SALT AND LIGHT

In the forum we outlined a little of what goes on during the northern celebration of the salt and light festival. Now for the first time Shara gets to experience what it's all about.

Night One

Even though Lana and Marlon had invited her to stay, Shara still felt like an outsider. She'd been telling them for weeks now that she could just move into the inn, maybe get a job in the pub during the off season. But it was just that, the off season, and the pub had no need of any employee other than Maris Flint who was one of the few who had chosen to stay at the Hold rather than go home to her own clan for the holiday.

Maris had her reasons for staying. Shara had seen the way she and the pub keeper's son, Ness, gazed at each other. It probably wouldn't be long before the waitress was a part of the family. Shara didn't begrudge her the position one bit.

Maris had in fact become a good friend. So it didn't seem out of the ordinary at all for Shara to be sitting here at the bar, sipping at a mug of weak ale, and waiting for her friend to return from the storeroom with a package that had just been delivered.

"That was clever, havin' it sent here." Maris grunted as she lifted the heavy box up onto the counter. "Looks like just another food delivery for the pub. Am I allowed to ask what's inside it?" The waitress placed her left hand atop the box and tapped it with her fingers. She was wearing a brylk bone ring set with a pearl and two small flecks of diamond, and she seemed very keen on having someone notice it.

"Of course." Shara stood, missing the display, and began opening excitedly. "Lana invited me to join their family for the feast and I didn't want to come empty handed. I remembered an old recipe of my mother's but I didn't have all of the ingredients and I wanted it to be a surprise."

At the sight of the contents of the package, Maris completely forgot to be miffed. "Are those ripe jogans, and mujas, and… melooruns?"

"They're supposed to be." Shara frowned down at the almost too perfect arrangement with the critical eye of a gardener. These had been forced to ripen out of season, probably injected with some kind of hormones, waxed and polished, their skins more than likely dyed to achieve that sort of brilliant color. She couldn't see how they could possibly taste half so good as the fruits plucked right off the tree and taking that first bite with the juice running down your chin…

"I've never seen them like this, only the pictures on the cans and jars of preserves." Maris's wistful voice brought Shara out of her memory.

"Never?" Shara could hardly believe her ears. "Well, we'll change that. We're researching how to build a greenhouse and then we'll have fresh produce year round at the Hold. That'll have the customers keeping you busy here at the pub and for a fraction of what it cost to ship this lot." She frowned thinking of what she had paid for the holiday gift assortment. It had been most of what was left in her account after transferring the balance of the credits for her father's medical bills. And she wouldn't be earning any more till she could go out with the Polaris' crew and perform her beast mastering duties again in the spring.

"We?" Maris again drew her attention, wiggling her fingers over the box of fruit where Shara had been staring.

"We?" Shara repeated. She had noticed the ring this time but was lost.

Maris smiled, now holding her hand up by her face and still showing off her new jewelry. "You said 'We will change that' and 'we're researching'. It's the captain you're talkin' about, isn't it?"

Shara ignored the comment and jumped at the chance to change the subject. "Ness asked you?" She grabbed Maris's hand and pulled it closer to get a better look at the ring.

"Salt gods know it took him long enough." The waitress laughed. She said it as a joke but Shara knew Maris was at least a decade older than herself and could see the relief along with the joy in her expression that she was finally going to be a wife.

"Ever since we were caught up at Lady Lana's wedding I've been sure it was only a matter of time." Maris continued.

"Caught up?" Shara had never heard the term before.

Maris cocked her head to one side and asked, "Don't the bride and groom toss the net at your southern weddin's?"

"No." She and Sanjay certainly hadn't done anything like that at their wedding. Though there was quite a bit left out of their ceremony that had thankfully made their annulment that much easier. If Sanjay would ever get around to signing the documents. Maybe he planned on stringing things out forever.

"The minister does join the hands of the couple and wrap them with a bindin' before they say the words though, doesn't he?" Maris inquired.

"Yes, that part is the same." Shara assured her. Sanjay had at least gotten that part right only because Melaana had pressed the binding cloth she and Brem had used into Shara's hands with a wink before the two of them left on their honeymoon.

