The mercenary felt Emriana squeeze his hand. He looked at her sitting next to him and saw her smiling at him, though a few tears were running down her face. His heart was heavy, and he felt his eyes grow moist, too. It's hard, saying goodbye to someone. Not just because they are gone, but because they made a difference in your life.
I love you, Hetta, Kovrim, he thought, sending his thoughts to the sarcophagi. Rest well.
After the ceremony, members of the family and their guests drifted to different parts of the house. Vambran decided to wander out to the yard, to spend more time thinking, but Emriana followed him.
"I think she knew it was time to go," the girl said, sounding very different than Vambran remembered. All grown up. "She was too long out of her body to go back, and she didn't want to stay in that ring forever. But I think she knew that it was all right, that she was leaving the family in good hands."
"I know," Vambran said, strolling down to the pond.
"I'm sorry you had to see Kovrim the way you did," she told him, taking his hand again. "I can't imagine what that must have been like."
I pray to Waukeen you never do, Vambran thought. "I'm going to miss them."
"Me, too."
They stood at the bank of the water, and Vambran watched the reflection of the high white clouds drifting overhead. It was going to be a hot day, the lieutenant realized. Spring was turning into summer. The height of trade season. And of campaigning.
"Are you going back?" Emriana asked suddenly. "To the Crescents, I mean."
Vambran looked at his sister. "How did you know that I was thinking about resigning? I hadn't said anything to anyone in the family yet."
"I can tell," she said. "It's in your eyes."
Just like I can tell that someone hurt you, Vambran thought. Badly. He shrugged. "I love it, but there's a part of me that feels like I should stay here now, help run the businesses. Dregaul is gone, so there's no reason to stay away, and I feel like you, Xaphira, and Marga need me."
"Don't be a meazel-face," Emriana said. "We can run things just fine. And it's in your blood. You have to do it."
Vambran chuckled. "Maybe, but shouldn't I start being a little more responsible?"
"I can't think of anything more responsible than maintaining our relationships with business partners abroad," the girl said. "On this last campaign alone, you managed to arrange good alliances with the Emerald Crescent, the Senator of Trade in Reth, and the sea elves. I call that a good tenday's work."
Vambran had to laugh at that. It was true. House Matrell was in the process of negotiating a fair and sensitive deal with the druids to lumber part of the Nunwood without stripping the forest bare. Part of the negotiations required regular face-to-face meetings. Shinthala had insisted on that. The family already had strong trade in place with the sea elves, but things had improved on that front, as well. Serille had seen to that. And Elenthia's father, so thankful that Vambran and Arbeenok had done so much to save the city-not to mention rescuing his daughter from a certain horrible death-was eager to generate business between his city and House Matrell.
"Let's just hope I don't have to stop a war every time," Vambran quipped. "Though Captain Havalla made me a pretty generous offer to serve as his second in the Order of the Silver Raven."
"You turned him down, right?" Emriana asked, and when Vambran looked at her, he saw that she was serious.
He nodded. "I offered him thanks, but I told him it was the Crescents or nothing for me. We still agreed to coordinate our efforts in the region from this point forward. No more fighting both sides of the battle at once."
"So is it the Crescents, or nothing?" Emriana asked.
"I haven't decided. Horial and Adyan don't want me to leave, either." He thought it was time to change the subject. "How about you? What are you going to do? And how serious is it between you and Pilos?"
Emriana blushed slightly. "Don't make it bigger than it is," she said, but the smile on her face told Vambran she was hoping her relationship with the priest would turn into something more.
"He seems like a fine fellow," Vambran said. "And having a more formal relationship with House Darowdryn would be beneficial."
"Oh, gods, you're turning into Uncle Dregaul, trying to marry me off!" she said, punching her brother in the shoulder.
"At least I let you pick him," Vambran said, laughing.
At that moment, a shout came from up the hill, near the house. The siblings turned to see Quindy and Obiron bounding down the hill toward the pond. The boy had his crossbow in hand, and his sister was lugging the quiver of bolts beside him. Behind the pair of boisterous children, other members of the family and several guests were strolling toward the pond. Xaphira and Marga were talking, and Vambran could see Pilos, Adyan, Horial, Grolo, Edilus, and Arbeenok with them. The alaghi had come to the city of Arrabar, his first visit there, along with Edilus and Shinthala, to represent the druids at Hetta's memorial. Shinthala was in the rear, engaged in a deep conversation with both Elenthia and Serille, who had thankfully donned some clothing for her visit to land.
"It looks like all of your ladies are getting to know each other," Emriana teased.
Vambran groaned. "I liked it so much better when they were in separate places," he said. "I need to go on campaign."
"Maybe I'll go join in the conversation," the mercenary's sister taunted. "I have a few interesting stories they'd like to hear."
"Do it, and I'll make sure you can never show your face to Pilos again," Vambran warned.
Emriana gave him one scathing look before the crowd reached them. "Don't you dare," she muttered. "Or I'll sneak into your room at night and pour scorpions in your bed."
"I love you, too," Vambran said, and he meant it.
"All the women are going riding," Xaphira announced. "At the country estate. Do you want to join us, Em?" she asked.
The lieutenant raised his eyebrow in question. "All of you?" he asked, looking at Serille, Elenthia, and Shinthala with trepidation.
"Everyone but Shinthala," Xaphira answered. "She has to get back to the forest."
Vambran's gaze turned to the sea elf. "You, too?"
Serille nodded. "I would like to see what a horse is," she said, smiling sweetly.
Vambran resisted the urge to groan.
After the others had departed for the country estate, Vambran was left standing with the other mercenaries and the druids.
"I just learned that Perolin was named Grand Syndar this morning," Pilos said. "I think the temple is in good hands."
"As good as when Mikolos Midelli sat on the high seat?" Vambran asked.
The young priest nodded. "I think so," he said. "There's a lot of work to be done, repairing the damage Lavant created, but I find Perolin the most forthright of the high priests. I've given him my support."
"And he's named you ambassador," Vambran pointed out.
Pilos nodded, looking slightly chagrined. "I can't avoid the politics altogether," he explained, "but I can at least try to make sure they always work to put the best side of the temple forward. We'll see if I'm successful."
"Still no sign of Lavant?" the lieutenant asked.
Pilos frowned. "None," he replied. "And none of our divinations are giving us anything, either. It's very strange."
There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone contemplated what that might mean. "So, what's happening to Lobra?" Vambran asked, steering the conversation in another direction.