“Pallik, are you sure you don’t want to come to healing class?” Tella pouted, “I need a partner and you know Gimma doesn’t let me work with Mira.”
“Ask Jonen to go,” The teen rolled his eyes, “I don’t have magic talents. I’d rather go practice with Sunodagh. He doesn’t push me as hard as Mira.”
“Tella, did you ask Healer Gimma or Irae if you could attend the class?” Mira raised an eyebrow, “You never left my side until last night.”
Tella slyly pulled the nectarberry from a small bag at her side, “I’m sure she’ll let in if I give her this!”
“Go ask, first,” She pointed down the hall, “You can’t assume she will let you. Let alone most of us.”
“Actually, Mira,” Irae stepped into the room, “I’m leading the lesson today, I think. At least partially. We’ll be in the gardens. I wouldn’t mind your opinion on a few things after class.”
Jonen was happily surprised to see another half elf in the temple. Her light pink skin matched her small form nicely. Her long caramel hair was pulled into tight, braided buns on the back of her head.
“Need help?” Jonen offered.
“Well. I’m supposed to teach a starter class for young healers today,” She nervously twirled the hem of her dress between her fingers, “I haven’t taught before, and I have a few tasks to do before class begins. Many people are busy… and I don’t know who else to ask.”
“Tella, bring Healer Gimma the fruit and ask if she will let you join class. Pallik, find Sunodagh and practice drills,” Mira commanded, “Jonen and I will help with whatever you may need.”
“Thank you, Mira,” Irae smiled and small tusks under her lower lip showed, “I hoped you would volunteer. I need help laying some peoples to rest. Do you remember what I taught you?”
“Yes, Healer Irae.”
The three of them left the temple and walked along the outer wall. The courtyard in front of the temple filled with chatting priestesses, playing children, and dancing couples.
“I didn’t see you around yesterday,” Jonen said.
“I was resting after working on you the night before,” Irae nodded, “I’ve been busier lately with all the people stopping by the temple.”
“That many people need healers?” He asked.
“We’re the only healers between here and Berkshire. We’re lucky if a day goes by without someone on the brink of death doesn’t stop by,” She sighed, “It keeps us busy, that’s for sure.”
“Why aren’t there any more healers in the area?”
“There are too many bandits, animals, and rocky terrain to make more outpost towns like Vimgraunt,” Irae said, “We were lucky that High Priestess ensured that this temple was built and has been maintained so well.”
“I didn’t realize it was that bad out here. Why didn’t the duke do anything about it?”
“Because he only wanted to make money,” Mira said coldly, “He did not care about the people.”
Jonen followed the two women into a small building on the other side of the temple. When Irae opened the door to the crypt, she pointed to the wardrobe inside.
“Please, wear the white gowns inside. Mira, they may be large on you,” Irae winced apologetically, “Jonen, there are men’s gowns further in the crypt. I’ll walk you there.”
Irae pulled a pristine, white gown from the wardrobe that had her name attached to it. Mira grabbed one nearby and began unbuttoning her borrowed shirt. Irae placed a hand over hers to stop her as Jonen blushed and turned away.
“Mira, there are places to change further in,” Irae paused and looked towards Jonen, “Please be respectful of the dead and any others that may not be as comfortable with nudity as you.”
“Oh, apologies,” Mira bowed her head, “I did not think of that.”
“It’s okay,” Irae smiled politely, “Let’s get Jonen his clothes then we can all change.”
Irae reached for a lantern on the other side of the wooden door leading to the stairwell. The three walked down a few flights of stairs into the damp earth below. The chill made Jonen shiver. Once they reached the bottom of the staircase, Irae motioned to the small changing rooms and wardrobe with other gowns. Mira and Irae stepped into the changing room as he searched for a matching men’s gown that would fit him. When they both stepped out, they wore simple white dresses with high necklines and long sleeves. Irae’s fit her like a glove on a hand. Mira’s was baggy all around and had a foot of material that dragged on the ground. He chuckled at her.
“I told you it would be too big. You should have grabbed a smaller one,” The healer scolded her.
“The other sizes were for children,” Mira frowned, “Can I not tied it up to keep it from dragging?”
“We’ll have to do that,” She sighed, “Sorry. I know this is for the dwarven priestesses. We don’t have many humans join us.”
Irae squatted in front of her and pulled a bundle of fabric in her hands. When Jonen found a jacket that would fit him, he slid it over his shirt. As he buttoned it up, Irae tied a knot in the dress’s skirt to keep Mira from tripping over the fabric.
“There. That should work.”
“Why can’t I wear a jacket? The men do.”
“Because the dresses are cleansed and cared for more than the men’s clothes,” Irae chuckled, “And your black pants do not match well for the rituals. His are at least khaki. We must try to be as pure as possible when preparing the dead.”
Mira frowned, “Fine.”
