Festival of Stars begins with Hest reminded of his mother’s favorite holiday. The story continued with him searching for gifts but being disappointed. You can catch up by reading from the beginning. This story takes place in the Four Stars over Ardatz world, three months before Uprooted (available now) starts.

A Family Gathering

Hest groaned as he awoke. The Festival of Stars was this moonstep. He might as well get the horses cared for first.

“Hest! Hest are you awake?” Torrin’s call was strident and full of holiday excitement. “Hest, come see what mother gave me!”

Pulling his door open, he shouted down the stairs, “Let me get dressed first, and you’d better not be making the horses upset with your commotion.”

He’d ask the lad to help, but it usually required twice the effort when Torrin tried to ‘help’. Instead, he slipped into his trousers and hurried downstairs.

As he scooped oats into a bucket, he asked, “What has you so excited, Torrin?”

“Look!” He held out a book with gold lettering on the cover, and an embossed dragon blew fire around the edge.

“Woah!” Hest exclaimed. “That is beautiful.”

“I bet it even has some tales you’ve never heard before.”

“Probably. Are you going to sit still long enough to read it?” Hest chuckled.

Torrin frowned. “I can sit still—when I want to.”

“I know.” Hest ruffled the lad’s hair. “Maybe I can read a tale to you every step.”

“Would you?” Torrin lifted hope-filled eyes to him.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Thank you, Hest! Thank you!”

Hest chuckled. “You’re welcome. Now, I need to clean these stalls and exercise the horses. Chores won’t wait just because it’s a holiday.”

With a short nod, Torrin took his book to the hay loft and flipped through it. Hest watched him for a few heartbeats then reached for the old shovel, his heart heavy. Even his gift to Torrin would pale in comparison to what the boy had received from his mother. It wasn’t fair! His knuckles whitened as he tossed the manure into the wheel barrel. He might as well have packaged up the compost pile to give as gifts this turn.

***

He went about the chore with a heavy heart, dreading the moment when Malene would want to exchange gifts with him. He couldn’t return what he’d purchased, though. He might as well follow through with his original plan, even if it made him feel like a horse fly—a nuisance to be swatted away.

With only two horses boarding at the moment, and no new customers coming in since the inn would be open only to existing clients for this moonstep, Hest had the stables clean in no time. Once finished, he went in to break his fast. The dining hall was empty, so he opened the door to the kitchen.

“Now, Wilma, you don’t have to bake all that,” Malene said. “The dining hall will be closed for the festival.”

“I know. Consider it my festival gift to your family.” Wilma slid a tray of cookies out of the oven. “Besides, one batch is no different than three.”

Malene sighed. “Thank you, but make sure you take some home to your own family, then.”

“I will,” the cook said, slipping a spatula under a cookie and setting it out on a cloth to cool. “Oh, Hest, there’s porridge and fresh bread. Help yourself.”

“Thank you.” He dished himself a bowl and then spread butter on the soft bread.

“Hest, you’ll be joining us for the festival lighting, right?”

He tried to swallow a bite of the bread, but it stuck to his mouth. “Yes.” The word came out muffled, and he tried again. “Yes, thank you.”

“You’re part of our family.” Malene looked him over with a critical eye. “You’ll want a warm cloak. Without Handi or Tsiki, the temperatures will drop, and the wind’s been blowing. We’ll be getting the rains soon enough.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He hated it when she mothered him.

“We’ll have our family meal, then go to the square like always. You can exchange gifts when we do.”

“Oh?” Hest glanced up from his porridge. “Torrin showed me his gift.”

“Oh, that.” Malene waved her hand. “He was pestering me to open something early, so I let him choose one gift.”

They had more than one gift? Hest gaped. The inn must have been profitable this past turn if Malene felt that generous. Again, his heart sank. If only he’d had more to spend on gifts for them.

***

The moonstep dragged on until at long last it was time for the meal. Hest brought his meager gifts inside and set them in front of the window where the other gifts sat. Lit candles lent an air of festivity.

“Hest’s here!” Torrin ran into the room. “What’d you bring me?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.” Hest grinned. The boy’s enthusiasm was contagious.

“I can’t wait for you to open your gift.” Torrin pointed to a long package.

That was for him? Again, his small presents seemed dwarfed in comparison. If only he wasn’t an orphan. He blinked back the tears that wanted to spill over.

“Welcome.” Maya smiled shyly up at him. “May your turn be filled with light and joy.”

