hiding places and piling them
in the center of the stage.
“But the king of the land was
greedy. He wanted the gems for himself. He decided he would take over the
land, stealing stones and prospering from them while his subjects paid him
allegiance.
“The king commanded his
warriors to find all those who had stones. They were to take every stone in the
land and kill any who resisted. Many lives were destroyed. Families were ripped
apart. Beautiful stones, meant for the happiness of all people, became a burden
as the king’s warriors tore through the cities searching for them.” A group of
Vairdans dressed as warriors joined Sai and began to steal rocks from the
people portraying villagers.
“Word of the king’s cruelty
traveled through the land and soon reached the shore where a tribe of seaside
dwellers lived. They didn’t use stones in their village and were fearful of
what the king would do when he discovered they had nothing to offer him. So the
tribe leaders gathered together and prayed to the great sea god, asking for stones
of their own. They hoped to use them to find a place where they could live in
peace.”
A group of people had entered
the square dressed like typical Vairdans. They went through the motions of
praying and soon began shaking their fists at the king and his warriors
standing on the opposite sides of the stage. Around the warriors, the peasants
had fallen to the ground.
“The next morning, the young
daughter of the tribe leader walked to the shoreline. It was there, she found a
strange stone sparkling in the sun. When she picked it up, she grew fins and
gills like a fish. She jumped into the water and found she could swim and
breathe underwater just as the sea creatures did. She knew the sea god had
answered the tribe’s prayers.” Suddenly, a woman entered the center in a
beautiful, green gown. Scales had been painted onto her skin and her hair was
woven into braids tied with seaweed. Gracefully, she began to dance around the
square, her movements fluid and effortless.
“After the girl returned to
land, she dropped the stone and her body returned to normal. When the tribe
learned about her discovery, they gathered on the beach where they found
hundreds of magical Sea Gems.” More actors entered the square wearing costumes
of scales and fins. Holding hands, they began to dance in a circle around the
old man. It was a ridiculous spectacle.
Somehow growing more
dignified, he went on. “After everyone found a stone and turned into a sea
breather, they plunged into the ocean, forever leaving behind the wicked land.
They vowed to never forget the goodness of the Sea Gems or the greediness of
the king who had driven them from their homes. For weeks, they traveled, eating
fish and learning more about the ocean than they ever knew. They encountered
sea monsters and underwater beasts but they became strong. They gained new
allies in the ocean and did not perish.”
The group of sea people acted
out fighting and swimming and I stifled a yawn.
“Long after they left the
mainland, they sensed a change in the sea. It sang to them, of land nearby.
When the tribe leader’s daughter first saw the islands, she led everyone to the
largest shore. Afterwards, they named the island “Vairda” in honor of her. The
people happily lived on the islands, never to be harmed or troubled by the
mainland king again. Vairda was crowned princess of the islands for the
remainder of her days. Never again was a magic stone found in the islands, but
no one forgot the power of the Sea Gem. The stone forever became a symbol of
hope in Vairda.” The girl playing Vairda stood amidst the other actors and
smiled nobly as they knelt at her feet. I rolled my eyes.
“From then on,” the old man
concluded, “a new Vairdan princess was chosen every year in honor of the sea
dwellers’ escape. And this year, we will choose another.” With gusto, the old
man bowed followed by Sai and the other actors. The crowd roared
in the center of the stage.
“But the king of the land was
greedy. He wanted the gems for himself. He decided he would take over the
land, stealing stones and prospering from them while his subjects paid him
allegiance.
“The king commanded his
warriors to find all those who had stones. They were to take every stone in the
land and kill any who resisted. Many lives were destroyed. Families were ripped
apart. Beautiful stones, meant for the happiness of all people, became a burden
as the king’s warriors tore through the cities searching for them.” A group of
Vairdans dressed as warriors joined Sai and began to steal rocks from the
people portraying villagers.
“Word of the king’s cruelty
traveled through the land and soon reached the shore where a tribe of seaside
dwellers lived. They didn’t use stones in their village and were fearful of
what the king would do when he discovered they had nothing to offer him. So the
tribe leaders gathered together and prayed to the great sea god, asking for stones
of their own. They hoped to use them to find a place where they could live in
peace.”
A group of people had entered
the square dressed like typical Vairdans. They went through the motions of
praying and soon began shaking their fists at the king and his warriors
standing on the opposite sides of the stage. Around the warriors, the peasants
had fallen to the ground.
“The next morning, the young
daughter of the tribe leader walked to the shoreline. It was there, she found a
strange stone sparkling in the sun. When she picked it up, she grew fins and
gills like a fish. She jumped into the water and found she could swim and
breathe underwater just as the sea creatures did. She knew the sea god had
answered the tribe’s prayers.” Suddenly, a woman entered the center in a
beautiful, green gown. Scales had been painted onto her skin and her hair was
woven into braids tied with seaweed. Gracefully, she began to dance around the
square, her movements fluid and effortless.
“After the girl returned to
land, she dropped the stone and her body returned to normal. When the tribe
learned about her discovery, they gathered on the beach where they found
hundreds of magical Sea Gems.” More actors entered the square wearing costumes
of scales and fins. Holding hands, they began to dance in a circle around the
old man. It was a ridiculous spectacle.
Somehow growing more
dignified, he went on. “After everyone found a stone and turned into a sea
breather, they plunged into the ocean, forever leaving behind the wicked land.
They vowed to never forget the goodness of the Sea Gems or the greediness of
the king who had driven them from their homes. For weeks, they traveled, eating
fish and learning more about the ocean than they ever knew. They encountered
sea monsters and underwater beasts but they became strong. They gained new
allies in the ocean and did not perish.”
The group of sea people acted
out fighting and swimming and I stifled a yawn.
“Long after they left the
mainland, they sensed a change in the sea. It sang to them, of land nearby.
When the tribe leader’s daughter first saw the islands, she led everyone to the
largest shore. Afterwards, they named the island “Vairda” in honor of her. The
people happily lived on the islands, never to be harmed or troubled by the
mainland king again. Vairda was crowned princess of the islands for the
remainder of her days. Never again was a magic stone found in the islands, but
no one forgot the power of the Sea Gem. The stone forever became a symbol of
hope in Vairda.” The girl playing Vairda stood amidst the other actors and
smiled nobly as they knelt at her feet. I rolled my eyes.
“From then on,” the old man
concluded, “a new Vairdan princess was chosen every year in honor of the sea
dwellers’ escape. And this year, we will choose another.” With gusto, the old
man bowed followed by Sai and the other actors. The crowd roared
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