X-Marks: Stealing Shadows

Feast

Paper lanterns swayed above, and the warm smell of roasted meats filled the entrance below the stage.

Travelers embraced as they crossed on each side. Charms jangled across the boys hats and girls held out their dress hems to make others stop to watch.

No one looked at me. For once this was good.

Bodies forced me up and onto to the stage. From there, I could see the walls of atrium draped with colorful cloth like oversized confetti. The tents had been replaced with game booths where lines of travelers waited for a play. In the center, a boar roasted over a simmering fire.

A tall man in purple striped pants bumped into me.

"Excuse me miss," he said and moved his drum away from my head.

"Oh, I'm so -,"

"Best get off the stage, young lady," another man in matching purple pants said.

The man dropped a rusted box onto the stage. The metal screeched against the floor, and I flinched away.

"We're on once they close it off. Everyone knows that," the man continued, " Accept you that is."

I clutched my squeaky charms.

A tan woman with red hair opened a stringed instrument from its case.

"Probably just looking for her charm mates. Isn't that right?" the woman said.

I walked backward and clutched the railings of the stage on the way down.

"Strange one, isn't she?" another man said from behind.

I was looking for someone but where could she be in this maze of smiling faces.

I stood on my toes. There was a gap in the wall just over a boy's hat. Maybe the games were out there? The crowd cut to the door. I pushed others away with my elbows to keep the space. She had to be somewhere.

A crowd of bearded men surrounded a table near the door. They acted more like rowdy little boys than men. In the center of the circle were the last two I thought to see.

Alger and Richard sat across a short table. Their hands locked with elbows pointed down on the table and brows laced with sweat. Their wincing eyes stayed firm on one another as their buckling arms swayed from side to side. The farther their arms swung the louder the crowd became.

Alger's hand hovered above the table. The vein of his forehead pulse with each give.

"I saw you!" Alger shouted and stood from his stool, "Gripping the table! Always a cheater you are!"

Richard laughed from his round belly.

"I did nothing of the sort. Now, pay up! Or are you always such a sore loser?"

Alger forced his hand into his vest pocket and tossed coins onto the table. Richard swept the coins from the table.

"We're not playing for charms anymore. Are we now little Al?" Richard said and laughed more.

A different cheer came through the door to the well. It went in tune to a rhythmic march. Something had happened, but what?

A swarm of men rushed through and nearly blew me back with them. They held a yellow hooded person above their heads.

"Valen!" Ocean said and pulled down her hood, "We caught a fish!"

Neirin held the prized catch, no longer than his thumb.

"Onto the fire pit!" he shouted as the others followed with Ocean above their hands.

"Ocean! Wait!" I shouted.