the Huntress said. “No, that’s the way a man eats it!” Al replied, and he did the same. With Al at the fore, the trio walked toward the town square. Usually, an image of the village’s patron deity, the focus of the festival, would be set up in the square to receive offerings of prayer day and night. A number of roads led to the square. They were lined with handmade stands run by villagers, as well as rows of stalls set up by the wandering mountebanks such festivals drew like a magnet. Beneath the rough canvas awnings, arrays of garishly colorful treats and toys that would make any child’s eyes sparkle awaited their pint-sized patrons. Iriya noticed that as they got closer to the square, Al couldn’t stop looking all around them. “What’s the matter?” “It’s just that I don’t see any of the lookouts.” Festivals drew trouble.