"Well," Maris explained. "Up here the bindin' cloth is a silk net. It's reminiscent of our fishin' nets. Then after the ceremony all the unmarried folks come forward and the bride and groom throw out the net to see who will be caught up in it. The tradition says that the couple who get caught up will have the next weddin' that the salt gods smile on."

Shara wasn't exactly unmarried, not yet anyway. But Maris was grinning at her.

"Surely you and the captain will be the next ones caught up." Maris nudged her playfully. "Ness said the whole crew was callin' you the Captain's Lady on the last voyage he took on the Polaris."

"Oh well, they were just teaching me the song." Shara evaded, blushing. "It reminded me of some of the beast rider songs that we used to…"

"It's more'n that." Maris continued to needle her. "I've seen the way our young captain looks at you when he's brought you in here for dinner."

"That was with Lana and Marlon… the whole family. It wasn't like it was a… It wasn't a date."

"Only because the Lord and Lady think the two of you are in need of a chaperone, eh?" The waitress beamed triumphantly.

"Please Maris, I don't know where you get these ideas." Shara stood from her stool and would have rushed off, embarrassed if she hadn't remembered the box of fruit that sat open on the bar between them. She stared at it a moment and then hurriedly began extracting one or two of each of the fruits she would need for her recipe.

"Ah now, Shara." Maris looked contrite. "Don't go off angry. I was only teasin'."

Shara sighed and tried to calm herself. "I'm not angry. I just… I should get going if I'm going to have this cake done in time for the feast."

The waitress still felt the need to apologise. "I'm so happy… with Ness, and I want you and the captain to be happy as well."

"Of course you are, and you do." Shara focused on placing the fruits she had chosen, carefully into a canvas bag. "Ja- th- the captain and I. We haven't known each other all that long. We certainly haven't made any sort of…"

"You're happy here at the Hold with the Blackwells?" Maris asked more gently.

Shara looked back up at her with a shy smile and nodded. "Yes." The only thing she could imagine making her happier was if her father was alive to see it.

Maris had to stand on her toes to reach over the bar and wrap her arm around the younger girl's shoulders in a hug. "Then it'll all work out. You'll see. 'Sides it's the salt and light festival. We're supposed to be thankful for what we've got and look forward to what's to come."

"Thank you, Maris." Shara sighed. She was thankful to the salt gods for bringing her here. On an impulse she pushed the still half full box of fruit towards her friend. "I want you to have the rest."

The waitress's eyes grew as large as the jogans still in the container. "You can't be serious."

"No, I am." Shara laughed. "I have what I need and it's salt and light … and think of it as an engagement gift!"

"Well, I'm that pleased, Shara," said Maris with tears of gratitude in her eyes. "Ness and I and Father… we sure will enjoy them!"

Night Two

"You just gave us your gift a night early." Marlon tried to reassure her as he took a large bite of the fruit cake left over from the feast the night before.

Shara had a piece of the cake on a plate as well but she wasn't hungry for it. It had turned out as well as she remembered her mother's but she'd seen the stack of gifts that the family were going to exchange for the second night of the festival and she had seen her own name on a couple of the tags. She didn't have anything to give in return.

It made her feel uncomfortable and she would have liked to just go to her own room and snuggle with Portia and maybe read a book. Lana however wouldn't hear of it. She had plopped Dalla down in Shara's lap and told her that it wouldn't do for a godmother to miss a child's first salt and light. And Shara supposed that the others had asked her opinion on a few of the gifts that they had purchased for the little girl, even if she hadn't been able to pay for them herself.

Shara pinched off a morsel of the cake and popped it into Dalla's waiting mouth. Then she couldn't help but smile at the resulting squeal of delight as the baby gummed down the sweet treat and clapped her hands.

"Beese! Beese!" Dalla exclaimed her own made up word that they had come to realize meant something like 'piece' or 'please', basically "feed me more!"

"Alright, here's another." Shara was a pushover when it came to the little girl.

"Or are you ready to open a present, Chirn Bait?" Jamos tried to entice her over by shaking one of the brightly wrapped packages.

Dalla gave her uncle a sour look and turned back, mouth wide open, to Shara for more cake. They all laughed except for Jamos who sighed dejectedly. "So she hates me now."