“Are we ready, then?” The pink healer looked between them, “You can back out now if you are uncomfortable.”
Jonen had never been included in funeral rites before. Even when his father died, he was too young to understand what it meant. If he could do this for his comrades, then maybe he could get closure from the sight of the hill that haunted his dreams.
“I’m ready,” He nodded.”
“Me as well.”
Jonen grabbed the lantern Irae handed to him. The healer grabbed a bundle of herbs and put the tips in the lantern’s flame. The lavender scent flowed through the dank air as they followed her further into the crypt. Even though the darkness caused an eerie atmosphere, the linen wrapped bodies weren’t nearly as terrifying as Jonen originally thought. After walking quite some time into the crypt, they stopped at a few bodies propped on marble slabs. He didn’t recognize any faces, but their ratty tunics looked identical to his.
The three did not have any noticeable sights of death. He tried to find any cause just by looking at them. Irae sat the last of the herbs in a nearby bowl to burn away as they worked.
“Jonen,” She pointed to the lantern, “Can you hook that on the ceiling for me?”
“Yes,” He reached and placed the lantern’s metal loop on the large hook, “What next?”
“Well,” Irae sighed, “They’ve already gotten their last words on their deathbeds.”
“You spoke to them?” Mira asked.
“Briefly. The dwarf was barely holding on when they got to the temple. The human passed the next day. The elf held on for nearly a week before he collapsed and didn’t wake again,” Irae’s sad voice drifted in the air, “They were poisoned in a fight just outside of town.”
“Did you not have an antidote?” Jonen asked.
“We didn’t know what type of poison until the human passed,” She whispered, “By then, it was too late.”
“You did your best,” He sighed, “At least they made it out of the battle.”
“We have to wrap them and prepare them for proper burial,” Irae nodded, “Once we they are done, we can have them shipped to their family or placed in our crypts.”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Do you want him to build the coffins, or me?” Mira pointed to the pile of wood next to the marble slabs.
The wood planks were sectioned into different lengths. All were large enough to stack at least two bodies in. The coffins were nearly pre-built in this stage. Jonen picked up a base and placed it next to the first slab.
“I can,” He nodded, “Let me know if you need anything.”
Mira’s stoic face calmed him as he watched the two disrobe the late knights. The only sound in the eerie crypt was the soft pound from his mallet on the wood. The dwarf they started with did not see terribly injured, but the large bloody spot on his back forced Jonen to look away. He grabbed a piece of wood to measure against the dwarf.
“Braid his beard, please,” The pink healer pointed to Mira, “I’ll start applying the embalming fluids.”
“How should I braid it?”
“How fancy can you make it? The nicer the better. His family will appreciate it.”
Jonen watched as her rough hands delicately brushed and braided the man’s beard. Mira took slender strands and wrapped them around each other. The braids within the braids mesmerized him. She worked quickly as the healer applied an oily substance against the dead man’s skin. While Mira waited for Irae to finish, she brushed and braided the hair on his head as well.
“Does he have any belongings?” Jonen asked after hammering a nail into the wood, “I can place them in the coffin.”
“Their belongings are at the end of each table,” Irae nodded at his work, “If you believe you can identify them, please do so. The elf said his name was Norwlin.”
He walked to the edge of their workstation. He found a letter addressed to the dwarf from a worried mother gifting Zrud and the Goddess’s protection in her prayers. A broken bead necklace only had a few spare beads left on the string. Mira folded the tunic and handed it to him.
“Thank you,” He whispered.
“Did you find out any information?”
“Baglin Terravein,” Jonen nodded, “His mother’s address is on the letter here.”
“Please note that,” Irae pointed to a notepad on a nearby table, “Mira, are you ready for the next step?”
“Yes,” She grabbed a large roll of gauze, “I can do this quickly.”
“Speed is not part of the process,” Irae shook her head, “We are trying to preserve him, respectfully, to ease his transition into the next life. There is no need to rush his spirit into his next body.”
Mira nodded in understanding, “Yes, Healer Irae.”
“Jonen, please prepare the other knights’ coffins,” Irae instructed.
He nodded and watched as the woman pulled the gauze tightly against the dwarf’s skin. Mira tucked it between his arms to keep the gauze in place as she moved his body. She turned the corpse lightly and more gracefully than he would have expected. She searched for any uncovered spots before she stepped back and looked to Irae. The healer whispered and applied balm on top of the gauze.
“May Zrud strengthen your spirit. May Vanora ease the tears of your family. May Saceida whisper your will to the winds. May Agrowl light your way,” Irae dipped her hand into a dark liquid and slathered it across gauze, “Goddess, ease this soul’s transition into the next cycle.”
The pair of women repeated the process until the man’s body was indistinguishable. The linen closed around his skin like a cocoon. The inky liquid dried and cemented the wrapping into place. Irae rinsed her hand in a nearby bucket to keep it from her skin. She closed her hands and prayed silently for a moment before looking at the other two.
