None of us had known the victims personally, but I guess we all felt survivor's guilt. Why had we been spared while they had perished? It was also about supporting the families of the victims who had traveled from afar and didn't have the support of their communities.
Those two reasons were why the square was so packed with people. It seemed like every adult resident of Skywatcher's Point had come to pay their final respects.
Alar and Codric stood behind us, and there had been a few muttered comments about their presence, but these had been silenced by sharp looks from others in the crowd. Evidently, their help during the rescue efforts had been noted and talked about.
Governor Lareth Vale stepped into the semicircle, his ceremonial white robes billowing in the light breeze. He was a tall man with sparse gray hair and eyes that were sad and angry at the same time, reflecting how most of us felt.
"We gather tonight," his deep voice carried clearly across the square, "to honor seven dear souls who have been taken too soon from our midst. They are free now. Their suffering is over. For them, it's not the end but a new beginning. That is no solace to those who loved them and miss them, though. Their families are in pain and need our love and support during this dark time."
He moved to the first pyre, placing his hand on the white cloth. "Terris Windars, whose life ended in service to our community."
I felt Alar shift behind me, and without looking, I knew he was thinking about his suspicions regarding Terris. But this wasn't the time for such thoughts.
Whatever secrets Terris might have held had died with him.
"Miry Fastur, who dreamed of becoming a dragon rider." Governor Vale moved to the next pyre, and my heart clenched. Like me, she had been only twenty-one.
One by one, he named them all, and each name was followed by a brief silence filled only with the soft sound of grief from family members in the crowd.
"In Elucian tradition," Vale continued after naming the last of the dead, "we return our physical forms to Elu through sacred flame, allowing our souls to soar free and enter Dolis." He lifted his hands to the aurora-lit sky. "Tonight, seven souls will travel to the eternal resting place and join all of those who came before them. They will be welcomed with open arms and enveloped by love. They will know peace."
I wondered if the soothing, kind words helped the families deal with their loss. Elucians didn't lie, so the governor had to believe what he had said. However, since no one had ever returned from Dolis to describe its wonders, it could all be just a nice story to help grieving loved ones.
Seven torchbearers stepped forward, each carrying a flame that burned with an unusual blue tint. I knew from my studies that the color came from special salts added to the torch oil, meant to honor the dragfire that protected our people.
"The flame purifies," Vale intoned. "The flame releases. The flame transforms."
The torchbearers simultaneously touched their flames to the pyres. The white cloth caught quickly, the fire spreading in a controlled pattern.
As the flames grew higher, Vale began the 'Song of Passing,' his deep voice carrying the ancient melody. Others joined in, the harmony swelling until it seemed to match the dance of the auroras above.
I felt tears sliding down my cheeks but didn't wipe them away. There was no shame in grieving, even for strangers. Every Elucian death diminished us all.
A warm hand slipped into mine, and I knew without looking that it was Alar's. I should have pulled away as public displays of affection during a funeral ceremony weren't appropriate, but I couldn't bring myself to let go. His touch anchored me as the flames reached higher, crackling and chasing away the chill that was soul deep.
The song continued as the fires burned, verses repeating until the pyres began to collapse in on themselves. Only then did Vale raise his hands for silence.
"To Dolis they go, where peace eternal dwells. May Elu guide their souls on their final journey."
As people began to disperse, I remained rooted to the spot, still holding Alar's hand. The fires would burn until dawn, when the ashes would be collected, put in urns, and given to the families.
"In Eluria," Alar said softly, "we bury our dead in the ground, returning them to the earth that bore them."
I didn't want to offend him by voicing all the objections I had to that custom of theirs, so I just squeezed his hand. "The funerals and the ceremonies are for the living left behind. The dead don't care what happens to the discarded husks that were their bodies."
He returned my squeeze before letting go of my hand. "We should head back and try to get some sleep."
I nodded, but my eyes were drawn back to the flames. Seven souls rising to Dolis, while we who remained would soon begin our climb toward our fate. Would more join them before we reached the summit?
The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
"Come on." Shovia linked her arm through mine. "We all need sleep."
As we turned to leave, I caught Governor Vale watching our group with an unreadable expression. He met my eyes for a moment, then nodded slightly before turning back to the fires.
The trek was scheduled to begin in a few hours, and none of us was as prepared as we should have been.
But perhaps that was fitting.
