Page 100 of Becoming D'Vaire
“Yeah, but they’re going to be here tomorrow. What’s the point of going through such a big deal?”
Grigori turned his head and stared at Duff for several seconds as he contemplated how best to answer. He went with his gut. “Everything about our lives that we enjoy today is because one morning, T’Eirick and Saura decided we’d all be better off if we joined together. Before they could reap the benefits of that alliance, T’Eirick and Saura were dead. Their sons never had the chance to say good-bye. They’re getting that chance now. Not many of us get the opportunity to have this kind of closure, to have a tangible moment in life to let the past go and be rebirthed. I understand you lost your parents not so long ago.…I think you’d be able to relate to what they’re going through.”
“No one’s going to resurrect my parents. No one even bothered to ask me if I might want that,” Duff snapped angrily, then stomped off.
Grigori didn’t know what to think about Duff’s statement. It wasn’t fair that some people had to lose their loved ones forever while others had the opportunity to be reunited, but if necromancers went around and brought back everybody, it would imbalance everything. The world would be lopsidedly undead and the truth was, not everyone was meant to return. He doubted any of that was something Duff wished to hear, and he could understand his anger at having to lose his parents, especially at such a young age. Duff’s grief might also be playing into his behavior that stumped both Delaney and Idris.
“You okay?” Delaney asked when he returned to his side.
“Yeah, I had a chat with Duff. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Delaney laced their fingers together, and they stood side-by-side as Aleksander waved his arms a little to get everyone’s attention. When everyone was silent and standing inside the circle of bonfires, he spoke. “There are no words to comfort someone when a loved one leaves. Though we all want to offer our hearts and would give anything to ease the pain, when the soul cries there’s nothing that can be done but give it the time it needs to heal. Thousands of years ago two warlocks were born, and at birth one of them had a faint circle on his wrist with a lion’s head in the center. Fate chose him as the next Grand Warlock and when he met his mate, she was the one selected for the role of Grand Summoner.”
Aleksander paused to suck in a shaky breath. “Their contributions to their people and to all us of standing here protected by the Council of Sorcery and Shifters are too numerous to list. It’s difficult to say what else they could’ve done if not for an evil man who tricked an equally malevolent pair of elven rulers into nearly destroying the Coven of Warlocks. We stand here today saying good-bye to those two people. To T’Eirick and Saura, who bravely stood side-by-side and sheltered their people the best they could right up until the end. Cadlyr?”
Cadlyr strode over with his stunning blue mate at his side. Evlithar had a fistful of beaded necklaces used traditionally by elves when a loved one passed. For T’Eirick and Saura, the beads were all gold and silver, the same two colors that had represented them in life as they’d ruled over the warlocks.
“The Cwylld did this,” Cadlyr stated. “Chieftain Aneirnan and Chieftess Taliya took away the lives of T’Eirick and Saura—not because of any great vendetta or just cause. They robbed their twin sons of their parents and stole from the world two rulers we desperately needed, simply because they could. As the leader of my tribe, I offer a solemn vow that no one will ever forget the evil deeds of my predecessors but more importantly, I’ll remember Grand Warlock T’Eirick and Grand Summoner Saura Leolinnia.”
“Elven tradition dictates a necklace is given to the mourner, so they may have something tangible to connect to whenever they need the love of the person on the other side of the veil,” Chieftain-mate Evlithar Cwylld-D’Vaire said. “But today, the D’Vaire elves offer our beads for another purpose. These are to recall a lifelong past and after this ceremony should be tucked away and forgotten as we focus on the rebirth of two beautiful souls.”
The pair slid necklaces over the heads of the warlock twins, their mates, and their familiars as Duke Dravyn stepped forward. “On a day we thought we’d lost Dra’Kaedan, this garden was born with a single gazebo. It was expanded when Aleksander was compelled to memorialize the people in our family’s lives that were lost. Since the D’Vaires have grown, more has been added as we strive to give each of you a place of comfort if you wish. T’Eirick and Saura are already here—two statues stand for them in all their glory. They do not stand alone, as we’ve included those related to the D’Vaires who passed along with them, but it would be remiss of us to think of their deaths without acknowledging all the men, women, and children who fought so bravely against the Cwylld. They were rallied and pushed to their limits by two glorious leaders who died at the sides of their people, never retreating from battle. The former Grand Warlock and Grand Summoner were the epitome of valor and bravery—traits they passed down to their children who were mere teenagers when they lost those who gave them life.”
The dragon shifter then handed Aleksander two torches before lighting them. Magic was rarely used for funerals; it was preferred to allow nature to cleanse the bodies with fire. Aleksander passed one to Dra’Kaedan, and the other he handed to Dre’Kariston. With desolation and an innocence you did not normally see in their eyes, the twins set their parents’ bodies ablaze.
It was as if they were sucked into the past, and it was two eighteen-year-old boys who had just lost their parents instead of men who’d lived over six centuries. Once it was done, Aleksander grabbed the torches and the two warlocks hugged each other tight. It was a solemn moment that would be forever etched in Grigori’s memory.
The pyres quickly built into small infernos. Dra’Kaedan pulled back, put his hands on his brother’s face for a moment, then released him to turn and face the circle of mourners. The air became charged and filled with rhythmic drumming. “I’ve lost more of my life than I care to think about, and what hurts the most is the six centuries I had no knowledge of the people who brought me into this world. ‘How could my soul have forgotten them?’ I ask myself.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter any longer. I remember them now. Love—that’s what that they gave everyone, and it was given freely and unconditionally. I wake up each day striving to be even half as good, as caring and generous as they were. That’s the legacy they leave behind. Two people who never put themselves first.”
