New year's silliness, starring a sixteen-year-old Ashar and a character who will show up in the main story soon, assuming I ever get back to it.

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The first day of Year's End had dawned bright and clear, a good omen for certain. Not that it particularly affected me -- I had been in the kitchen since before sunrise, and I would probably spend the better part of the day there. I didn't particularly mind. The alternative was sitting in on my Master's readings, and listening to people enquire about their fortunes in the coming year -- what their daughter's marriage prospects looked like, whether the cattle prices would be good, if there would be sickness in the family -- held no interest for me.

Instead, it was my duty to provide the refreshments for the great numbers of customers who would be trickling in and out throughout the next few days. Several bowls of dates sat on the counter to my left, with a cloth draped over them to keep out any enterprising insects. Jars of wine were being kept just slightly chilled in a large bucket of cool springwater. The water would have to be replaced several times throughout the day when it began to warm, but at least it wasn't wasted -- I could use it later for the laundry.

The rhythmic thunk of my knife against the cutting board as I diced almonds had lured me into an almost meditative state. As a consequence, I didn't hear the soft creak of the door that heralded its opening. My daze was quickly broken when a pair of strong arms grabbed me around the waist and hugged me tightly enough that my feet briefly came up off the ground.

"Ashaaaaaar!" A cheerful voice said from above my ear. "Look at you! All hard at work on a holiday!"

Though I hadn't been expecting to see the voice's owner for at least another month, any glad surprise quickly wore off, only to be replaced with a familiar sense of mild irritation. "Shouldn't you be, too?" I shot back. "Hakim, put me down. Don't fool around while I have a knife in my hand."

Hakim laughed, withdrawing his arms and smiling brightly when I turned to face him. "There's no need to bother with the knife. Your tongue is twice as sharp, as always."

Judging by the slight sunburn across his cheeks and the traveller's cloak he still wore, he had just arrived. I wondered if our master knew he was here.

"I thought you'd be with your family this week," I said. His parent's village was at least eight days' travel away, most of it up a mountain, so this was hardly a quick social call.

For a brief moment, Hakim's smile flickered. "We... had a slight difference of opinions. I thought it prudent to put some distance between us for a while." As quickly as it had come, the tinge of pensiveness to his expression vanished. "And since it would hardly do to be away from family entirely at Year's End, I decided to come back here. Besides, I can always help with the readings."

As my master's former apprentice -- his only real apprentice, since I hardly counted -- it was true that Hakim was more or less a member of the household. Even though he'd finished his apprenticeship several years ago and since struck out on his own, he was a frequent visitor. And, truth be told, for all his antics, it was nice to see him. Not that I'd ever admit it to his face. "As long as you're not just taking advantage of our hospitality," I said lightly.

"You're a cruel one, Ashar. You're lucky you have such a pretty face."

"I appreciate the compliment." I rolled my eyes and went back to my almonds. A moment later I raised the knife threateningly when I saw the cloth covering the dates begin to lift out of the corner of my eye.

Hakim froze with a date halfway to his mouth. "Just one?" he pleaded.

"If you do, I won't give you any almond cakes, and as a result, you'll be cursed with horrible luck for the new year," I said, keeping a straight face with the ease of long practice. "No one will want to buy your readings at all, and you'll have to take up goat-herding instead."

That drew a snort of laughter from him, but he replaced the date all the same. "Sounds pretty serious. What can I do to avoid that terrible future?"

I handed him the knife. "Keep chopping the almonds while I get the flour out."

"Your wish is my command, oh arbitrator of fates."

It was going to be an interesting Year's End, I reflected, but at least I wouldn't be bored.