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Zuko was grateful for Brekk and Lytol. Since his banishment, he’d inadvertently attended more spirit festivals than human ones and the rules were fundamentally different. Thank Agni, the people here thought he was shy when he just stared at the first person to ask for his name. Brekke stepped din and introduced and,”This is Seaweed. She’s from Zuko’s nests. No, the weyrleaders don’t divvy his eggs. The fire lizards fetch for Zuko of their own will. Seaweed was an accident, but what can you do?”
After that was a steady stream of people sampling the spices and teas and small breads his little dragons made and the fish they caught. The holders were also enchanted by the glass baubles, no two the same, that Lytol verified were made by the fire lizards. There were strips of leather to string the baubles, if desired, into necklaces or bracelets. Zuko let the little blues to their braiding while customers oohed and aahed.
Eventually, Jaxom announced the dancing square to be cleared and D’ram, Lytol, and Brekke helped him pour sack fulls of sand and place border stones, water pots and scatter handfuls of dried leaves.
Once everything was placed, Zuko reminded his dragonlings of the rules while D’ram and Tiroth call Ruth, who had agreed to help manage the little creatures while Zuko went back to his stall, fortunately placed near what was usually the dancing square.
Zuko somehow managed to get busier during the hour the dragonlings were playing their game. He noted the passage of time by his nest-minders checking in with him as they rotated in and out of the game.
The end of the game itself was marked by his charges dropping as many glass baubles as they could carry into a basket that had been set aside for the purpose of containing the glass creations caused by the game.
He was quickly overwhelmed by customers as only Brekke stayed with him while D’ram and Lytol, along with some volunteers, cleaned up the square as quickly as possible. Words quickly lost meaning and he asked the younger of his dragonlings to fetch specific requests while he handled the coin.
Due to this, he didn't notice Lytol until the man took him by the shoulders and steered him to a quiet corner before putting pressure on his shoulders. Zuko sat and took the popular bubbly pies offered to him by a youth and looked up at the former warder. Lytol pointed at him, pointed at the sky, and pointed at the ground, firmly and repeatedly. Zuko nodded and watched the older man return to the booth before readjusting his seat. He ate his treat, straightened his posture, and began to meditate.
When he opened his eyes sometime later, it was well into the afternoon, and he was surrounded by fire lizards and dragonlings. Beyond them were people, adults and children alike muttering words he could understand again.
He was surprised when he saw Robinton among the crowd, sitting on a chair. The old harper smiled when he caught him looking. “You didn’t think I wouldn’t visit to show my support, did you?”
Zuko tilted his head to acknowledge his point and point out everyone else. Robinton’s smile grew. “Your fire lizards found you and the others were curious. The children believe if they copy you, you’ll give them fire lizard eggs. The rest either believe the same or are sneaking a nap.”
That startled a laugh out of Zuko, which startled the various miniature dragons, which caught the humans’ attention and brought an end to the impromptu meditation session.
Several children jumped up and clamored for Zuko’s attention, wanting to show him around the Gather. A startled, overwhelmed look to Robinton offered no help. “I’ll let the others know that you’re occupied,” he called after him, “You deserve a chance to enjoy the Gather as well!”
Zuko sent him a look of betrayal, causing the adults, especially the parents, to laugh before he was lost to the enthusiastic crowds.