But he did not do that, for Laisha’s sake.
The Princess of Avisahn stood at his left, their elbows almost touching. Glancing at her, he could see the sweat glistening on her brow, her upper lip. It showed a high honor to his family that she had demanded a state funeral for the Quickfellows. He wondered how many layers went with all the nuances. Her sister, Lucyanna, stood solemnly to her left, and she kept as still as one her age could. Abtalion, with his thin goatee and soft demeanor, stood unobtrusively to the side, allowing them to be the focal point of attention. How many nobles in Avisahn would wonder why Laisha had chosen to do this? How many would remark on the color of her satin skirts, the glitter of silver bracelets and earrings. She still wore the necklace with a pendant shaped like a crooked leaf nestled against the bejeweled bodice.
His own accoutrements made him boil and sweat. But despite the tightness of his doublet, the cut was perfect and the ruff at his sleeves not too bothersome.
“So we implore thee, our great gods, to grant thy watchful care over thy children who have returned to thee. Comfort us who remain here in the shadow of the Firekin that took their lives. Until Safehome return and bring us home. Amen.”
A murmured amen rippled across the crowd.
With the benediction over, a young Shae—slightly older than Thealos—stepped forward and in a clear tenor voice sang the dirge. His voice was haunting, ripe with emotion, and it burned tears in Thealos’ eyes. It had been a while since he had heard it. His Elsorrel’s funeral? The song made it real. It brought all the guilt and sadness to him at once, a drowning wave of grief. But he did not let his tears fall. Part of him was still dead, still recovering from the nightmare of the Silverkin’s magic. Not even his family’s funeral could evoke as strong of feelings as the whisper of that memory.
The dirge ended, thus completing the funeral. Thealos wished everyone would quickly leave so he could find Jaerod. He had felt the prickle of awareness at the beginning of the service, just a touch to alert him that Jaerod was there as well. He did not see him, of course, but he knew why that was now. It was something he could do himself even without the Stones.
A small hand snaked into his and he looked down at Lucyanna. Her cheeks were wet with tears, and so he crouched and wiped them away.
“Aren’t you sad?” she asked with all the innocence of youth.
“I’ve mourned already,” he said. “But it touches me that you care enough. Thank you, Lucyanna.”
She bit her lip. So like Arielle! It made his heart cringe.
She was about to walk away, but he caught her sleeve. “I have a gift for you. A game I learned in Landmoor. Here.” He untied the pouch from his belt and handed it to her. It contained the five Stones she had given him. “I would like to teach you this game sometime.”
Taking the pouch cautiously, her face revealing nothing, she tilted the head and then nodded. Tucking away the pouch, she left.
Laisha turned and her skirts swayed. “I hope you’re not teaching her a gambling game.”
He rose and looked at her, offering a smile at her banter. “Nothing Forbidden, my lady. I assure you.”
Abtalion came forward and stood behind Laisha. “I grieve for your loss, Thealos. I think the whole of Avisahn would claim you as their son now. But I don’t hesitate to offer that you will always be welcome in our home.”
“Thank you, Chancellor. I know you mean what you promise.”
He nodded and then whispered something to Laisha.
“I will. Go on and make sure Lucyanna makes it back inside.” She turned to Thealos. “Will you walk with me? The shade over there looks inviting.”
Part of him itched to be away, to seek out Jaerod. He bowed graciously. “Of course.”
Offering her his arm, he escorted her off the dais and down the smooth path towards the nearest cluster of aspen. Her skirts rustled. She was so poised. So controlled. Her hand tightened on his arm.
“Tomorrow the Sunedrion meets. I would like you to be there.”
“Of course, my lady.”
“There’s Nordain. Walk faster.” She nudged him. He complied and they found themselves beneath the branches of the towering trees. A cool breeze broke the stifling oppression of the noonday sun.
“What will you discuss with the Sunedrion tomorrow?”
She looked up at him, her hazel eyes bewitching. “It’s about you, of course. But I decided to warn you before doing it. I tend to get my way in things.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“There is a problem, you see. You are of age now, Thealos, yet you have not chosen a calling. Regardless of the great service you’ve done for our people, for the lives you saved down in the Shoreland, there are some who will judge you and find you lacking because you did not serve.”