Tinsel Time

Aelin found herself once again following Khaalida, as had become natural. The announcement of Khaalida leaving and going on land quests had rocked Espeor, but before they could leave there was a holiday to prepare for. Aelin sure hoped it wasn't going to be as chaotic as the Equinox. But Khaalida had a different idea in mind.

"Hello again!" Khaalida called out, and Aelin blinked in surprise to find Halo waiting for them once more. But this time, another mare was there as well.

Halo saw the glint that had been in Khaalida's eyes all morning, and quickly shook her head. 

"No thanks. Khaalida, this is Kat. She recently joined me in Aberfa's service. I was planning on showing her around, but it seems like it would be a good idea for her to get to know the locals," Halo said, gesturing to the mare beside her. 

"Hello," Kat said, her tone cool and Aelin suddenly felt a bit childish around her. The mare was striking in appearance, and the way she carried herself... 

"Nice to meet you, Kat," Khaalida said with a smile. "This is Aelin, my friend and a Mystic of the Icy Region."

Aelin blinked, then gave a slightly nervous smile. "Hello there," she said, a bit awkwardly. 

"Kat, Khaalida can show you her land and you can get some experience with jousting and whatever. I'm going to go be anywhere else," Halo said, and trotted off into the trees with a flick of her long tail. 

"Well, to Espeor then!" Khaalida said, and Aelin and Kat followed her back. 

"So... Halo said jousting normally works as us practicing our magics. How are we going to be going about that today?" Kat asked. 

"Well, I have a few ideas with the holiday season...."

 

The world had exploded in tinsel and glitter. Kat looked around at the chaos, gaping. While the city had been impressive and all... this was not as much. 

Aelin saw the look on Kat's face and hid her smile, watching as Khaalida trotted into the middle of the room strewn with decorations. 

"So," Khaalida said. "What kind of magic do you have?" 

Kat collected herself, straightening a bit. "The Deities gifted me with Illusion, Abacomancy, Probability Manipulation, Wingless Flight and Water Walking," she said, a bit cautiously. 

Khaalida tilted her head, thinking it over, before grinning. "Perfect. Let's get practicing!" 

As it turned out, Khaalida's idea of practice that day was hanging decorations. Sure, she probably could have used her Chaotic Influence magic to whip everything together, but instead she found herself working alongside Kat and Aelin. Kat used her Wingless Flight to get up high to hang the directions, which was super helpful since flying with wings would have just pushed air all around. 

Khaali used her Energy Manipulation to keep them all energized as they worked, easy conversation flowing around them as they did. 

"So how much land do you own?" Kat asked, as she hung a bit of tinsel around the doorway. 

Khaalida paused, thoughtfully. "I think seven or so parcels?" Khaalida shrugged. "I mainly live here in Queensbreak, though. My children handle a lot of the other lands."

"You seem young to have so many children and so much land," Kat replied. 

Khaalida chuckled. "I'm a bit older now than I appear. But I did have my oldest twins and got my first land young," she admitted. 

"And you are a Mystic?" Kat asked Aelin, who nodded. 

"I have been gifted with the magics of the Icy Region," Aelin replied, "Where I spent most of my time before arriving here."

"You must be powerful," Kat said, with a bit of appreciation and Aelin laughed slightly. 

"Khaalida could kick my butt any day," Aelin admitted. 

"Really?" Kat asked, eyeing Khaalida with a more speculative eye. 

"Yeah, she is one of the Quirlicorns who achieved Deity status," Aelin said. 

Khaalida smiled. "It was a lot of work," she added. "Certainly not an easy path to walk."

The mares hung decorations quietly for a while, each wandering within their own thoughts. 

 

"So Halo dumped me with you because she didn't want to put up decorations?" Kat asked after about a half hour of quiet working.

"Pretty much," Khaalida said with a laugh. "I had mentioned it to her earlier in the season and well, I guess it's just not her cup of tea. Coming from the mare who had me blindfold myself and joust through a maze of chains...." Khaalida snorted.

