“Malcolm?”
The tall, thin man, dressed in clothes Brin’s mother had made for him, stood before the pile of stones and raised his head. “This evening has caused me to pause and think.” Malcolm tilted his head back and looked up at the slowly darkening sky. “With the passing of Raithe and Arion, I think there will be at least two new stars in the sky tonight.” He looked at Arion’s grave. “And from now on, I think the name Arion should be another word for wise. For while she was compassionate, intelligent, and giving, more than anything, she displayed wisdom. One might suspect that comes with living so long, but I think not. She knew that from arrogance came apathy, from apathy came ignorance, from ignorance came hatred, and from hatred, well…nothing good ever came from hatred.” He paused to look across the bloody landscape. “She tried to stop this, but I think wisdom is rarely ever enough when fighting hatred. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made.”
He focused on the other mound of rocks. “I think Tesh did a fine job with the stones. Big ones on the bottom, small ones on top. He also put a little one in your hand, Raithe, so you can enter Phyre. You would have approved. I’m sorry I had to mislead you, but then I’m sorry about a lot of things. Be sure to tell your sister and mother that you weren’t like your father or brothers. You did something good—something very good. And I think your life made a difference. No, that’s not true.” Malcolm looked up at the sky. “This night has made me think many things, but that is one thing I know. Sleep well, my friend. You’ve earned it.”
Then Malcolm lifted his head and sang in an unexpectedly beautiful voice:
“My love, I give you;
Into Elan, I send you;
Forgive me, I beg you;
Be at peace, I ask you;
May whatever good is in this universe watch over your journey.”
Then Malcolm produced Herkimer’s bronze medal, the one Raithe had worn ever since the two of them had met, and he placed it on the grave. He trapped it there with a rock and stepped back.
Then everyone else stepped up, placing their rocks on both of the graves. Grimacing with pain, Persephone placed one on Arion’s and then stepped back. She didn’t go to Raithe’s. This didn’t go unnoticed by Moya, who announced that the ceremony was over and urged them to leave.
Moya moved to Persephone’s side. “Let’s get you back to—”
“No. I’m staying.”
“You can barely stand.”
“I need a moment alone.”
Moya considered this, then nodded. “Fine, but I’ll be waiting over there with the litter. Wave if you need me.”
Moya moved off, shooing Brin, who asked why Persephone wasn’t coming.
“Suri?” Persephone stopped the mystic when she started back.
The girl turned. Her face drawn, eyes tired.
“I want to ask…”
Why Raithe? Of all the people, why was it him you sacrificed? Was it because of me? The words caught in her throat, refusing to come out. “Never mind,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
I know why, and I’d rather not hear it aloud. If you say it, I’ll have nothing to hide behind.
“It didn’t hurt,” Suri said. “It didn’t hurt him.”
Persephone nodded.
“I’ll be right over here,” Moya reminded. She and Suri walked away, leaving Persephone alone in the light of the setting sun and at the mercy of the harsh wind.
She moved forward only a step. That was all it took. She fell. Caught herself with her hands and knees. The pain ripped through her center, making her cry out. Moya started to come back, but Persephone waved her off.
Then the Keenig of the Ten Clans started to cry. She was stunned that she’d lasted this long. Alone in that horrid place, before that lonely pair of rock mounds, the dam broke—she let it wash over her.
When at last she stopped weeping, the sun had slipped behind the ruins of the Rhist and stars were beginning to appear in the east. From around her neck, Persephone removed the chain that held the chieftain’s ring, the one she had let fall the night she said goodbye to Reglan, the one Brin had found. She squeezed it in her hand, feeling the metal cut into her palm.
“I had to do what was best for my people,” she told the pile of stones. “I had to…I had to…I still have to. And I know I hurt you, but dammit, Raithe, you hurt me, too, and this…this was just cruel.”