LUDO
The festival proceeds with drink and merriment and remembrance, with friends catching up and lovers enjoying each other's company, until at long last, the lanterns begin to dim. It's subtle at first, starting with a few on the fringes, until more and more start to snuff out, leaving pools of warm darkness amid other areas of bright illumination.The music stops. The chatter falls quiet. Dozens cut down to a few, then three, then two, until at last only one lantern remains alight in the fields of Mourn. It belongs to
The dragon's maw of the firecracker creation glows impishly, a few sparks twirling from it and up into the air, as if it is proud to be designated as Ludo's favourite this year. Perhaps because the person it is for has no shortage of pride either - and Isla will find her there, beside the lantern, as if she has been waiting all along.
Isla has won the Festival of Lights and
