The air is crisp and sharp as I breathe in. Winter is almost fully set on the island. All that’s left is the first snow, but the sky, a sheet of mottled grey with heavy looking clouds, refused to give.

The grass crunches under my feet as I move toward my normal spot in the forest. Katta Forest, named after the island it resided on, is a lush and densely packed forest that, in other months, teems with life. Now, as I reach the clearing I affectionally call my own, I stop, listening. My eyes closed and ears strained, I can pick up on the flap of a bird’s wing and its gentle song. Behind me, something rustles through the brush, and something chitters, scurrying away as it realizes it’s not alone.

I open my eyes, adjust to the darkness, and move into position. The sun is close to rising.

My lungs burn as I take a deep breath and sing, my limbs moving in rhythm. Someone typically sings the Song of the Rising Sun while another performs the accompanying dance, but I trained myself to sing and dance at the same time. Every morning since I’d become a priest of the sun god Nzam, I came to the forest to dance in his rising glory, but it never felt complete without the song.

The dance is sharp and fast, meant to work as many muscles as possible to keep warm when darkness comes. The song was to praise the light and life of the sun and heat. Before my priesthood came to fruition, I would sing and dance at home in our living room. They found it delightful until I began to glow, the totality of my devotion shining through. I became too bright to look at and without sufficient training, I couldn’t keep it down.

Now, over ten years since I became a priest, I can keep my glow dull enough to be around people, but here in the forest, surrounded by the heart of the gods, I can let myself be.

As the sun crested the horizon, my voice came to a crescendo, my hands rising high over my head.

“If you’re going to stand there,” I say, lowering my arms. “You could at least do the singing for me.”

Peggy rolls her eyes as she pushes off of the tree she was leaning on. “I could, but then I would risk getting an earful from you when you start glowing and I get distracted and mess up the words.”

“Just close your eyes,”

She shakes her head and says, “And what? Miss the dance. I don’t come all the way out here for nothing.”

I fall in step beside her as we make our way back to town. The farmer’s market is about to be in full swing, and I’m sure Mom wants us to grab what we can before all the good stuff is taken. “Yeah? And I was sure it was because Vidia and Vahn were up to something.”

“Well,” she says, her voice trailing as if she wants to say more. “I can’t say they aren’t mostly because I haven’t been to the market, but there are a few new people there today.”

I smiled, already knowing something was going to happen. “No worries, Peggy. I was going to go when I was done here anyhow. I may have to leave all the shopping to you, though.”

“I don’t mind. There’re a few things I want to make sure we get and then I have to make a stop at the blacksmith’s shop.”

“Oh? I thought you just got a new knife.”

“I did, but it’s not balanced right.” She rolls her shoulder, massaging the muscle. I got up early to dance and she got up early to practice her knife skills. “It’s throwing me off. Lourens needs to learn from his dad some more.”

“I see,” I say as we break the tree line. “It’s not because you wanted to see Lourens more. Got it.”

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She clicks her teeth, looking at the town ahead. Despite the Valley being a blight on our city Thesgrea, everything always manages to look cheerful. The cobblestone streets of the city center peter out into dirt roads the further away it got, making the paths less structured and more of a path of least resistance. In the center is the Elder’s Building, where anyone could go with a grievance to get resolved and where most legal business was performed. From there, it sprawled out into three distinct sectors: market, training, and residential. We, of course, are headed to the market.

“I don’t care about him,” Peggy says, her shoulders stiff and back straight. I know she doesn’t have a crush on Lourens, but I like teasing her about it because Mom and Dad think she has a crush on him. She doesn’t. She has a crush on his sister Antonia, but I know better than to bring that up. “I’ll see you later. Make sure you get Vidia and Vahn. I can see them from here about to do something.” From our spot on the hillside, we can see their bright red hair bouncing around the market.

We split ways as the dirt path turns to cobblestone and I take the long way to the market. Vidia and Vahn are always up to something. Despite having everything they could need, the twins enjoyed being menaces to everyone in town. It’s a near daily occurrence and they depend on me to get them out of trouble. Most of the time I oblige. Sometimes I left them to suffer for it.I work my way through town, taking in the market. Most of the people I know. Vincent sells baked goods to the vendors and Oxana always has the best oranges in town. Tahvo’s is always the liveliest since he brings his chickens. Children always managed to get in the gates and chase them around, not knowing the chickens would sooner bite their fingers than be pet by heavy hands. Closer to the center is where I started to see unfamiliar faces. Further from the Valley to keep them safer.Vidia is leaning against a baked goods stand a few stalls ahead of me. She’s smiling at the boy manning the stall, messing with the asparagus as she flirts with him. Vahn is loitering nearby trying to look inconspicuous and blend in with the crowd of shoppers. They’re good at what they do. Vidia is just interesting enough that Vahn can move unnoticed. It’s not just flirting that Vidia is good at. She’s a natural storyteller and can enchant anyone she chooses. Vahn isn’t without talent either. Quiet and soft-spoken, he could stand next to someone for an hour and if he didn’t want it, they would never know he was there. They make a great team. It’s just a shame they use their gifts to cause trouble.

I smile as I stop by Urve’s stand, perusing her vegetables.

“Yvie!” she says, a smile brightening her face. She moves back, wheeling around the stall and bringing me into a hug. “I saw the second sunrise and wondered when I would see you.”

“Well, the twins are up to their shenanigans again. Figured I could make sure nothing terrible happens.”

“Well,” she says, wheeling back around her stand. “Will it be one or two today?”

“Hmm,” I hum, pondering. It was always great to get them both, but it looks like Vahn will go unnoticed. I glance back at them and Vahn is nowhere to be seen. “Two. I’ll get Vahn later.” I dig into my robes and pull out a few cher as she hands me a sack.

Urve shakes her head and pushes the money back. “You can’t keep overpaying me.”

“I can and I will,” I say, backing away and turning on my heel. “Use it to buy Marjan something nice.”

Urve blushed, shaking her head and she put the money into her cashbox. “I’ll get you back for this, Yvie.”

I wave and start walking. One day she’ll get me back, but today isn’t that day. Someday after she’s proposed to Diana, I’ll take her up on that.

Winding my way through the market, I keep my eyes on Vidia. As I get closer, I start to see her freckles displayed prominently, a marker of her time well spent in the sun. She adjusts her glasses as she starts to lean away, and the boy is captivated by the movement. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. If only he had seen her dance yesterday. He’d look a lot less interested.

She walks away and her voice floats to me over the din, “I’ll come see you later,” she promises.

His grin is crooked as he leans forward and says, “I’m looking forward to it.” Vidia flits off into the distance, a smile on her face as she weaves through the growing crowd.

I look closer at his stand. Several muffins, brownies, cookies, loafed bread, and cupcakes are missing. It’s a wonder they manage to get away with it. There’s just no way Vahn left without being seen with that much stuff.

No sooner do I finish the thought, than I hear the barking yell of a man and slapping footsteps. Vahn is rushing back towards us, a look of panic covering his face, an identical copy of Vidia’s. The biggest difference between them is the fact that Vahn’s face is one of perpetual anxiety instead of the confidence Vidia oozed.

A warden I recognize is after Vahn, chasing him through the crowds he’s desperately trying to lose himself, but he’s too panicked to disappear from their notice. Vidia is beside him, running as she waves her arms. Even from a distance, I can tell she’s chewing him out for getting caught.

I adjust the bag in my arms and keep walking.