Aelin smiled at the memory, and Kat's slightly baffled look.

"Sometimes you have to get creative," Khaalida said. "Halo is good at that, she will come up with insane challenges that push me and force me to think of my magic in different ways. But I've seen her with Quirlicorns who are not gifted with magic like I am, and she comes up with ways to work the body as well as the mind, preparing the pathways for magic."

"I hadn't quite thought about that," Kat said. "I know when I joined Aberfa's service jousting was mentioned, but I didn't think much into what it entailed. I will have to ask her about it after we are done."

Khaalida nodded. "Even this is a form of thinking about magic in a different way," she said, gesturing to the half decorated hall around them. "Figuring out ways to turn your magic to practical purposes, ones that are not as flashy or showy, and more suited for everyday life." 

"It certainly was a rush when Aberfa blessed me with magic," Kat admitted. "I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and Aberfa told me to practice and learn them. Without much guidance to what they were, either."

"Sounds just like her. Use your mind, puzzle your own ways through. She values a good mind for sure," Khaalida said with a smile. 

"Is that why you joined her in the Mountains Region?"

"Well... yes, and no. When I was questing for my first land, I happened to pass through this area. When I was searching for where to place my land, I felt drawn back here. It felt right," Khaalida replied. "I gained my first magic when I was barely out of foal-hood. I had Mediumship, and for a long while I thought I was going crazy. We passed through the Mountains, my mother and I, and she had visited a Seer, to try and find a way to help me. The Seer instead offered a prophecy about my life, and guided us to Cyrenne, who helped me with my magic. A lot of my foal-hood was spent in the Mountains, and really. It just feels like home to me. My regional form is wings, and soaring over the valleys and around the tall peaks... There is just something about it."

Kat looked over at Aelin. "Did you feel that too?"

"Arriving here was the first time I had been out of the Icy Region," Aelin replied. "Admittedly, I had traveled fast, and passed out right inside of Khaalida's borders. I came at Aberfa's request to assist with the Equinox, but... I stayed. I found a family here."

Kat smiled, looking at the hall, and the promise the Queen and Mystic brought to the land around them. Espeor was a large part of the Mountains Region, and she was glad Halo had shuffled the task to her, giving her a chance to experience it.

 

More Quirlicorns filtered in, and Khaalida greeted each by name, setting them tasks related to setting up the hall. Once the hall had finished, tinsel and garland hanging from nearly every corner, a large tree was brought in. Khaalida's Cat and Elantaire were helping (or rather... hindering) in their own way, playing with the decorations. They were joined by other familiars as the Quirlicorns of Espeor entered, creating a rather chaotic scene. 

Laughter and good times were had, as the tree was decorated, and the Quirlicorns who had joined helped set the tables, putting out other decorations, gorgeous cloths of reds and silvers draping on the walls, hints of evergreen here and there. 

By the time the hall was done, it was late. 

"Would you like us to walk back with you?" Khaalida offered.

"Yes, please," Kat replied. "I am not yet quite familiar with your lands, so it would be a great help," she admitted. 

"Gladly!" Khaalida replied, leading the way.

"You have a wonderful land here," Kat said as they walked down the streets of Queensbreak, toward the main gate. "Your city seems both part of the mountains and yet separate. It is quite beautiful."

"Thank you," Khaalida replied, bowing her head. "This land, my people, they are my pride and joy. I can only hope to live up to what they deserve."

Aelin snorted. "I think you go above and beyond," she pointed out.

Khaalida laughed. "I can never go too far for my people," she said. "It is a different kind of service than what you do Kat, but a service all the same," she added, as she looked back over to the servant of Aberfa.

"I have learned much from your land, people and you," Kat said, thinking about the shining city in the mountains as it faded in the distance. "I hope to return soon.... just perhaps next time without so much tinsel."

"No guarantees!" Khaalida said with a grin.