Chapter 12 – part one
One year after the events of Dying of the Light
"Today we are here today to commemorate those who died last year against Darquesse" China told the crowd. "Some of you would have known those who fell, and those who betrayed us" she thought about what Ravel did to Ghastly and Shudder.
"So there is going to be speeches about the dead from their closes friends" China announced, looking out over a sea of faces some of them familiar, and some, well she had never seen before. It had taken them this long to sort of what had happened and compile a list of those who died.
"Fletcher Renn" Fletcher stood from his chair and walked to the stairs leading up to the stage, when he arrived at the eagle footed stand, pulling his speech out of his pocket he placed it on the eagle's wings. Clearing his throat he began.
"Ghastly Bespoke, was one of my best friends when I first came to Ireland I wasn't sure what he was about, and probably insulted him by asking Valkyrie about his scars and hiding away from them. But over a couple of weeks I realized he was just a normal guy getting on with his life." He looked out over the same faces he had been looking back at him over the last year. "He was always a guy who I could go and talk to, may not sound much but that's how we were. I have always lacked a father figure in my life and Ghastly was that for me, a father figure. And it kills me to know that he was killed by someone he trusted" he hadn't finished his speech but had to get off the stage, so he did something he knew how to do well. He teleported.
"Um... it's not hard to understand that talking like this about friends or family like this" China stumbled, she had never seen Fletcher act like this normally he was calm cool and collective. "But this is a time when we need to be close and help those around us get over our grief, up next is Mr. Saracen Rue"
Saracen stood and walked the same path Fletcher had just trodden. When he reached the stand he stood in silence for a couple of minutes just listening.
"Some of my friends were killed that day" Simple statement "Two of them were killed by a man I classed as my equal, we walked in and out of wars as a team and then he killed others in that team. The moment he betrayed us was the moment he stopped being a Dead Man. Today we are remembering those who were killed, but you can't help remember those who caused all the death" he looked down at his speech cards realized he hadn't read any of them. "I seem to have not read any of my cards. I'm sorry" he sensed that some people understood and that some were angry for bring him up when they were meant to be respecting the dead. "I realize that this is event was meant to be remembering the dead, but I'd rather we honour those still living. No one could have defeated Darquesse one their own. So thank you everyone" he bowed from the waist and exited the stage.
End of part one