CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

BURIAL RITES

The ancient ruins lie behind them. They took their tribute of blood and tears. There is always a price. Patrick grips Olaf’s axe. Their time was short, but he still considered him a friend. Patrick cleans the blood from his clothes and armor; cleaning it as best as his current situation allows. The hardened blood stands as a testament to survival. Engraving the experience like words carved into stone. This is his first scar. He cannot see it, but it is there. It will always be there.

“I didn’t think there were any foolish men left in this world who would try to explore the ancient city,” Shaphas says, unsure whether he should praise their bravery or reprimand their stupidity.

“Can’t argue with calling this endeavor anything other than foolish,” Tyr agrees. He turns to look at Patrick.

There is something different in his presence; he seems more... mature. A bit more mature.

“We went here because we had little choice,” Patrick says, justifying his decision. The decision that led to the untimely death of a brave soul he considered his companion.

Was his decision correct? Did his hunger for adventure cause this? Is this his fault, Patrick wonders?

“What happened to the mountain pass?” Shaphas asks, looking at the two less than pleased men.

“Inanis,” Tyr adds from the sides.

“I see. Might I inquire what business you have here?” Shaphas asks, hiding his true motives. If they needed to take such a drastic measure, it is quite possible, there may be something behind the curtains. Something sinister? And Shaphas will not let evil go unchallenged.

He moves his hand closer to his mace, waiting for the next few words that could seal their fate; Tyr quickly catches on as he slowly places his hand over his sword.

“We are heading to Greybloom. We are heading to kill the demon that spills the blood of the innocent,” Patrick explains as the mention of their quest lifts an unseen weight from Shaphas'es shoulders.

With an ear-to-ear smile, he removes the hand from his mace. Tyr does the same.

“Praise be to Aion!” Shaphas yells out as he laughs.

“Aion?” Patrick says as he looks at Tyr, who shrugs.

“This is destiny,” Shaphas says, laughing loudly.

“What are you on about, priest?” Tyr asks as approaches the ecstatic man.

“I am also on the journey to Greybloom. I am also on a quest for the blood of that demon. Can you not see? This is destiny. Destiny ordained by Aion,” Shaphas says as he grabs Patrick's shoulders with a huge grin.

“I see?” Patrick says slightly puzzled.

“This is good! The more brave souls we have, the better. If this creature is as dangerous as they say,” Shaphas says, nodding to himself.

Tyr shrugs, again. He is not one to refuse reinforcements, no matter how… unusual

“What say you?” Shaphas asks, looking at Tyr and Patrick.

“I’m fine with it. Just don’t blabber to me about your gods,” Tyr adds.

“You may not know of Aion, but he knows about you. You shall realize... in time,” Shaphas adds.

Tyr grunts as he shakes his head.

“What about Olaf?” Patrick asks.

“Olaf?” Shaphas asks as he turns to Patrick, "Who is this Olar?" he asks looking for another soul.

“The man that traveled with us. The one who..” Tyr says as he gets cut off.

“... died,” Patrick finishes the sentence.

“We can’t do anything for him now,” Tyr responds as he turns to continue their journey.

“We should be able to do something,” Patrick says, distraught.

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“What?” Tyr angrily yells asks as he walks to Patrick staring him in the eyes.

“I... I do not know,” Patrick responds evading eye contact. They stare at each other, wordless.

“If I may?” Shaphas says breaking the silence making the two focus their attention on him, “We can do a burial,” he adds.

“That is a great idea,” Patrick adds with enthusiasm.

“What? You want to dig a hole here? You can do it by yourself,” Try snarls back.

Burials are a waste of time, Tyr thinks to himself. When you are dead you are dead. It doesn't matter what happens to the corpse, Tyr concludes.

“How can you...” Patrick speaks as he gets cut off.

“There is no need to dig,” Shaphas adds.

Tyr and Patrick look at unsure of the meaning behind those words.

How can one have a burial without digging?

“No need to dig?” the words come out of Tyr’s mouth.

“Bring the body of the deceased and I shall do it as a gift for our newly found companionship,” Shaphas says as making a sign of an upside-down mirrored seven.

Patrick burrows the axe in the ground as he goes back to pick up the body of Olaf; he returns and places the dead warrior on the ground as Shaphas approaches it.

He chants.

In the beginning, there was only void and Aion

Through his grace, fire, and wisdom he created the world

Through his grace, he gifted life to all

Through his fire, he sustains life

Through his wisdom, he shows us the way

In the end, there is only fire and Aion

He pours some liquid over the body as he chants.

Let this lost soul find its way to the warm embrace of Aion

let this one find everlasting happiness

for the lifetime of suffering and trials has come to an end

for the true journey begins now

from fire, you began

to fire, you shall return

In the end, there is only fire and Aion

Shaphas adds another drop of liquid as the body bursts in blue flames. Tyr’s and Patrick’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Incredible! If I die, I would like to be sent off like that,” Patrick says in awe of the ritual.

Tyr remains silent.

Perhaps not the worst of allies, Tyr thinks as the light of the azure flame reflects in his eyes.