Page 5 of Dreaming of an Earth Christmas

Althiss ran ahead as they approached the main entrance. The boy would never know the trepidation that had seized his body at the mere thought of entering the Lady’s sanctuary for so many years, and for that, K’thiss was deeply was grateful. He glanced towards the softly glowing pyramid and pressed his fingers to his Lady’s talisman where it lay against the scales of his chest beneath his shirt. It would be good to leave an offering to the gods, both to appease their hunger and as a reminder of all that he’d received. Life had become very, very good for him, and he knew the direction his path had taken was steered by the Lady’s hand.

“It’s like a new world, isn’t it?”

K’thiss looked at his friend. T’kalinth had always seemed to sense his innermost thoughts without the need for words. He supposed it was one of the reasons they had dealt so well together. “It is, my brother. A far better one.”

He held out his hand and T’kalinth grasped it. They pressed their arms together before T’kalinth pulled away. An attendant was holding open one of the heavy doors for them, a smile on her face.

“Xilleth is already taking Althiss to join Lady Violet in the children’s garden. The high priest awaits you in the western offering grove. Shall I escort you?” the woman asked.

“Please do,” replied T’kalinth.

The attendant inclined her head and turned towards one of the archways that led deeper inside the temple complex. “Follow me,” she called as she began walking.

They passed through several of the wide, high-ceilinged halls before she took them through a door that led into the courtyard section of the temple. Within was the main garden, as well as several smaller, more specialized areas designed for contemplation, and then came the famous offering groves. He’d wanted to make his gift to the Lady, but he would’ve preferred to have done so in private, or in the company of an unknown priest, but if Sseith was summoning them to a grove, he might bleed once more on the high priest’s blade. K’thiss grimaced slightly before he attempted to clear his face of the expression.

T’kalinth shot him a half-amused glance and let his crown feathers lift and lower in question. K’thiss looked back and tipped his head slightly to let him know that he had no need for concern.

“We are here—the western grove of the Lady, her Earthan garden,” announced the attendant with a half bow as she motioned towards the door.

“Thank you,” K’thiss said as he stepped forward. This time he was the one to hold the door, and T’kalinth entered first. He could already hear Sseith approaching as he followed quickly behind his friend.

“Finally. We have much work to complete this morning. Join me at the back bench and we’ll decide on a division of tasks.” Sseith was wearing his characteristic long, heavily embroidered crimson priest’s robes, but his black crown feathers were fluttering and shifting with agitation.Interesting. K’thiss hadn’t often seen the man appear disturbed by anything.

“Is there really so much work?” he asked. “Alexis will be doing our Christmas shopping after her shift at the learning center this morning, but otherwise, it seems there is little enough to the holiday besides enduring the overly sweet foods humans favor and listening to their odd festive songs.”

Sseith stopped walking and froze before he flared out his shining black feathers in full display. He released a short rattle of displeasure before he fixed his red eyed glare upon K’thiss. “Perhaps you are content to disappoint your mate with a subpar effort, but there is far more to their celebration than what you’ve listed. This year, it will be perfect. Do you not want the best for your mate—for Althiss?”

“Of course we do. Tell us what you have planned, Ka’alaniss,” replied T’kalinth, effectively cutting off any response K’thiss might have made.

“You mentioned their music. You are correct that it holds an important place in their celebration. Much of the information compiled by the Human-Xithilene Cultural Bureau was taken from human songs and other entertainment media. I expect that you reviewed the material as I asked,” Sseith said with an imperious tilt of his head.

K’thiss felt his wings begin to lift, but he forced them back down. This time it wasn’t out of any shame for his physical attributes, but to disguise his discomfort. He had only briefly glanced at the report Sseith had sent.

“Yes,” T’kalinth replied, saving him from having to either admit his failing or lie to the priest. Even if the priest in question was Sseith, lying to an emissary of the Lady hardly seemed like a good idea within her own temple.

“Good,” Sseith replied absently as he pulled out a viewscreen from beneath his voluminous robes. His bronze fingers swiped rapidly across the screen. “Ah, there. From my notes, I’ve made a list of what I believe are the most vital parts of their celebration. First, there seems to be a preoccupation with feathered creatures in one of their most famous Christmas songs.” He looked up. “I must admit, I don’t find it particularly surprising. My Carlie does love to stroke my feathers. I assume it’s a human characteristic. I plan to bring a selection of the temple quetzals for release during the first evening’s festivities as gifts of feathered beasts seem to be a preparatory practice to the main holiday.”

“They’re green and red—their holiday colors,” T’kalinth added with an inclination of his head, just as if he found Sseith’s idea a good one. K’thiss frowned.

“What else have you added to your list?” he asked.

Sseith lifted his head slowly, a particularly sinister smile growing wider on his face as he looked at K’thiss. “I’m glad you asked. You, K’thiss, will be Santa Claus!”

“What?” K’thiss asked woodenly. “No,” he added quickly as he stepped back.

“Someone must be, and who better than you?” Sseith continued.

T’kalinth looked away when K’thiss turned to him for help. “Alexis will already have gifts for Althiss. Why is this Santa Claus necessary?” he asked.

Sseith’s mouth went hard for a moment before he replied. “My Carlie has cried over human foot coverings. I will not have it. If my mate wants a man in red to deliver presents in human shoe liners, I will see it done. Although I do see some difficulties in fitting appropriate toys in child-size socks, that is the way humans give their children gifts, and that is what we’ll do. This is a human festival, and our women have sacrificed much to live on Xithilene. It is a small thing that will bring them great happiness. You won’t say no to me, K’thiss.” Sseith turned away and lifted a hand towards his chest. K’thiss could hear him speaking softly into his comm device. It didn’t take long for him to face them again. “Now, T’kalinth, you will help me with decorations!”

Sseith had forced them over to a large stone bench at the far end of the grove when three attendants entered through the main gate. He’d been showing them the many ideas he had in mind for the Christmas trees that would be the centerpiece of their decorating efforts.

One of the attendants walked ahead of the others, what looked like a set of red priest’s robes balanced over the crook of his arm. “High priest, we’ve brought the items you requested,” he said.

Sseith stood, setting his viewscreen on the bench. “K’thiss, come forward. This Santa Claus dresses all in red, just like one of the priest clan. The only difference I could discern is the triangular head covering with the white ball at the end. Otherwise, our garments fulfill the description admirably, even down to a thick belt with a gold fastening.”

K’thiss stood and walked reluctantly towards the eager attendants. “He is unusually large, just as you said, high priest,” one of the female attendants half whispered, sounding less awed and more horrified at the fact. “I think the alterations we made for wings will work, but the fitting will allow us to ensure he doesn’t rip the fabric. Extend your wings back, please,” the attendant told him with a quick glance up at his face.

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