Page 38 of The Dark Elf's Found Family
Ikuyenda has never looked so good.
The festival explodes around me in a riot of color and sound that makes my chest tight with something I can't quite name. Paper lanterns bob overhead like captured stars, their warm light casting everything in shades of gold and amber. The girls helped finish those yesterday, Nya standing on my shoulders while Rhea directed from below, both of them shrieking with laughter when the wind nearly knocked us all over.
Now those same lanterns dance above the crowd, illuminating faces flushed with joy and rirzed wine. Tables groan under the weight of Eda's pastries, platters of roasted taura and dripir, wheels of sharp cheese, and loaves of bread still warm from the ovens. The air thrums with music—Veyra's harp weaving through the deeper notes of Korin's homre, while someone I don't recognize keeps time on a small drum.
I've been to countless festivals in Kyrdonis. Grand affairs with orchestras and elaborate displays of wealth, where nobles competed to outdo each other with increasingly extravagant gestures. Everything here is smaller, simpler, but there'ssomething about it that those glittering affairs never had—warmth. Community. The kind of belonging I never thought I'd find again.
A massive fire crackles in the center of the square, sending sparks spiraling up toward the stars. Children dart between the adults, their faces sticky with honey cakes, while their parents laugh and share drinks by the warmth. Flowers are woven through every available surface—rirzed blossoms braided into garlands that wind around lamp posts, winter blooms tucked into window boxes, even small bouquets tied to the backs of chairs.
It's everything the festivals in Kyrdonis pretended to be but never were. Authentic. Joyful. Real.
I catch sight of a few adults passing small pouches between them near the edge of the crowd, and my stomach clenches involuntarily. The telltale glassy-eyed look, the too-bright laughter—even here, the shadow of aviid and other substances follows celebration. But it's different than the city. Smaller. Contained. Not the desperate, spiraling excess that claimed Syrelle, just a few people looking to enhance an already perfect evening.
Still, the sight makes me think of Nya, and I scan the crowd until I spot her dark hair gleaming in the lantern light. She and Rhea are weaving between the dancers, their hands linked, faces bright with pure delight. Nya looks stronger tonight than she has in weeks—the mountain air and slower pace of Eryndral working their quiet magic on her fragile constitution.
"They're having the time of their lives."
Brynn's voice beside me sends warmth shooting through my chest. I turn to find her watching the girls with the same soft expression I'm probably wearing, her face glowing in the amber light. She's braided rirzed blossoms into her dark hair for thefestival, and the simple decoration transforms her from practical shopkeeper to something almost ethereal.
She laughs at something Old Berren says as he passes, the sound ringing out clear and bright, and something settles deep in my bones. This. This is what I want. Not the hollow grandeur of noble society or the endless pursuit of literary acclaim. Just this woman, these children, this simple town where people know each other's names and care about each other's joys and sorrows.
The realization doesn't surprise me—it's been building for weeks, growing stronger with every shared meal, every quiet evening, every moment watching Brynn mother Nya with the same fierce protectiveness she shows Rhea. But the certainty of it, the absolute knowledge that I can't imagine leaving this life behind, hits me like a physical force.
I've been telling myself we'd stay through winter, maybe spring. Testing the waters, seeing how things develop. But I'm done pretending this is temporary. Done acting like I'm just passing through. Eryndral isn't a waystation anymore—it's home. And Brynn... Brynn is everything I didn't know I was looking for.
I need to tell her. Not just that I care about her, not just that I want to see where this leads. I need her to know that I'm not going anywhere. That when I talk about Nya having a place to grow up safe and happy, I'm talking about here. With them.
My pulse quickens at the thought, nerves and anticipation warring in me. I've been patient, following her lead, giving her space to process her feelings without pressure. But tonight feels different. Important. Like the kind of night that changes everything.
The girls race past again, breathless and giggling, and I catch Nya's hand as she tries to dart away.
"Having fun?" I ask, crouching down to her level.
"The best fun ever!" she says, her violet eyes sparkling. "Rhea taught me how to dance, and Eda gave us extra honey cakes, and Veyra said she'd play our favorite song later if we ask nicely."
"That sounds perfect," I say, smoothing a strand of hair from her face. "Are you feeling alright? Not too tired?"
She shakes her head emphatically. "I feel great, Dad. Really, really great."
And she does. Color in her cheeks, energy in her movements, none of the breathless exhaustion that plagued her in the city. Another sign that this is where we belong.
"Good," I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go have fun."
She beams and races off after Rhea, leaving me with my heart full and my resolve crystallizing. I scan the crowd until I spot Eda near the dessert table, her round face flushed with happiness as she watches people devour her creations.
"Eda," I say, approaching her with careful casualness. "Could I ask a favor?"
Her eyes light up with interest. "Of course, dear. What do you need?"
"Would you mind keeping the girls overnight? There's something I need to discuss with Brynn, and..." I trail off, not sure how to explain without revealing too much.
But Eda's grin tells me I don't need to explain anything. Her eyes absolutely sparkle with knowing mischief, and she nods before I can even finish the request.
"Whenever you need," she says, actually winking at me. "They can help me with the morning cleanup. I'm sure they won't mind an extra adventure."
"Thank you," I say, relief flooding through me. "I really appreciate?—"
"Oh, hush," she waves me off, still beaming. "Just go get your girl and stop looking so nervous. Anyone with eyes can see you two are meant for each other."
