Chapter Sixteen: Laying Heros to Rest
Jaenelle looked down at the Jewel sitting in her palm, the Twilight's Dawn. A Jewel that had been made out of the power, the minds, the hopes and dreams, the souls of so many of the Blood. So many of those that remembered their roots. Most had gone to the Darkness out of love of her, and of what she represented, but there was one who troubled her. One who she didn't understand. Titan had called him a good man, Mephis named him a threat, and most others, like Papa, would not speak of him at all. They only hung their heads for a moment. But the Twilight's Dawn felt like it was trying to tell her something. She had gone and talked to Draca, and Draca had told her to visit Surreal. That the circle had to be completed. But she too would say not more.
So Jaenelle found herself leaning on Daemon's strength, and at the door to Falanor's eyrie, waiting for Surreal to come out and the circle to be completed.
"Jaenelle, Daemon," Surreal's voice warmed with the pleasure of seeing those that she considered to be family outside her door. "What can I help you with today?"
"We need to talk, Surreal," Jaenelle whispered, her voice still weak from the cleansing of the Blood.
"Sure, Jaenelle. Do you two want to come in or talk out here?"
"Out here." Through all of this Daemon had sat quietly, listening but not commenting, now he added a thought. "If it's agreeable to you ladies we can adjourn to the shade under the large tree to our left."
And so the three of them found themselves under a large shady tree.
"So, my Queen," Surreal began, "what did you need to talk about?"
"When I was creating the Web to cleanse the Blood, " Surreal watched Daemon's lips thin, "I met a man when I was putting the Web together, I sought him out at you mother's request. She thought that I would need a good man like him in my Web, but Mephis had a different idea of the man. But I sought him out anyway. His name was the Hunter of the Blood, at least, that's what he told me. He didn't have a Jewel, but he joined my Web anyway, not for me, but because he wanted the future to be safe for someone called his "little Bird."
Surreal sobbed, and Daemon looked shocked. Surreal gathered herself, and said, "This isn't the place for it. We have to go somewhere. You have to come with me."
They caught the Yellow Wind and rode on it for about an hour. Then Surreal dropped out of it. She was standing in a small clearing. "I've come here often when I have a difficult decision to make. You know who sleeps here Daemon."
"Casey?"
"Yes, Casey. But not only Casey. When he came to Kaeleer he brought someone with him, or what was left of someone. When he came he brought the body of the Hunter, and laid it to rest here, so that he could be at peace. When he died, so the records say in defense of his Queen, he asked to buried beside the only family that he wanted to claim, that he be laid to rest beside his brother."
"So the Hunter, and the man who became known as the Protector lay here. The Hunter was my Guardian when I was small. He'd watch over me, and help me through my first hits, he was considered the most dangerous male in the realm, because no one had any control over him."
"In the letter he left me, he said he was proud to serve me, proud to die for me. So that one day I could protect you Jaenelle, and you could cleanse the realms, so that his revenge on those who had destroyed his family would be complete."
"May I see the Jewel?"
"Of course, I think this might complete the circle. Knowing someone remembers him."
The moment that Surreal touched the Jewel she felt a deep sense of love, a fierce protectiveness, and a never ending sadness. All these emotions, remembered by the Jewel cam e with a message, a short, heartfelt message. "Live well and be free, my lady. Be happy."
Jaenelle and Daemon watched and the Twilight's Dawn Jewel clutched in her hand, Surreal sunk to the ground crying.
Daemon walked over to offer comfort to the woman who was like his little sister and his eyes were caught by the inscription on the gravestone. Casey's read: "Casey Lumark, Spirit Brother to the Hunter of the Blood, Askata Kamis. Protector and strength to many. May the Darkness Embrace it's True Son."
Hunter's was shorter, and had Casey's flare for words. "The Hunter of the Blood, Askata Kamis. Brother, warrior, protector, saviour. Darkness take him, and grant him peace."
Daemon felt a tear trail down his cheek. "Don't worry," he whispered. "I'll make sure that this world, these people are safe, and I'll remember those who were brave enough to give their strength to bring it to us."
Jaenelle looked at Daemon.
"He is at peace. For the first time since Askata was destroyed and the Hunter created, he is at peace and whole. The circle is complete, and all is right."
Daemon stepped back leaving Surreal alone at the grave, clutching the Jewel as if it could bring her Guardian and teacher back to her.
"Live well, and be free. Be happy, and at peace, my warrior, my man." The Jewel dropped from her fingers, and the sun glinted off it. For the first time since the purge the air seemed to be clean, and all was right with the world.
