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And then he was gone. Ahead of me, Nari had Kaidan looking at a candy vendor. Cormak stood behind her with a sullen expression on his face, but the boy was grinning at the options. Siding my hand into my pocket, I pulled out the little black pouch Zeal had gifted her, and opened the top. Inside, the coins had been building up, and the pouch was nearly full.
"Did you want something?" I asked Cormak as I moved to the counter, signaling I was going to pay.
"I thought we were supposed to tithe to you," the man grumbled.
I gave him a disappointed look, then checked that Nari and his son were far enough away that my next words wouldn't be overheard. "What you're supposed to do is try to seduce that woman, doing everything in your power to get your hands - or other parts - up her skirt. You're supposed to steal kisses, dance with her, and convince yourself that you have the most beautiful woman in Calseth on your arm. It's meant to be a boost for your pride, giving you confidence to take a risk, follow your dreams, or anything else."
"I don't want to kiss that woman," Cormak said, dropping his voice the same way I had. "I already found the love of my life, and I'm not looking to replace her."
"Not even so Kaidan can have a mother figure in his life?" I countered. "Someone to hug him when he's scared or help show him that men don't always have to be angry all the time?"
The man sighed. "Is that what you think I'm doing?"
"I think you're being pulled apart by your life and you're fighting to be a good father." I tipped my head from side to side. "I also think you're a much better father than mine ever was. I think Kaidan adores you, but he's also terrified he's going to let you down because you've set the standard so high. I think you should play for one day, sir. I promise that your date is an amazing woman, and if you let her, she'll give you the chance to forget your problems."
"I'm not looking to fall in love," he reminded me.
"As a friend," I assured him. "She's god-touched, Cormak. Who knows, maybe they have been listening to your prayers. Maybe you've also been praying to the wrong ones. It's Bode's holiday, after all."
"I pray that Bode, or anyone else, will give me a chance to keep my boy." The man looked me right in the eyes as he said it. "All I need is a chance. I'm willing to work for it, but this world is made to keep good men like me in my place."
I clasped his shoulder. "Just trust your gut, sir. Oh, and buy yourself some fucking candy."
Then I gestured for one of the caramel-coated apples. The man waited a moment, then asked for a candy-covered one. Further down the counter, Nari had a paper cone filled with sugared nuts and the boy had an apple in one hand and a tube of sugar floss in the other.
"All of it," I told the vendor, handing over a coin. "They're with me."
"Thank you, Priest," the salesman said. "Blessings to you, today."
"And our thanks to Bode for them," I agreed.
But my words seemed to sink in. Cormak took his apple, laughing with his boy about how sweet it was. Nari led them toward some games, buying a pair of cloth swords for both her and the kid - then sparring with him across the grass. Cormak actually laughed at that. When they made it to the ring toss, he took the first turn, winning a small doll that he gifted to Nari. She begged him to try again for her turn, and this time he won a larger toy that looked like it was supposed to be a bear. Kaidan was thrilled with it.
Eventually, the music got a little louder. On impulse, Cormak offered Nari his hand. She stepped into him and stumbled around the open area pretending to dance. It seemed Cormak had no clue how, but she made it clear she didn't care. I tried to keep an eye on both them and Kaidan, but the boy grew bored quickly.
Hugging his bear on one side, wielding his toy sword on the other, the boy lunged at a woman and bellowed, "Hi-yah!"
The woman gasped, but a man stepped around her with a tube of sugar floss, holding it out like a weapon. Of all the people in the world, it was Ela.
"My lady!" he gasped. "This brigand has me at a disadvantage."
So the woman he was spending the day with thrust out her caramel apple and cried, "En garde, sir!"
Kaidan squealed with delight and mocked a parry. Rolena, as I remembered her name, stepped in, hiking her dress up with one hand and skipping her feet in some parody of sword work. I made my way closer, putting myself halfway between the boy and Nari, but I wasn't alone. Wraythe stepped up to stand beside me.
"Yours?" he asked.
"Yup. The son of Nari's date. How are things going for Ela?"
"He's never had so much fun," Wraythe admitted just as Rolena was "killed."
The woman threw herself on the ground with an overly dramatic moan. She didn't care about her nice dress. Her skirts flew up to reveal her calves, but she didn't try to fix them. Instead, she rolled and moaned as if dragging out her death in the most theatrical manner possible.
"Oh, you've done me in. I'm mortally wounded." Then she paused to lift her head. "Wait. Am I the hero or the villain?"
"I'm the hero!" Kaidan decided.
"Right," she agreed before continuing her act. "The great hero has slayed me, ending my torturous reign!"
