The pyre continued to burn for several hours. Taika sat and watched the flames lick the pine and cedar and sandalwood logs. And when her eyes started to sting from watching too long, she pulled her legs up to her chest and buried her face in her knees.

Footsteps approached. A gentle hand touched her on the shoulder.

“Ye should eat somethin’, lass,” a motherly voice said.

Taika looked up to see Camilla. She smiled down at Taika, offering her a plate full of warm food. Taika just shook her head.

“A’ight, then. I’ll just leave it here,” Camilla said. She put the plate down on the ground, and Taika thought that would be the end of it. So she was surprised when Camilla sat down next to her.

They sat there for a long time, just watching the flames on the pyre. At first Taika did her best to ignore Camilla. But as the minutes of silence dragged on, it began to grate on her nerves. Finally, she couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Well, go on. If you’re going to say something, then say it,” Taika said.

“I wasn’t goin’ to say anythin’, lass. Just figured ye might want some company,” Camilla said.

“Well, I don’t. In fact, I would appreciate it if you would just leave me alone,” Taika said. Camilla raised an eyebrow at her. Then she shook her head.

“You’ve got it all wrong, lass,” she said. “Bein’ alone isn’t goin’ to make ye feel better.”

Taika glared at Camilla, but the Verdan woman didn’t seem the least perturbed. Instead, Camilla adjusted herself to sit more comfortably.

“I understand, though. You’re in pain. An’ judgin’ from the way ye carried yourself during the ceremony, this isn’t the first time you’ve had to bury a loved one. But pushin’ your pain onto others just so you don’t have to feel it is only going to drive people away. Like that young man you struck,” she said.

“He deserved it,” Taika said, rubbing her sore knuckles.

“Oh, really? Are ye sure about that? Or do ye just want someone else to blame?” Camilla asked rhetorically.

Taika buried her face in her arms, ardently avoiding Camilla’s gaze. Because as much as she refused to acknowledge it herself, she knew it was the truth. Buried beneath all of the anger and the grief, she knew she blamed herself and her inability to heal her father when he needed it.

Camilla took a deep breath, stretching her arms above her head.

“It’s not yer fault lass,” she said, leaning back on her hands. “Ye did everything ye could to help your father.”

“But it wasn’t enough,” Taika said. “He still died.”

“He did. An’ that’s no one’s fault. Death is as much a part of life as winter is a part of the seasons. Some people see the snow fallin’ from the sky, an’ some people wake up in the mornin’ to find the snow already on the ground. Mayhap they get upset that winter found ‘em unprepared. But that won’t make the snow go away, nor the weather any warmer. They just have to do the best they can to make due until spring comes. An’ I can say from years of experience, lass, that it’s easier to weather the snow with help from those around you.”

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“I don’t need any help,” Taika said almost reflexively.

“A fiercely independent lass like yerself still needs help now and then. An’ besides—” Camilla looked up at the clouds, “—no one in this world deserves to be alone.”

Taika gave Camilla a strange look. Camilla noticed out of the corner of her eye, and she asked, “What is it?”

“It’s nothing,” Taika said, looking away. Then she turned back. “It’s just, that was something my father used to say.”

Just then, they were interrupted by the sound of beating wings. Taika looked up to see Sage lighting down on the ground next to her. He carried a pair of small rodents in his talons.

“Sage!” Taika cried out. She reached out a hand to pet him and was surprised when he shied away from her hand. “What’s wrong?”

Sage picked up one of the rodents with his beak. He hobbled over and placed it on the ground next to the plate of food. He hooted at her, then started preening himself. It was only then that Taika noticed the deep gash on his right leg.

“Oh, Sage!” Taika moaned. She reached out again, prepared to heal his wound. But once more Sage shied away from her hand. He hooted at her again, a bit more angrily this time.

“What are you talking about? Of course you need my help. You’ve been injured, and I can heal you. So let me heal you,” Taika said. She reached out a third time, and this time Sage bit her. Taika pulled her hand back, hissing in pain. Then Sage hobbled back over to the remaining rodent and proceeded to eat it.

“Hmm…” Camilla said thoughtfully, “he reminds me a lot of ye. Come to think of it, he also reminds me of a certain red-headed friend of yers.”

Taika turned her glare back on Camilla. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Only that the truth is a bitter medicine, lass,” Camilla said. Taika stared at her for a moment. Then she shook her head.

“You Rivule Verdans are really something else,” she said. Camilla laughed.

“It comes with the lineage, lass. Well, I’ll leave ye be. Help yerself to the food whenever you’d like. We’re just right over there if ye need anything,” she said. Then she stood up, wiping the dirt off of her skirt, and headed back towards the wagons, where Taika could see the Rivule children playing with a kite.

Taika looked back at Sage. She would have tried to heal him again, but Sage had deliberately placed himself just out of arm’s reach. So, she turned back to watching the pyre as she reflected on what Camilla had said.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come to find you after the crash,” Taika eventually said.

Sage uttered a low hoot before settling himself on the ground.

“I know. That’s why I’m saying I’m sorry. I’ve been so focusing on trying to help my father, that I haven’t really been mindful of you.”

Sage cooed softly.

“Yes, he was. But you’re also important to me, Sage. You’re the best companion anyone of the line of Essos could have asked for. You’ve always been there for me. Even now, with your injury…”

Sage whistled, adjusting himself. He almost seemed to wince in pain as he moved his injured leg. Taika got up on her knees and slowly crawled over to him. The she reached out to scratch his favorite spot. To her relief, Sage didn’t shy away this time.

“You don’t have to act so tough for me, Sage,” Taika said.

Sage looked up at her and cooed again. This time, Taika managed a smile.

“That’s right, we’re both tough. So will you let me heal you now?”

Sage hooted. Then he leaned his head into her hand. Taika gently reached down to cradle his injured leg.

“Be healed,” she commanded. A moment later the wound on Sage’s leg was closed. Sage hopped about experimentally. Then he shuffled closer so he could sit next to Taika. He gave another low hoot as he settled next to her leg.

“I don’t know. The last time I saw her, she was with the Rivules,” Taika said. Sage whistled, and Taika replied, “Oh. We had a fight. He ran off somewhere.”

Sage gave Taika a grumpy look. Then he cooed again as he leaned against her thigh. Taika gently petted his head.

“I’ll try, Sage,” she said softly.