The 'Wizard's Rage' Project

Chapter 5

The bright red and gold banners of the city of Caldair waved proudly from every point on the duke's castle and at every guard station along the wall around the city. With the dawn of the first day of the festival came a rush of people through the city gates, all vying for a good position from which to watch the games.

Calden, Harlin and Shertai sat at a long rectangle table set under a tall red and gold tent built solely for shade. They watched as the elves Mikal, Aldor and Tenki approached and bid mornings greetings. Tenki sat down first and as politely as possible bellied herself up to the table. She grabbed a piece of bread and a cup of milk and said, "What a beautiful morning."

Calden smiled at her ravenous nature. He motioned for the other elves to sit and said, "Before the wall was built the summer festival was held entirely within the city walls. It seemed like nothing more than a weeklong drunken party. Now there are games and prizes and the people practice and prepare for months for this glorious celebration. There was a time when the only preparations made were in the breweries, pubs and jails."

Shertai said, "This year's events should prove more exciting than those before since the elves will be participating."

"What are the prizes?" Aldor asked.

Calden said, "Nothing more than a piece of parchment with their name inscribed on it from their duke and recognition from their peers."

Shertai laughed and said, "And smiles from the young maidens."

Calden nodded. "And of course smiles from the young maidens." He reached over and nipped Shertai on the arm, "Aye boy but only if ye win."

Shertai hated it when Calden tried to do a dwarven accent but that wasn't what suddenly made him blush. He was embarrassed about being publicly reminded of his loss to Tander the previous year.

Harlin said, "The dwarves will take several prizes. They usually excel at anything hand to hand. Wrestling, boxing, brawling and such. I believe they participate more for the betting opportunities than for the parchment."

Shertai said, "I'll bet the humans take the foot races and swordplay events."

"Footraces?" Aldor asked. "I bet the first foot race is won by an elf."

Shertai raised his eyebrows and said, "What do you bet?"

Aldor said, "One of Tenki's shoes. If I win, I get the right one. If I'm wrong, you get the left."

Tenki laughed and playfully slapped Aldor on the arm. "What about me?" She asked.

Aldor laughed. "You? Well, elves and humans are taken, that leaves the dwarves but if you want to put your money on the dwarves in a footrace it's your choice."

Tenki started to protest when Shertai, intentionally ignoring her, turned to Aldor and said, "Then it's a bet. I win I get the left, you win you get the right and if she loses then I get the left and you get the right."

They shook hands to make it official.

When Tenki stopped laughing she said, "It looks like there are more children in the fields than anyone else."

Calden said, "The first two days of the festival are dedicated to the children. The third day is for the adults and the rest of the week is back to the drunken party."

Shertai nudged Aldor and said, "That's when the fun begins."

Tenki wrapped an arm around Aldor and said, "You can't tempt my husband. He has all the she-elf he can handle right here."

Calden said, "I can safely say that wasn't Shertai's intent. He's hoping to sniff a bit more wine or ale than he knows I prefer." He turned to face Shertai and said, "It should be once in a great while and for special occasions only."