Page 87 of Dead Crown
Mary trailed off since the choices were clear. Jaki’s face tightened so much, Lumi couldn’t help but grab his hand. Without ever knowing her name or where she was, perhaps it hadn’t bothered him much before. Preti had been his Mother.
The chance to meet his biological Mother was suddenly there.
“I don’t know,” said Jaki. “It’s been a long time.”
“She named you Jaki,” said Mary. “She cried when she let me take you. You weren’t a shameful burden she was glad to be rid of. I was to tell Elswere to treat you like you were his own. Sheonly got to hold you once, but I’m sure she thinks about you every day. A Mother doesn’t forget her child.”
“I wouldn’t even know what to write.”
“You could let things lie the way they are if you want.”
Jaki’s grip on Lumi’s hand tightened. “I’ll think about it.”
***
Technically, a body was fine regardless of where it was laid to rest as long as it was done respectfully and in Ymir’s dirt. The ground or a cave was suitable. If the body couldn’t be laid to rest in a proper space right away, keeping it in a Temple was the next best thing. In general, fairies preferred to bury family with family and not alone wherever.
The High Mage pushed back his hood once Mary lit lanterns in her glasshouse. He already had a little coffin on the ground, and she moved a few empty pots in the corner.
“I never grew anything there, and the pots were so nobody would step over him.”
The tables and soil trays were empty except for a couple. A few plants were straggly and mostly dead. The High Mage crouched, set his shovel by his knees, and clasped his hands.
“Elira, please forgive me for disturbing this body. It is only to move it to a better resting place.” He stood with the shovel and started digging.
The simple prayer was enough before disturbing the resting place. Since the glasshouse would have more warmth than outside, the ground wasn’t frozen and difficult to move. Once he got about five feet down, he found the body.
Lumi hadn’t felt much during the digging. Once the High Mage laid the tiny bundle on the ground by the pile of dirt, his throat tightened. The bundle looked to be almost nothing since it was only bones in a shroud. That was supposed to be his big brother, except he’d never taken a breath.
If he had lived, he likely would have truly watched over his little brother, Lumi. Everything would have been different. He’d be next in line. The war never would have happened, and if Reesing had passed for another reason or decided to retire, the true Tivar would be on the throne right then.
Lumi would be known as Edur by everyone.
But if the real Tivar hadn’t died, the fake one might have since he’d been born to a homeless woman. Perhaps, with so many things different, Father wouldn’t have strayed, and Jaki wouldn’t exist.
Tivar’s life for Jaki’s and a homeless woman’s baby? Tivar’s life for Lumi’s freedom, sanity, and no Jaki at his side? None of it seemed fair. He wanted them both, his parents, and never to know what it was like to stare at a skylight in an endless cycle.
Everyone was quiet for a moment as they stared at what seemed to be a knitted blanket or perhaps a shawl that was old and dull with clumps of dirt clinging to it. The true Tivar was only bones, and he’d never lived, but he’d be remembered by the few who knew of him.
He blinked tears out of his eyes as he held onto Jaki’s hand. The High Mage brushed off a dirt clod before he opened the small coffin and gently lifted the bundle.
“Shall we place him in the Temple now?”
Jaki nodded. “Yes.”
***
Lumi stared at the coffin on the floor as the thick wheels of the carriage crunched over snow.
“Plenty think the fake Tivar isn’t the real son,” Jaki said suddenly. “Elswere didn’t keep it a secret with Reesing dead, but I told them not to gossip about this. I don’t want a bunch of fuss and endless nonsense about Reesing or anything he did to startup again because the Mages want to talk. He’s dead, and gossip can stay dead too.”
“It’ll never truly die.”
“We can at least try not to feed it.”
Lumi nodded as Jacqueline suddenly spit up down the front of herself. He shifted the little bag next to him so he could get a cloth to wipe her chin. “Erm, your Mother…?”
Jaki’s face tightened again in the light of the lantern swinging from the ceiling, and he leaned over to look at their daughter. “Is she all right?”
