She hated that Venn was probably right. She sighed. “What will we do, then? Find someone at the camp to take them in?”
“I don’t know.” His gaze slid to Finn, who had taken the feast of a dinner to the bedroll. The little boy shook Sarah awake, and only when she’d rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and taken her first bite did he start eating. “One thing is certain,” Venn told Vera in a low voice. “We’re going to make sure they’re taken care of. No matter what.”
Chapter 8
Venn
Venn would have preferred to finish Rebecca Holm’s grave on his own, but Finn wouldn’t be excluded from burying his mother. Her body had begun to smell, so Venn carefully moved her further from the hole so they could dig without that discomfort, at least. The grave was shallow, but it was the best they could do without proper tools, and in the deepening night.
A short distance away, Vera fed the baby and Sarah slept.
Finn’s brow was spotted with sweat by the time they finished, and the silver moonlight caught the tears on the boy’s cheeks.
Venn carefully lifted Finn’s mother and set her gently in the grave, and then they covered her wrapped body with dirt and rocks. The boy barely spoke, and Venn left him to his thoughts.
After the body was covered, they retired for the night. In the morning, Venn helped find a piece of wood that Finn could carve his mother’s name on. Then they placed it on top of the rocky grave, and Vera helped Sarah lay some wildflowers.
“Would you like to say anything about her?” Venn asked Finn gently.
The boy swallowed. “She was a good mother. I hope the fates keep her soul happy.”
Vera held baby Rebecca in one arm while Sarah clutched her free hand. The little girl sucked her thumb as she watched her brother. She didn’t seem to understand much of what was happening, which was perhaps for the best.
Venn glanced at Finn. “I know a Zennorian memorial prayer. I could recite it, if you’d like.”
The boy nodded, and Venn clasped his hands and bowed his head. The words flowed more easily than he expected. The prayer was short, something his mother had asked him and his sisters to learn so they could chant it at his grandmother’s funeral. That had been years ago, but the phrases of loss, love, and peace fell from his lips, and as he spoke, he thought of this lost mother. The fear she must have felt, leaving her small children alone in a foreign land.
I’ll make sure they’re safe,he thought, hoping that somehow she could hear his promise, and find comfort in it.I give you my word, I’ll protect them.
When the prayer ended, Venn fell silent. He opened his eyes and caught Vera’s faint, grateful smile, and then Finn scrubbed a hand over his wet face. “Thank you,” the boy sniffed. “That sounded nice.”
Sarah tugged at Vera’s hand, her voice soft as she said, “I’m hungry.”
Vera gently led Sarah away, leaving Venn alone with Finn.
They stood quietly for a moment before the boy spoke. “Is it true that the dead find peace once they’re buried?”
“I don’t know if that’s the only way they find peace, but I do know that you helped your mother find peace.” Venn set a hand on his shoulder. “You watched over your sisters, and I know that would have comforted her.”
Finn’s jaw tightened as he stared at the name he’d carved in the wood. “My father will come back here for us.”
Venn doubted that, but he refused to voice an argument. Not here. Not now. “Maybe he will,” he finally said. “We’ll stay here for a few days, but if he hasn’t come by then, will you come with us?”
Finn said nothing for a moment. Then, “Yes.”
They stood beside the grave a while longer, then the boy glanced up at Venn. “Maybe we should put some rocks on the marker, too, so it doesn’t blow away.”
In case my father comes after we’ve gone,was what he didn’t say.
Venn squeezed Finn’s shoulder. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Three days later, they broke camp. The children had more energy after having regular meals, and they’d delayed long enough. It was time to be back on the road.
Vera had the idea to leave a message for David Holm, just in case he came looking for his children. Finn eagerly found a piece of wood and carved the careful message Venn dictated, and then they laid it on Rebecca’s grave.
We will follow you to Zahdir.
Venn didn’t add any names or anything that could potentially lead a stranger to these children, but if David Holmdidreturn, he would know who had left the message, and he would know where to look for his children. That would have to be enough.
