Hadama was as surprised as the Ancients when those Torchers who lived in the immediate neighborhood around the fountain brought out the mortar and pestle, but the Tidebreaker's eyes lit up in appreciation as his people prepared for one of Torchline's most time-honored traditions:
The making of the rum.
He shooed the other helpers over to take seats and rest their weary arms while they sang and relaxed compared to the backbreaking work of earlier in the day. Paring the cane was much easier than collecting or breaking rocks and more comfortable than hunching over hundreds of shattered stones! Meanwhile, he remained by the fountain to clean up the mess from cement-mixing and carefully gathered the remaining rock dust to store for future repairs. By the time he finally made it over to join the festivities Thalassa was leading the group in a rowdy and humorous song with an excellent rhythm for paring and crushing the sugarcane. Emerald eyes gleamed with pride and a rare flash of white teeth showed in a brief grin before he glanced down at Maea and met her unhappy gaze.
Kneeling down beside her, he rested his hand gently on her shoulder. "We will need to add the yeast soon," he murmured to the pale woman, but he included Thalassa as well. "Can one of you go with Haukea to retrieve it?" Haukea ran one of the largest distilleries in Torchline and her workshop had a large supply of the yeast they would need to ferment the rum.
"Food will be arriving shortly," he revealed next, mischief hiding in emerald eyes behind his serene expression. "Will the other help Aleko bring the drinks?" As hard as they had been working it only seemed fair to give them one of the first shots at the first shots of the day! Aleko had a wagon they could take to the warehouse where several kegs of beer, wine, and spirits could be fetched for the group.
Perhaps a walk through the streets of the Port in the sunset would help his friend regain her balance?
If they agreed, he would take their place in the circle. Hadama pared cane until it was his turn to take over the mortar and pestle. Despite the best efforts of the laughing grandmothers and ribbing from the old men he staunchly refused to sing, but he did teach the group a call-and-response chant that the Mer used when harvesting kelp until the last of the day's supplies arrived.
Hadama will hold down the fort and keep mashing the peeled sugarcane into juice!
Someone needs to help Haukea get the yeast for the next step in making the rum.
Someone needs to help Aleko retrieve some celebratory drinks!
The making of the rum.
He shooed the other helpers over to take seats and rest their weary arms while they sang and relaxed compared to the backbreaking work of earlier in the day. Paring the cane was much easier than collecting or breaking rocks and more comfortable than hunching over hundreds of shattered stones! Meanwhile, he remained by the fountain to clean up the mess from cement-mixing and carefully gathered the remaining rock dust to store for future repairs. By the time he finally made it over to join the festivities Thalassa was leading the group in a rowdy and humorous song with an excellent rhythm for paring and crushing the sugarcane. Emerald eyes gleamed with pride and a rare flash of white teeth showed in a brief grin before he glanced down at Maea and met her unhappy gaze.
Kneeling down beside her, he rested his hand gently on her shoulder. "We will need to add the yeast soon," he murmured to the pale woman, but he included Thalassa as well. "Can one of you go with Haukea to retrieve it?" Haukea ran one of the largest distilleries in Torchline and her workshop had a large supply of the yeast they would need to ferment the rum.
"Food will be arriving shortly," he revealed next, mischief hiding in emerald eyes behind his serene expression. "Will the other help Aleko bring the drinks?" As hard as they had been working it only seemed fair to give them one of the first shots at the first shots of the day! Aleko had a wagon they could take to the warehouse where several kegs of beer, wine, and spirits could be fetched for the group.
Perhaps a walk through the streets of the Port in the sunset would help his friend regain her balance?
If they agreed, he would take their place in the circle. Hadama pared cane until it was his turn to take over the mortar and pestle. Despite the best efforts of the laughing grandmothers and ribbing from the old men he staunchly refused to sing, but he did teach the group a call-and-response chant that the Mer used when harvesting kelp until the last of the day's supplies arrived.
Hadama will hold down the fort and keep mashing the peeled sugarcane into juice!
Someone needs to help Haukea get the yeast for the next step in making the rum.
Someone needs to help Aleko retrieve some celebratory drinks!
