Chapter 112: The fireworks display.
After washing off the smell of smoke and spices, Sienna joined the queen under a parasol in a heavily protected area. Night had fallen, and the stars were stretching across the skies. Little drops of fake snow where falling over the transparent wall shield, to the excitement of the some lords, and disappointment of others: the eagle lord. The idea had of course been Sienna’s. She was looking to outdo the eagle tribe’s summit the previous year.
She only hoped that the evening dances were dazzling enough to continue the victorious trend. A vast platform had been erected on the beach, its edges lined with glowing lanterns that flickered like captured fireflies. The fox tribe’s dancers were first to take the stage, their torches blazing against the night.
The crowd hushed, the sound of waves and deliciousness of home brewed fruit coffee and chilled wine rested for a moment. Beside Sienna, Eli’s body practically hummed in anticipation. Ali on the other hand, yawned, her small body leaning entirely into her mother’s side.
Then came the surprise that woke the little one up. The drummers stepped forward, shirtless and marked in tribal ink that was as fake as the one on the bodies of the foxes. From the waist to the knees, they were covered in fox fur, wrapped around them like little skirts. Their feet were bare. Among them--stoic, cold, and utterly unexpected, was the fox lord himself.
His handsome face caught the moonlight and bright light from the torches. His expression was unreadable as ever, unlike the faces of other fox beast men who were smiling. He lifted the drumsticks with a deliberate calm, and when the first beat thundered across the beach, the crowd gasped.
Sienna didn’t gasp. She blinked!
Queen Serenya pinched Sienna’s arm. "Yup, I am definitely awake and witnessing Elias Veythar participate in a traditional fox tribe dance. In traditional wear!"
Sienna winced. "You don’t have to pinch me, to confirm that you are awake. Pinch yourself."
Serenya giggled. "No, I had to pinch you because you looked like you were about to faint. Did you know about this?"
No. Sienna had absolutely no idea about this. If she had, she would made him wear a shirt and proper pants.
Eli tugged at her sleeves. "Mama, mama, its papa."
Ali squealed, clapping her hands, her eyes wide as saucers. Sienna was still in shock, so her mind had still not decided how to react. She could not believe that Elias was capable of this! Who had talked him into it? The man who rarely showed emotion, was now the heartbeat of the performance! It made no senses.
The fox fire dance began. Flames spin in arcs, dancers leapt and twirled, their movements sharp and fluid, like predators weaving through the night. Sparks flew as torches clashed, and the rhythm of the drums infected the crowd like a parasite, making them crave more.
Elias body moved like a well oiled machine, his hands were precise. Each strike of the drum, resonating like thunder rolling across the sea. Yet his face remained impassive, his cold aura unbroken, as though he was fulfilling a duty rather than indulging in the joy of the art itself.
Sienna noticed the contrast, and she was not the only one.
The queen said to her, "He looks angry, but the drum sounds happy. Why did he do this if he was not going to smile?"
Sienna chuckled. "Probably to annoy the eagles and all the other lords that haste his guts."
The air grew hotter as the dancers spun faster. Like the twins, Sienna screamed encouragement, their voices lost in the roar and shrieks of the crowd. She felt her heart swell with pride, not just because the man that was performing was her husband. But, because of her own role in bringing the summit together.
And then, as the final torch was extinguished, silence fell. Elias lowered his drumsticks, his expression unchanged, and he fell back into the shadows. The rest of the performers bowed. The crowd erupted in cheers, some in disbelief, others in admiration.
Eli puffed out his chest proudly, declaring, "Papa is the strongest drummer in the world!"
Queen Serenya frowned skeptically. She had seen stronger drummers, the kid was just a daddy’s boy. In his eyes, his father was the tallest, strongest and best in every way.
Suddenly, there was a boom! As the guests settled down for the next entertainment, an explosion went off. They turned their eyes to the sky. A firework display exploded above the sea, forming the image of a large, spirit looking, nine tailed fox.
The twins shrieked with delight. More fireworks followed, each one just as grand, showing off the different colors and types of fox beast men. Sienna was still watching when a hand touched her shoulder. She glanced back and saw Elias, fully dressed. His cold demeanor seemed to waver a moment but Sienna thought she saw the faintest flicker of pride in his eyes.
"Were you drumming for fun or declaring war on someone?" She asked.
"Can’t I do both?" He answered, opening his arms for an excited Ali to climb up to his chest. "We are winning the summit."
Queen Serenya leaned over, laughing loudly, "The summit is not a competition lord fox."
Elias raised his eyebrows. "Wrong, it is the biggest inter-tribal competition. Just look at the eagles, they look like they want to pluck out their own feathers already and it is only day one." He smirked.
"Yes, we are winning." Eli puffed up his chest even more.
The finale came with a roar. A cascade of golden sparks erupted, followed by a series of rapid bursts that painted the sky in layers of crimson, violet and silver. The crowd gasped as the shape of a woman with a pan, sitting on the back of a bee took form.
Sienna screamed. "That’s me! that’s me!"
Elias smiled.
The bee spread its wings across the sky, its trailing embers fell like rain into the sea. The children screamed with joy when their own shapes appeared on the back of the bee.
Sienna cried, unable to contain herself, her heart pounding to the rhythm of the drums that had long stopped playing. The bee and its companions dissolved into a shower of stars, and the night fell silent, save for the waves and cheers of the crowd.
And just like that, Sienna walked around her chair, and hugged her husband. Elias Veythar, had done good. He had truly done a good thing.
From a distance, Lady Cadelaria watched them with a frown. What was chubby charms Sienna up to now?