"Oh she doesn't hate you." Shara smiled. "Do you, Dalla?" She nuzzled her goddaughter, making her giggle. "Of course not. We all love Uncle Jamos." She kept her eyes fixedly away from him, realizing what she had said. Then she slipped Dalla another bite of cake.

"Here why don't you take this?" Lana took Shara's plate and passed it to him. Then she stood back to watch what would happen.

Dalla looked at the place on the table where the plate had been and then up at the woman who had just been feeding her.

"Well?" Shara asked her.

The sweet little face broke into a wicked toothless grin before she turned to the man who now held the cake, stretching her arms out to him. "JaJa, Beese!"

Lana threw up her hands and cried, "Of course she can say her uncle's name before she can say 'mama'!"

Jamos laughed, taking the baby in his arms. "Aye, that's right my little, Chirn Bait!"

Shara settled for pulling Portia up into her lap in the absence of the baby, and none too soon as the puppy had just discovered the pile of presents and was about to tear into them.

Most of the presents in the pile were for Dalla, though she hardly seemed to notice them in favor of the cake and the pretty paper.

Lana received a beautiful wooden box from Marlon. The lid was decorated with colorful shells arranged in the shape of a flower. A purple flower, Shara saw, and she remembered from Lana's story about their courtship, that purple was Lana's favorite color.

"Thank you, Nolram." She kissed his cheek, causing Shara to blush at the small show of affection.

"How about a present for Shara now?" Jamos spoke up but before he could go to get one out of the pile Marlon spoke up.

"Here's one with your name on it." Marlon tossed her a package and Jamos looked a little disappointed.

Shara hesitated before opening it. "You all really didn't have to get me anything."

"Yes we did!" Lana told her. "Now get opening!"

With a sigh, Shara tore away the paper, dangling a strip of the wrapping in front of Portia and laughing as the puppy attacked, then rolled off the couch onto the floor with her prey. When Shara turned her attention back to the gift, she found a set of oiled leathers. "Thank you," she began. "But I already have…"

"What you have," Lana smiled. "Are Jamos's old pair. They were made for a man. And though you gave it a valiant effort, by your own admission, your sewing skills leave a little to be desired." She made a face.

Shara laughed in agreement.

"These aren't new either." Lana continued. "They used to be mine and I took them in a bit so they should fit far better than what you were using. And they come with the promise of some sewing lessons while we're frozen up here for the winter."

Shara looked again at the small perfect stitches. She was touched. Lana hadn't spent a lot of money on her, but she had put a great deal of thought into what her friend would need most. "Thank you," Shara said again and she truly meant it. Then she noticed and said hurriedly, "She's putting the paper in her mouth again!"

Lana grabbed the scrap from Dalla's hand. "You know, we could probably have just wrapped the toys she already has and gotten the same reaction."

Marlon tried to distract his daughter with one of the toys she had already opened, dancing it around in front of her and saying in a sing song voice, "But then we wouldn't have Mr. Brylk!"

Dalla totally ignored it.

He tossed the stuffed animal back into the pile. "So, this one's definitely not going to be a beast master."

Portia pounced on Mr. Brylk and Marlon wrestled back the toy, trading it for the rubber rupingfish that had been the puppy's own salt and light gift.

"At least I was able to put a stop to Jamos buying her those awful purple mythosaur holovids." Shara teased, but when she turned, she found him sitting right next to her on the sofa and holding out a badly wrapped gift.

"I got something for you." He gazed at her.

"Thank you." She said gazing back.

"You should open it."

"Oh, right!" Shara shook her head with an embarrassed smile. What she drew from the wrapping was cloth, white with some sort of embroidery. "It's colorful," was the first thing she could think to say as she realized that the stitching formed the pictures of various fruits.

"I thought it might remind you of home, of your father. It's a shirt." Jamos said hopefully.

"Well, it…" Shara began.

"Hold it up, let's see," Marlon encouraged.

"Alright." Shara held the shirt up in front of herself for everyone to see that it completely swallowed her.

Lana stifled a giggle.

"I wasn't sure what size to get. I didn't want it to be too small." Jamos frowned with disappointment.

Marlon let out a bark of a laugh. "It's definitely not too small."

