The smoke from the pyre stung my eyes as I watched the ashes of fallen warriors rise into the sky. Every single Nomad who could be spared had come to honour the twenty-three warriors who had fallen together, and now they burned together on a large square mound of wood. Most of the Nomad’s warriors who weren’t on watch had helped, and I contributed in my small way by finding bits of kindling and small branches that I was thankfully able to carry without causing further injury to my hands. I stood with Gertha, Sila and Sayo; they had all joined hands and rested their heads on the others' shoulders while I stood only a few paces away, but utterly alone. Bulriar had insisted that Eggs light the fire, an act which caused a ripple of muttering and shocked whispers in the crowd but Bulriar had announced that Eggs had aided in the fight against the Drake and so was as much a warrior as any of us.

  Murmurs had turned to acceptance, and many warriors touched their hands to their heads and hearts, to both Eggs and me. The flames began to obscure the bodies now as the pyre burned hotter than I’d have thought, no doubt something to do with Eggs’ special properties. An elderly woman who I had not met before stood forward, taking a place next to Bulriar. She wore a simple white robe and a large headdress of Stag spines; she was clearly some kind of priestess. Gore stood nearby on the edge of the fire among three other Stags, but even he seemed to be paying attention to her. Probably because he was wondering why she was wearing one of his old friends. The old woman raised her shaking hands in the air and ululated loudly. I suppressed a laugh, not because I’m a bastard, but I just wasn’t expecting it. Gertha side-eyed me, so I leaned in toward her.

  “She looks older than you,” I whispered.

  “Shut the fuck up.” She hissed, but I saw the smirk. Good, she needed a quick release.

  I stood up straighter, clearing my throat while I listened.

  “As we commend our fallen warriors to the flames, we honour their sacrifice. As Serf sacrificed himself and became the Godbody, so they sacrificed themselves for us, and became the noble memories we will carry in our hearts.” She brought her hands down before humming a low, droning tone.

  Everybody joined in the drone, their eyes closed. Eggs' head perked up at this, and they looked side to side at everybody before looking at me, their golden eyes wide. I started humming the tune as well, and Eggs moved to within an inch of my face before chirruping. It seemed my Wyvern liked the sound of funeral dirges; I hoped that wasn't a sign.

  The priestess took a step toward the pyre, and she started singing.

  “The willing fallen, lost to this world, their stories ended, so ours can be told.”

  People around me perked up, increasing the humming noise, and started beating their chests with fists.

  “Where they wander, we cannot follow, to the vacant halls of Serf, that they will call home.”

  Everyone started walking toward the fire, still beating on their chests as they hummed.

  “Their sacrifice, it is their story, now they’re bound as one, with the Godbody.”

  The priestess knelt, then one by one, everyone else followed her, their heads bowed toward the pyre, as each person touched their head, to their heart, gesturing upward. I joined them, sinking to my knees while mimicking the movements as best I could.

  “We wander on, for life goes on, we will remember, until our days are done.”

  The priestess slowly rose to her feet, tears rolling down her face as Bulriar placed a hand on her shoulder. She nodded at him, and he took a step forward.

  “My brothers and sisters! We mourn our losses, and they must never be forgotten! It will soon be time for us to move on. For now…let us celebrate, yes? Honour their lives by LIVING!” He roared the last word, breaking the serene atmosphere that had hung over us, and the crowd let out a huge cheer, before breaking apart, groups forming of people having conversations, hugging each other, and in some cases breaking out some instruments to play.

  I looked around in wonder as, gradually, the familiar sounds of revelry and music filled the air as we were all illuminated in the glow of the funeral pyre.

  “Tullen! Come to us!” Sayo called, and I joined her, Sila and Gertha. Eggs at my heel, their bulk naturally causing a ripple effect in the crowd. I noticed with interest that Eggs walked very delicately, almost like they were taking care not to startle anyone around them.

  “Quite a send off,” I said.

  “Ah, yes, not the typical affair you’d get with the Avanish?” Sila asked.

  “There’s usually more caterwauling.”

  “Our hearts break, but they must also beat on; it is what the dead would want,” Sayo said, offering me a bottle of some liquid. I wasn’t sure that the dead wanted anything really once they were dead, but it hardly seemed like the time or the place to point that out.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Makes sense. Grief is a damp that will collapse your home unless you deal with it.” I said, realising I was quoting my mother. She was a wise woman, taken too early. Probably why I was so stupid. It’s what Peevan used to say to me, and it was one of the many reasons I shoved my blade into his heart.

  “Wise words, Tullen,” Gertha said.

