Existence

Chapter 12

When they got back to the village square, Sarah noticed that the kids were gone. People in yellow headbands were putting up lights around the perimeter and setting up a line of tables on one side. Meanwhile, vendors were temporarily leaving their stalls to enter a sprawling, one-storey building with several chimneys poking out of its roof. One by one, they brought out all sorts of delicious food and laid them out on the longest table.

Sarah glimpsed various pies, salads, seafood and... was that ice cream? Leaving Thomas's side, Sarah approached the line of people for a closer look. Surely it only looked like ice cream. Being situated in the middle of some forest with no electricity, Sarah couldn't imagine where the ice might come from.

"Sarah, there you are!"

Alex was coming out of the building with the other village folk, a strip of yellow fabric wrapped around his wrist instead of his forehead, which sported the usual red bandana. He was carrying a big wooden chest with what looked like steam coming out of it. As her cousin got closer however, she realized that the 'steam' wasn't rising, but slowly drifting downward.

"Is that ice?" Sarah asked as Alex set the box down.

Indeed, the wooden chest was brimming with frozen cubes. Sarah felt the cool mist it emitted on her fingertips. There was no sign that the ice was about to melt any time soon in the warm temperature of the village square.

"Yep," Alex said proudly. Upon noticing her puzzled expression, he took a white handkerchief out of his pocket and waved it at her. "I get snow and ice from white objects. Supply the villages with them for parties and whatnot when I stop by."

"I see." Her curiosity satisfied, Sarah remembered she was still annoyed with her cousin and made to head back to where Thomas was.

"Sar, where did you get that sword?"

Sarah paused and followed her cousin's narrowed glance down to the weapon strapped to her side. She had almost forgotten about it.

"A friend gave it to me," she answered curtly.

"A friend?" Alex repeated. "Who—"

"None of your business, Alex." It was more of a way to get back at him for his secrecy than anything else. Alex was bound to meet Thomas eventually, since they were going to spend the next few days in the village together.

Alex sighed and glanced around the square, clearly choosing not to argue with her. "The party's starting soon. Perhaps you should change clothes, Sar. You've worn the same thing since yesterday and, well... I know how girls get when..."

"I don't feel like partying," Sarah said, mentally daring him to finish his sentence. However, she kept silent as she did want to change clothes and possibly take a bath. She was all sweaty and achy from the training session with Phoebus and her clothes had dirt stains from lying on the forest floor. But she didn't have any of her clothes with her. Maybe she could buy some from one of the stalls. Then Sarah remembered she didn't have any money.

Her cousin nodded, still glancing around as he muttered something like, 'Neither do I.' Before Sarah could comment on it, he spoke out loud, "At least stay for dinner. They're going to serve meat tonight." Sarah frowned in puzzlement. Why did Alex think that would persuade her? "Plus, the rest of the village will be empty during the feast. I'd feel better knowing you aren't completely alone in the guesthouse."

"There you are, Sarah." Thomas appeared at her side, munching on what looked like a bagel. "I was—"

"I am alone in the guesthouse, Alex." Sarah pointed out, ignoring Thomas.