The sight shook Graely to the core, but he steeled himself to finish the ceremony, speaking the words he’d repeated so many times before… too many times. “Farewell friends. We commit your souls to God and your memories to our hearts. Farewell until we meet on the other side.”
Graely threw a small pouch into the fire, which flared with reds, blues, and greens. “Farewell, Naegle BarKlaeren.”
He tossed in a second pouch, igniting another feast of colors. “Farewell, Worster BarWaenly.”
The third pouch flew in, exploding in a flaming rainbow. “Farewell, Haegen BarGabeno.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Markaeus running away. Graely thought to follow him, until he saw where he was going… the healing house.
*****
“I’m proud of you for going to the funeral. I’m sure it was hard, and I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you.” Charles wrapped his arms around Markaeus, who stretched to hug his chest as he lay on the bed. “I’m glad you rescued him from Vindrake.”
“But if I hadn’t opened the iron gate to let Haegen out, he’d still be alive.”
“And soon he would’ve been forced to take Vindrake’s bloodbond. From what I hear, that’s like having Satan live inside you.”
“Satan?”
“Uhmm… the devil? The personification of evil?”
“Personi-what?”
“How about a demon? Have you heard of that?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, when you accept the bloodbond, it’s like having an awful demon inside your head, telling you what to do and say all the time. We know because we talked to someone who had the bondmark.”
“Grandfather didn’t act bad after he took the bloodbond. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been as terrible as I thought.”
“I don’t know, but I think it’s worse if you’re a warrior. I think he makes you kill people you don’t want to kill.”
Markaeus took a shuddery breath. “Then I wish Haegen and I would’ve escaped through the portal instead of sealing it. I know that’s selfish, but I simply wish for my brother back.”
“Of course you do. That’s not really selfishness, that’s missing your brother. Yet it was Haegen who encouraged you to seal the portal. He was willing to die to help fight against Vindrake. I imagine he would’ve felt really guilty if you’d been killed instead of him. He’d have felt like it was his fault for talking you into it.”
Markaeus straightened, balling his hands into fists. “It wasn’t his fault. He only wished us to do the right thing. Grandfather always told us to remember we were made for a purpose.”
Charles nodded. “Your grandfather was a wise man. So was Haegen.”
“Grandfather’s still alive. I left him in Portshire.” Markaeus stuffed his hands into his pockets. “He never said so, but I believe he knew I was leaving with Haegen. I can’t even go back and tell him Haegen’s dead now.”
A sharp throb shot through Charles’ back, and a moan escaped before he could stop it. Markaeus’ eyes rounded, filling with tears. “Are you going to die, too?”
“No, I’m going to be okay.”
“It’s been two days since we came to Laegenshire, and you don’t seem any better.” Markaeus pursed his lips, regarding Charles with severe, accusing eyes.
Charles suppressed a smile. It’s amazing he can make me feel guilty for not recovering from an arrow wound fast enough.
“That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve got an infection from that arrow, and Laethan can’t heal it.”
“So you are going to die?”
“I’m not going to die, but I’m going away. I’m going to a place called a hospital. It’s a healing house in the other world—the one the portal went to.”
Markaeus nodded, his lips quivering. He whipped around and marched toward the door. “Goodbye, then. I hope they can heal you in the other world.”