Fall of Thanes tgw-3
Page 49
Yvane clambered out, ungainly but dry-shod, thanked the man and walked towards Ess’yr and Varryn, who had descended to meet her. No words were exchanged between na’kyrim and Kyrinin. They climbed together up onto the high ground, going slowly and carefully over first a winding trail made by wild goats, and then on the damp, slick turf of the headland. Ess’yr moved easily, though one arm was still bound up in a tight sling.
They walked for a long time along the Car Anagais that formed the steep northern shore of the estuary, skirting the tree line as they went. The land was empty, for the Fox were much reduced, and no vo’an remained south of the Vale of Tears. Perhaps in future years. Perhaps.
Late on the second day, as the greater ramparts of the Car Criagar came into sight ahead of them, they turned northward, and began the long descent through hills and wooded vales towards the Dihrve Valley.
They parted then. Yvane and Varryn went on ahead to find a place to camp for the night. Ess’yr went down to the thickets along the side of a narrow, gurgling stream. She found there a stand of willow, and cut a stem. She chose a good one, straight and healthy, on the brink of giving forth its fresh, dagger-shaped leaves. She trimmed its cut base to make the wound clean and neat. Then she pushed it into the soft, moist earth close to the bank of the stream. She opened the hole it had made by rolling her wrist, swaying the stake round in widening circles, and then withdrew it and laid it flat on the ground.
From under her belt she brought a folded scrap of deerhide. As she could work with only one hand, she had to put it down on a fallen log in order to open it out and take hold of the knotted cord it contained. She knelt and gently lowered the cord into the hole the willow stake had made. Her long fingers carefully pressed it in deep, to make sure it was settled and secure there. She paused, head bowed, in reflection for a few moments.
Ess’yr rose, and planted the staff of willow over the cord. She firmed it into place with her foot and stepped back. The willow stood tall and perfectly erect. She nodded once to it, respectfully, turned and walked away. To find her brother and the na’kyrim. To join them beside a fire, and eat and rest and anticipate the coming of a new season.
Epilogue
Anyara
With all my heart, I would be with you now. I try not to fear for you. I remind myself that you were always the stronger of us. Even when there were three of us, I think perhaps you were the strongest, though I did not understand it until later.
Rothe died. Torcaill can tell you how and why, if you want to know. We are the last of home now, you and I, the last of Kolglas. I look around me, and I see familiar faces, but I miss those I knew in Kolglas.
I want more than anything to walk with you through the market in Kolglas again, and to go hawking with you along its shore, and to steal warm bread from its kitchens. That is what I mean to do. It is what I hope to do. But that may not be how this ends. I do not know if I can make any difference in any of this, but I think I see at least the outline of something that perhaps needs to be done. And I choose to try to do it.
You do not deserve the burden, but there is no one else. If I am gone, I leave to your care our Blood and our home.
I think now, looking back, that we all die, little by little, as each of those we love departs before us. Forgive me, sister, if I have gone before you.
Orisian
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