Chapter 9
It was one of those rare days where Lirali was thankful to sleep through the morning. She woke up for only a few moments, believing she was late for something, until she settled back into a lazy doze. It was short-lived when her younger sister clamored up the ladder and jostled her awake.
"Li-li, wake up!" Norali demanded excitedly. She crawled onto the straw filled mattress and shook Lirali roughly. A mumble and a groan issued from the mound and she rolled over enough to look at her sister through a mess of hair.
"What's wrong Nori?" She murmured and felt it could not be too urgent as her sister had a ridiculously huge grin on her face.
"Jo wants to go shopping and I want Li-li to come too." She insisted. Lirali grimaced.
"Just go with Joelle, Nori. I'll go with you later." She answered and rolled back over. Norali was not satisfied with that response. She crawled off the bed and grabbed the hem of the blanket and gave a mighty tug. The sheets were ripped from Lirali's huddled body and she let out a very irritated growl.
"Why do I need to come along?" She muttered.
"Because I want Li-li to pick my costume." Norali pouted. She sighed and sat up reluctantly while rubbing her tired eyes.
"Fine Nori…" She groaned, defeated and Norali threw up her arms with a triumphant squeal while Lirali winced. She knew she could have scolded her sister for waking her so early and snagged another hour of sleep, but she could understand Norali's excitement being that it was her first Carnival. Once she was dressed and fed, she left with her sisters for the main square less than an hour later. She followed the two from a small distance and had started regretting agreeing to join Norali on her quest. It was far too crowded with familiar townspeople's faces and she could feel eyes watching as she strode past. It was a look she was far too familiar with and she wanted to hide in one of the many alleys. When they passed a small group of pretty young women, they had stopped their chatter for a moment and stared at her before they began to whisper to each other quickly. Lirali gave them a venomous look and their eyes darted away as they started to whisper more fervently. She sighed in annoyance and took longer strides to catch up to her sisters. Norali led the way from shop to shop, peddler to peddler as if she were on some kind of mission. Joelle for once seemed content to look at all the newly decorated shops and Lirali had caught her several times gazing at the festival's gowns and skirts being sold on every corner. None of it had any effect on Lirali since she had mentally busied herself preparing her weekly schedule to work over her grumpiness. It had distracted her so greatly that she jumped when Joelle pinched her arm roughly.
"Ow! What? Why'd you do that?" She snapped as she slapped her hand away. Joelle pointed at Norali who had been standing on a step stool admiring a costume in front of a mirror.
"She wants your opinion too." She answered curtly. She looked at her little sister and could not suppress a snorting laugh. Norali heard and turned to glare at her.
"What're you laughing at Li-li?" She demanded.
"I'm laughing at you. What in the four regions are you wearing?' She asked. Norali removed the small beak she had been wearing.
"I'm an imp." She huffed and turned up her chin. "A forest imp." Lirali cocked an eyebrow.
"I see. What do you think Joelle?" She asked. Her step sister shook her head.
"Ma will say no. Especially at that price." She warned when she noticed the placard attached. "Besides, weren't you going as a fairy?" Norali's face puckered.
"All the other girls are going as fairies too." She complained.
"Isn't that a boy's costume too, Nori?" Joelle asked and Norali smirked.
"No one will know." She said cryptically. Lirali laughed at that and slid her hands into her pockets.
"Do you really want it?" She asked. The little girl nodded and Lirali thought about what she could give up for that month.
"I'll get it for you only if you promise not to pester me about going to the Carnival all night." She warned. Norali looked hurt.
"But I want Li-li to go!" She cried and Lirali raised a hand to silence her.
"I didn't say I wouldn't go, I will, but only for an hour or two and I don't want to wear a costume." She explained. "I will wear the mask you made of course, but that's it." Joelle joined her younger sister's surprised expression. Lirali knew she sounded mean, but it was not her intention to hurt her sister. Drekan's words had haunted her as each day passed and the Carnival grew closer. She wanted more than anything to enjoy her sisters', even Joelle's, company without her past materializing suddenly to destroy that little bit of happiness. Part of her felt foolish for trying to hide, but she knew she would not be able to handle the humiliation if her sisters were involved. Norali's expression was still hurt and thoroughly put out even after the transaction had been made and Lirali handed her the bag holding her new costume.
"Please don't, Nori. I'll explain why it's like this when you're old enough to understand…" She tried, but Norali did not seem to hear her as she stomped out of the shop. She tried not to let her little sister's mood affect her so she tried to think of ways she could be invisible during the night of the Carnival. As long as her skin was hidden it would be easy to be ignored.