The End
Jaenelle looked down at the Jewel sitting in her palm, the Twilight's Dawn. A Jewel that had been made out of the power, the minds, the hopes and dreams, the souls of so many of the Blood. So many of those that remembered their roots. Most had gone to the Darkness out of love of her, and of what she represented, but there was one who troubled her. One who she didn't understand. Titan had called him a good man, Mephis named him a threat, and most others, like Papa, would not speak of him at all. They only hung their heads for a moment. But the Twilight's Dawn felt like it was trying to tell her something. She had gone and talked to Draca, and Draca had told her to visit Surreal. That the circle had to be completed. But she too would say not more.
So Jaenelle found herself leaning on Daemon's strength, and at the door to Falanor's eyrie, waiting for Surreal to come out and the circle to be completed.
"Jaenelle, Daemon," Surreal's voice warmed with the pleasure of seeing those that she considered to be family outside her door. "What can I help you with today?"
"We need to talk, Surreal," Jaenelle whispered, her voice still weak from the cleansing of the Blood.
"Sure, Jaenelle. Do you two want to come in or talk out here?"
"Out here." Through all of this Daemon had sat quietly, listening but not commenting, now he added a thought. "If it's agreeable to you ladies we can adjourn to the shade under the large tree to our left."
And so the three of them found themselves under a large shady tree.
"So, my Queen," Surreal began, "what did you need to talk about?"
"When I was creating the Web to cleanse the Blood, " Surreal watched Daemon's lips thin, "I met a man when I was putting the Web together, I sought him out at you mother's request. She thought that I would need a good man like him in my Web, but Mephis had a different idea of the man. But I sought him out anyway. His name was the Hunter of the Blood, at least, that's what he told me. He didn't have a Jewel, but he joined my Web anyway, not for me, but because he wanted the future to be safe for someone called his "little Bird."
Surreal sobbed, and Daemon looked shocked. Surreal gathered herself, and said, "This isn't the place for it. We have to go somewhere. You have to come with me."
They caught the Yellow Wind and rode on it for about an hour. Then Surreal dropped out of it. She was standing in a small clearing. "I've come here often when I have a difficult decision to make. You know who sleeps here Daemon."
"Casey?"
"Yes, Casey. But not only Casey. When he came to Kaeleer he brought someone with him, or what was left of someone. When he came he brought the body of the Hunter, and laid it to rest here, so that he could be at peace. When he died, so the records say in defense of his Queen, he asked to buried beside the only family that he wanted to claim, that he be laid to rest beside his brother."
"So the Hunter, and the man who became known as the Protector lay here. The Hunter was my Guardian when I was small. He'd watch over me, and help me through my first hits, he was considered the most dangerous male in the realm, because no one had any control over him."
"In the letter he left me, he said he was proud to serve me, proud to die for me. So that one day I could protect you Jaenelle, and you could cleanse the realms, so that his revenge on those who had destroyed his family would be complete."
"May I see the Jewel?"
"Of course, I think this might complete the circle. Knowing someone remembers him."
The moment that Surreal touched the Jewel she felt a deep sense of love, a fierce protectiveness, and a never ending sadness. All these emotions, remembered by the Jewel cam e with a message, a short, heartfelt message. "Live well and be free, my lady. Be happy."
Jaenelle and Daemon watched and the Twilight's Dawn Jewel clutched in her hand, Surreal sunk to the ground crying.
Daemon walked over to offer comfort to the woman who was like his little sister and his eyes were caught by the inscription on the gravestone. Casey's read: "Casey Lumark, Spirit Brother to the Hunter of the Blood, Askata Kamis. Protector and strength to many. May the Darkness Embrace it's True Son."
Hunter's was shorter, and had Casey's flare for words. "The Hunter of the Blood, Askata Kamis. Brother, warrior, protector, saviour. Darkness take him, and grant him peace."
Daemon felt a tear trail down his cheek. "Don't worry," he whispered. "I'll make sure that this world, these people are safe, and I'll remember those who were brave enough to give their strength to bring it to us."
Jaenelle looked at Daemon.
"He is at peace. For the first time since Askata was destroyed and the Hunter created, he is at peace and whole. The circle is complete, and all is right."
Daemon stepped back leaving Surreal alone at the grave, clutching the Jewel as if it could bring her Guardian and teacher back to her.
"Live well, and be free. Be happy, and at peace, my warrior, my man." The Jewel dropped from her fingers, and the sun glinted off it. For the first time since the purge the air seemed to be clean, and all was right with the world.
The End