RCG-I Seasonal Salon
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When Destiny Walked the LabrynthChapter 12: Bulldancer ExpeditionThe Festival reached its climax on the final day. Not only was the Bulldancer event to take place in the late morn, but the Kore ritual was at dusk, and the final feasting and dance immediately after. The Bulldancer event was very well attended. Crowds of people packed the perimeter of the courtyard both on the ground and on the first and second levels of the Agronos, shouting and cheering and waving colorful banners of their guild, family or village. Thesmas stood on the second floor balcony of her own personal apartment with the silver cone she used to amplify her voice. Even so, not everyone heard her announcement at the beginning of the event. “The Bulldancers of Kriti are world renown, and the troupe at Knossos especially so,” she began. “Today, they celebrate the vitality of life, passing through the horns of the Sacred Bull. Just as Goddess Herself possesses within Her the MoonBull, and just as She gives birth to Her Son, so the dancers are a living symbol of the fertility, abundance and passion for life that the people of Kriti personify.” Cheers erupted from those who could hear Thesmas, leaving the rest suddenly aware that the event had begun. Thesmas shouted over them, “Heradike, trainer of the dancers of Knossos, will tell you about today’s exhibition.” The crowd stomped and whistled as Thesmas handed her megaphone to the Bulldancer’s sprightly coach. “Thank you, First Elder,” Heradike began as the crowd quieted. “This exhibition of tumbling and skill is dedicated to the memory of a young man who unfortunately gave his life at the last Seven-Turns Festival. Jerid Ae-vasilea was a dancer of exceptional talent who was gathered from us too soon. We in the troupe honor his memory. We are pleased to announce today that his sister, Geneera, has been accepted into the troupe. May his memory live forever on.” More cheers and whistles erupted from the crowd. Ansel gasped, turned to Geneera and asked urgently, “Did you know she was going to announce you joined the team?” Geneera’s face had turned white as alabaster, and she just shook her head. Ansel took Geneera’s cold hand into her own and stroked it. “Your meta is not here though, right?” Again, Geneera shook her head. “No,” she choked. “She has not attended a dancer exhibition since Jerid died. She is doing some writing in her rooms.” “That is fortunate. You are going to need to tell her as soon as you can. Don’t allow her to hear it from someone else.” “I will have to find her. I will run to her apartment as soon as the event is over. Oh Goddess, I can not believe Heradike just announced to the entire crowd that I have joined the team.” “She undoubtedly assumes your meta would be proud. Anyone would think that.” “She doesn’t know Meta.” The troupe entered the courtyard. The dancers wore very short skirts in bright shades of blue, yellow and coral. The bull, a huge brown specimen, wore a garland of flowers around his neck in colors matching the dancers’ costumes. Three dancers led the bull to the center of the courtyard while the others took their places off to the side. A girl yelled “Aiyee!” and threw her arms over her head as she stood in front of the bull. Ansel recognized Carea as the dancer gripped the bull’s horns. The animal tossed his head and Carea was thrust towards its back. She balanced herself upside down, hands still grasping the horns. The bull began loping slowly around the courtyard. Carea arched her back until her outstretched feet touched the bull’s back. She stood balanced on its back, her arms extended from her side as the beast continued to jog around the perimeter of the courtyard. Finally, she did a handspring from the bull’s rump into the waiting arms of another dancer. The crowd cheered wildly. Carea waved and ran to the sidelines to stand with the other dancers. Next, Garin raised his arm high and shouted “Aiyee!” catching the attention of the audience. He cartwheeled and hand-sprung toward the waiting bull, then grasped the bull’s horns and flipped onto the bull’s back, using momentum generated by the animal’s head toss. Landing feet first on the bull’s rump, he somersaulted first back towards the bull’s head, then forward to the rump, then hoisted himself to his hands and remained balanced there as the bull loped around the courtyard. He leapt off the animal to wild applause. After Garin finished his performance, he came to sit with Ansel and Geneera in the crowd. He smelled somewhat of sweat and animal, but Ansel found she did not mind. He reached across Ansel’s shoulders to thump Geneera on the back. “Great show, no? Carea’s work has been superb today. Her uncle Nikolas is here all the way from Phaistos to see her. She really wants to impress him.” Geneera just grimaced, her face still unnaturally white. She continued to stare intently at the dancer now on the bull’s back, who was balancing upon one foot while arching her back and raising her arms. “She has not told her meta yet about joining the troupe,” Ansel whispered to Garin. The boy winced. “She will need to now. It is going to be difficult when she finds out, yes? That is too bad.” He paused, then said, “Will I see you at the dancing after the Kore ritual tonight, Ansel?” “I will be there with Geneera.” “Ai, of course.” He seemed about to say more, then checked himself and watched the event for a few long moments. The tall, slender, dark girl was now dancing comically atop the bull to the amusement and cheers of the crowd. Finally, Garin turned to Ansel and said, “Geneera is Kore, too. She will understand if we want some time alone.” “I may not be willing to leave her alone, Garin.” “But it is the last night of the Kore Festival. Everyone will be partnering. Will not Geneera find someone she wants to be alone with, too?” Ansel shrugged. “I do not know. We have not spoken of it.” Her insides felt funny again. She recognized a feeling of guilt, but whether it was towards Garin or Geneera, Ansel was not certain. Her heart ached, too. So many changes. So many losses. This might be one of the last nights she had to spend with Geneera before her friend moved to the athletes’ house. It was not that she could not spend time with Geneera there, but it would not be the same as sharing an apartment. But Geneera seemed already so involved with the dancer troupe that maybe she had already moved on. Maybe Ansel was foolish to think Geneera would even miss her. Just then, Geneera grasped Ansel’s hand and squeezed it. Ansel automatically stroked her friend’s hand. Garin frowned at the girls, but to Ansel’s relief, said no more about the dance. Soon, he stood. “I must return now to the ring. I hope I will see you tonight,” he added to Ansel. Copyright by the Kassandra Sojourner ~ All rights reserved |
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