They quickly followed the young woman to the front of the house and, stepping outside, were dismayed to see a large fire on the nearby hill, smoke, black and thick, rolling into the sky.

With a gasp, John took off down the trail towards the fire, his family and the young officer chasing after him. After several twists and turns of the trail, they came to a stone staircase,

built into the side of the hill, which John charged up without slowing down. Thankfully, all of the training for I.R. and W.A.S.P., allowed them to pretty much keep up with him.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, John skidded to a halt, staring horrified at the sight before him. A crudely thrown together pyre was burning on a huge stone slab that stood in the

center of the small open area, its flames intense and bright, something unrecognizable lying in the center of them. Sobbing drew John's attention from the gruesome sight, turning he

saw a group of people, children of the pirates mostly, being held back by the W.A.S.P. team, off to the side. Some of them glanced at him, sympathy and sadness shining in their eyes,

and in that moment John knew who the pyre had been built for.

A scream erupted from his throat, as he threw himself towards the inferno. Cries from the group mingled with those of his family, as he got closer to the pyre. Salvation came in the

form of his older brother, as Scott tackled him, driving them both to their knees a short distance from the flames, the heat causing both to gasp.

John struggled, as his brother, joined by his father, dragged him back several feet, where they knelt in the soft grass, surrounded by the rest of their family and the others on the hill.

Finally, John ceased struggling, collapsing into his father' arms, his head lying against his father's shoulder. He stared at the flames, tears streaming down his face, as images of her

crossed his memory.

Jeff held his son, pain coursing through him at John's distress. Suddenly, a sound surprised him and the others, turning slightly they were greeted with the sight of several young

women and men moving towards the pyre, flowers of all colors, carried in their arms. The women were singing, while a couple of the men played flutes and drums. John's voice startled

him, its tone low and somber, "It's the funeral song. She..., they would sing it at the funerals here on the island. Most of them are the sons and daughters of the pirates, the

ones that chose to live as Lyanna and I did, without violence. They loved her as I did." Silently, they all listened to the words of the song, as they watched the men and women

cover the ground around the burning pyre, with flowers and tears.


When the light begins to fade,
And shadows fall across the sea,
One bright star in the evening sky,
Your love's light leads me on my way.

There's a dream that will not sleep,
A burning hope that will not die.
So I must go now with the wind,
And leave you waiting on the tide.

Time to fly, time to touch the sky.
One voice alone, a haunting cry.
One song, one star burning bright,
Let it carry me through darkest night.

Rain comes over the grey hills,
And on the air, a soft goodbye.
Hear the song that I sing to you,
When the time has come to fly.

When I leave and take the wing,
And find the land that fate will bring,
The brightest star in the evening sky,
(Is your love far from me)
Is your love waiting far for me.

(oh) Is your love waiting far for me....


They were startled when, near the end, the rest of the people took up the song, their voices ringing out over the island. As they watched, one of the men picked up something from

the ground and gave it to one of the women singing.

Once the song was finished, the women conversed quietly, before turning and walking to where the family knelt on the ground. Jeff watched, as the elder of the group leaned down

and taking John's hand, placed something in it, before gently closing his fingers around it.

Standing, the women began to sing again, as the crowd moved to surround the family, laying flowers in a circle around them, some handing them to the family, who took them without

a word. As the song continued, John sobbed quietly, his tears falling on the broken necklace in his hand, blood caked in its silver chain, its pendant, a crystal star that sparkled in the

light from the flames.


May it be an evening star,
Shines down upon you.
May it be when darkness falls,
Your heart will be true.
You walk a lonely road;
Oh, how far you are from home....

Mornie utulie (darkness has come),
Believe and you will find your way.
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen),
A promise lives within you now....

May it be the shadows call,
Will fly away.
May it be your journey on,
To light the day.
When night is overcome,
You may rise to find the sun.

Mornie utulie (darkness has come),
Believe and you will find your way.
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen),
A promise lives within you now....

A promise lives within you now....


As the song finished, the young people slowly and silently left the clearing, leaving the family and the officers to watch, as the colors of the dying flames, blended with the colors of the

fading sun.

After a while, Jeff, feeling John begin to shiver in the cool of the evening, pulled his son to his feet. He and Scott, then gently led the grieving young man from the hillside, the rest of the

family following silently, carrying some of the flowers.

Looking back briefly, Virgil shook his head at the exquisitely sad scene. The flames and pyre had dwindled to a small glowing pile, the petals of the flowers gently ruffling in the late

afternoon breeze, and the sun, what was left of its red orange orb, sinking quietly into the darkening ocean. To him, it seemed a fitting picture for the tragic loss of this, obviously, well

loved soul. Turning away, he followed his family back to the house, leaving the officers to tend to the dying embers.