With the tithe taken care of for this year I let out a long relieved sigh. I have only been here for a little while, but I can already see how my business can be considered quite essential as far as the lord is concerned. The adventurers' guild, the inn and possibly the smithy are in all likelihood the only other businesses creating a similar flow of revenue. The local farms, even if they do pretty well, probably don't even come close.

  Well, it's not like I have to worry. I just hope the lord doesn't take a personal interest. That would be too troublesome. I'd rather just do business and pay my tithes without getting involved in the local politics any more than is necessary. Yes, I rather like how everything is coming along right now. As far as I'm concerned anyway.

  I really should get back to work now though. I slap my cheeks, get a bucket of water from the creek and grab a rag. There is still one last thing I want to get done before I get ready for the night after all.

  I want to make sure the house, especially the room in the back, is ready for Elzbieta and little Ulryk when they come. And since I'm unlikely to be in any state of mind to do any cleaning tomorrow morning I have to do it now.

  With fresh determination I get started. I wipe everything down and scrub the tabletops as well as the floor. I clean the fireplace too. Last but not least I change the sheets of the bed. I don't have time to actually wash the old ones right now, but the old sheets won't run away. I set them aside in a basket by the door for now.

  I take a peek outside to gauge the time and my eyes widen as I do. I'm running late. Really late! I have to hurry!

  Rushing around the house I close the shop. Then I grab my washing supplies and am off to the bathhouse like a whirlwind. I don't bring the clothes I'll wear to the midsummer night dance yet though. I really don't want to be seen wearing them yet.

  I really wish I could take my time and soak in the warm water for a nice long while, but I can't. Instead I just focus on washing. I have brought some especially nice smelling scented soap too.

  Surprisingly I'm not the only one at the bathhouse either. To be honest, I really shouldn't be surprised. I should have expected this development. Why would I be the only one in a rush to get ready for the most exciting night of the year, or one of the most exciting nights anyway, after all.

  I try not to pay too much attention to the others, despite the fact that this is a mixed crowd this time around. I can only hope that the others feel the same way too. Although, to be honest, the idea that someone might be sneaking a glance is a little exciting. Well, I don't have time to dwell on that silly idea though. I'm still in a hurry after all.

  As I return back home afterwards I stop at the house only briefly. Just long enough to grab a brush, a comb and a ribbon for my hair. Afterwards I head down to the temple. I need a little help for the next step.

  I enter through the back door in the garden after knocking to announce myself. Wislawa is heading to the anteroom, as I enter. She welcomes me with a nod in passing. I in turn head directly to the room where Elzbieta is staying right now.

  It seems the little ones has just had his evening meal, as the young mother is still in the process of readjusting her clothes, while little Ulryk already is in the process of falling back asleep.

  Elzbieta flashes me a smile and blows me a quick kiss too, for good measure as she sees me. Then she notices the things I brought.

  “Want some help with your hair?”

  Well, I guess that isn't terribly hard to come to this conclusion. I nod.

  “Please? Could you braid it for me?”

  Elzbieta lets out an amused chuckle, a sound Ulryk is quick to mirror with his own baby laugh. It seems he is wide awake again all of a sudden. All thoughts of sleep pretty much forgotten. Curiosity is a mysterious and powerful thing. His mother in the meantime motions for me to come over and sit with them on the bed.

  I sit down slowly and with great care, so as not to jostle the infant too much and while his mother starts combing and brushing my hair I play with him a little. Thankfully he is still easily entertained. A gentle belly rub and with it the chance to grab my fingers is enough to keep the little man busy.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  It probably helps too, that Elzbieta is softly singing about one Kswaery's many silly adventures, while she turns my hair into a braided piece of art. I join her too, singing along, putting a little more emphasis of the pieces about Maryla the magpie, one of Ksawery's accomplices, while Elzbieta focuses on the parts of the catfolk adventurer.

  I never thought of myself as much of a singer, but it seems that together with his mother I'm good enough to put a beaming smile one the little man's face.

  Eventually Ulryk falls asleep though and Elzbieta finishes with my hair too.

  I don't have a mirror on me, but what little I can glimpse out of the corner of my eyes looks good to me.

  Reluctantly I get up to leave. Before I can get going though, Elzbieta pulls me into a quick hug.

  “Take care when dancing with the fair folk, yes?”

  I swallow hard and nod. I have been trying not to think about that part too much. For the same reason I can understand all too well why Elzbieta might be worried.

  “I'll try. See you tomorrow, alright?”

  I'm already about to pull away when another thought strikes me.

  “Or would you like me to stop by again after getting all dressed up?”

  “Would I? I think I can stay up a little longer, but won't you run late?”

  I shrug.

  “Maybe? Just a little? But at least I'll run late for a good reason.”

  I wink at her, then I'm off and I blush hard, real hard, all the way until I'm back home. My heart is beating real fast too and it's not just due to the general excitement catching up to me either.

  I take a moment to calm my nerves after closing the door behind myself. Then I fly into action again. Or at least I want to.

  Sour Cream demands my attention before I can turn to other things though. Her demands are easy to meet at least. A liberal helping of her namesake treat and she is happy as any cat can be.

  Now I can resume my festival preparations. My everyday clothes fly off. Only at the last moment can I restrain myself from throwing them on the freshly made bed. I dump them in the basket with the rest of the laundry instead.

  Without delay I put on some scented oil. Only a little though. Very little in fact. I don't want to smell like an alchemist's workshop after a very unfortunate oil spill.

  Then I slip into my highly enchanted festival clothes. First the sandals, then the dress inherited from grandma. Just feeling the sheer cloth on my skin is enough to send a shiver down my spine.

  At long last I get the floral wreath from the strong chest to place it upon my head with tender care. I don't want to disrupt my freshly braided hair after all.

  It is only when I turn to leave the house again, that I realize that Sour Cream has stopped in her tracks on the windowsill, to look at me with big eyes. It seems the combined effect of the enchantments has an effect even on her.

  I bend down to place a quick kiss atop her head and run my hand along her spine all the way from the top her head to the tip of her tail. That seems to shake her out of her stupor and as she is off into the night I leave as well.

  My first destination is the temple once again, where I can already see Elzbieta out in the garden in the back, where she walks up and down, softly singing to little Ulryk who seems to be awake again. The young mother flashes me a smile.

  “It's almost uncanny how my little man seems to be able to tell whenever I'm about to leave, even if it's just for a moment …”

  Then her words trail off as she truly beholds me.

  I smile at her in turn and somehow that is enough to make her blush like I have never seen her blush before. I twirl in place once and move over to her, to break her out of her daze with a little kiss too. While I'm at it, I place another little kiss atop of Ulryks head as well, since he is staring at me wide eyes too.

  “See you tomorrow, you two.”

  Then with one last twirl and a wave I'm off into the night, heading in the direction of the festival meadow.