Dre’Kariston reached up, clasped his brother’s neck, and pulled Dra’Kaedan’s head toward his shoulder for a moment while they each got a hold of their emotions. “I could stand here until the end of time enumerating each wonderful memory I have of them. Instead, we’re going to do this the ancient way of warlocks.”
The music picked up and grew so loud it thundered in Grigori’s chest, then lowered slightly—enough so the voices of Dra’Kaedan and his brother singing could be heard. They sang in a language Grigori didn’t understand, but the feeling of it was undeniable. It was a lament, a song of mourning, and he doubted there was a person listening that was not moved by their pain and grief.
When they finished, the drums continued to beat as Aleksander disappeared into the gazebo. He returned seconds later with two large scepters, one in each hand. The first was done in D’Vaire blue-black and decorated lavishly in gold. At the top was a bright globe with a navy dragon in flight above it. The other work of art had the same base but was embellished with silver; its orb was dark like Dre’Kariston.
After handing each to the appropriate twin, he said, “Grand Warlock T’Eirick and Grand Summoner Saura explained to me that it’s customary for the rights of rulers be handed off at the funerals of their predecessors. They designed these for you. May you guide and shelter your people as their new rulers.”
The twins each gave him a solemn nod, then stared at the metal staves that soared a good foot above their heads. Seconds later, the music once again pounded through Grigori. This time when the twins sang, the other magickind joined in. The lyrics spoke of life, memories, and most importantly, rebirth.
Noirin brought out two smaller versions that were handed to Renny and Lucian as their familiars. As they all chanted, Chander grabbed Blodwen’s hand. Together, the two necromancers thinned the veil separating life from death. It was hazy, and the faces were indistinct, but Grigori intuitively understood he was looking at the long-dead entire Coven of Warlocks. He managed to spot T’Eirick and Saura standing alongside two people who resembled them as the fracture on the other side of the veil between the warlocks and their familiars was set aside for this ceremony. Grigori couldn’t hear their voices, but they were singing.
When the song ended, the entire crowd of spirits lowered down to one knee and bowed their heads in respect of the new Grand Warlock and Grand Summoner. Aleksander was the first on the side of the living to do the same and once he did, every other person in the backyard followed—barring the two twins, who were finally being properly anointed with their titles. It was another of those images Grigori would carry with him as he kneeled in respect for Dra’Kaedan and Dre’Kariston.
Dra’Kaedan lifted his arms high. “Rise,” he invited. “It’s time to shed our tears and remember life. Precious and often altogether too short.”
He handed his scepter to Brogan and changed the beat of the drums to a lively tune. His beautiful voice rang out as he removed his cloak and danced. Delaney squeezed Grigori’s hand and after getting the dark wizard and himself out of their cloaks, they joined in with the now-large crowd of people twirling and moving around the burning pyres.
The mourners on death’s side faded away, but they moved around on agile feet as well. Grigori had no doubt they would all be out here until the fires left behind nothing but ash. It was a fitting end to the lives once led by T’Eirick and Saura. He idly wondered how many hours were left before they were reborn. Without a doubt, Dra’Kaedan and Dre’Kariston could answer that question down to the minute. Grigori wanted to see smiles on their faces instead of tears in their eyes, so he hoped however long it was, it went by quickly.
Chapter 35
Tossing away his wrapper, Delaney was still in the tunic and pants he said good-bye to T’Eirick and Saura in. His feet were bare, and over twenty-four hours had passed since he’d shut his eyes to sleep. The sun rose fully and with it, a family mourned. Mired in grief, Dra’Kaedan and Dre’Kariston had switched the tempo as the pyres burned. They danced until everyone grew too weary to continue.
Then they sat down, and the twins turned to telling fantastic stories of all the trouble they got into as children. No one suggested taking a nap as the hours passed. Delaney couldn’t imagine sleeping; the tribal drumming and lively songs left his magic super-charged. Despite the weight of saying farewell to who T’Eirick and Saura were in life, Delaney’s mood grew excited as the day faded into night.
The Volkovs were with them through it all, but since they were getting ready to start focusing on resurrection, they elected to head to their condo so they would not be underfoot. Aleksander assured them that there was plenty of space and that they were family, but Irina was adamant. T’Eirick and Saura would be spending the next three days recovering, and the Volkovs would not be an obstacle to their recuperation. Scheredin had once again teleported them to their home in Las Vegas. Grigori elected to go with them, and Delaney was glad it gave him a few minutes to talk to them alone before he returned to D’Vaire.
As for Delaney, he and Greggory decided to grab a sweet snack to fuel up for the demanding work that was set to begin. He gave Greggory too many cookies to count while Delaney enjoyed an ice cream bar. The rest of the D’Vaires were scattered all over as the family waited to know if Fate was going to answer the sorcerer’s call to make the darkfallen healers. Unsure where Scheredin and Grigori were going to teleport home, Delaney headed to T’Eirick and Saura’s room. The pair mentioned to Larissa that they wanted their space done in Aleksander’s unique dragon colors with black accents. Larissa put together a gorgeous design and along with several helpers had hurriedly installed it all afternoon and evening.
