One year. It had been one year since Iris Gwenneth became the first heroine of Eldia --one year since her life took a dramatic turn for the better. And in this one year, she'd found meaning in the days that had once had none. Iris had a new job, one...
A/N: Here's a hair reference for Kayde's new do (except black hair, of course).
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Okay, enjoy!
The song is also beautiful, for those of you that take the time to listen to them.
"I was summoned, Master Rhalla?" came a silk voice from her tent opening, drawing her gaze from her map. She hadn't really been focused on it in the first place, as she was still lost in thought from taking in new children. She found that Kayde Vorantis stood in front of her, looking very much like the late Master Dyran. Since his reunion with Iris and his conversation with Zayn, Kayde hair had been pulled half-up. Small, very complex braids twisted his straight tresses back out of his face, right into a curtain of black down his back. Also, Kayde had been given his father's armor as sort of memorabilia of Dyran. Kayde wore it now, proudly.
He and Dyran had been very similar in size, so the tight segmented plate fit him well all the way down. The obsidian bolts of cloth flowed from his belt to the floor, almost giving the illusion of a robe. Also, the great cat, Nightingale, followed closely after Kayde into the tent. Rhalla almost smiled at that. "You do look like your father."
"Thank you," he replied softly, and took a breath. "Did you see his body?"
Rhalla had seen it. It had made her sick, all torn apart like that. She went pale. "I did." She sucked in a mouthful of air. "His body has been cleaned and dressed. Are you sure you wish him burned instead of buried?"
"He never could stand the thought of maggots eating his eyes, his skin rotting his lips off his teeth," Kayde answered. "I can't either. Burn him. The body is nothing anymore, not without him there in it. His ashes in the wind will find more flight -more freedom-than a body encased and trapped in the ground forever."
"Then he will be ashes," Rhalla promised. "If that is his wish, then I shall see it through for you. As guardian custom, we say final graces at midnight. Usually, the new guardian master sends the old away. But you are his son, so tradition will be broken. You will carry the torch, if you wish. You will send him off with a blaze so bright it will shame the stars."
Kayde nodded in agreement.
For a moment, they both took a moment to think. He was the first to say something. "Word around is camp that you've adopted two little girls."
"I have," Rhalla chuckled. "I'm about to have my hands full."
"You did it to give them a better life. You couldn't stand the thought of saving those girls to send them back to sadness. You did it for more than pity -you did it because you truly love the women you suffered with once. The women who shared your fate." Kayde met Rhalla's eyes. "You will make a proud guardian master."
