Page 68 of Unfinished

Sienna laughed, and she was still grinning when Faseeth and Veesha came into the kitchen, followed by H’viss and Neevish.

“Faseeth told us you were leading another of your Christmas rituals. Finding and adorning the tree was a rewarding activity, so we’d like to join you again if you don’t mind, Lady Sienna,” said Neevish.

Sienna sighed. “Just Sienna, please, and yes, I’d love for everyone to stay. We can turn it into a cookie party. We’ll play some music again, and maybe we can even try to make some punch once it gets later.”

“Punch?” Faseeth asked, looking alarmed.

“Doesn’t your translator give you multiple meanings for each word? What do you think I meant?” she asked.

“A forward strike from a closed fist.”

“That’s one option, but it can also be a beverage where you mix a lot of things together, including alcoholic drinks. I was thinking tonight maybe we could bring out themaestaagain.”

Sienna’s family had never done much on Christmas Eve, but Tasha and her folks always had a big party Christmas Eve night, and it would feel good to raise a toast and to know that her friend was doing the same that evening.

“That can be arranged,” R’kash said dryly. He turned to Faseeth. “Don’t allow Veesha to eat the person-shaped cookies. They’re hard like stone.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow and shook her head in defeat. Maybe he’d like them better if he dipped them in his chocolate, but they’d need to start making the salt dough soon if she wanted Veesha to be able to go to bed on time.

“Okay,” she said, “let’s get started.”

The sun was setting by the time they baked the first batch. Although at the time it’d felt like she’d brought so much with her, she really hadn’t packed everything and the kitchen sink, so they’d had to cut shapes in the clumsily rolled dough by hand instead of using cookie cutters. They’d ended up with a large assortment of stars, some trees that were not the distinct triangular shape of the cookies Sienna had grown up with, and a few examples of Xithilene fauna like the cat-likeslithenhead Ivekth had attempted. She’d had to explain that when it came to dough, simple was better.

Neevish slid the first covered pans over the coals, and Sienna hoped for the best. It’d worked with the pie, but from what she’d experienced so far, Xithilene preferred to grill or sear their food, so they didn’t have much need for the type of ovens she was familiar with using.

Veesha was pressing her fingers into the leftover scraps of dough, making little logs and balls. She smiled when she saw Sienna watching and held up her creations. Sienna lifted her arms and tried to click her fingernails together, but it was a paltry imitation of the real thing. Luckily Veesha didn’t seem to mind, and she glowed with pride as the priests bent down to look at her work. Sienna shook her head. That little girl was going to be spoiled, but she deserved it.

The sound of happy humming grew louder, and Sienna looked towards the entryway. She’d set the music playing again earlier, and the person was copying the melody of “Joy to the World.” Then Jesthi stepped into the kitchen, still humming, each hand wrapped around the neck of a bottle full of dark ambermaesta, and Villith followed behind him. Now all of them were in one place to spend the evening together.

Sienna glanced at the darkening sky. “Right on time, Jesthi. It’s almost time for a toast.”

“We have many blessings to celebrate,” said Jesthi as he set the bottles down on the table. “Villith, fetch some glasses,” he added as he opened up the first bottle.

Villith returned carrying a tray over to the table with two stacks of small glasses. He started flipping them over so Jesthi could pour, and soon the whole tray was covered.

“Maybe we should attempt to make Sienna’s punch, or our cookie party will soon be over. Your northernmaestais strong,” Faseeth remarked with a wry grin. “What do we need?”

“I think we could try mixing it with some different fruit juices,” she told him.

“I can try making it,” volunteered H’viss.

Sienna was glad to leave the responsibility in someone else’s hands. She had no idea whether mixing themaestawith the local fruit would be any good.

Jesthi slid one of the small glasses ofmaestain front of her and then rapped his nails against the table. “Come, Sienna. Lift your cup for the blessing.”

She raised her glass along with all of the others except for Veesha. Jesthi looked from side to side and took a deep breath as if he was about to speak when R’kash stepped forward.

“Wait. I’d like to say the blessing tonight.” Jesthi dipped his head and gave R’kash a crooked smile. R’kash moved even closer to the center of their small group. “Lady’s joy to you all,” he said as he lifted his glass higher. “My life has been amply blessed these past several day cycles beginning with Veesha’s arrival at Evathi. Thank you to my friends for all they’ve done for me. Thank you to Sienna who has made my life fuller than I ever realized was possible, and bless our union and family.”

He swallowed half his glass in one sip, but Sienna savored her first mouthful. She already knewmaestacould hit her quickly, just like at the harvest festival, and it tasted just as good now as it did then.

She took another sip and helped Ivekth roll out what was left of the dough, each of them taking the end of a long dowel. They let Veesha cut the rest into the shapes she pleased, and Sienna moved around the table to stand closer to R’kash.

“I liked your toast,” she said.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. “I like everything about you,k’lallsa,” he said softly near her ear.

Sienna shivered. She finished the rest of hermaesta, but while she was looking up into R’kash’s face, one of the others refilled her glass. The odor of something burning broke through the pleasant haze, and she looked over at the fireplace.

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