Every so often, someone stopped Calen to wish him well and exchange a few words with Vars and Freis, commenting on what a fine young man Calen had become. He would have enjoyed the compliments had it been a different day. As it was, he nodded and thanked them, his mind busy on other things.
“Okay, you head on, and I’ll meet you at the forest,” Vars said. “I figure I should probably check in on Tharn and Dann, make sure they are all set and ready to go. You know what they can be like.”
“Okay, dear.” Freis kissed him on the cheek and continued to shuffle Calen and Ella through the streets.
Once they made their way to the edge of the town, after being stopped for a pat on the back and a well-wishing smile every ten paces, the rest of the journey to the meeting point didn’t take long. There were hundreds of people at the edge of Ölm Forest, gathered from all across the villages to witness the young men begin The Proving. The small red flag perched atop a wooden podium was meant to mark the meeting point, but it wasn’t much use hidden in the throngs of people.
“Calen, Freis, Ella, over here!” Calen would have recognised Elia Havel’s shrill voice anywhere. She was a small, easily-excitable woman. Her chestnut brown hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, highlighting her high cheekbones and wide smile. Elia’s bubbly demeanour was a contrast to Lasch’s stoic nature. Maybe they balanced each other out? It was hard to think what Elia would be like on her own if this was her balanced out.
Elia pulled him into a tight hug, her slight frame capable of quite some strength when she was excited. “Oh, Calen, you boys are all so grown up. Look at you! You’ve lost all that baby fat.” Calen winced as she pinched his cheek, the sincere smile never fading from her face.
“Elia, I—”
“And you’ve gotten so tall! You’re almost as broad as your father now!”
“Elia, you only saw me yesterday,” Calen snapped, pushing away her probing hands. Her smile momentarily curled into a frown.
Calen and Rist exchanged a brief nod before Elia’s attention turned to Freis.
“How are you this morning, Freis? Excited to see our young boys become young men? Our Rist is terribly excited as well. Aren’t you, sweetie?” Elia turned her giddy smile towards her son, an expectant look on her face.
Rist rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mother…” he huffed, a touch of exasperation in his voice. He aimed a mocking smile at Calen, then whispered, “She’s been like this all morning. I know she’s happy, but by the gods, I wish she could be happy in a less annoying way.”
“I’m in great spirits this morning, Elia. Thank you,” Freis said. A disapproving look let Calen and Rist know that she had heard what Rist said. “It is indeed a proud day for every one of us. Where is Lasch? I would have expected him to be here already.”
“Ah, he is talking with Erdhardt, arranging everything for the festivities. Extra mead from Milltown, some fish from Salme, and I’ve heard rumours that Thorvan might be arriving with his light sticks,” Elia said in a hushed whisper. “And Vars, is he on his way?”
“Aye, he went to check on Tharn and Dann. Ylinda was out early this morning to pick Myril berries to dye her clothes, and you know what those two are like when left on their own.”
Elia raised an all-knowing eyebrow. “Oh, I do, all right. They would sleep right through the entire Proving if left to their own devices.”
“There they are now,” Ella said, an amused tone in her voice. It didn’t take long for Calen to see what had amused her.
Vars, Dann, and Tharn were slogging their way through the crowd. Vars led the way. There was a gingerness in his step and a tentative smile flickered across his face, which threatened to turn into a laugh. Tharn’s mouth was set into a deep scowl as he marched ahead of Dann, turning his head around every few seconds to look behind him, as if he expected Dann to vanish into thin air.
Dann trudged along behind the two men, dragging his feet through the grass as if lifting them to walk was more effort than he could manage. The mead-induced lethargy was evident with every strained movement. His eyes were sunken into deep wells, while his hair and clothes looked like he had slept in – and then been dragged out of – a bush. He let out an exaggerated sigh when they finally stopped in front of the group.
A mocking laugh escaped Rist’s mouth. “Dann, you look fantastic! You must have slept all night!”
Dann snarled, his eyes narrowing and nose scrunching. It seemed all the effort he could muster. His usually quick tongue had deserted him.
“Now, now, boys. Leave Dann alone. Although the hammer pounding inside his head is probably punishment enough, I’m sure Tharn has given him a tongue lashing for the ages,” Freis said with a raised eyebrow. Tharn simply furrowed his brow and let out a frustrated huff of agreement. “Now that we are all here, how are you boys feeling? Have you everything you need?”
“Well, all they’re allowed to bring is a knife and their bows. So, if they forgot anything, then they have more to worry—” A slight raise in Freis’s eyebrow let Ella know to end her sentence there.
“Yes, I’ve got everything,” Calen said.
“Me too. I double-checked before we left the house,” Rist answered.
Tharn elbowed Dann in the ribs, which brought about a sharp grunt.
“I’ve got
