Michelle West - Sun Sword 01 - The Broken Crown (117 page)

Jevri felt a cold, sharp sting, as if something had passed
through his heart. He said nothing.

"The choice of the Captain of the Tyr'agar's Tyran. And a war
with the Northern Empire and its demon kings."

They stared at each other, these two men, and it was Mareo
di'Lamberto who looked away. He had aged.

"What news you have brought us, Jevri. What terrible news. And
the rites?"

"We could not say them without risking the wrath of the new
Tyr'agar. But here," Jevri said, removing the first of the skins. "This
is water from the lake of the Tor; his ashes were taken by water and
wind.

"With these, we can offer the Lady's blessing."

And then, weary, Jevri el'Sol closed his eyes and leaned back
into the cushions that Mareo di'Lamberto had provided for the oldest of
his family's serafs. He made no pretense of freedom, did Jevri,
although by Lord's law, it was his.

"Thank you, old friend," Mareo told the sleeping man as he
rose, and very quietly ran a hand along his eyes. "Thank you for
bringing my brother home."

Jevri, sleeping, did not answer.

"I'll speak to you again in the morning, after we have
performed the Lady's rites for our fallen."

Again no reply.

But Mareo di'Lamberto knew that Jevri el'Sol, that Jevri
kep'Lamberto, was awake because, from beneath the lids of wrinkled eyes
that had seen far too much, came a thin trail of tears..

He set
Balagar
beside the old man, and
said, softly, "You guarded this all the way home, Jevri kep'Lamberto.
Guard it for one more night."

And Jevri lifted an aged, wrinkled hand and placed it gently
upon the scabbard of Fredero kai el'Sol's sword. For the heart and the
soul of a man
was
his sword, and he would guard
this sword with his life.

But he would much rather have guarded the man who had wielded
it, and in the silence of an empty harem, he heard that man's young
voice.

And he thought that it would be fitting and merciful if it was
the last voice he heard.

But he was faithful, was Jevri kep'Lamberto, and when he woke,
and knew that no death would take him yet, he prepared to pay his
respects.

And to continue living for as long as the Lady decreed.