Midnight Wonders

3.3.2. Greetings Along the Path

They went on in silence. The only horizon Luc could see was made by the outline of the hills, but it was strange to see no sky. He was used to everything being so blue, and the artificial light was so yellow and orange, it was as if there were a perpetual sunset hanging in the sky. He supposed night was impossible in this place, which was a bit...saddening. He was not entirely sure why; he quite liked the daytime when he could do as he pleased. But there was something about the night that was comforting, too. The quiet. Kay had said there was night twice a year, but it couldn't be anything like outside, with the light of the stars still piercing through the dark blanket of space. The darkness. The stillness.

In the distance, they approached a group of others who were picking peas on the side of the road.

"Is it pea season?" said Luc wondrously, watching them work.

"It's always season," said Kay.

"Hello!" one of the pea-pickers called, waving as they neared. Another was shoving peas into their mouth from the harvest basket, and they grinned with a green smile.

"Hello," Luc called, waving. Kay didn't react.

"Oh!" called one woman, stepping out from the patch of peas. "Knight!" She waved excitedly.

"Oh," Kay muttered. "They must want something." He slowed his horse, and Luc looked down frantically at Milk, but she came to a stop on her own.

The group came up to surround them. Luc felt a little strange sitting so high up and looking down on them, and he reached to tap Kay on the arm. "How do I get down?"

Kay looked at him. "Really?"

"Won't I fall?"

"You aren't a child afraid of three feet, surely," said Kay.

Luc just looked at him. Should anyone think him a coward, or too dainty, he wouldn't mind.

"I'll help you!" said one of the women, holding out her hands.

"Oh, thank you, how kind," Luc said, reaching for her hands.

"Wait," said Kay, hopping off his horse. "I'll help you."

"Oh, you green-eyed knight," said the woman. "Save some debts for the rest of us!"

"He owes me no debts," said Kay. Luc took his hands, which were rough and warm. His grip was tight as he helped Luc descend from the horse. He let go quickly once Luc had found his standing on the ground. A hot rush ran down his legs as they awoke from what just have been hours of inactivity.

"Thank you," said Luc, holding on to Milk to steady himself.

"What's the matter?" Kay asked the group. There were two women and two men, both dressed similarly to Kay, in much simpler clothing than what Luc had seen at the market.

"There's a problem down the road," said one of the men, pointing. "A boy, I believe. Or two of them? They were making quite a fuss! It's good you came along; we were going to send someone else further down to fetch a knight, but you got here first."

"I'll go check it out," said Kay. He handed Chocolate's reins to Luc and started down the path. Luc stared at the reins in his hand.

"He'll come back for you," a woman assured him. "Who are you? You must be quite special to be traveling with a knight."

"He's helping me with something," Luc told her. "I'm looking for my sister. I hear she's at the Yew."

"At the Yew?" said the woman. "I've been there. It's a lovely place, but so confusing!"

"Confusing?"

"Yes, it's a labyrinth," said one of the men. "I've been there before on deliveries, and I've spent hours just trying to find the right entrance!" He laughed. "Perhaps they decide who the king and queen are by seeing who can memorize all the pathways the quickest."