The tall young woman fought bravely against the raiders, weapon flashing in
the dying sun. 25 or more were lying dead on the floor but she was
grievously wounded and her strength was going. 4 children and 1 baby
watched her fight as blood dripped from her chest. She heard shouts from
the stairway as she slew the last man and her husband ran in. She fell to
the floor, landing in a pool of her own blood. Her husband held her in his
arms. "I love you, " she whispered and the Black God touched her hand and
drew her away.
The funeral procession wound it's way through the ranks of people. First came the coffin wreathed with flowers. Every so often another landed on it. Second came the grieving husband weeping unashamedly. Third came the children and the parents, the children still paralysed with horror at the terrible events and the parents weeping. Fourth came the sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. Fifth came her young groom leading her ancient war horse her old dog at his heels. Sixth came her friends, from a prince and princess to a simple dressmaker. Last came her old training master and countless refugees.
The procession stopped and the coffin was placed inside the newly built mausoleum her dog howled and her horse walked in and lay down there.
"They won't leave", said a woman with smokey curls and blue grey eyes "They want to die with her," The short service was soon completed and some of the procession left.
"What do you think she'd think of it," her husband asked
" I think she'd like it" said the dressmaker.
"She would," agreed the prince "it's just like her, calm and understated."
"Well" said the training master "except for the emeralds." The group nodded and moved away. Studded with emeralds, gleaming with marble were the words:
Keladry of Mindelan and Massbolle. Baroness of New Hope.
June 438 H.E to October 464 H.E.
Loved and lost. Your memory will live in our hearts forever.
The funeral procession wound it's way through the ranks of people. First came the coffin wreathed with flowers. Every so often another landed on it. Second came the grieving husband weeping unashamedly. Third came the children and the parents, the children still paralysed with horror at the terrible events and the parents weeping. Fourth came the sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. Fifth came her young groom leading her ancient war horse her old dog at his heels. Sixth came her friends, from a prince and princess to a simple dressmaker. Last came her old training master and countless refugees.
The procession stopped and the coffin was placed inside the newly built mausoleum her dog howled and her horse walked in and lay down there.
"They won't leave", said a woman with smokey curls and blue grey eyes "They want to die with her," The short service was soon completed and some of the procession left.
"What do you think she'd think of it," her husband asked
" I think she'd like it" said the dressmaker.
"She would," agreed the prince "it's just like her, calm and understated."
"Well" said the training master "except for the emeralds." The group nodded and moved away. Studded with emeralds, gleaming with marble were the words:
Keladry of Mindelan and Massbolle. Baroness of New Hope.
June 438 H.E to October 464 H.E.
Loved and lost. Your memory will live in our hearts forever.