short story 2
- 1. "Sweet flower nectar saturates the air around the ancient man as he silently waits for the purple light of dusk to make way for the coming nighttime procession. Crowned with the wreath of midsummer, the elder holds his sickle to Sunmåd, the constellation of the summer solstice. Women chant the summer Edda of Sündyr, the men play on doeskin drums, the children, and elderly flanked by men costumed as beastmen in green redecorate the maypole in celebration. The elder turns his attention to the resting king several feet from his side; the passion in the middle-aged man's striking green eyes burn with anticipation for the years of unfinished campaigns soon to be under his name. Seeing this passion, the elder offers a smile; his ancient, whitened hazel eyes hinting to many an exploit in his yesteryears, "Tomorrow you will raise a sickle to the gods. Today you raise a wine to your people." The king nods, and raises his glass earnest respect for the old man, "One can only wish to see as much as you have seen." The other elders gather in a semicircle alongside the wreathed elder; the elders tell the children, and adolescents the thousands of years of history of the Volk in this rainy land. The men, and women, restless from being freed so recently from the icy chains of winter dance, and revel with musicians, and firelight under the cool, starry summer sky. The song, and laughter of the Volk in celebration of this wonderous time echoes through the forests, and fields. Many a dryad, and sprite timidly investigate the cheerful happening. The fair folk of the forest almost feel a sense of discontent for being so rudely uninvited to this momentous occasion, when their presence is hailed by the men in the green beast costumes. The beastmen dance the frenetic dance of the Faelokke. Thrilled, the spirits spin, and twirl alongside the men and their ancient dance. Man and spirit dance as one amongst the cairnes, and mounds. Not a single musical note, burst of laughter, nor spare moment was wasted in this ephemeral first night of summer under a starry moonlit sky..."