fatigue with her duties reminded Sage of herself, minding the stall in the market or making several of the same balm all afternoon. The Wardens were supposed to be different.
Rohan narrowed her eyes at Sage. “Too bad. You looked like you had something interesting to tell me, the way you stared and all.”
The hair stood up on the back of Sage’s neck. Stories about the Sign of Foresight and rumors that the Seekers could read minds coalesced into a pit of fear in Sage’s stomach. Rohan knew already, she could tell, she had read Sage’s mind, she was reading it now. Images of being dragged away in chains flooded Sage’s mind, she could practically hear her parents crying out in shame. As if she had left her body, her mind continued to run away with these fears and visions while her mouth moved and simply said: “No, I’ve just never seen a Warden before. Is it true that you eat the corpses of those who don’t survive The Substantiation?” Her voice remained even and casual, but Sage felt mortified and out of control.
“Sage!” Alex hissed, eyes wide with fear and disbelief.
To Sage’s relief Rohan merely rolled her eyes and said, “I don’t have time for backwater rumors. Find me if you have anything useful to say.” Rohan walked away from the festival, towards the center of town. Sage swallowed hard, feeling dizzy and disoriented. She couldn’t believe she had really said that out loud, much less to an actual Hunter. Where had that even come from? She had never heard rumors that Wardens were cannibals.
“Are you okay?” Alex looked confused and a little disturbed.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure what came over me, I was just so nervous I didn’t know what to say.” Sage’s voice was shaky now, more like what she expected it to sound like talking to Rohan. Her thoughts felt scattered and unclear.
Alex shook their head. “We’re lucky she was busy tracking a Gryphon. You could’ve gotten in big trouble asking anything about The Substantiation, especially something so… grisly.” They seemed unsure how to talk to Sage, and she felt guilty. She felt more guilty about having made Alex uncomfortable than potentially offending Rohan. Sounds like the Gryphon is minding its own business anyway, if I haven’t heard of anyone losing any livestock. Sage hoped it wasn’t nearby, and Rohan would leave town soon.
“Sorry, Alex. I really don’t know what I was thinking.” Sage tried to shake the cloudiness from her mind. “Look, the bonfire is starting.”
