[FX: Murmuring feast. Laughter. Cups knock; hand-pan heartbeat under crowd. Ankle bells enter.] [FEAST-HOST — male baritone; warm raconteur patter, bright patter] Gather you in, you ash-born, you Velothi-called— sit nearer to me some and let severity fall! Name out your mothers and break wick-wheaty bread! Whose line out brings ash-yams? Whose brings on ald tales? Tonight we un-reckon—ink runs like grief— sol-ved stress, and mouths here keep ledgers truer than what into stone's set. [TABLE CHOIR — playful, many solo bits; call-and-response] — Forosa of the Salt-Paths! [A sprinkle of salt to palm, tongue, air.] — Ilmi-Ralas the Net-Mender! [Loops a red thread round two fingers.] — Ald Nere—who checked each dish twice! [Laughter.] — Shila with the trama-barb-songs! [A short ululation.] [ELYTRA MASKERS — soft click-hums, like distant cutlery; they “shadow” the crowd’s rhythms] [MOON-KIN (Azura) — female mixed voices, bright, bell-ornamented] Lanterns up—moon in a bowl, light on a string. We lift what was dim, and each face sight is kin. Hush the tide in our throats; let lady's mercy provision begin. [WEAVER-AUNTS (Mephala) — primarily women, velvety, sly] Pass the thread, child—knot to knot, hand to hand. What’s frayed we refigure; what’s tangled, we plan. Web is a table, and every strand stands. [TABLE CHOIR — rhythmic claps on 3-3-2] Clap-clap-clap | clap-clap-clap | clap-clap— Pour and pass; laugh and express; eat and be blessed! [ASHIMASI — aside, female mezzo; attentive, tender asides, hushed wonder] Faces like home, yet new as dew— the air tastes sweet, like comberry-tea smoke. As shame had no place here, such jubilant sing, enough just about to, forget my burden share's sting… [ELYTRA MASKERS — faint chiming tremolo under her words] [FEAST-HOST: male baritone; warm raconteur patter, bright patter] Rite the First: Bread & Ash. Ash to the crust, ash to the brow— [Lifts bread to eyebrow] not to bind you, newer ones, but to loosen your yoke. [He dusts Ashimasi's brow; laughter as she sneezes.] [MOON-KIN: bright mixed trebles; bell-clear, lilting ornaments.] No debt is here borne out; what would tether kind hands. [Interlude: Joyous music and clap and patter] [Interlude: Joyous music and clap and patter] [WEAVER-AUNTS:low female ensemble; velvety legato, whispered inflections] Rite the Second: Thread & Name. Say them aloud; lest famish moths eat them, what waste in the dark— names breathe longer when sung in a round. [TABLE SOLOISTS — quick, individuated offerings] [Aunt Zhansha-Ilani]: “May your night-water calm; may your old hurts enjoy'n in your rest.” [Uncle of Shahhailu-line]: “A measure for measure; leave no site un-etched.” [Soft Voice]: “Spare bothers, for morrow, comradery lift up your load.” [Crowd chuckles; spoons clack.] [Rest as prepares for Ashimasi's line] [Rest as prepares for Ashimasi's line] [ASHIMASI — female mezzo; attentive, tender asides, tiny, involuntary smile] How easy your mouths make grace sound… Were generations' stone in my chest but a pebble were kwam-cuttle mote. [ELYTRA MASKERS — close whisper-hum; a faint click cadence] [FEAST-HOST: male baritone; warm raconteur patter, ceremonial lift] Rite the Third: Salt & Story. A pinch for bitterness [he tastes it], a pinch too for wit [he winks]. That we may member our itinerant kin, preserve each good feeling, that such joy may not end. [WEAVER-AUNTS — low female ensemble; velvety legato, whispered inflections, sotto voce, luxuriant] Hush now; we older still hold close. Keep in mind, what was, no slight will go made here, Spoils welcome home come. [MOON-KIN — bright mixed trebles; bell-clear, lilting ornaments, luminous, rising line] Neath, beautiful sky, ancestor's day moon. Her goodness protects us, sanctions our mood. [Interlude 2 bars] [Interlude 2 bars] [TABLE ELDER — tenor, soft, amused] We starved, then shared; we grieved, and then sang; and when the wheel bid us backward, we leaned backs there together. [He raises a cup.] And forged on ahead! [TABLE CHOIR] — And found here means to our ends! [Male Barritone Solo] [MASIASHI — male baritone; warm, observant, aside, barely audible] Our tribe in microcosm semblance. Still none of Ushar’s like? No boast make, nor fiery temper simmers all subtle and meek seem, surely there must be more, in secret perhaps I'll seek… [The table laughs at a separate joke; the thought passes, seed planted.] [FEAST-HOST:male, baritone; warm raconteur patter, ceremonial lift — catching up energy] Rite the Fourth, night's final: Lanterns & Cast-Offs. Write what you know, who and how wronged you, year that has passed, style on small page— kresh pulp dispatch, set it to flame, allow then to rise, loss that won't sting you, least not for tonight! [Rest and Interlude] [Rest and Interlude] [MOON-KIN — bright mixed trebles; bell-clear, lilting ornaments, gentle canon] Burdens in flames made; into lightest of weights. Resurges as ashes, cinders what drift, off and away. [WEAVER-AUNTS — low female ensemble; velvety legato, whispered inflections, smiling whisper] Strings what break here, are oud mounted things. Music consoles fragment, whose sever it sings. Worry you not now what far-off sorrow, tomorrow might bring... [ASHIMASI — female mezzo; attentive, tender asides. breath catching] The weight is here lighter— its mass lifts off my mind, would it be so awful… To rest, to abide here, some time? Rote learned to dare-not, to shurk, to falter in stride... but here new kinder voices, says can set all aside? [Excited] [ELYTRA MASKERS — soft answering trill, almost a lullaby; a few audience members mirror it unconsciously] [TABLE CHOIR — rising toast, 3-3-2 claps] [Clap-clap-clap] |[ clap-clap-clap] | [clap-clap—] Not vow un-made—but feast well kept! Not masks laid down—but what faces we met! [FEAST-HOST:male baritone; warm raconteur patter, ceremonial lift — concluding flourish] Which if any line lacks, borrow of mine; Which if any cup empties, pour them more wine! To one and to all you, take up your good time! [TABLE CHOIR & ENSEMBLE — joyous round] We share the gifts green-gain-ed, we loosen debt chains, Our stories may differ, our table together remains— Our hands make a circle, e'er our circle makes room; So good, that post-cestors, shrug off their fetters. To enjoin here in festival boon, Will stay for awhile, bear on and smile, for fortunes, What Green-Year's Environs, will bear out to you soon. [ELYTRA MASKERS — final shimmer-hum; one beat of silence, as if listening] [OUTRO — Instruments relax; hand-pan heart slows. The crowd’s murmur continues as lights fall to soft gold. A single toy-piano plink a lantern drifts up into the dark.]
