Evening was just beginning to descend as Reich made his tender way toward the Church, a bundle of dainty desert flowers, twigs and honey held delicately between his lips. He'd set most of the party up today with Pippigrin and a few of the children, building up the bonfire so that it stood higher than their tallest citizen - to be lit as the more pious members gave their sacrifices to the Sun God. He laid his delicate bundle beside the pile, licking honey off of his lips as he did so and looking upward as if to see if the Sun God did indeed watch over him. He gave the sacrifice happily, for he'd been treated well by their deity, and was glad to offer him some of the bounty of the earth as both a thank-you and a show of his piety. The night would be a big event, as most of the Throat would be attending to celebrate their God and their life in the Throat. The Sneaks had even planned games for them to test their smarts, and the warriors were offering games of athleticism - for the way of the Throat was a competitive one.

A heady sigh left Reichenbach's throat as his gaze lingered on the unlit bonfire then shifted to the barrels of honeysuckle & primrose liquor they had rolled to stand nearby. There would be headaches in the morning, he was sure of it. When darkness fell he would break open the first barrel - ready for the guests to arrive. While he waited he set about lighting the small torches that lead toward the party, a dancing line of fire that would direct the guests to various areas - the sneaks riddle stone (a wide, flat stone where the sneaks would stage their contest of wits), the gladiator ring (a ring of stones marking out the ring in which playful spars would be conducted) and of course, the Church. He would sing his ballad to the whole herd there, perhaps after a few too many liquors. He'd never been nervous to sing before, and really, he wasn't so nervous now - it was only that he'd never written a song praising a whole community before... what if they didn't like it? The thought was dismissed quickly, for the spend too long thinking of it would be torturous to him. Instead, Reich lit the last torch and stood back to appraise his work.

Darkness descended quickly, the evening star winking at him with her cool, hopeful light as the first guests began to arrive.