"This isn't a good idea."
"Maybe not, but it looks sort of fun."
Hak glanced down at Yona, a displeased expression on his face. All around them, people were celebrating, dancing to the music poured from the rooftops and the street corners. The walkways and streets were filled with people, and everyone seemed to be in a joyful mood. Food, more than they had seen since staying at the inn with the elderly couple, seemed to be everywhere. Grilled, fried, sauteed, most of it the kind you picked up from a vendor.
They had found themselves at the edge of a citywide festival. A few minutes ago, they had entered through the gates with what seemed like a strangely large number of people, finding out by eavesdropping on conversations that it was, in fact, Sōngshù. Now it seemed like the festival was the cause of that large crowd.
"We should leave and come back when it isn't so busy," Hak said, not budging from his spot.
Shin-Ah was inclined to agree. He didn't enjoy crowds in general, and this…this was a lot of people. But his hesitation wasn't shared by the entire group.
"Something smells delicious," Zeno said, clasping his hands behind his head, his nose in the air. "Lots of somethings."
"It couldn't hurt to walk around a little bit, could it?" Lien said. She was beside Shin-Ah, her hand on his arm but one foot ahead, like she was barely restraining her urge to join the celebrations. As a precaution, Shin-Ah grabbed the edge of her cloak, keeping her close.
"I doubt we'll find anyone selling seeds," Yoon grumbled, "But the food might be cheap. Possibly free."
"We also blend in better right now," Jae-Ha pointed out. Even though they wore Kai Empire style clothing, they still stood out for various reasons most of the time. Their hair, accents, general appearance…
Kija stepped closer to Yona. "I'm not sure it's safe for the princess."
Yona glanced up at him, a hint of a smile on her face. "I think it'll be all right, Kija. I've actually never been to a festival before."
"Then we have to go," Jae-Ha said, gesturing toward the busy city ahead of them. "We'll stay together, obviously."
Beside Shin-Ah, Lien bounced a little on her toes in time to a nearby drumbeat, excited. Still…Shin-Ah didn't trust all of these people in this strange town in the Kai Empire. He tightened his grip on her cloak. Glancing back at him, she realized that he was holding onto her.
Her eyebrows drifted up her forehead. "I wasn't going anywhere."
"Mhmm…"
"We won't stay for long," Hak said, "Right, princess?"
"Long enough to find food," she said. "And maybe ask people about seeds."
"I don't think anyone's going to be in the mood to talk about farming," Yoon fussed, but apparently his complaints were going to be ignored this time.
With the princess leading, their group moved into the city, deeper into the crowds of people. Half of their group kept their hoods up, covering their hair. Shin-Ah had switched out his normal mask for a cloth one that didn't attract as much attention. He preferred his mask.
A troupe of men passed by carrying a massive wooden frame. Between the beams of the frame, a beautiful quilt was stretched out, a flower pattern bursting bright across the fabric. More quilts with all sorts of patterns hung from open windows and other frames were set up through the alleys and corridors. Overhead, arches of knotted fabric stretched over the street and there were lines and wreaths of fabric scraps. It seemed like the main industry in town was making fabric. The festival was most likely in honor of their city's main commodity.
As they passed a particularly lively street, some of the townsfolk threw braids and loops of fabric at them. One landed on Shin-Ah's head, flopping down between his eyes, bouncing against his face.
Lien laughed. She had caught one of the braids of fabric and was in the process of winding it around her head like a crown. After tying off the end of it quickly, she reached up and adjusted the fabric necklace that had landed on Shin-Ah.
"Not exactly your color, but I guess it works," she said, patting the necklace. It was in shades of purples and reds, made out of scraps that had been knotted together. "It's not like we have a purple dragon."
"Maybe we don't mention dragons or princesses here," Yoon said to her quietly, "Or kirins."
"Definitely not princesses or kirins," Zeno said, glancing at her, his eyes oddly serious. "People here want more power. Kirins are an indication of the right to a throne. And a princess can give you a direct line to a throne."
"Which means to stick close, you two," Hak said, putting a hand on Lien's head in a brotherly way and narrowing his eyes at Yona meaningfully.
Lien pushed his hand away and Yona rolled her eyes.
"We aren't going anywhere, Hak," Yona said.
Eventually they reached a town square where food was being served. Like Yoon had said, some of the festival food was actually free, which meant their group descended on the tables overflowing with meat buns and vegetables and sweets the moment they realized they didn't have to pay anything. Shin-Ah picked up Ao after the squirrel had romped around the table, stuffing her cheeks with anything she could get her paws on. Her cheek pouches looked like they were about to pop. Sticking her on his shoulder, he grabbed one still-warm meat bun and moved away from the table.
Instantly, he realized that Lien wasn't beside him anymore. Shin-Ah whirled, searching the crowd for her.
He made eye contact with Jae-Ha, who nodded his head to the left. Lien had been drawn away by the music, pulled into a ring of female dancers who spun and twirled with strips of fabric tied to their arms and hair. She followed their steps, quick to pick up the movements. A grin shone on her face as she danced alongside the other women, only occasionally missing a beat.
Shin-Ah shoved the bun into his mouth and moved closer as the women created a pair of circles that moved through each other, the music energetic and upbeat. He kept his gaze on Lien, her seafoam hair floating as she stepped, turned, lifting her hands into the air, graceful and mesmerizing. Every now and then, a flicker of flame lit the ground where she stepped, too fast for anyone but him to notice.
The circles widened, and other people were pulled into the dance. Lien wove her way over and took his hand. He shook his head, already knowing what she was going to ask.
"It'll be fun," she said, gently tugging him toward the circles. She spun herself, lifting his arm and letting her fingers press against the palm of his hand. "Please?
Ao sprang from his shoulder to Lien's head and chittered at Shin-Ah, wrapping her paws around Lien's hair. Lien smiled, and he felt his shyness temporarily melt a bit. "Not long."
"Not long," she said, pulling him into the circle.
Lien showed him the steps as he stumbled with the circle, but half of the people weren't bothering to do it correctly. Shin-Ah did his best, holding on tight to Lien. He tried more to match his steps to hers.
Around the circles, most of their group had been added to the dance. Zeno was enjoying himself, his movements perfect. Yona was beside him, then Jae-Ha. Yoon was fussing at the girl who had yanked him into the dance. Kija's face was red, stuck between two pretty young women who looked like they had no intentions of letting him go. Hak had stayed out of the circles, but Shin-Ah saw him frowning at something across the square.
Following his gaze, he noticed that an odd kind of carrier had been brought into the square. A man sat on a chair in the middle of a platform that was being carried by eight men who looked like soldiers. He watched the dancers, but…it looked like he might be watching Yona the most.
Shin-Ah tightened his grip on Lien and slipped her away from the other dancers.
"We should go."
