In short order, they found themselves at the town square. Tables were piled high with various meats, cheeses, breads and vegetables. The cacophony of scents caused Risa’s mouth to water uncontrollably.

“Mr. Laszlo… I’ve never smelled anything this amazing before! It smells delicious!” Risa exclaimed.

“Really? I would have thought that in ten whole years you would have gone to at least one feast day!” he replied.

Sinta chuckled and ruffled Risa’s hair. “This is a special day, Risa! Today, we eat, drink and make merry with others! We speak to the gods, and hear their words in return. We become blessed by the Sun’s bright return and welcome the Spring. Today is special,” she said.

Laszlo looked over at Sinta with new eyes. Such respect for ceremony and tradition was not to be understated. “Well said, my dear. It is quite refreshing to hear such words from the lips of one so young and lovely,” he said, a soft smile on his weathered and bearded face.

Sinta reddened at the praise. “Ah… well. Before I was cast out of my home, my father was a holy man for Stribog. He tried and tried to get me to follow in his shadow, but the Hunt called me and sang to my bones. For this, I was cast out, and the honor given to one of my brothers,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Laszlo stared at the young woman. “You should never have been cast out! Stribog would be most displeased, one would think,” he said as he patted Sinta’s hand.

Sinta smiled and gently squeezed Laszlo’s arm. “Thank you. The situation was dealt with a month after I was cast out. Stribog left my father blind and mad until the day he died. He defied the gods and paid the price. I live my life freely now, and count myself as beholden to no man,” she said fiercely.

Laszlo led them to a table and took his leave, going to stand atop the dais that had been built for the celebration.

Facing the crowd, Laszlo raised his arms, and looked toward the sun, his eyes closed. Once his presence there was noted, the murmurings died down, and the entirety of the village faced him in rapt attention.

Clearing his throat, Laszlo began:

Oh, radiant Svarog, Father of the Sun,

We gather ‘neath your golden gaze, each one,

As winter's frost now yields to spring's warm grace,

We stand before you in this sacred place.

With hands outstretch’d, we welcome your bright light,

The days grow longer, banishing cold night,

As life awakens, stirs in earth and tree,

We feel your presence, Svarog, strong and free.

The equinox is here, a time of balance true,

Day and night in harmony, thanks to you,

We honor this moment, this turning of the year,

With gratitude, we hold your presence dear.

Bless our village, bless our homes and field,

May your warmth and light abundance yield,

As we sow seeds and tend the earth with care,

Grant us strength and fortune beyond compare.

Svarog! Hear our voices, our songs of praise,

As we welcome spring's return in joyful craze,

Guide our steps, protect us, and bring us grace,

In your name, we gather in this sacred space.

With hearts united, under the sun's bright gleam,

We honor you, Svarog, in this sacred dream,

As we embrace the equinox's gentle call,

Blessings upon our village; upon us all.

Hail Svarog! Father of the Fire's embrace,

With gratitude and love, we end this grace.

Slowly, Laszlo lowered his arms, as he felt the light and fire of Svarog’s power course through his body. Opening his eyes, he beheld the people of the entire village bathed in a golden light, even young Risa. He could see far into the distance, and there, among the trees, he saw it.

The demon. In the form of a great she bear. The same bear that fought the wolves over the aurochs.

Only to see it bathed in the same golden light as Risa, Sinta, and the village.

His concentration broken at the sudden sight, he fell to a knee. Confused, he rose with some difficulty, and smiled at the concerned faces of his neighbors.

“My apologies, friends. Svarog’s might and power can be a little overwhelming at times. The feast has been blessed! Let us eat!” he announced.

The crowd burst into excited, joyful chatter as they passed plates and bowls of food around. Several villagers took up musical instruments and began playing a hearty melody, and in short order, dancing was seen among the crowd. Laszlo returned to his place at the table with Sinta and Risa. He groaned softly as he sat.

“Mr. Laszlo? Are you okay?” Risa asked, her brow knitted in concern.

Before he could reply, Sinta thrust a plate of meat and a bowl of soup at Laszlo. “Eat,” she commanded.

