by Joe Jackson
“And could you help us speak to my brother-in-law?”
The elf glanced at Aeligos and smiled. “Of course.”
*****
The journey back to DarkWind was a long and solemn one. Kyrie and Aeligos asked if Kari wanted to bury Grakin with the rest of her family, but she was determined to honor his last wishes. She told them of his request to be buried near the house, and Kyrie thought it was a wonderful gesture. When Peri spoke of growing a great memorial tree over the gravesite, even the high priestess of the god of death was moved. They would take care of that first when they got back, and then Kari planned to hold a funeral with honors for Annabelle.
They arrived in DarkWind after a few weeks. During the journey, Kari was amazed by how well Seanada interacted with the children. There was still a bit of that impassiveness she must have picked up from the mallasti, but she couldn’t hide the fact that she enjoyed playing with Kari’s kids. Not only that, but the children responded well to her, and even Little Gray did as Seanada asked, usually without too much fuss. It left Kari to wonder how old the woman was, and whether or not she had any interest in pursuing a mate or having children of her own.
Seanada considered herself an abomination, so Kari thought it was unlikely she planned to seek a mate or have children. It was always possible that being part of a family had or would change that, though, so Kari kept a bit of hope tucked aside there. She wasn’t sure why she cared so much for someone who was still a relative stranger, but she found she simply had to care for someone who had cared for her children so well.
The family met them at the docks when they arrived. The mood was somber over the death of Grakin, yet joyous for Kari and Aeligos’ safe return. Corbanis held Kyrie for several minutes. Kari wasn’t sure how their relationship was progressing; she never wanted to get too nosey about it. But the way the two embraced suggested it was more than just the loss of a child bringing them back together. Corbanis was there when Kyrie needed him, and that clearly meant a lot to the priestess.
Grakin’s siblings comforted their mother before each came over to greet Kari. The greetings were quiet, and the hugs lasted longer than usual. Sonja in particular clutched Kari for some time, and then held her niece and nephew until each became too fussy. Most of them went over to lay a hand on Grakin’s coffin after they welcomed Kari home. They were hesitant in their greetings of Seanada; Kari could only imagine how quickly that would change when they found out the woman had guarded Kari’s children alone for weeks.
Peri stayed back, not intruding on the family gathering, but Kari called her forward and introduced her to everyone. With that done, Kari sent Annabelle’s body ahead to the campus of the Order, then accompanied the family back to her estate. Only the family had arrived at the docks to greet them, Kari guessed because the others wanted to give them private time. She wondered how far along Damansha and Danilynn were now, having mostly lost track of time during the mission. Damansha was getting really big, and Kari imagined it wouldn’t be long before either woman gave birth.
Deep winter had settled in, and the ground was frozen. It wouldn’t be easy, if at all possible, to bury Grakin. With Annabelle, it wasn’t as much of an issue; she would receive a funeral pyre, and her ashes would be scattered somewhere. Kari wondered if her old friend had any relatives anywhere, but it had been so long it was a moot point. Like with Kari herself before she became involved with Grakin, Annabelle’s sole family now was the Order, and her ashes would stay on its grounds.
To her astonishment, when they arrived home, there was already a grave dug in the spot Grakin had chosen. The planting of the tree would normally have to wait for spring, but at the very least, Kari could inter her husband where he’d requested. It remained to be seen what Peri would be able to do, but in any case, Kari didn’t hesitate or put it off. She asked that they put Grakin to rest right away. It was cold and dreary out, but no one protested the plan until Kari made her final request.
Ultimately, they gave in. Kari opened up the coffin and lifted Grakin in her arms. She held him for what would be the last time in this life, cradling him to her breast, and she refused any help from her larger, stronger relatives. A pang of guilt struck her when Aeligos sobbed and then turned to make his way into the house. This was what Grakin had wanted, and this was Kari’s last moment with him. It might cause her family some pain, but she took this moment for herself and her dead husband.
