90th of Fall, 518AV
Lani was supposed to get off work early because of Market Day. However there was so much to do at the stables that Hansi did not dismiss the Chiet workers until late in the evening, nearly the end of Market Day. There was plenty to do, with the oncoming storm, all the horses had to be inside with their windows boarded against the wind. The hay and feed had to be properly stored and covered to make sure that the humidity and wind didn’t ruin it. The water had to be covered and dispersed so the winds did not throw interesting things into the horse’s drinking troughs. Along with all of that, there was the regular horse care which they had to care for, and by the time all of them were done, it was late in the evening.
Lani was covered in straw and dirt. She always wore her boots to the stables, by the nature of the job, and was happy she had done so today, because there was a smear of horse dung on her boot that she had hardly had time to rub off, so it had crusted and now fell from the leather when she tapped her boot on the cobbled inside of the stables. Normally Lani wouldn’t be so eager for the Market Day, but she had put in orders at Thread Bare for some new clothes, and Leyla had told her today they would all be ready to pick up. She didn’t want to miss it and have to wait another ten days to get her new clothes. Checking the storage rooms to ensure all her required work was done, Lani strutted past them, heading straight for Hansi who was consulting with another Chiet at the end of the stables.
The wind buffeted the side of the building, screaming against the wood structure, and threatening to lift it off the side of the mountain. It was going to be an interesting trek back to the Sanikas Gates, although there were a few other Chiet who were going to make the trek with her, so if for whatever reason Zulrav decided to pluck her off the face of the Earth, perhaps the other Chiet would attempt to catch her.
”Yes, you can go now.” Hansi turned at Lani’s approach dismissing her and the other nearby Chiet at the same time. The youngest girl who worked in the Stables let out a very large sigh, and Lani felt a bit of relief herself, but it was quickly interrupted by the tension of having to brave the winds. It was winter and so the sun was setting early, but the large clouds were not helping with the light. When she and three other Chiet workers made their way to the edge of the stables, looking out to the pastures and up the trail they had to climb back into the Volcano. She could see Syna settling into the ocean now, being chased down by the dark and twisted clouds that howled in the afternoon sky. Although she could see the burning orange sphere of the sun, little light reached them, which made the normally short and easy trek seem far more intimidating than she was used to. It was a strange and dark beauty, that she could not help but admire.
But she was not the only one hesitating, and it only took her one glance at the Chiet that hesitated beside her to make up her mind. With a racing heart, she stepped out into the wind.