Page 60 of A Winter Awakening

Ori looked up and smiled. “Uncle! Gael! Glad to see you both.”

“Happy Solstice, Ori. Happy Solstice, Wareth,” Orteo said.

The big man nodded in greeting.

“We’d like some mulled wine,” Gael said.

“Of course,” Ori said. “You know we make the mugs ourselves.”

Wareth ladled the steaming-hot red liquid into light-blue mugs.

“You did?” Gael asked. “They’re lovely.”

“And Wareth even let me throw some this year, not just decorate,” Ori said.

“Throw?” Orteo asked.

“Make them,” Wareth explained. “On a pottery wheel.”

Dark-blue specks, stars, snowflakes, and human writing decorated the mugs.

“It says, ‘Happy Solstice,’” Ori said, handing Orteo a mug.

“They’re beautiful,” Orteo said. “You are very talented.”

“He is,” Wareth said and wrapped his arm around Ori’s waist. Ori beamed.

“Liney and my aunties are around,” Ori said. “Make sure you say hello to them. They’re keen to see you. Both of you.”

Orteo’s stomach knotted, but he nodded. They left and continued between the wooden huts.

“I just had an idea,” Gael said. “You should have a stall next year!”

“Why would I have a stall?” Orteo asked.

“You could sell your figures. You could make little wooden scenes with animals and people,” Gael said. “Everyone would love them.”

“You think others would like them?”

Gael nodded. “Of course.”

“And would you paint them?” Orteo asked.

Gael smiled. “If you’d like.”

“Then maybe we should have a stall,” Orteo said. “We can run it together.”

“And we could even make the candle carousels,” Gael said, voice excited. “Like they have in Castle Evermore.”

“I still think I’d have to see one first and understand what it was. Especially if I was going to make them,” Orteo said.

“Gael!” a voice called out.

Alisa and Gracie stood by one of the firepits, each holding a bowl of sausages and lentils. Gracie seemed to be watching the children tobogganing down the snow-covered hill.

“You made it,” Gael said as they made their way over.

“We did, and we’re so glad we came,” Alisa said, her voice bright. She hugged Gael and then Orteo. “It’s beautiful. It’s magic. Isn’t it, Gracie?”