Kari dropped carefully down into the grave and curled Grakin up with his wings wrapped over him. It was the way Kari remembered the elves taking care of their dead, and how they spoke of the roots of the trees embracing the bones of their fallen brothers and sisters. Perhaps it wasn’t exactly what Grakin had in mind, but it was the best way Kari could think to honor his wishes. And if Peri was able to do what she had suggested, Grakin would soon be interred in just that way the elves would have done so.
Kari sat by the grave, and a group of the estate’s workers came and began to fill it in. Erik and Serenjols began to help, though Corbanis stayed by Kyrie’s side, holding his wife while she watched their child buried. Kari found she only had to close her eyes until her mate was out of sight, and then the hurt passed. She watched the men fill in the grave, and she acknowledged the solemn nods of her employees, but she was already looking toward the future. She imagined a great tree standing in this spot, the children playing under its shady leaves. The tree would be his marker, and death would feed new life. It was the way of things, as the elves had taught her, and in time, the pain of this wound would pass.
Once the grave was almost filled, a layer of stone was spread over and tapped down, and then that, too, was covered with topsoil. Peri came forward and touched Kari on the shoulder. With the demonhunter’s nod of approval, the elf approached and dug a little hole with her fingers, then deposited what looked to be an acorn. Then the elf backed up and whispered a prayer to the Earth Mother. It was too quiet for Kari to make out exactly what she was saying, but the effects were soon apparent.
The air about them warmed, and the ground thawed in such a way that it was obvious in the immediate vicinity. Over the course of nearly twenty minutes, a sprout appeared where she had deposited the seed, green and full of hope. It grew into a stalk, and then sprouted its first little leaves. Words could hardly describe the miracle Kari and her family watched. In the dead of winter, the elven druidess beseeched nature to erupt from its slumber – just in this place – to give life to a promise. As the minutes went by, the tree grew to a sapling, and then a strong young tree. And then, as it grew closer to full-sized, the tree’s trunk split into two high up.
Peri gasped, and tears fell from Kari’s eyes. The tree’s trunk split and grew apart high up such that it looked like the spread wings of a serilian-rir. That the miracle embodied Grakin’s words to Kari with respect to his final wishes was undeniable, and Kari recalled that it was, in fact, Peri who told her of the luranar proverb. If there were no coincidences in life, and this wasn’t the elf’s direct doing – which seemed unlikely, given she was just as surprised – then something was looking after Kari in the wake of her husband’s passing. And this display was the entity’s way of letting her know. Whether it was Zalkar, Sakkrass, Huirelius, or Grakin himself in that angelic spirit form was irrelevant. It warmed Kari’s soul, and massaged her pain.
The tree rustled in the cold wind that still worked to claim dominion in this altered spot. Peri walked forward and touched the trunk. “Sleep now, child. Rest through the winter, but know that spring and rebirth are soon to come.”
The warmth seeped out of the land and the tree gave up its leaves as it readied itself for the winter. It was slightly disheartening to see it now, devoid of its green leaves, looking as dead as everything else in the cold. But Kari kept Peri’s words about spring and rebirth in her heart, and was simply thankful for the druidess’ help in establishing this marker for Grakin.
With that in mind, when Peri returned, she hugged Kari tightly. “Thank you,” Kari tol
d her with a sniffle. “This means so much to me.”
“It is my honor to have been of service, my friend.”
“Please, stay with us until you’re ready to go home,” Kari offered, and the elf accepted graciously, then moved aside to give the family more time together.
After hugging Kari and then Kyrie again, the rest of the family retreated indoors to the warmth. Kari stayed outside and sat by the grave for a while. She dismissed Seanada and Peri with a nod, leaving her alone for the time being. Aeligos came out and sat beside Kari again once everyone else was gone. He was quiet for a time, and Kari left him to his introspection. He had taken Grakin’s death harder even than Kari, and she and Kyrie had spent what time and effort they could comforting him.
