Page 58 of Blood and Fate

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

SATORI

The unrelenting rush of the water pounded behind them as they gathered along the bank to pay tribute to Sawyer. The sun had only just risen and the air was cold, mist from the river hanging heavily over everything. Some of the men stood still, hands clasped behind their backs or in front of them. Others rubbed their hands together, blowing into their palms and stamping their feet.

Teague, standing off to the side with Kais, rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder briefly before they turned and walked toward the front of the group. The men instantly quieted.

Satori could see Kais swallow the lump in his throat, but beyond that, she felt. The emotions raging inside him were enough to rival the river. Silently she asked Shala or Miram or both or whoever would listen to help him as he spoke.

“We know we’re not guaranteed a tomorrow or even a today. We just can’t know what comes next or when our time will be.

“Today, we stand here, mourning our friend, taken from us too soon. He was barely out of his youth, eager to serve and to please. Eager to be a friend and a help to anyone who might need him.

“We petition Shala and Miram to take hold of our friend, Sawyer’s, hand and guide him into Vesper and lavish him with all the accolades due him for a life so well lived.”

The men gathered around altogether, lifted their voices in one phrase, “Let it be.” The solemn sincerity of it brought tears to Satori’s eyes.

Then Kais raised both his hands toward the river, and the men each reached down toward their feet, digging a handful of soil or moss or stones, whatever was available where they stood. They moved as close to the edge of the river as they could and still remain on solid ground. One at a time, they lifted their fistfuls of dirt toward the cloud-covered sky before they cast them into the water. When the men were done, Teague and Kais each took turns digging up the earth.

Tentatively, Satori stepped up to Kais. These weren’t her people, and she had no desire to offend, but she wanted to participate.

“May I?”

Kais’ eyes landed on her, and his surprise washed through her.

When Kais said nothing, Teague answered her. “Please, Your Highness. I think Sawyer would also have appreciated that. He seemed to like you.”

A space opened inside her. She had liked Sawyer, as well. Following the other’s leads, she reached down and pressed her hands into the damp, mossy ground, digging her fingers into the earth and pulling up a fistful of wet dirt.

Kais and Teague moved toward the water’s edge, and Satori followed. Teague tossed his tribute, and Satori did the same. Kais seemed to weigh the earth in his hand, and Satori felt the guilt he harbored. Her chest ached. She had seen what Kais had done, what he had gone through and suffered attempting to save Sawyer.

She found herself torn, wishing he could remember but at the same time dreading the day the memories did return. There was something even deeper between herself and Kais than he knew, and when he found out, it would make parting with her even more difficult.

There were no horses for this part of the trip. They had left the horses on the river’s opposite shore, having no way to get them across. They simply walked, the whole group trekking what looked to be a well-worn path toward the village.

They’d tied up their supplies in tarps and packs, secured them to ropes, and hauled them across the river. Without the supplies, the entire purpose of their trip would be null. Now the men carried the packs on their backs, having opened them and dispersed them throughout the group.

Kais had been telling the truth. It was blankets and tinned foods: supplies to help a village through the coming winter. When she looked around at all the packs, she realized there should be more. Many of the supplies Kais had traded to the thieves on the road to ensure her safety.

Her stomach grew queasy at the thought that someone might be going without during the winter because of her.

“There are plenty of blankets and supplies.” Kais had come up beside her. He handed her a canteen, and she accepted it, taking a drink. “I always overpack for this trip.”

She didn’t question how he knew what she was dwelling on; no doubt he had felt the guilt that swirled inside her.

“I don’t want to think someone might go cold because of me.”

“No one will go cold because of you.” Kais leaned closer, his voice quieting. “And you were worth every blanket.”

She felt the heat creep into her cheeks at his sincerity, a sensation confirmed by Kais’ half smile.

The look left her feeling flustered. She cleared her throat and handed the canteen back to him. “How far yet?”

He swallowed down a large gulp of water, his tanned throat bobbing with the action. Entirely unbidden, a thought pushed its way into her mind: running her fingertips down the side of his stubbled jaw... how the hairs would scrape against her fingertips...

What in Helias? She shook her head to clear the image, but not before the embarrassment at the thought poured through her. That was followed closely by fear that she had actually felt desire, and would Kais have noticed that?

She chanced a glance out of the corner of her eye. He had stopped drinking, but the canteen was still poised at his lips. No expression shown on his face.

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