  “They aren’t mine,” I said, as everyone burst out laughing.

  “You are very to the point, Tullen! No doubt because you’re a master of the sword, eh?” Sila laughed, clapping me on the shoulder.

  Not the only master now, I thought, but that was a problem for another day.

  I pulled the cork out of the bottle and raised it to my lips, my face as unmoving as The Jut’s stone while a smoky-tasting liquid with hints of oak poured down my throat. I gasped in satisfaction and then took another swig.

  “What is this drink? It’s excellent.” I asked.

  Sayo giggled, “It’s true water.”

  “Why is it called that?” I asked.

  “Because it’s what water’s true form should be.”

  I couldn’t agree more, and I handed the bottle to Sayo so she could take a draught. Mainly because politeness demanded it.

  “I like it,” I chuckled, already feeling like I did after several ales. Ulther would have approved of this efficient means of getting Wyrmarsed. We all laughed together while Eggs sniffed at the bottle, wrinkling their snout at it, which made us laugh even harder.

  “I’m so happy we stumbled across you, Gertha.” Sila said, “And you, Tullen, and Eggs.”

  “So am I, dear one. I worried I would never see you again.” Gertha said, kissing Sila on his forehead and tousling his hair

  “Well, we are reunited, and nothing, not even Perek, will keep us apart.” Sayo said, and pulled my arm, bringing me close to the others, “and we now have Tullen too!”

  I smiled, “Yes, you do.”

  “Mother, Sayo and I have been thinking.” Sila was already slurring slightly; the true water must be potent stuff indeed.

  “That’s a dangerous thing to do too much of for you, my boy.” Gertha laughed, and I chuckled too, glad to know I wasn’t the only one she teased.

  “I am…serious, Mother. We are going to come with you. To the Hold of the Arcuzane.”

  “What?” Gertha said, her voice dropping all traces of humour.

  “We will not lose you again, and the dangers out there are too much, even for a Magi with a Blademaster and a Wyvern at her back,” Sayo said, cupping Gertha’s face in her hands.

  “It’s too dangerous,” Gertha said, reaching for the true water.

  “If you hadn’t noticed, Mother, it’s dangerous here too.”

  “It’s out of the question,” Gertha said. Crossing her arms.

  “More warriors at our side would improve our chances,” I said. I could certainly stand to have more backup in a fight, and if Sayo happened to be one of those people, well then, so be it.

  “I can’t lose them. I won’t,” She snapped, and I recoiled as a spark arced across teeth.

  “But you would risk us losing you?” Sayo said?

  “We’re blooded warriors now, Mother, if we don’t fight at your side, we’ll just be at another's. Who has you covered better than family?” Sila said.

  “No.”

  “Rolvh wasn’t your fault,” Sayo said, her voice soft and sad.

  “It was. I should have been stronger. I should have-”

  “Mother. It was just the two of you. Nothing would have changed the odds.” Sila added.

  “If only I’d known,” Gertha whispered.

  “Gertha, I don’t know what happened. But I think Sila and Sayo are right. We saw them in action today. They excelled against that Drake. I’ve not seen many warriors that would have handled that situation better than them.”

  “With all my power, I barely escaped a Fell Dragon. My boy did not. You think that with the four of us, that could change?” Gertha growled.

  I was taken aback. Fell Dragons were aptly named, and for good reason. Perhaps one of the largest creatures in existence, if not the largest. They would crush a Great Drake with just one foot.

  “It’s a better damn chance than just two. They’re your children, Gertha, but they are also trained warriors now. Let them help us. Don’t damn them to wondering if they’ll ever see you again, and besides,” I paused to guide Eggs' head to our level, “there are five of us in this group.”

  Gertha opened her mouth to speak before shaking her head and snatching the true water.

  “You will all follow my instructions and my lead to the letter.”

  “Yes, Hold Mother.” Sayo and Sila said in unison, Gertha looked at me, with an eyebrow raised.

  “Yes, Ma'am,” I grinned as I saluted her.

  “Good, now get me good and drunk, I want to walk a hangover off in the morning.” Gertha snapped, and we broke the tension with a chuckle.

  As she poured the true water down her throat, Sayo and I locked eyes. She mouthed thank you, and I nodded back.

  I scratched Eggs on the neck.

  “We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow, beautiful,” I said. Noting from the corner of my eye that Sayo looked over to me and then away when it was clear I was looking into Eggs' golden eyes.

  Eggs chirruped and licked my face with their rough, forked tongue. We all laughed, and for that night at least, all was merry.