Chapter Five- Festival
"Pharaoh, it's good to see you again. I have taken your advice in exercising caution when gathering supplies."
"Thank you, Shada. It is good to be back. I'd like you to meet Heka. He can't speak so until he can, that's his name. Heka, Shada is one of our basket vendors."
"A pleasure, Heka." Shada held out a hand and Heka took it. He had met a few others before Shada and was happy that they were warm to a stranger, especially a mute one. He looked forward to meeting the other citizens. I could see myself living among them.
"Anzu, how are preparations for tomorrow's festival?" Atem asked.
"They are excellent, my pharaoh. I think this could be the best one ever."
"Wonderful. Anzu is our social director," he explained to Heka. "She organizes all of our celebrations and tends to the flower beds around the kingdom."
Heka nodded and smiled at Anzu who returned the gesture, but he saw the dreamy expression on her face as Atem swam off. I think she's got a crush on him. She's out of luck as Atem admitted being in love with his rescuer. Oh, I wish I could tell him it was me.
The waters seemed to be getting darker to Heka as the tour of the kingdom ended. Lampposts around the kingdom came to life and he saw that they contained some kind of moss draped over rocks. They must be phosphorous, he thought. Incredible. He followed Atem inside, noticing that the walls seemed to glow with their own light in addition to the moss and electric eel power.
Heka soon found himself sitting at the dinner table with Atem, Seto, and Isis. He was hungry and wondered what merpeople ate. He doubted they ate seafood so he banished that thought. Chefs entered, placing cover and uncovered dishes on the table along with cups of warm drinks. He pondered about the drinks being warm. He reasoned that it had to be because their surroundings are cool and they needed to keep warm. The same thing applies to me now too, he realized. I don't just look like a merman; I am one. He sipped the beverage and found he liked it. He took samples of everything which consisted of odd-colored fruit, bread, and cheeses. Heka liked most of what he ate and felt good about that. His first day as a merman had been amazing and he certainly looked forward to the festival tomorrow. I wonder what they're celebrating.
"Heka, have you ever been to a festival?" Atem asked. Heka shook his head and the pharaoh continued, "This one is to celebrate the sea and all that is around us."
"Yes," Isis said. "We give thanks to the fields, our co-existence with the sea creatures, and our relative harmony with the sea and each other."
"The city is decorated with flower garlands, lanterns, and sea stars. Vendors sell their wares with greater enthusiasm, we hold a lavish banquet in the center of the city, and there is singing and dancing. It is a very joyous time," Seto added, the excitement of the event evident in his voice.
Dancing? Heka thought. That sounds interesting. I'd like to see how merpeople dance. Well, this festival sounds like a lot of fun and the timing of Aknadin's bargain was perfect. I can't wait for tomorrow.
Atem couldn't stop staring at Heka's face. It so resembled his rescuer's, it was uncanny. He could be the one, but he can't speak and it could take several days for his voice to recover from what's clearly a case of laryngitis. He continued to think on it as he got ready for bed. Hmm…I remember what my rescuer said. Maybe if I ask Heka to mouth it, I would see if it resembles the way my rescuer's mouth moved and face looked. Oh, heck I could just ask him if he did save me. He could have lost his voice shortly afterwards. Atem pondered these thoughts as he fell asleep, eager to learn more about his new friend.
Heka gazed about at the colors, music, talking, and laughter that surrounded him the next day. It reminded him of the celebrations in his town. He had never been to one but he had glimpsed them out of his house's windows; he had just been too preoccupied with his studies to attend. Well as I can't read the merpeoples' language and have no magic, studying is out of the question. He took in all the joy around him and he wistfully thought of what he could have provided if he had his magic. I could have ended it with a fireworks display…if my magic was strong enough. I know the spell, but I lack the power needed to use it.
Atem smiled as he swam through the crowd. This was his favorite celebration of the year and it was clear that Anzu hadn't exaggerated about the preparations: This was the best the festival ever looked. The citizens laughed and talked with one another, the children laughed as they chased each other, vendors called out in an effort to sell their merchandise, and music and singing mixed in with the chatter. He joined in the conversations and actually settled a minor dispute. He had lost sight of his advisors and Heka, but he knew they were around.
Heka ran his fingers lightly over a pouch made of seaweed and marveled at the softness and sturdy feel of the plant. "Do you like it?" asked a young mermaid with reddish-brown hair and a pink tail. Heka smiled and nodded. "Would you like to buy it?"
"Serenity!" scolded a blonde merboy with a pale blue tail. "You don't persuade someone into buying! Sorry, Heka. My sis made that particular pouch. She's actually very good at it, but she has a lot to learn about the vendor business."
Heka smiled at the girl and pointed at the pouch, miming that he wished to purchase it. Serenity smiled back. "Four sand dollars," she said. Heka counted out the money from a small bag he carried and handed it over. Serenity passed him the pouch. "Thank you so much," she said, beaming as Heka put his bag in it and put the strap on his shoulder.
"Heka, that's a nice pouch. Very nice," Atem commented as the silent merman showed up beside the pharaoh who was floating in a ring of onlookers while others danced in the center. He ran his fingers across it, feeling it soft but sturdy surface. He had been somewhat surprised that Heka had no money and insisted on giving him a small bag of sand dollars for the festival. Atem suspected that bag was in the pouch Heka was now wearing, the strap across his chest.
Heka nodded and his eyes drifted to the dancers in the middle. He followed their movements and found it wasn't too different from land dancing; the only differences were the dancers were underwater and had tails instead of legs. He also noticed that not all the couples were male and female. There were two male couples and a few female couples. Wow. It seems merpeople romance is freer than human romance.
The band began a new song that had an exciting beat to it and Heka couldn't stay still. He caught Atem's eye and he gestured at the two of them and then the dance floor. Atem's eyes lit up and he nodded before taking Heka's hand and leading him onto the floor.
They moved across the floor in almost perfect synch, Atem doing the leading. He would move forward, backward, left, and right with Heka following perfectly. It was during a slow dance with their bodies close together that Atem looked into Heka's eyes and was once again struck by how familiar they seemed. They held the same kindness and warmth he vaguely recalled in his rescuer's eyes.
Atem kept thinking about those eyes as he joined the kingdom in the evening banquet that closed out the festival's end. Heka's eyes are so much like my rescuer's eyes. But, Heka has qualities that I would like in a partner. He's warm, kind, friendly, and a warlock. I don't want to wait forever for my rescuer to come around. His eyes flicked to Heka and he smiled to himself. He still didn't know much about Heka, but he knew he was starting to fall for the speechless merman. We need to speak privately and I know a rather romantic spot.
"Heka," he said as everyone was leaving. "I like to speak privately with you. Please follow me." Atem headed out of the kingdom and into open waters with Heka behind him, curious about where they were going and why Atem wanted to talk privately. He could have spoken to me in the castle. So why a more secluded spot? His heart pounded; was the kiss he needed at hand?