Celebrations Part 7

Islana smiled at the antics of her friends. She almost wanted to get up and sing with them. Almost...

When was the last time the young woman had sung in front of anyone? A memory of singing for Aine. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

Another mug down and Tarmen was still going strong, humming along to this new singer’s tune. He didn’t like that he was alone in the dancing and looked about him.
He spotted a familiar face in Hunter and zeroed in. Grabbing him jovially, Tarmen pushed him back to where he had been.

“C’mon! Let’s see how that leg has healed!”

Gonyaul moved off to the side a little. He was keeping the beat in his knees, bobbing up and down ever so slightly like a fishing marker, and encouraging Boyce’s performance.

Hunter was a bit taken back by Tarmen wanting to dance with him but since the mood called for it he obliged him and did his best to dance with his savage companion. Since war was coming it was best he stayed on good terms with his allies.

-----

Voah laughed at Wim's last remark. "Haha! No, I imagine you're right."

How thrilling this was! People were in good spirits. Singing and dancing. Even Hunter seemed to be enjoying himself. Good. It was certainly putting her in even more of a jovial mood.

-----

Gonyaul excused himself from the edge of the area people were dancing and went to get some water, roast goat, and some dried fruit and nuts.

Parties where you could do anything you wanted to, at any time, were exhilarating.

-----

Seeing the stoic assassin trying to dance made Tarmen laugh out loud. He couldn’t tell if Wim had spiked the beer or if he hadn’t been drinking in that long, but he was embracing the good nature of the night.

“I see you’re still lackin’ in the finer skills, though tonight I will do my best to change that.”

Hunter struggled to match the foot work in a short manner of time. However he just did this to keep Tarmen in good spirits,

Tarmen kept his eye out for more potential targets, seeking the man who had danced on the barrel in particular, as he led Hunter in a two-man jig to get his feet in rhythm with the music.

-----

Voah couldn't help wondering if someone had planned to do Zin's Ward for her. She wandered over to Islana and grabbed her hand for a dance.

Islana gulped down the last of her drink as she saw Voah headed for her. She had a feeling that it was going to end up with her dancing. Taking a breath, she sucked up the part of her that wanted to go hide and began dancing with Voah.

Suddenly there were drums beating in time to Blackwolf's music, two of the clansmen had started a beat.

Wolf saw Islana and Voah and thought they were needing more fun and that gave him an idea. He rolled the barrel near Wim's wagon, still singing, plucked one mug and rolled over to Islana now stepping off the barrel he held it out to her, "Drink and dance with me my Ladies." Wolf asked.

Voah and Islana's dance was almost stopped by Wolf offering her another drink. Just one more, liquid courage and all that. Islana smiled and took the ale and took a sip.

Then turned to Voah. "How about if we all dance together?"

Voah smiled and nodded as the clansmen guests kept a beat on drums. She kept dancing with both Wolf and Islana.

Wolf swung his instrument behind him and gracefully turned taking two more mugs from a passing person carrying mugs. Wolf kept his turn going and ended up facing Islana and Voah. Handing Voah one of the mugs and drinking from the other.

-----

Gonyaul had taken a seat while he was eating. Finishing his plate, he was now sipping occasionally on his mug of water. He was so glad everyone seemed to be having a good time.

While he waited he became surrounded by a few drunken men he didn’t know. He stood and bowed to them cordially in greeting.

Unbeknownst to Gonyaul they had a bet going that Gonyaul was a girl… or perhaps a guy? Suddenly one just reached out and grabbed Gonyaul between the legs.

Gonyaul gasped and fell over backwards, tripped by where he was sitting prior. The man said something Gonyaul couldn’t understand to the others and they all roared with laughter and sauntered off to continue having fun at the party.

There he lay looking up at the stars. He could hear the large men moving off. He sighed, his back did not like falling onto the ground. And his groin didn’t appreciate the aggressive assault. He slowly got back up to his feet and began brushing himself off.

-----

Tarmen couldn’t believe his luck as the Arbiter joined the dancing. He still couldn’t trust her and her fanatic ways, but he would never complain anytime she was dancing.
Being lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice his feet tripping over Hunter’s until they were tumbling onto the ground. Laughing the whole time, Tarmen clapped Hunter on the shoulder.

“Looks like I might be a bit rusty myself. I look forward to pickin’ this back up after another round.”

Making his way to one of the remaining barrels, he filled a mug and looked about.
He noticed the barrel man and was about to recruit him for dance lessons when he saw the man be assaulted by a few clansmen. Something that soured his mood immediately.

Finishing his drink, Tarmen made his way to the drunken men, waving over the one who had grabbed his barrel man.

“Eyy! Funny sort of game you all were playin’, mind if I try?”

Before a response was given, he launched a fist into the clansmens crotch before taking another to the ground.