“Afiele, Afiele,

Where Ashwheat and Gloomwren dwell

Afiele, Afiele,

Let me rest and sleep a spell

To those I have ever loved, farewell.”

——

Cara O’Sullivan walked among the wake, afterwards. It was no joyous thing. But there was food and drink, and people ate, because they had been starving of food and because it gave them something to do.

She ate greedily too, though it felt wrong. But it made her feel…alive.

Alive.

The wake was not at the keep. The keep was full of too many dark memories. Nor the town, which lay in ruins. Instead, the people set up benches and brought everything into one of the wide fields outside of the town.

There they ate and spoke. For once, they defied the night. The [Soldiers] from Ovela and Noelictus would keep watch, and the people of Afiele lit every lantern, made bonfires, and placed candles all about.

There would be no darkness until the sun rose. Nor rest, for many.

Who could rest? Rather, they spoke of Lord Lantal. Told jokes. Recounted grievances, things they had hated, even quarrels, fistfights, along with great deeds of kindness. So they were remembered truly.

Cara walked among all of it, an outsider, and one that many watched. Few came up to her. Now was not the time.

Yet she had called Afiele’s dead to save Afiele. She had led the ghosts from the crypts. No one would forget that.

Especially not the ghosts themselves.

“Miss Cara.”

The young woman turned and nearly dropped her plate. Arteis Ladel stood there. As ever, she shone so brightly. Unlike Dalius, her…color, her very vibrancy could alter. Nor did she seem to have his limitations.

She calmly handed Cara something.

“A drink.”

“Thank you.”

Cara took the mug and found it was not frosted with cold like Dalius’ touch would do. Arteis saw her sip.

“Beer?”

“It comes from Afiele’s fields. I would that I could taste it just once to see if it is how I remember. But I deserve no drink nor sustenance. We reside in shame, but we cannot be blind, either. Dalius has told us of you and how you came to the crypt.”

“Oh.”

Arteis gestured.

“Will you walk with me?”

Cara did. Faces turned as the [Paladin] and young woman walked through the gathering, to the edges.

Arteis stopped and pointed.

“You see.”

Cara did. Beyond Afiele’s gathering lay the campfires and watchful sentries of two armies. The [Paladin]

surveyed them with a calm eye.

“The capital’s forces and Ovela. There was a time when Ovela did not exist, you know. House Ladel…it is curious that my descendants should rise above Afiele. But Afiele was always filled with humble folk. In other times, foolish times, the other ghosts have told me people forgot their worth, to their cost.”

The young woman said nothing. Arteis looked at her.

“Cara O’ Sullivan. That is your name?”

“That’s what Dalius told you?”