his mother gave him a strong hug while she dried a stray tear that escaped her control. Kaz was happy for the support his friends had, but felt a sharp loss at not having parents to bid him farewell. He also wondered what it would be like to get a parting gift. Garin, Farin and Bendar’s parents handed their sons each a small bag of items to help with their journey to manhood.
Kaz took a step forward when he saw an unexpected movement from the corner of his eye. Fenn was weaving her way through the crowd. Kaz stopped moving, knowing something fun was about to happen. What is she thinking?
He looked back over his shoulder at Gib. Her dark gaze was a clear indication that she had also noticed her daughter’s trajectory, but in her position on the stage all she could do was watch as things unfolded.
Kaz took a slow step into the middle of the narrow stairs, making sure nobody from the town council could stop what was about to happen. Fenn was no longer slowly making her way forward, she had broken into a very unlady-like trot. She burst through the crowd of onlookers and threw her arms around Garin’s neck. Kaz covered his mouth to stifle a laugh that threatened to burst from him.
“What are you doing?” Garin asked, looking around awkwardly, knowing the eyes of the entire village were on him.
Without giving an answer Fenn pulled him close and their lips met. Kaz knew that this was the moment Garin had been anticipating for years, and he seemed to drink in every second. When she pulled away he gulped in a calming breath, and for a brief moment seemed to forget that he had an audience.
“Wow,” was all he could force out of his mouth.
She subtly slid her hand down Garin’s arm and placed something into his hand before she turned and darted off back into the crowd.
Kaz finished descending the stairs and patted Garin on the back playfully, his momentary grief replaced by amusement. His friend was now red-faced and facing the stern scowls of his parents.
Kaz made his way past his friends and began down the path when he heard his name being called. At first he thought he was hearing things, but after his name was repeated more urgently, he turned around. Gran called for him and slowly pushed through the crowd. When she caught him she reached up and gave him a tight embrace around the neck and placed in his hands a hand-knit sock that served as an unorthodox 'bag' of gifts.
“Kaz, care for this gift and it will care for you.”
Kaz looked up to the village council. “Gran I thought only parents could meet us before our Troven.”
Gran made a determined face and replied. “I don't care what they say. You are my boy and I'm seeing you off. Besides, if they let that girl give him a kiss, they’ll indulge an old lady.” She then kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, Gran,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. He thought that he was prepared to walk off the stage alone, but as he held the small woman tightly in his arms, he realized how wrong he was. He didn’t want to let go.
When Kaz opened his eyes he realized, for the first time, he was being left behind by the other three boys who were making their way out of the village green. He whispered in her ear as he released her embrace.
“Goodbye. I will see you in four seasons.” Then he turned, and over his shoulder in a much more characteristic manner he added, “And don't forget to feed my pet mice, I've been raising them on your finest cheese.”
“You’d better get going now or you’ll not only find yourself on this trip, you’ll find my wooden spoon across your hind quarters!” She scolded with a playful slap on his rump. Seeing her playful scowl was exactly what he needed as a final farewell. Kaz turned and jogged to catch up to his friends as they turned their backs to the village.
Chapter 4
As they left the village, Kaz heard the band begin to play. The post-Troven-ceremony party had officially begun. He grabbed his stomach
Kaz took a step forward when he saw an unexpected movement from the corner of his eye. Fenn was weaving her way through the crowd. Kaz stopped moving, knowing something fun was about to happen. What is she thinking?
He looked back over his shoulder at Gib. Her dark gaze was a clear indication that she had also noticed her daughter’s trajectory, but in her position on the stage all she could do was watch as things unfolded.
Kaz took a slow step into the middle of the narrow stairs, making sure nobody from the town council could stop what was about to happen. Fenn was no longer slowly making her way forward, she had broken into a very unlady-like trot. She burst through the crowd of onlookers and threw her arms around Garin’s neck. Kaz covered his mouth to stifle a laugh that threatened to burst from him.
“What are you doing?” Garin asked, looking around awkwardly, knowing the eyes of the entire village were on him.
Without giving an answer Fenn pulled him close and their lips met. Kaz knew that this was the moment Garin had been anticipating for years, and he seemed to drink in every second. When she pulled away he gulped in a calming breath, and for a brief moment seemed to forget that he had an audience.
“Wow,” was all he could force out of his mouth.
She subtly slid her hand down Garin’s arm and placed something into his hand before she turned and darted off back into the crowd.
Kaz finished descending the stairs and patted Garin on the back playfully, his momentary grief replaced by amusement. His friend was now red-faced and facing the stern scowls of his parents.
Kaz made his way past his friends and began down the path when he heard his name being called. At first he thought he was hearing things, but after his name was repeated more urgently, he turned around. Gran called for him and slowly pushed through the crowd. When she caught him she reached up and gave him a tight embrace around the neck and placed in his hands a hand-knit sock that served as an unorthodox 'bag' of gifts.
“Kaz, care for this gift and it will care for you.”
Kaz looked up to the village council. “Gran I thought only parents could meet us before our Troven.”
Gran made a determined face and replied. “I don't care what they say. You are my boy and I'm seeing you off. Besides, if they let that girl give him a kiss, they’ll indulge an old lady.” She then kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, Gran,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. He thought that he was prepared to walk off the stage alone, but as he held the small woman tightly in his arms, he realized how wrong he was. He didn’t want to let go.
When Kaz opened his eyes he realized, for the first time, he was being left behind by the other three boys who were making their way out of the village green. He whispered in her ear as he released her embrace.
“Goodbye. I will see you in four seasons.” Then he turned, and over his shoulder in a much more characteristic manner he added, “And don't forget to feed my pet mice, I've been raising them on your finest cheese.”
“You’d better get going now or you’ll not only find yourself on this trip, you’ll find my wooden spoon across your hind quarters!” She scolded with a playful slap on his rump. Seeing her playful scowl was exactly what he needed as a final farewell. Kaz turned and jogged to catch up to his friends as they turned their backs to the village.
Chapter 4
As they left the village, Kaz heard the band begin to play. The post-Troven-ceremony party had officially begun. He grabbed his stomach
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