Looking over at Risa, she smiled as she said, “Mr. Syvin is just fine. He just had the power of a god within him, and losing it can be disorienting, not to mention draining.” Gracing Laszlo with the same smile, she continued with, “I saw it happen several times to my father. I know what the man needs.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Laszlo nodded and sighed in relief and drank the rich broth of the soup. Smacking his lips, he took up a spoon and shoveled the contents of the bowl into his suddenly hungry mouth. Risa sat there with her mouth open as she watched Laszlo devour more food in ten minutes than she had seen him eat in a week.

Sated, Laszlo sat back with a hand on his slightly distended belly. He exhaled heavily in satisfaction. “That was good food. Thank you, Sinta. It’s a relief to have someone understand,” he said, reaching for a small loaf of bread.

Laszlo smiled as Sinta nodded. The three sat and talked with each other and several of the villagers as folks walked by. Jokes were made, and gossip was shared among the town.

After an hour or so, Sinta jerked her head toward the green. “Hey Laszlo! Do you dance?” she asked, an eyebrow arched.

Laszlo stopped, the morsel of bread halfway to his mouth. “Hah? What? Me? Dance?” he stammered.

“C’mon! It’ll be fun!” she wheedled, grabbing his arm and pulling him up out of his seat. Laszlo allowed himself to be dragged to the green as he protested pitifully.

“Miss Sinta! Please! I’m just an old priest. I’ve not danced at a feast in years! I’ll probably break something!” he whined.

“Nonsense, Laszlo!” Sinta said as she began dancing around the older man. “Let the music move you and have fun!” she exclaimed and took his hands in hers.

It took a few moments, but eventually, Sinta’s exuberance pulled the normally dour and taciturn Laszlo out of his shell, and even he began to dance in the green with the rest of the village.

Risa smiled. Seeing the older man being pulled into a dance was definitely one of the stranger things she had seen in quite some time. That Sinta had done so? Even stranger. Adults could be weird, sometimes. She turned back to the picked-over platter of roasted auroch and found a juicy, fatty morsel, and stuffed it into her mouth. She sighed in contentment and got up to look over the rest of the offerings.

She picked at this plate and that, sampling the various different dishes, and returning to several that caught her palate. She stopped to chat with several others from the village that she’d met over the past weeks, catching up on the goings-on and happenings. Mrs. Čermák found her as she was heading back to her table, a laden plate in her hands.

“Well, if it isn’t little Risa! How are you, dear?” Mrs. Čermák asked, cupping Risa’s cheek.

“I’m well, Madam Čermák! Mr. Laszlo and Miss Sinta are dancing right now, see?” she said, pointing with her elbow.

Madam Čermák took one look at the village green, and immediately spied the bright white robes of Laszlo Syvin as he pranced about with a comely lass dressed in hunters leathers. Why, if she didn’t know any better…

Well. It was springtime, after all.

“Indeed they are, my dear. It looks like they’re having a wonderful time. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Mr. Syvin ever look so happy, and I’ve lived here just as long as he has,” she said softly.

“Really, Madam Čermák? Was he always, well, weird?” Risa asked in a hushed tone.

Madam Čermák laughed good-naturedly at the kind of question only a child could ask. “Oh, without a doubt! In fact” -she took Risa gently by the arm and led her away to where she and her husband were sitting- “let me regale you with the tales and “adventures” of our dear Laszlo Syvin. Come along, Risa,” she said.

Risa took one last look at the smiling pair on the green and trotted up to be level with Madam Čermák.

“So, when Laszlo and I were kids, not much older than you, we….” she began, weaving tales of Laszlo’s life in the village for Risa. They sat with Oleg, and he joined in with the storytelling, leaving Risa sitting there, her eyes wide as she wordlessly ate her plate of treasures.

“You mean, you pursued him?” Risa asked, dumbfounded.

“Indeed I did! I fancied him quite a bit as a boy. He was tall and lean, with a strength that was completely at odds with his build. It was quite entrancing,” she said, blushing slightly. “But he rebuffed me at every turn, always saying that Svarog would provide a wife, if He felt he deserved one. And there I was for the taking. Such a silly man. But then I met Oleg” -she took her husband’s hand and squeezed it gently, gazing warmly into his eyes- “and I was smitten. Utterly besotted with the man. We courted, and eventually married. Laszlo has remained a steadfast friend to not only our family, but to the entire village of Blek, as well. There is not a soul here whose life he hasn’t touched in some way,” Madam Čermák explained, smiling brightly.