He licked his lips and forced his voice steady. “Thank you, and may yours be guided as surely as Handi and Tsiki guide our steps.”

“The meal will be ready shortly.” She looked away, fiddling with her skirt.

How had he never noticed how shapely her form was? Or was it the dress?

“Is that new?”

Her smile broadened. “Made specially for the festival. Do… do you like it?”

“It’s pretty—like…” He licked his lips. “Like the one who’s wearing it.”

There. He’d said it!

“All right, everyone, wash up.” Malene entered, and the aroma of baked ham followed. “I’ll want you sitting down to eat while it’s hot.” She settled a basket of rolls on the table. “Go on! And Torrin, scrub under those nails. I don’t want to see dirt for the festival.”

“Yes, mother.” Torrin scurried to comply.

“You, too, Hest. No stable at the table.”

With a nod, Hest joined Torrin at the wash sink. Once their hands shone, they returned to the table and found their seats.

Malene carried the ham in and placed it in the center of the table, glanced about, and then nodded with satisfaction. “This festival season, let us be grateful for what we have. Family above all else, and friends as well.” She made eye contact with each of them. “May your turn be the best it can be.”

“And yours,” the three of them said in unison.

“Now, let’s eat.” Malene stabbed a potato and passed the platter around.

Besides the traditional ham and potatoes, there was corn, and rolls with jam.

“Save room for dessert.” Maya handed the bowl of corn to Torrin. “I made apple pie.”

“And is there ice cream?” Torrin’s eyes lit up.

Malene chuckled. “For festival? Of course.”

“Yes!” Torrin exclaimed, bringing laughter to all of them.

***

When their bellies were full, the pie and ice cream had been appropriately appreciated, and the table cleared, Malene led them back to the window where the presents awaited their opening.

Torrin bounced around, until Malene commanded he sit. Then he settled on his knees to fidget while she handed out the gifts to each of them. Soon, all but Torrin had three gifts before them; the boy only had two.

“Now, then,” Malene said as she settled into a cushioned chair, “Hest should open one first.”

“Me?”

Malene smiled at him and nodded.

He glanced at the three gifts—the long, narrow one from Malene, a squat, round one tied with a  bow from Maya, and a small box from Torrin. He’d save the big one for last; that left Maya’s or Torrin’s.

“Open mine!” Torrin urged him.

Decision made, Hest tore into the package. “An apple?”

Torrin nodded. “It should be good enough for the horses if you want, but I thought you’d like it. They came in fresh yesterstep.”

The fruit felt firm and even smelled faintly of the pie Maya had made. It was a good gift.

“Thank you, Torrin.”

“I knew you’d like it. Now, is it my turn?” Torrin ran his hands over his gifts.

“Do you really want it to be over with that quickly?” Malene frowned. “You already opened my gift yesterstep.”

“It’s just so exciting.” Torrin frowned. “I guess, I can wait.”

“Good, then Maya, it’s your turn.”

Maya closed her eyes and held out her hands to the gifts in front of her. By feel she chose one. Hest held his breath. It was his! With careful movements, she slipped the knot free, then pulled the string off, leaving the paper the only thing hiding the contents. At last, she lifted the paper, revealing the sash. Her mouth formed an ‘oh’, but no sound came out as she lifted the fabric to her cheek, a look of pure bliss on her face.

“That’s quite the gift.” Malene broke Maya’s trance.

“Yes, thank you, Hest! It’s… beautiful!” The last word was a whisper.

He felt the heat race up his neck. “You’re welcome. I saw them, and thought you could use it for…” He trailed off. “Well…” He glanced down at his hands, anywhere but at her glowing eyes or Malene’s scowl. “The merchant suggested them for holding a cloak tight about you in the winds, but I thought… I thought you could also use it for a dress… or… something.”

“Thank you.”

Those two words filled him with awe. She was satisfied.

“You’re welcome.” He repeated.

“Well, Torrin, looks like it’s your turn.” Malene’s voice held a fake lightness, but the lad didn’t catch on.

“Then I’m opening Hest’s gift!” He tore into the package and soon had the portrait sitting in his lap, a grin on his face. “Perfect! It’ll go with my story book. Thank you, Hest.”

“Thought you’d like it.”

Relief filled Hest. He should have known Torrin would be easy to please, and here he’d worried for nothing the last several moonsteps.

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Continue the final installment of Festival of Stars to see what else happens on this special holiday in Stad.