"Jamos Emoth Blackwell, what have I told you about ordering clothes from cheap HoloNet knockoff retailers?" Lana could no longer hold back her own laughter.

Jamos huffed. "You're welcome to send it back." And he actually reached out to take it. "You can pick out something…"

"No," Shara hugged the awful thing to her chest with a smile. "I love it. I'll treasure it always."

He studied her for a moment and then gave her his best little boy grin.

Night Three

Shara spent most of the third day of the festival alone in her room. She was preparing herself for what she knew was to come this evening. This was the night set aside to thank the salt gods for the fresh water that the first settlers discovered in their light and as such it was one of only two times a year that those wishing to join the community could be baptized. Shara accepted the gravity of her decision. She was leaving behind her life as a southern beast rider.

She remembered the ceremony she had participated in when Dalla was baptized and she had read the information Lana had given her about how her own would differ. She carefully memorized the words she had to say. The one thing that really worried her, and she was ashamed to admit it, was the moment when the water would be poured over her head. It was freezing outside! She wondered if they would have to break the ice to fill the wooden bowl.

And then before she thought she was truly ready, it was time. Lana knocked on her door and Shara proceeded silently, wearing the pure white dress her friend had lent to her for the occasion. Marlon wrapped a heavy cloak around her shoulders and gave her an encouraging pat on the back. The others were all similarly bundled in warm wrappings and coats, even little Dalla who was being held by Lana in a front carrier, for the trek to the pool of the salt god.

Marlon had explained to her that they were going by land to the back of the same formation that they had approached by sea for Dalla's baptism. He and Jamos carried Brylk oil lanterns. Then when they had gone a ways down the path two more lights joined them. Shara recognized Ness and his father from the pub and Maris was with them.

Maris reached out and squeezed Shara's trembling hand. Then with seemingly nothing to coordinate its initiation, both Lana and Maris's voices took up a song about going down to the water to pray. Shara felt comforted by the tune and she wished she had more presence of mind to remember the words. She would have to ask Lana to teach it to her later.

When they reached the pool, the men hung their lanterns on poles spaced evenly around it and the light reflected off the water and the salt formation that seemed even larger from this side than it had when they were in the boat six months ago. Perhaps it was only how it appeared from this angle or maybe it was knowing that this time it was her own soul that sought refuge here.

Someone helped Shara off with her outer cloak so that she stood shivering in only the borrowed ceremonial dress. The song had ended and she knew it was time for her to say the words. "Y-you," she stuttered, cleared her throat, and then began again stronger than before. "You have brought me to this place and granted me a new life. Therefore, I promise to live that life in the light of the salt gods with the guidance of those present."

She heard the voices of her friends take up the response. "In the light of the salt gods."

Then Shara pressed her eyes shut and waited for what she was sure would be an icy cascade over her head and shoulders but it didn't immediately come. And her eyes flew open with horror realizing that she hadn't seen anyone carrying the wooden bowl with them as they made their trek to this sacred place. It only lasted a moment however before she felt Jamos lift her off her feet and with an irreverent grin he dropped her into the pool.

It wasn't deep and she soon came up sputtering, "It's warm!"

There were happy cries of, "Congratulations!" when she emerged but Shara only saw Jamos's laughing eyes and she glared back at him.

Night Four

From sundown on the fourth night of the festival only Brylk oil lanterns were to light their way. There were fires in every hearth for warmth but no electric lights were to be lit. It was the longest night of the year and when the sun rose the next morning it would be the dawning of a new year on the Ondronian calendar.

Marlon and Jamos played game after game of Dejarik. Jamos was sullen and losing repeatedly, most likely because Shara still wasn't speaking to him after his humorous little trick at her baptism the night before.

Dalla had long since been put to bed and even Portia had given up her running around and had snuggled and fallen asleep in Shara's lap.

Lana broke the silence quite suddenly, making Shara jump. "What do you do in Iziz to bring in the new year, Shara?"

The brothers looked up from their game and then all three of them were staring at her, waiting for an answer. Shara scrambled for something to say. "Probably similar to what you do here. We usually stay up all night and wait to welcome the first sunrise."

