“I’ll haul this stuff back to your house,” Bili told Taran, collecting the ball and sticks. “And you’ll come over before the Midsummer festival and we can walk there together. That’s not a question, by the way.”
“Sometimes, I wonder who made you king,” muttered Taran. “Fine. You, Asla and I will go together.”
Taran turned wandered over to the tree where Lutren rested in the wagon, tended to by Veerah. Though the day was warm, the boy had a thick blanket wrapped around him. Lutren sat upright as Taran approached.
“Can we please get out of here?” wheezed Lutren, casting Veerah a sour look. “I want to be out in the sun. I feel cold all the time and I like the sun on me.”
Taran looked to Veerah. “Is it …show more content…
“Just a little longer in the sun.”
“All right.”
Bathing in the bright sunlight, the two soaked in the light breeze and the beauty of the day. It made Taran’s heart ache when he thought of losing his young friend, another loss to cope with. It seemed so unfair; why do the gods allow such suffering for the young? Why not pick on hearty and hale men?
“I’m angry today,” offered Lutren. “About the things I’ll miss.”
“What things?”
“My family, my friends…you. And no more honey cakes.”
“You’ll have those things in the Other World, and more. And we’ll all be there before you know it. It’ll seem like the blink of an eye.”
“Yeah, but I still want to drink too much mead and have a woman fawn all over me.”
Taran couldn’t hold back his laughter, but then he had a thought: why couldn’t Lutren drink too much mead tonight and have a girl fawn all over him? Of course, Taran didn’t want a young woman to touch Lutren inappropriately, the boy was far too young for that. But why couldn’t a nice, young teenage girl sit with the boy, drink with him, and give him kisses on the cheek? Cait might be agreeable. He’d be happy to pay the girl…
“Who knows what’ll happen tonight, my friend?” said Taran. “It’s Midsummer; anything