Orcher bows his head, then returns to his seat. A reverent silence follows his speech. Then Captain Crowe steps up and talks. After him, a man in the front row of seats walks to the podium and announces that members of the audience can say a few words if they’d like. I feel obligated to speak, but can’t find the courage to stand up. Then a hand touches my arm: Victoria. She nods at me. I swallow, hard, and walk to the podium. I’m already shaking. The audience waits, giving me all the time I need, which is several painful seconds.

“I didn’t meet Captain Blitner until I started working with him a month ago. I found out he was friends with my father, and I think losing him was the hardest thing Captain Blitner ever had to go through.” I fight my nerves, causing my voice to stutter. “He…he has this picture on his desk. He’s with my father and General Orcher. I didn’t even know that picture existed, but when I—”

My throat knots up. A tear falls from my eye. I want to take a deep breath to calm myself down, but can’t. Just opening my mouth causes my entire body to shudder.

“That picture showed me that Captain Blitner wasn’t always alone. I’m glad I got to work with him.”

I step away from the podium and walk to my seat. Glacia smiles reassuringly and Victoria rubs my back to help me relax. Four more people speak, and then Barimus makes his way to the podium. He takes longer to start talking than I did. As he speaks, he keeps bobs his head absentmindedly and scratches behind his ear multiple times.

“I—uh…I knew Lawrence for nearly fifteen years. Something like that anyway. I could always count on him to show up at my café right as soon as I opened my doors. Seven in the morning, every morning.”

Barimus puffs his cheeks and exhales. He pats his palm on the podium and shakes his head.

“Wickberry Cider and a lemon croissant. Got the same damn thing every day. Never failed. He’d sit by the window and watch the birds hop around. Really liked those birds. And if it was a slow morning, I’d go sit with him, and he’d tell me all about those birds.”

He stops talking and lowers his head. Then he nods slowly and returns to his seat in the row behind me. I hear his faint muffled sobs and someone consoling him.

Several seconds go by and no one else walks up to speak. The music starts playing again, and six Undilaen officers lift Captain Blitner’s glass casket. They march away and load it into a hovercraft, which then rises and flies out of the park.