Now, though, he laughed, and Kari looked at him curiously. “You know, he used to tell me from time to time that he still didn’t know how he won your heart over me,” he said, then bit his lip and shook his head. “I don’t think he ever really saw anything special in himself, not until you two bonded.”
“I don’t think truly selfless people ever do see anything special in themselves,” Kari mused. “Suler Tumureldi was the only other man that I think ever saw something special in me. I know, Aeligos, you see it, too. But you have a mate, and a different path to walk. You’ll always be my brother, and very special to me, but that’s as far as I think we’ll ever go.”
He nodded and put an arm around her, sharing a bit of his serilian-rir warmth. “I know. I hope you’re not upset about that night at the inn…”
“I’m not,” she insisted. “And don’t you be.”
“I’m going to head inside,” he said, rising to his feet. “You coming in? Or do you want me to stay?”
“You go on ahead. I’ll be in soon. I have to get ready to go over to the campus and take care of the other funeral.”
Aeligos sighed. “Kari, are you sure you’re all right?”
“I am,” she said, looking up at him over her shoulder. “I’m not sure why, but I am. I’m not happy, Aeligos, but I’m content for some reason. I’m going to be okay, I promise.”
He went back in the house, leaving Kari to her thoughts again. But she wasn’t alone. Tears streaked down her cheeks as her little globe of light appeared again, hovering beside her, filling her with a warmth she couldn’t describe. It was with her, and in her she carried a piece of Gori Sensullu, the love of Sakkrass, the blessing of Zalkar, and the pride of her Order and family. Despite the emptiness she’d felt when she first saw Grakin’s body, now she felt full and fulfilled.
After a little longer, her guiding light began its pacing back and forth, and Kari chuckled. “You’re right, it’s time to get going,” she said, rising to her feet. “I have one more goodbye to give.”
She sobbed once but smiled, reaching tentatively toward that warm light, but she never touched it. She could feel its warmth, the comfort its very presence brought, but she pulled her hand back. Her practicality took over, and she knew she couldn’t keep reaching for him. She had to let him go. “Goodbye my love. You will be with me, always,” she said, then turned and walked away from the light, which disappeared behind her.
By the time Kari got to the campus, much of the Order was gathered in its central square. A quick pyre had been erected, and Annabelle’s desiccated, withered husk was laid upon it. It was obvious from the many distasteful expressions on the faces of her subordinates that no one really appreciated this situation the way Kari did. Annabelle was someone from the past, one that few of her Order had any real knowledge of. While she had been special and close to Kari, Annabelle hadn’t led a legendary career or anything of the sort that would be detailed in the history books the cadets read.
The Council made their appearances, welcoming Kari home and congratulating her on a job well done. Condolences were offered for the loss of her husband, the news of which sent whispers all through the gathering. The Council silenced the cadets and hunters with their gazes, and took places around the pyre as they prepared to get the funeral started.
Lord Allerius stepped up beside Kari. “Would you like me to handle this, my friend?”
“No, this is something I need to do,” she answered, trying to keep the fatigue and sadness from her voice. In her mind, she had attended a few too many of these funerals in the last couple of years. To be holding one for a close personal friend shouldn’t have been any worse, but Kari had to admit to herself that it was. Annabelle had been one of her closest friends, like a sister to her, and someone she had helped train up. Though it wasn’t the same as burying her husband or Kyrie and Corbanis burying a child, it was as close as Kari wanted to get to that feeling again.
“Today we lay to rest Demonhunter Annabelle Sol’Ridachi with honor,” Kari intoned loudly. “Lost in the line of duty, Annabelle was my friend, my partner, and became like a sister to me. For too long was she allowed to suffer the curse of undeath, but now that dark path has been ended, and our sister of the blade rejoins us in spirit. Farewell, my friend; may…”
Kari trailed off. She could remember it so clearly: Annabelle’s smile, her friend’s laugh, the embarrassed humor after a bawdy joke, the bittersweet tang of the alcohol of an after-hunt drink. Every memory she had of Annabelle flooded into her mind, drowning out the images of her undead form, the things the demon had said through her, and the feeling of cutting Annabelle’s head off. She managed to keep from bawling, but Kari couldn’t stop the tears from escaping. This was exactly what she had hoped to avoid: breaking down in front of the Order, especially the young cadets who looked up to her.