They were still looking at her as if expecting her to go on. So she sighed and continued. "We watch holos or sing or play games to pass the time." She gestured towards the dejarik board and then added with a shrug, "Sometimes we share our resolutions, things we'd like to accomplish or change in the new year."

"We used to do something like that with Momma and Dad." Marlon smiled. "Remember Jamos?"

His brother grunted in agreement and turned his focus back to his game pieces trying to salvage his position.

"We did too." Lana spoke up again. "We would go around and each tell one thing that we were thankful for in the old year and one thing we hoped would happen in the new. That could take rather a long time in a Flint household, let me tell you." She laughed and so did Marlon.

Shara smiled politely. Jamos may have rolled his eyes.

Lana sighed. "Well, it shouldn't take too long for the four of us. I'll start. The thing I'm most thankful for from the last year is the birth of our beautiful daughter. And in the new I look forward to seeing her learn to walk and talk and develop her own snarky little personality."

Shara's smile warmed. She was also thankful that the little girl had come into her life this year.

"Guess it's me next, although you completely pillaged my answer." Marlon smirked and then glanced around at them all. "I'm thankful that we're all together as a family. I've got my beautiful wife and my baby girl sleeping peacefully in her bed. My brother saw fit to stick around for the holiday and isn't off gods know where on some sea voyage. And we've got Shara with us…"

The puppy snuffled in her sleep from Shara's lap.

"And I couldn't forget Portia."

They all chuckled. Even Jamos cracked a grin.

Marlon continued. "So in the new year I hope that… that we don't lose sight of that and we all grow closer together."

"Salt gods, Marlon, that has to be the sappiest thing I ever heard come out of your mouth." Jamos moved one of his game pieces and then lounged back in his chair.

"You got something better? Let's hear it." Lana challenged him.

"Fine, it's my turn." Jamos turned his gaze to Shara. There was a longing there he couldn't disguise so he shrugged and looked away. "I'm thankful that we got two good catches in last season." He breathed out. "Still it was only the two since I've been hauled up on shore so much this year. I hope I'm able to get back out in the new year, back on the water." He stood, antsy after being still so long.

Lana rolled her eyes and Marlon groaned but Shara spoke up before they could start an argument. "I'm thankful to the salt gods for bringing me north. My year started out fine and then for a while I thought it couldn't get any worse… but then I came here…" Her eyes met Jamos's for a moment before they both looked away. "And I hope in the new year that I can really find my place here. I would like to get out on the water again, and get to work on those greenhouse plans, and spend time with my new friends and Dalla and… all of you…" She kept her eyes fixedly away from Jamos when she finished but she could feel his eyes on her.

"And you will do all of those things." Lana promised before giving a very convenient yawn. "I would love to stay up with you all and ring in the first sunrise but Dalla has kept me up way too late the last few nights. I think I'm ready to just crash into bed."

No one else moved. Although Shara waited for her chaperone to suggest that it was time for her to return to her room as well.

Instead Lana laid a hand on her husband's shoulder and bent to whisper in his ear. "Nolram, would you care to join me? I'm sure Shara could take over your side of the board."

He was up out of the seat in a flash. "You know how to play, don't you, Shar? If not Jamos will catch you up to speed."

"Yeah I think I can…" Shara began but the couple didn't stick around to hear her response. She watched them go, then settled Portia on the couch and stood, stretching a little after sitting so long. She was still considering just going to bed but they had been in the middle of a game so it seemed rude not to finish it.

She crossed the room and sat in the chair Marlon had vacated. She didn't look at her opponent and instead tried to sum up the lay of the board. "I didn't think they were supposed to leave the two of us alone. Is it my turn?"

"I don't think either of them looked very tired." She could hear the smirk in his voice. "No, it's mine." He made his move. "Now you go."

She was new to the game but she could see that Marlon had been close to winning again and there wasn't much she could do to mess that up. She moved a piece and then watched as Jamos studied the board.

He must have felt her eyes because he glanced up. "So are you speaking to me again?" He made a careless move leaving his piece wide open.

"No one else here." She shrugged, taking his piece casually.

He grumbled and then noticed that her move had left her vulnerable in another spot so he took advantage. It must have been a boost to his ego. "So are you enjoying your first salt and light?"

