Every party needs it’s pacesetter, every celebration needs it’s spirit. Somebody who keeps the flow of chatter and liquor going steadily. Who gives the underdogs a moment to shine and makes a fool of those too arrogant. Who encourages people to open up to one another and share themselves. Someone who brings life to the dance floor, and inspires others to join him. Who introduces the right people to each other. In short, someone who could turn a crowd into a communion.
This ‘party’ however, was not just any party. This was a great sacrificial feast! Gods would lay their eyes upon the people here, walk among the mortals. Judging not only the sacrifices, but the people. Things tended to become tense in places like this. That was why Vincus took the responsibility to keep the short lived social ecosystem of this celebration alive, not only for the sake of sacrificial celebration, but for the sake of the people’s community. Whole civilisations could be torn apart in events like these if there wasn’t someone who carefully kept everyone, of high or low standards, in the lush and blissful illusion created by their own togetherness… And perhaps their booze.
Vincus could feel the tension build up. People were getting nervous. The time for sacrifice was coming closer by the minute. It was time to loosen up the situation. Throw some spice in the mixture if you will. Looking around he spotted a group of old men. The town’s eldest it seemed. They didn’t look very happy, since their younger generations hadn’t shown any true appreciation to them yet. A shame it was, the young could learn from the elders’ experience, while the young would keep the old youthful and happy… A plan started to form in his mind.
Walking up to the old sods, he lowered his hood and showed his young, attractive face encased with long dark hair. The elder looked at him like he was a living insult. Smiling at them with his strong and beautiful body as if he were challenging them. What he said next surprised them however. “Gentlemen, I see you are men of wisdom! My name is Kaelus the bard, and I have a song that I would like to dedicate to you. I’m sure you’ll know it.” Confidently he stepped up to a bunch of men bearing instruments, currently doing nothing at all.
“What a shame that you aren’t playing my friends. What joy you could bring these people when you enlighten them with a piece of your artistry! I know what will do the job, follow my lead!” He called out to them. Then softly he told them a few things that were only meant for their ears. Their eyes brightened and they grinned at each other. A woman with a strange looking lute on her back shoved it forward so that it hung in front of her chest. With a dramatic gesture the bard put her foot onto the pile of logs next to her, and she began to play.
When she began to plan, Vincus began to sing.
Rocky road to Dublin
In the merry month of May, From my home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam, Nearly broken hearted,
Saluted father dear, Kissed my darlin' mother,
Drank a pint of beer, My grief and tears to smother,
Then off to reap the corn, And leave where I was born,
I cut a stout blackthorn, To banish ghost and goblin,
In a brand new pair of brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs,
And frightened all the dogs,On the rocky road to Dublin.
One, two, three, four five,
Hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin,
Whack-fol-lol-de-ra.
The crowd became slightly more silent. At first people merely started to look up as they were talking, but more and more turned around to pay close attention to the group of bards that had begun playing. Everyone…
everyone, knew this song, but only a few knew it by heart. The elderly felt their hearts flutter and their minds drift off to a time long forgotten. Their youth came drifting up as Vincus’ voice inspired them to sing as well. Softly they sang along with the couplet. Vincus urged them to sing louder. A bit awkwardly they began increasing their volume, pulling the attention of the crowd towards them instead of Vincus. Their old minds struggling to remember the complex lines left them a bit uncertain.
But then the chorus kicked in. A smile appeared on the old men’s’ faces, and they laughed. A few others began to sing along as well. More and more the people’s attention turned to the singing. He could hear children ask their parents “What’s Dublin like?” And they would tell them to ask the elder themselves, since they could tell the story first hand.
Vincus sang along one more couplet as he slowly moved around, creating a small open spot of pavement within the crowd. The second chorus kicked in, and he approached a young lady. “May I have this dance?” He asked courteously, as he held out his open hand. The woman blushed and laid here hand on top of his. The two of them started to dance. Vincus could hear more and more people sing along and some even cheered. Rythmic clapping surrounded him as they swirled around in the middle. To his surprise the young woman was a great dancer, and knew the paces of a few of the most selective manoeuvres. Seeing this as a challenge, Vincus danced wilder and wilder, and his partner followed his lead.
As the song neared it’s last couplet, their dance came to an end. Even though the woman was breathing heavily and her forehead gleamed with sweat, Vincus seemed strangely unaffected. He smiled brightly at her, and handed her hand to another man at the edge of the crowd. The two of them began to dance as well, and slowly more couples, and sometimes larger groups let themselves become a part of the commotion. Flailing limbs, sparkling eyes and laughing faces surrounded Vincus. Men, women, young and old, communicating on the same level. Through music… through emotion. Vincus felt content with himself. Through his actions he had made sure this day would be remembered as a true sacrificial ‘celebration’, and not merely ceremony.
The congress reelThe first song ended, and a cacophony of cheers brought the next song. A song more fit for dance. The elder were now surrounded by young faces, each of them getting to tell their own story. The bards were being admired by the people. Everyone was singing and dancing and having a jolly time! With a grin on his face Vincus blended in with the people again, cloaking himself. All would have forgotten about him… Though not entirely. For who he was, was exactly what he had left behind.
Approaching a hooded figure he could sense was more than he made himself appear, he subtly greeted Tavon from under his own hood. “Greetings, my friend.” Saluting him briefly, he then proceeded to stand next to him. “My apologies if I have broken the peace, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t proud of myself…” He said softly, so that only the man he knew was a god could hear him.