“May the fire of your soul light the way for the next generation,” Lord Allerius picked up for her. “Now we commit your body to the land, and your soul to the heavens, but your spirit we keep among us, for you are a part of this Order forever.”
The hunters about to light the pyre stopped and looked at Kari, as did the rest of the gathering. Zalkar’s symbol was burning brightly on her chest, which evoked some scattered epithets from younger cadets. Kari ignored the clamor around her, concentrating instead on the sound within: Zalkar’s voice, commending her on her service, not just her victory. And, more than that, promising Kari that her friend was with him. Kari saluted him and her dead friend at the same time, and the entirety of the Order snapped to attention and saluted.
The fire was set, and as the flames climbed higher, Kari began to see images within it. She glanced around to see if anyone else saw them, but nothing suggested anyone else could. She saw the image of a pyramidal temple being built, and she wondered at that. Was this the will of Sakkrass, or was this Zalkar speaking to her? The symbol on her chest pulsed again, and she figured she had her answer. Convincing the Duke of Zalkar’s wishes would prove a challenge, but it was one Kari was ready and willing to accept.
Master Bennet turned to Kari then, and all nine councilors faced her. “Karian Vanador, by the grace of Zalkar, you have been affirmed as his Avatar of Vengeance. The command of this Order is now utterly yours, and though we will continue to advise you, you need not consult us before directing the Order. Have you any change in direction in mind resulting from your most recent work?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Kari said, wiping the last tracks of tears from her face. She took up as authoritative a pose as she could manage with her emotions in disarray. “Something important is happening on Terrassia. There’s too many random events taking place, and I think they’re all connected somehow. I want investigators and extra hunters assigned to Flora, Solaris, Dira Ch’Tori, Aurun Ch’Gurra, Jade, and even the fures-rir homeland around Castle Tenari. Lord Allerius, I’ll leave it to you to send the appropriate people. As for me, I think I have something else I’m going to need to look into.”
The others followed her gaze across the fire to where Amastri stood, dressed impeccably as always. Kari beckoned the woman forward, and then led her to the administrative building.
“I understand you have had quite a rough few months,” Amastri said, no m
ockery in her voice. “Her Majesty sends her condolences on the loss of your husband, and you have mine as well, Lady Vanador.”
“Thanks,” Kari said somewhat absently. She stopped before they even entered the office building, since everyone was still gathered in the square. “What does Her Majesty need now? Sorry to sound short, but I have a lot to take care of.”
“I am not here on Her Majesty’s behalf this time. I was asked to deliver this to you, since we see each other fairly often,” the half-elven woman said. “With that, if you have no further need of me, I shall take my leave, and allow you to get back to the many things you must see to. Should you need anything from Her Majesty, do not hesitate to come and see me. And if you need anything from me, Lady Vanador, you have but to ask.”
Kari bowed her head thankfully. She wasn’t sure how genuine the last wishes were, but she was willing to take them in as positive a light as expected. She watched Amastri walk off, then she broke the seal on the folded letter. It wasn’t the red wax seal with the rose impression, so she wondered what it could be. She opened and read through it quickly, written in simple print in the Citarian common tongue.
It was from King Morduri, asking her to meet him in Anthraxis at the summer Council session, and reminding her that she owed him a favor.
~#~#~ The End ~#~#~
Thank Yous & Acknowledgements
Thank you for joining me for the fifth installment of the Eve of Redemption series! The Huntresses’ Game would not be a completed work without a list of thank-yous and acknowledgements. This book benefitted from some great feedback from my beta readers, as usual. As with my previous works, a number of people have helped with this in some way, even going back to those who aided in the building of the world itself.