Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 18

The Otswana festival was held every year on the last day of Loborian's harvest season. It is a full day of celebration and festivities. It was no coincidence the queen chose the princess' debut ball to be held on the day of the autumn holiday. Hilvasha had no desire to make the day all about the princess. In fact, there was nothing special planned for Otswana, except for the periwinkle gown.

The party commenced at ten in the morning, but the organization and the setting up of the tents took all of the previous evening. The outer courtyard of the castle was brimming with various tents for displaying small trinkets to be sold, games of chance, fortune telling, card tricks, trained circus pets, puppet shows with hand puppets and marionettes, and cheap magic tricks. Outside these opened tents were contortionists, jugglers, fire breathers, and dancers.

Otswana rose early to witness all the attractions and the performers. Never before, had she been to the festival. The princess had remained at the manor each year for her birthday. Seeing everything for the first time, Otti came to the conclusion it seemed both exciting and depressing.

Living in an excluded manor for her entire life, Otswana had missed out on so many things; experiences that others would have taken for granted. Cloud candy, licorice sticks, chocolates, gumdrops, roasted mallow biscuits, and honeyed figs were just a few of the treats Otti had never tried before. Lord Briggon gave her a coin pouch for the entire day and she spent a third of it on carnival food she shared with Sashia and Izadora. They walked among each food tent trying one of everything. Klav, Greggor and Yugeer enjoyed the sausages on a stick more than they did the sweets.

Once the group was done sampling the foods, Otti begged to see the performers. They avoided the fortune teller and the magicians, for they were cheap tricks that did not require true magic. Sashia enjoyed the puppet shows and the storyteller of fables and dark tales. Izadora bought several small trinkets and Otti found the jugglers, fire breathers and the contortionists very entertaining. By noon, Otswana met with Jethro, Padora, Abryan and a few others from the manor. Gracelyn and Andra were unable to come, for reasons that Jethro could not share in the current company of Draconians.

Sadly, Otswana's Loborian friends departed to enjoy the festivities as her group of new friends were finishing with exploring the entertainment.

It was just after one o' clock, when they had passed through all the tents and witnessed all they wished to see. They retired to the castle for afternoon tea and crumpets, before they were to prepare for the ball.

The chambermaids waited in the rooms to assist the women with their baths and dress in their ball gowns, plait their hair and put on women's face paints. Once all the primping was done, it was four o'clock. Otti stared at herself in the looking glass of her toilette. She did not even recognize herself in the gown.

The periwinkle dress was elegant. The fabric was satin that shimmered in the blue light of the candles. The bead work and the printed swirling lines went from the snug bodice to the hems of the flowing skirt.

The intricate design reminded Otti of winter frost on a window pane. She wore long, white, satin gloves that felt snug at her elbows. Her hair was twisted up and pinned with a dozen jeweled crested pins that made her hair sparkle like a clear evening sky. The hair comb, pressed firmly against her scalp, was holding several curls in place. Wax and some other liquids were smeared on. These left her hair feeling stiff and heavy. Her feet donned black slippers that cushioned the feet and the stiff tips added protection from 'toe-steppers'. This was a Loborian term for inexperienced dance partners. Over all, Otti loved the dress. She detested the face paint.

The white powder gave the illusion that Otti was pale. Her few blemishes were gone, but Otti liked her natural look. Her eye powder was too dark. She had never before seen painted eyebrows. Her rose-colored cheeks made her look like a bisque doll and the thick lip balm made her lips seem like she kissed the shiny particles off of a house moth.