Chapter One, Scene Three

Shoag chose the fire pit as the gravesite. He quickly found the purse of coins and hid them. He trusted his people, but the caravan drovers were an unknown. Better to be safe than sorry. With plenty of hands, the burial did not take long. Talyssa cried silent tears and insisted on helping. No one complained that her help caused more dirt to fall back into the holes than she dug out. Even the ever irascible Durjaan took her plight to heart. He cataloged all of the family’s belongings, making a promise to the girl that he would get the best prices.

When the final shovel of dirt was laid, they gathered in a circle around the grave and Durjaan spoke. “It is not right to lay these good folk to rest with no words. We did not know them and we do not know what Gods they worship, but having met this sweet child, I know they had to be good people.”

One of the drovers, Nahan, cleared his throat and stepped forward and began, “We find ourselves here, laying these good folk to rest. While they are not our family, we take their child into our arms. I pray to Tarya to take this mother, father and son into his house and keep them and cherish them.” He looked around and stepped back into the circle.

Kouva, a guard, followed, “I follow The Warrior, like most of us fighters do. But I also tithe at the temples. Once a priest of Nahada spoke to me. He gave me comfort when I was suffering. I remember his lesson. To grieve is human, and grief is the price we all pay for love at some point or another, at least, in our lives. If you love, you will grieve. We find strength to go on in companionship and acceptance.”

Kouva was not normally so talkative and his discomfort in speaking was plain as his homily would to a close.

When nobody else spoke, Durjaan sighed and took his emblem to Aloura in his hand, “Aloura is the Goddess of Compassion. She brings light into the darkness and strength to the weary. She holds that all of us should be brothers and sisters and work to a better future.”

With nothing else to say, the group broke up, leaving Shaog and Talyssa by the graves.

“I miss my parents.” She said.

“I know child. Your mother loved you. I could tell. She gave everything she had to defend you. Always remember that.” With that said, Shoag gathered her into his arms and handed her to the woman driving her family’s cart. “Stay here with Tra. I will be back in a bit”

Talyssa nodded and curled up on some blankets in the back of the wagon.

Shaog was gathering the last bit of gear laying around, getting ready to leave when Durjaan approached. “Last night, I shamed myself.” Durjaan said, “You reminded me of my duty when fear and anger took hold of me. I will make it right.

“My oath on this, she shall be cared for. The gold I get from selling her family’s belongings, plus whatever I make off the bounty for the raiders will be invested and she will be entitled to all the profit when she comes of age. She shall not want in this life.”

“That is good, friend Durjaan. You do honor to yourself and your house.” Shaog replied, clapping him gently on the shoulder.

“Well, let us get a move on, then. We are behind and time is money.” Durjaan said.

“Yes, it is a long way to Marrover,” Shoag replied.