Page 5 of The Curious Incident of the Great Cookie Snackcident of 979
Instead of any of the responses she might have expected, Sirin waved her arms and laughed. “No, no,” she said. “Actually, we are hoping for a good outcome for my research. It seemed to me that if you all do fertility rituals for a fruitful harvest, as well as for pregnancy, my research could likely also use any bump toward any success the Lady might be willing to grant.”
Abi blinked and turned to look at Senka. It was highly irregular, and she now understood why Sirin had needed to get permission from the Guard-Captain. “What an interesting idea!” she said.
“Yes, thank you. To that end, Sigfinn and I will be removing the mattress and linens from the chamber today,” Sirin stated, as if such a thing made sense.
“Why would you want to remove the mattress and the linens?” Abi wondered aloud.
Perhaps the type of fertility rituals Sirin had in mind was very different from the sort that people usually conducted.3 Even the yearly harvest fertility rite involved ritual intercourse between a newly married couple. It was a great honor to be chosen and almost all newlyweds in the area hoped that they would have their opportunity to help the community.
“Actually, this is something that Sirin and I discussed when she first asked about doing the ritual,” Senka began. “Because this feels more complicated than a simple pregnancy, Sirin wants to make sure that she is properly showing her dedication and devotion. As such, she doesn’t want anything in the room designed specifically for her comfort.”
“I see, well, I understand why the mattress would have to go, then!”
After a few minutes talking about the logistics of removing the mattress and linens, Sirin and Sigfinn left Abi and Senka to finish their lunch.
Senka squealed when Abi opened the package from her mother to reveal their now favorite lavender shortbread cookies.
“The woman hasn’t even met you and she’s already making your favorite cookies! If I wasn’t her daughter I’d be offended that she likes you more than me!” Abi teased.
Senka’s wisps waved a little faster and their eyes twinkled. “If your mum likes someone they’venevermet more than you, then I think you might need to work on your relationship with your mother,” they razzed.
“She’s just getting biased information. She’s only hearing all the nice things I’ve told her about you. Whereas she knows nearly every embarrassing thing there is to know about me,” Abi retorted.
“You say nice things about me to your mum?” Senka asked, their voice suddenly serious.
“Of course! What bad would I have to say about you?” Abi asked, genuinely confused.
“I don’t know ... I suppose I’m just used to the fact that, among shades, everyone’s mother already knows me. There aren’t that many of us, and so they’ve all known me since I was born. The idea of someone telling their mum about me ..." they trailed off, pausing for a moment. “It’s nice feeling special enough that you would tell your mum about me. That you’d tell her enough for her to like me enough to make my favorite cookies.”
1. Shade physiology is fascinating. Their forms can be entirely permeable or corporeal as needed. Though they spend most of their time in a transitional state, they can become either phase or any step in between.
2. Please see “A Polar Expedition and Other Stimulating Research Opportunities" for more details on my relationship and “The Source of Magic: How Our Lady Alters the Shape of Reality Around Her” for details on my quest.
3. After years of friendship, Abi now expects such things from me, but when she recounted her befuddlement at the time, I am not too proud to say I burst out in giggles.
Chapter three
Abi
IN WHICH A RITUAL, A SNACKCIDENT, AND A REVELATION CHANGE THE COURSE OF ABI’S LIFE
The next evening, Sigfinncame by early to check that everything was ready. On his way out, he stopped to talk to Abi, his iridescent scales reflecting the light of the lunula. At 19, he still hadn’t grown out of some of his awkwardness, shuffling his feet.
“Hello, Abi! It seems like everything is in order. Sorry about the irregular nature of my boss’s request,” he said in a rush.
“It’s fine,” she said. “More than anything, it was just her asking for something we’ve never done before. If the Guard-Captain approved of it, then I’m certainly not in any place to say that she shouldn’t do it ... not to mention the fact that anything she learns from her research can only benefit us.”
“That’s my thinking as well,” he said. “Anyway, I hope you have a calm evening, otherwise. I imagine Sirin being here willshake things up a bit—she always does, but hopefullyotherwiseit’s quiet for you.”
Sigfinn waved as he exited. Abi wasn’t certain what sort of disturbances Sirin and her husband, Berne might make. While she hadn’t ever been the guard on duty in the Lady’s chamber during a fertility ritual, she had been on duty at other posts. The only strange or awkward part of the experience was when whomever was performing the ritual arrived or left. During those times, there were just lots of blushes and people failing to meet anybody else’s eyes.
An hour later, the couple in question arrived. Sirin and Berne, a polar bear shifter, paused briefly to pay their respects to the Lady before Sirin waved and dragged him off toward their cavern. Abi and Senka rarely saw many people during their shift. They only saw Sirin and Sigfinn as often as they did because the researcher usually stopped to take samples at the end of their workday.
During fertility rituals, when discretion was of utmost concern, the guards stationed at the entrance wouldn’t allow anyone else in. The couple then retreated into specially designated chambers to complete their ritual in private.
The heightened security meant that Abi and Senka had a brief moment of relative calm. As such, they’d decided to take their first break together. On her next circuit, Abi spied Senka settling down in their usual spot and smiled.
Most shades lived entirely inside the mountain, and the few that ventured out did so wearing a glamour that made them appear human. Senka had explained that the glamour was itchy and confining, so most shades didn’t like to wear it. Without it, however, the sun slowly evaporated their skin. They were protected inside the Lady’s bubble, but if they left its confines, they needed to do so during winter.1