‘He trusted you with his death, and that is the greatest prize we can aspire to. He was so proud of you. You were his son in everything but blood, and I’m so happy you accepted his legacy, I really am,’ I whispered, stroking his black hair while the dragon shielded us from any onlookers.
‘I thought you hated me.’ Irsha raised his head to look into my eyes. ‘Thought I’d lost you.’
I smacked his shoulder, causing him to smile, even though the sadness never left his eyes. ‘And I thought you were smarter than that, but I guess you’re still an idiot. I love you. You were my brother when I had nothing, and you will be my brother when I have everything. So cut it out, or I swear to the gods I’ll poison your ale with something nasty enough to make you regret doubting me.’
My speech had the desired effect. His arms briefly tightened around my shoulders once more before he stood up and helped me to my feet. ‘No poisons – my life is complicated enough already – but I’ll tell you this: once we send off your father and find Lily, I’ll be giving you away during the handfasting ceremony.’
I scoffed, placing my hand on his flushed cheek. ‘First, no one is giving me away; second, you can fight with Tova for the privilege of standing beside me as my witness.’ The massive assassin stood patiently as I used my magic to soothe his red-rimmed eyes, erasing the traces of his soft heart. ‘Come, Grand Master. It is time to say goodbye,’ I said once I’d finished my ministrations, and all emotion disappeared from Irsha’s face, replaced by a mask of icy indifference.
‘Yes, it’s time.’
The dragon moved away, nudging me gently when I passed. As we approached the large gathering, my own mask fell into place. Every master, apprentice, and servant had gathered on this isolated field to grant my father the honour of a last goodbye. For once, the chapters intermingled, the lines that separated them meaningless in this moment, everyone dressed in formal attire around the pyre. Even the Observers, usually the most unruly of us, were on their best behaviour.
Irsha’s commanding presence silenced their chatter. At his signal, Veles’ priest started the ceremony, but I wasn’t listening to his prayers or the Brotherhood’s eulogy. My eyes were fixedon the funeral pyre, on the body covered in its thick shroud. Then, a rustling to the side drew my attention back to the ceremony and the priest walking forward with a torch. Irsha frowned when I stepped forward, stopping him. It felt wrong. A simple torch failed to embody Boyan’s strength, ruthlessness, and kindness.
If he were a dragon rider, his dragon would light the pyre…The thought expressed the need, and my magic answered. An emerald glow surrounded me, and Irsha smiled, gesturing to the priest and his torch. My father’s last goodbye would not be the rigid formality of tradition, but the song of the Vila he loved so much.
I approached the pyre, voice rising with the words of my mother’s lullaby. My hands wove the fire sigil while my voice, initially timid, strengthened, guided by my magic’s touch. Flames blossomed on the pyre. Nymphs of emerald fire dancing a ballet of two star-crossed lovers filled the air with yearning, his love for her and for me. I didn’t finish there; only the melody changed. I sang about his devotion to those taken under his wing, the strength that sheltered us. With each word, the flames leapt higher, fed by my tears until their ethereal glow turned blinding. The ground trembled and fresh grass burst from the snow, with snowdrops and crocuses bowing to the man on the pyre.
‘Sana?’ Irsha turned to me, tense and ready to act if needed.
I shook my head, letting the tears fall as flames fed on the wood and flesh until nothing but ash remained. It was the perfect setting for his last request. Before the pyre had been built, I planted an acorn in the ground. The heat woke it, and my magic protected it. I coaxed the tiny kernel to grow, accelerating its development with my aether and nutrients from the pyre. My father would live, his spirit tethered to the tree, forever united with his Lady of the Forest.
Murmurs of fear broke out, but Irsha controlled the crowd. The voices faded when a sapling sprang from the ground, its trunk thickening, the branches spreading over our heads, covering the sky with a canopy of majestic oak leaves.
‘You should have told me,’ Irsha whispered, catching my elbow when I faltered. My power was fading, leaving me weak and shaken, but I’d never been prouder. Blood trickled from my nose. When I lifted my hand to wipe it away, I squinted at the sun’s position, realising several hours had passed since we’d started the ritual.
The entire Brotherhood still stood there, watching me when I moved forward and touched the trunk’s rough bark. ‘Welcome back, Father,’ I whispered, pressing my lips to the wood. ‘I hope you find her.’
Raw sadness squeezed my chest, and I had to take a step back, placing my hand on Irsha’s arm. Behind me, the leaders of the Brotherhood observed me with identical frowns. All but the priest were still here. As for the old cleric, I suspected his reaction had been similar to the healer who’d first discovered my vivamancy.
My shoulders sagged when the weight of my actions settled across them, but Irsha didn’t seem concerned. Instead, he turned to the Brotherhood. ‘This is the beginning.’ He looked at those gathered and pointed to the ground we stood on. ‘Nightshade has given us an anchor, a place to belong. From this day forth, our dead will never be forgotten. Their ashes will rest here, next to Boyan, so even in a hundred years, there will be a place we can come home. The place where fire guides the weary spirit.’
I frowned, but this made sense. Those in the Brotherhood rarely had families. They were like leaves drifting on the wind, without roots to settle down. Irsha gave them a place to belong, and I gave them a home. I stepped aside, observing how, one byone, the members came to touch Boyan’s tree, whispering their wishes and prayers, allowing themselves for this one moment in time to be something other than cold-blooded killers.
‘Come on, Sana; we need to head back for the wake,’ Irsha said, placing a hand on my shoulder. ‘I need you to sit by my side and show all who sowed discontent that we are united.’
I nodded, letting him lead me to the horses that awaited us at the edge of the field. ‘I can’t stay long, though,’ I said when he helped me into the saddle. ‘The reports from the south are worse than expected.’
Irsha nodded. ‘I saw them, but what can you do about it? It’s not like you can stop the Hierophant’s army from passing through the Wey Gates.’
His reminder of my own impotence didn’t sit well with me, even if Irsha was right. The Brotherhood Observers and Reynard’s spies agreed that Tangra’s presence was growing stronger in Tivalaran. Some units had arrived by ship, mainly officers. Still, since no new galleons were seen docking in the port, the only explanation was that they were testing the Wey Gates… Or they were already working.
‘I can’t help Rey with military matters, but I can ensure those secretly supporting Tivala are held in check. I can also work with Tova to dismantle the magic that creates the gates,’ I said as we rode back to the city.
‘And Lily?’ Irsha asked. I heard the hint of accusation in his tone.
‘Do you think I’ve abandoned her?’ I said, fighting not to push my horse closer and smack some sense into him. ‘As we speak, the envoy is riding to Lumivitae with invitations to the royal ball. On the invite, there is an honourable mention for the herald and his wife.’
He looked at me with a frown, and I scoffed, slowing down as we entered the tall, dark portcullis of the city gates.
‘Think, Blade. If he brings her back thanks to a royal request, what’s stopping you from entering the castle and whisking her to safety?’ I said, and his expression lightened a notch.
‘If he doesn’t bring her back?’ he said, his lips spreading into a malicious grin.
‘Then Rey will keep him here, somehow, and we’ll visit his estate. I swear, Blade. One way or another, Lily will return.’ On hearing my oath, Irsha exhaled. His rigid posture relaxed, but the frown remained. ‘What? You think it won’t work?’
‘Not that. Just… her husband. If that bastard forces himself on her.’ Irsha’s strained voice barely hid the raw emotion. He rubbed his neck, looking into the distance, and my heart went out to him.
