The next morning found Polly and Mal eating a better class of breakfast then guests would usually have gotten. They had the packs with them and would not becoming back; they would do what they had come here to do and then head out making their way to the nearest town where they could get a coach to Munz and theoretically enjoy the rest of their leave.
They ate quickly and when Mal went to pay him Jacob raised his hand "No charge, not for this"
She nodded and after getting directions to the Hunters home they thanked him and left.
They walked in silence. Polly was deep in thought about what to say; she had done this before and would have to do it again but that did make it any easier. As it turned out she didn't need to say anything.
A woman, probably his mother, opened the door as they were walking down the path to the house. She was shaking her head and when she had held out his last letter, the letter from high command and a framed iconograph of him standing to attention in front of the Borogravian flag in his No. 1 best dress she broke down and would have collapsed against the door frame had her husband not been quick enough to catch her. He shook his head and whispered "Oh no, no, no" As he took the offered items.
"I'm sorry" was all she could say, as if it was enough.
"D-Did he s-suffer?" His mother asked through her tears.
Polly shook her head and said "No, never felt a thing"
His farther met her eyes and she knew that he knew that she was lying through her teeth but he only nodded and said "Thank you, do you want to come in?"
She shook her head and said "No, we have to go. I'm sorry"
He nodded again and as they turned away he closed the door but they could still hear the sound of the woman sobbing through the door. A boy came running down the path but slowed when he sore and narrowed his eyes. He looked from them to the door and back again. He went in without a word.
The rest of their journey home was uneventful, journeys tend to be when you are in a uniform that inspires fear and respect and travel with a vampire. To say their time off was happy would be an overstatement but it was not spent in abject misery. There was far too much to do for that and it helped to be with family and after three months they went back and carried on serving. What else could they have done?
Well there you are. I'm quit pleased with it but I suppose that final judgement is with the reader. To say things got fluffy in there would be a lie I think but it was a fair bit softer then what I usually write so please do let me know how I did. Thanks for reading, a pleasure as always, Good night boys and girls, sleep tight.