Laszlo and Sinta, breathless from dancing, arrived at the table a moment after.

“And here’s the man, himself!” Oleg stated jovially. “Good afternoon, Laszlo! That was a wonderful invocation, my friend. I could feel the warmth from here. How are you? Please! Sit, sit. We welcome you to our table. My dearest Karina here has been regaling your young charge with the tales of your exploits! It is always good to remember our past. Keeps us informed to the possible future, I say!” he continued.

Laszlo’s eyes went wide and he stared in shock at Karina Čermák. “Karina!” he panted. “What have you told the girl?” he asked, fear creeping into his voice.

Karina laughed. “Nothing so terrible, my dear. Just about how you would tear through the woods after your lessons with your father, looking for dragons to fight and ‘rescue’ me from. You were quite the odd child. And an odd child we have all grown to love and care for,” she said, taking Laszlo’s free hand. “And there isn’t a single person in this village who doesn’t cherish you and your help for us. You helped Marina deliver her babe last fall. Remember? And when Adam lost Zenya and little Anna to that wretched cat, you helped lead them to its lair and it was you -not any hunter, mind you!- that stunned the beast long enough for Adam to take it down. He still has that pelt, by the way. It hangs on his wall, over his bed to this day. Why, even young Annika visits from time to time. Remember her? The last orphaned girl you helped find a home? What was it? Two? Three years ago? My point, Laszlo, is that we all owe you a debt of gratitude. And I felt it only prudent that young Risa here knows how much we all love you,” she said, smiling.

Laszlo attempted to protest throughout Karina’s short speech, but was stilled by Sinta’s hand in his. She would squeeze his hand just before he attempted to open his mouth, and it was enough to distract him, allowing Karina to get everything out.

“But… I’m just a simple priest doing the work of Svarog. I’m nothing special,” he said lamely.

Sinta swatted him on the shoulder, causing him to recoil in shock. “Laszlo Syvin!” she said forcefully. “I may be a simple hunter, but I was raised by a priest of Stribog. I know, better than anyone, what it takes to be a holy man. You are absolutely something special. I wouldn’t” -she gently took him by the shoulders and turned him to face her- “dance with someone at my first feast since being cast out, if they weren’t special. True, I may have spent the majority of this winter in the woods, catching whatever game I could, but I did so because I care for Risa, and I saw how you treated her. You cared for the girl. Not just because you had to, but you seem to genuinely be fond of her, and while you may be a little gruff and harsh, you are always fair. Risa has had little cause for complaint, and indeed, whenever I’ve visited, or she’s come to see me, she has always spoken well of you, and how you’ve always been kind, if brusque. How you’ve never turned someone away from your door, no matter how trivial their problem may have been. How you taught a poor young girl to read. Do you not see how special you truly are?” she finished, her smaller, rough hand on his cheek.

“I…I…” Laszlo began, but then deflated, a tear in his eye. Sniffling, he stared at the ground.

“Laszlo,” Sinta said gently as she lifted his face so she could see his eyes. “Blek loves you. I think Risa -and myself- are coming to do so, as well. Remember that,” she said, and wrapped the slim man in an unexpectedly powerful hug.

Laszlo stood there in shock, being embraced and soothed by Sinta. His breath came raggedly as he slowly returned the embrace. Risa stood up, and tugged on his robe, breaking his attention away from Sinta.

Looking down, he saw Risa standing there, a smile on her soft face. He knelt, his joints protesting the movement. “Yes, child?” he asked, sniffling.

“She’s right, Mr. Laszlo. I do like you, and after thinking about it, I know you aren’t your father. I just miss my mommy, is all. You’re a good person. Odd. But good,” she said and wrapped her short arms around his neck.

Karina watched the tender moment unfold, a tear in her eye. “Well, Laszlo. It seems you might have the beginnings of a family here,” she said softly, seeing Laszlo hug the little girl, tears rolling down his aged cheeks.