A Garo costume would work. That's easy enough to throw together… She considered. If Norali was going to plead with her to dress up, she could at least humor her with something that could serve a purpose she needed. She was left to follow her sisters from behind again, exiled by Norali and her bad mood. She was only a little disheartened and found herself wondering what Kael was doing and if he had made plans for the Carnival. More than likely he had and they included another woman, or women, since he seemed the type that would not be content with only one partner. Lirali was annoyed that she felt jealous and quickly gave herself reasons to not care as she continued to follow Joelle and Norali through the streets.
He's a rake anyway.
Kael stopped for a second as his eyes searched through the crowd.
Was that her? He wondered, convinced he had spotted her red hair.
"Kael, stop daydreaming or we'll leave you behind!" Luka yelled. Kael snapped back to reality and hurried to catch up to the convoy he had been following. Luka gave him a curious look.
"See someone you know?" He asked. Kael shrugged.
"I thought I did." He answered and looked back one last time to try and spot her. "I guess not." He turned to face ahead as the convoy continued its trip through Clock Town to drop off its cargo for certain shops. Although Kael had always liked the traveling aspect of his job, the fact that it was keeping him from seeing Lirali for days agitated him. He made a mental note to let her know his schedule when he would meet with her to pick up his cut. Luka noticed his friend's daydreaming and punched his arm.
"Focus! I know you're busy fantasizing over your mystery girl, but we have a job to do." He teased and Kael managed to hold back a dark blush. Luka's words had conjured images in his mind that were far too intimate and Kael swallowed quickly.
"I'm not daydreaming, just preoccupied." He grumbled as they maneuvered through the crowded town. Kael had not visited Clock Town much in the past, the few times being for the Festival and those memories were hazy at best from too much drinking. He was not used to seeing so many humans and he quite enjoyed the eyefuls of attractive women. For a moment, he felt mildly ashamed of himself as he had developed eyes solely for Lirali, but he pondered that a little looking could not hurt.
Would she be jealous if she knew? Why am I thinking about this? We're supposed to just be friends. He chided himself.
"You're doing it again!" Luka yelled and Kael realized he had started to walk away from the group. Instead of a disapproving look, Luka looked concerned.
"Wow, Kael. What's with you? You have a look on your face that's freaking me out a little."
"Can we talk about it later? Not the time for it now." He sighed and rubbed at the back of his head. He pushed Lirali from his thoughts as much as possible, but she always seemed to lurk just at the edges.
Two hours passed and the work was finally finished, giving the Zoras time to dawdle in town as the sun dipped low on the horizon.
"We've got time to spare, I kind of wanna look around for a bit." Luka said as he eyed the shops. Kael shrugged as he followed his friend.
"I didn't have any plans tonight." He said more wistfully than he intended.
"Wow. Glad to know you love my company so much. Thanks!" Luka responded, his tone thick with sarcasm. Kael ignored him as he followed his friend through the town. He could not help eyeing the houses and apartments they passed and secretly hoped he might find the one that housed Lirali. Not that he intended to stalk her, but perhaps surprise her. He continued to follow Luka inside what looked like an apartment with a downstairs restaurant attached. The smell of roasting meat and mead hit his nostrils and the hunger he had been ignoring for a majority of the day hit him with full force. Luka looked around for a table until a portly woman approached him with a beaming smile.
"Good evening, welcome to Rikard's Roast Room. My name is Milla, just two for tonight?" She asked and Luka nodded. She led them to a table off to the side of the restaurant and handed them a pair of menus.
"Take your time gentlemen, a waitress will be with you shortly." She bowed and returned to tending other tables. Kael looked around with mild disinterest and noted that not only was the building a restaurant, but they also seemed to be a small store as well.
"A little too much going on in this place…" He commented as Luka browsed the menu.
"I don't know what you're talking about, they have roasted boar. I'm sold." He smirked.
"Not what I meant. This place is crowded too and they only have just those two women working? How do they manage?" He wondered as he watched a girl that was of a similar portliness to the other woman rush from table to table. He noticed both women had the same bluish black hair and figured them for family.
"So when are you going to tell me her name?" Luka asked after a long pause. Kael looked at him in surprise.
"I have no idea who you mean." He said and Luka rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I will not pursue her, I swear. I'm kind of going through a self-imposed period of celibacy anyway." He explained and Kael could not stifle a loud, derisive laugh.
"That's the best joke I've ever heard from you." He said and Luka glared at him.
