Darius walked alongside the party and soon broke off to find Cedar; he needed to speak with him first before settling down. He wove in between the excited people and down a small path.
Longdale’s center bustled with preparation, and the scent of roasted ats and honeyed nuts lingered in the evening air. Fires crackled within iron braziers placed strategically between tables, their orange tongues licking the shadows. Lanterns of dyed parchnt hung from wooden poles, swaying gently in the breeze.
Darius spotted Cedar not far from the elder’s usual post, leaning against a support beam just outside the storage cottage, conversing with one of the servers. He was dressed in a dark green robe over his usual layers, trimd with old bronze clasps. The elder’s white-streaked beard moved as he chuckled at sothing said, but his sharp eyes quickly landed on Darius.
"Thought you would be hiding by now," Cedar teased.
"I still might," Darius replied as he approached, his expression wry. "But I wanted to check in with you first."
Cedar stepped away from the post and clapped him on the shoulder. "Walk with , then. Let’s get out of earshot of the fire-singers."
They passed the stretch of tables where the kitchen assistants bustled, arranging rows of at pies and flagons of sweet wine. Further along, children chased each other between stools while elders shook their heads fondly. They dodged skillfully between the legs of the adults, their laughter fading in and out with every step.
"Is everything in order?" Darius asked.
"As orderly as a feast can be," Cedar said. "I am sure that Livia placed the Dawnbreak wolves along the benches on the west. There is plenty of space between them and ours. They have been given wine, bread, and a warm welco."
"Under watch?"
Cedar nodded. "Yes of course, I already made sure of that. You need not worry. I have one of mine overseeing the serving line near them. And Silas’ scouts are blending in with the musicians."
Darius exhaled through his nose, reassured. "Good."
"They’re not as rowdy as I feared," Cedar added. "Though the young one, their leader, he talks like soone twice his age."
"He’s clever," Darius muttered. "Too clever for my liking."
They turned toward a quieter path leading toward the outer ring of Longdale’s courtyard. The voices of the crowd were fainter here, replaced by the gentle rustle of pine needles overhead.
"You’ve done well," Cedar said after a mont. "This feast... this gathering... It ans more than most realize."
Darius slowed, his gaze dropping. A small smile played on his face, he felt like a young boy surrounded by older n patting him on his back and having pieces of sweetened roast forced into his hand as a sort of gift. If it was then he would have been smiling from ear to ear. His chest felt light, what a wonderful feeling this was.
"It’s the first one in so long, I do hope they realise it is important. But I must confess that the smiles I see are the best reward," Darius said.
Cedar stopped beside him. "You’ve honored both your mother and your father with this, Darius. They would have been proud. Especially your mother."
The words landed heavier than Darius expected. He looked away, jaw tightening. "I hope so."
"She’d have said this was the first step to sothing greater," Cedar went on. "And your father, well, he would grumble about the cost, but he would show up early and polish the drinking horns himself."
Darius let out a quiet laugh at that, his throat tightening slightly. "I can hear him now. ’A full belly’s no good if it costs you your legs.’"
Cedar smiled. "He did love his sayings."
For a mont, the two stood in quiet reflection. Then Cedar’s voice softened. "You have done what they could not. You’ve made a place for Ironshade to breathe and relax again. Never forget that."
Darius gave a tight nod. "Thank you."
Cedar motioned back toward the center square. "Co. You should be seen now. The people need to feel their Alpha among them, not lurking in the trees."
"Lurking builds mystique," Darius quipped, but followed.
As they approached the central tables again, the energy had shifted, the Dawnbreak wolves had taken their places, and the musicians had begun tuning their instrunts properly. Voices rose in greeting and laughter, the low hum of a feast just about to begin.
He caught sight of Livia, who was standing near the end of the southern table, speaking with one of the stewards. She spotted him and ca over.
"Everything’s in order," she said crisply. "Though we may have lost the Crimsonclaw ambassador. She slipped away so ti before the Dawnbreaks arrived."
Darius blinked. "Serena?"
Livia nodded. "No trouble was caused, so I let it lie. She will turn up."
Darius’s lips pressed together, but he didn’t argue. "Good work," he said instead.
Livia inclined her head, then stepped aside to finish her coordination.
With nothing else to attend to, Darius made his way to the high table. He took his seat, and the gathered voices dipped montarily as the drumrs began the soft beat that would soon build into a full rhythm. Across from him, the Dawnbreak delegate was already seated, watching the proceedings with a polite but unreadable smile.
Darius did not return it. Instead, his gaze drifted across the crowd, scanning once more for a familiar golden head of hair, even as he told himself not to.
She wasn’t there.
The musicians struck a stronger rhythm now, a woman with a braided crown stepping forward to begin the opening dance. It was a ritual performance, an ode to harmony and survival, with woven steps and gestures passed down through generations.
The children joined in next, mimicking the adults with varying degrees of success. Laughter followed, then cheers. Cups were raised and then the songs began. All around him, Ironshade celebrated.
Still, Darius felt the empty space beside him. And yet, despite it, for the first ti in a long while, he allowed himself to enjoy it, just a little.
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