"I was." She considered moving a piece and then second guessed and drew her hand back. She looked up at Jamos and confronted him. "Do you even believe in your own salt gods?"

The question caught him off guard. "I… well aye, of course. I always have."

She frowned at him moved a piece and then sighed. "You could have fooled me."

"Look, is this about last night?"

Shara leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "That was a big decision for me, being baptized. It was important to my… becoming a part of the north and… you treated it like a game." She reached forward to swipe over the board and sent the pieces flying.

"That wasn't my intention." He spoke softly.

"Well, what exactly was your intention?"

Jamos ran a hand through his hair. "You were so serious. So I guess… I did want to lighten your sails but," he added hurriedly. "I wouldn't tease you if I didn't…"

"Didn't what?" She asked.

He hesitated and glanced down the hall before he finished. "If I didn't care for you."

Shara nodded and stood. She knew it was true. She cared for him as well but she couldn't say the words, not yet.

He rose as well. "Wait! Don't… I promise I won't…"

"And what if I wanted you to?" She challenged but then demurred again. "But you're right we shouldn't."

He smiled. "You do want to stay up and greet the first sunrise, don't you?"

She nodded.

"Then I'll set up the board again." He bent to retrieve a piece and the straightened. "Or we could watch a holo?"

"There is one that we always watched back home this time of year."

Jamos grinned. "I bet I can guess which one!" He rushed over to the projector unit and the cabinet of disks beside it.

"I can get us a snack!" Shara hurried to the kitchen and grabbed a bag of chips, a container of hummus and a couple of drinks.

He had already cued up the beginning of the holo when she returned. "Was I right?" He asked pointing to the paused title.

"The very one." It seemed the story of the man who was shown what it would be like if he had never been born, was universal.

They settled on the couch with the snack between them so they could both reach.

…

"Shara?" The voice seemed to rumble softly from her pillow but she was so comfortable she didn't want to pay it any mind.

"Shara?" The warm voice was a little more instant this time.

"Hmm?" She answered it still not opening her eyes.

"The sun's coming up." She knew that voice. "And my arm's asleep."

She sat up at once and everything came into focus. She remembered finishing the first holo and starting another. She had requested something a little more exciting to keep them awake but obviously that hadn't worked.

The room was still dark, lit only by the Brylk oil lanterns but it was enough for her to see Jamos rubbing life back into his arm and grinning at her.

She didn't mention the situation in which they found themselves. "You said the sun was coming up?"

"Aye!" He took her hand and was about to lead her to the door but then had a second thought and grabbed a couple of heavy blankets. He wrapped one around her shoulders and pulled the second around his own. "Come on!"

Outside, a soft glow was just beginning to light the southeastern horizon. He didn't make a move to touch her other than the hand that he seemed in no hurry to release, as they watched the fingers of first gray and then pale yellow reach up from beyond the edge of the world.

"So a new year dawns?"

"Aye." Shara answered using the sailors' affirmative, testing the feel of it on her tongue. She glanced to the side and saw his smile in the growing light.

"And we sort of had the same wish for the coming year." He prodded.

"To be back out on the water again?"

"Aye." He turned to face her and pushed a gold strand of her sleep rumpled hair behind her ear. "And there was something else, something I hope for this year but… I didn't want to say it in front of…"

As if summoned, Marlon pushed the door open and ushered his wife and daughter out into the chill morning air. "Did we miss anything?"

"No." Jamos grumbled. "As usual, right on time."

Shara squeezed the hand she was still holding, hidden under the blanket and shared a secret smile with the hand's owner.

"Look!" Lana pointed out towards the horizon. Dalla tried to follow her mother's direction, squinted and squealed probably more from the shared excitement of her family members than because of the actual sight.

"It's beautiful." Shara said softly not wanting to spoil the moment.

"Now, look this way." Jamos only let go of her hand only to take hold of her shoulders and turn her to face the path they had walked down to the pool of the salt god for her baptism.

She gasped. The light of the rising sun reflected off the formation in the distance. She pressed her thumb to her lips and held out her hand towards the brilliance. "In the light of the salt gods."

…

There you have it, the origin of the infamous fruit shirt! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!