"Look, you're over the moon for this girl, anyone with half a brain can see it. If you don't want to tell me about her, fine whatever. Listen, the Carnival is in two weeks. You should ask her out." He said and Kael's smile vanished. He looked at the menu to try and sort his thoughts until he decided to speak again.
"I really want to. Probably more than anything, but I'm almost certain she's going to say no. She's not the, ah, celebration type." He explained and leaned back in his chair as he crossed his arms.
"Most girls aren't, but most girls can't resist getting treated all night." He said and grabbed something out of the knapsack he had hung on his chair. Kael watched as his friend clunked something made of wood on the table and pushed it toward him.
"Just ask her." He said and pulled his hand away, revealing a mask. Kael's eyes widened a bit.
"This is part of a couple's mask." Kael said after a long moment.
"Yep."
"These are made specifically for that stupid legend." Kael grumbled.
"Yep."
"I hate you." Kael mumbled as he grabbed the mask and shoved it in his bag.
"I know you do." Luka said and smiled as their waitress finally appeared. Her cheeks were a ruddy color and she looked out of breath.
"So sorry, busy night." She huffed and pulled out a small notepad. "What can I get for you gentlemen?" Luka immediately demanded the boar and Kael settled on their stew.
"Two pints of mead too and keep 'em coming." Luka said.
"Just one." Kael interrupted and gave his friend a look. "I'm not drinking tonight."
"Fine. Two pints please." Luka beamed and she nodded.
"Sure thing. I'm Joelle by the way, just give a holler if you need anything else." She said and hurried away. The two sat in mild silence as they ate and Luka was eager to guzzle his mead as he proclaimed he had never tasted something so fine. Kael was content to enjoy his stew, but his thoughts were soon filled with mild dread and anxiety. How was he to pose the question to Lirali? He had a sneaking suspicion she was not fond of the Carnival in any kind of way; just from the few glimpses he had of her childhood growing up in Clock Town.
I'll make it a night she'll never forget and never want to. He told himself and smiled.
Two hours passed and night had fallen completely as Kael shouldered his thoroughly sloshed friend through the town.
"Why couldn't you wait until we were home before forgetting how to walk?" He commented but Luka continued to belt out a sea shanty he had started while they were still in the restaurant. It took longer than Kael would have liked to return to the cape, but once there he deposited his drunken friend at their home before realizing he was still to antsy to sleep. Not thrilled with the idea of babysitting Luka, he instead left for the main hall intent to sit with his thoughts. It was late enough that hardly anyone else was still wandering around and Kael was happy to have most of the main hall to himself. He wandered through the caverns until he found his and Luka's usual watering hole and took up in his favorite corner table after getting a drink. The atmosphere was quiet save for the strumming of a guitar near the stage, but he found himself enjoying the impromptu performance as it helped steady his muddled thoughts. As he pondered how he should ask Lirali, he looked up when he felt a presence and his insides immediately felt cold.
"Drinking alone tonight?" Her smile was icy and Kael tried to swallow back some of the bitter resentment that had suddenly welled up inside him.
"What do you want?" He asked coldly and was annoyed when she kept smiling.
"I don't see you around much anymore Kael. How have you been?" Solana asked. He started to answer and felt his heartbeat quicken when she slid into the chair next to him.
"I do miss seeing you at my shows." She purred but he avoided her eyes.
"I said, what do you want Solana?" He hissed and she started to pout.
"So forward. I'm just out and about. I happened to see you and thought I'd come by and say hello." She explained and leaned closer to him. "Especially to one of my favorite flames."
"You said hello, now leave me alone. I'm busy." He said sharply. She was undeterred and stretched her arms over her head. Kael caught himself eyeing her voluptuous figure and hated himself for it. Solana grinned and realized she still had an effect on him, even if only a physical one.
"Oh? Busy with what?" She asked and glided a finger over his shoulder.
"Going to the Carnival or not." He said quickly and tried to ignore the longing his body felt.
"In Clock Town? Maybe I'll see you there as they've had quite a demand for singers." She said and tilted her head with a seductive giggle. "I'm sure you remember how… passionate my voice can be…" Kael looked at her and for a split second he was lost in the wine colored depths of her eyes. The longing worsened and for moment all he could think about were the times they had shared together. They had been intoxicating to say the least and he nearly forgave her for how horribly she had treated him until he started to think about seeing her at the Carnival. The thought snapped him free of her spell and he pulled away from her, standing up from the table and finishing his drink.
"I doubt it. I'll be on a date." He said curtly and her smile vanished. Malice filled her eyes and he resisted the urge to grin.
"With who?" She demanded but he only smiled politely.
"No one you know."