“Please, place him gently in the coffin,” Irae instructed them, “Then we can place his belongings with him.”
Mira nodded and grabbed the dwarf’s shoulders. Jonen quickly stood and grabbed his feet. She met is soft, sapphire eyes and he nodded. She bowed her head respectfully and followed his lead. The two walked carefully and lowered the man into the coffin without a word. He tucked the dwarf’s possessions into the coffin next to him. The dwarf would be shipped like this to his mother in western Zrud. As he placed the lid over the coffin, he took a deep breath.
“Until your next breath, Goddess watch over you,” He prayed softly.
“Jonen, please write his name on the coffin,” Irae stated, “Then start on the next coffin.”
The three repeated the process for the next two bodies. Jonen discovered the human woman’s name as Veronika when a letter from her son and husband spoke fondly of her next visit to Saceida. He wiped his teary eyes as he built her coffin. Mira’s stoicism did not fade, even as Irae spoke between her quiet tears.
The elf, Norwlin, did not have any next of kin. A letter from his jacket pocket noted that he was orphaned and joined the Travel Knights to travel and see the world.
If I fall in my journey, take pity on my soul and burn me at the nearest temple, The elven script read, Send what gold I have to the temple as a thanks for this body’s final rest.
Jonen gripped the wood firmly as he tried not to cry. These were three of hundreds that died. He had eaten with them, traveled with them, and should have died with them. Why was he kept alive? As he wrestled against the guilt in his mind, he looked to Mira and Irae. The healer sniffled and rubbed the tears at her eyes with the clean parts of her arms/ Mira’s unwavering expressionlessness comforted him. Her honey eyes looked at him and she nodded thoughtfully. He couldn’t tell if her strength was from doing this too many times or knowing that the task wasn’t over.
Once the last two were properly wrapped and placed in their caskets, Mira hammered the lids in place. Jonen handed the record of each person to Irae.
“Thank you,” She sniffled and tried to clean her hands, “Not many want to help with this… so it all falls on me.”
She led them back to the changing rooms and rubbed the remnants of black ooze from her hands. She blew her nose into a handkerchief before she mumbled another prayer under her breath.
“Healer Irae, on behalf of my brothers and sisters in arms,” Jonen knelt before her and grabbed her hand, “I appreciate your diligence and kindness. Thank you.”
She squeezed his hand lightly as he stood, “Let’s get back to the land of the living. The healing class will start soon.”
Irae dabbed at the corners of her eyes and went into the changing room. Jonen felt a small hand grab his. He turned to see Mira sliding her fingers between his. He looked at her with a quizzical glance.
“You comforted Healer Irae,” She tilted her head, “You are crying. I’m trying to comfort you as well.”
“Oh,” He rubbed his eyes with the back of his freehand, “Thank you. I’ve never been good with all this… death.”
She nodded thoughtfully, “Healer Irae has a hard time down here by herself. Many of the priestesses should be here, but they leave it up to her because she will get it done.”
“Everyone knows the goddess helps us into the next life,” He sighed, “But nobody wants to think of the transition.”
“You still seem upset. Do you… want a hug?”
“If you don’t mind.”
Mira stood still as he wrapped his arms around her. She awkwardly tucked her arms around his back and patted him as he took a few deep breaths. As she pulled away, Jonen squeezed her lightly so she wouldn’t move. When he felt her hands against his back again, a warmth spread across him.
“What are—”
“Tella likes me to warm her back when she is crying,” Mira whispered, “Do you want me to stop?”
“No… it feels nice,” He rested his head on top of hers, “Thank you.”
He squeezed her once more before he let her go. She looked into his water, sapphire eyes and tried to understand what he felt. He only understood her curiosity when he realized something.
“You’ve never lost anyone, have you?”
“No,” She shook her head, “Perhaps, that is why I am more comfortable with death.”
Two walked to the changing rooms. Jonen dusted the dirt off of his knees as the women changed. When they redressed, the three ascended the stairs in a comfortable silence. The lantern’s crackling fire was the only noise in the crypt. When the door from the crypt opened, Irae snuffed the light out and hung the lantern on the hook by the entrance.
Jonen thought about the kindness Mira showed him. He saw her flinch when Sunodagh put a hand on her. He even witnessed her try to calm herself when he touched her. He needed to say something as they stepped into the sunlight again.
“Thank you for the hug.”
“You are welcome.”
“Wait, you hugged?” Irae turned around to face her with wide eyes, “I thought—”
“Did you want one as well, Healer Irae?” Mira tilted her head, “I thought—”
The pink woman threw her arms around her in almost a tackle. Mira’s eyes grew as she fought against reflexively throwing the woman off of her. She repeated the awkward hug as Irae squeezed them together.
“You only ever hug Tella and Pallik,” The healer chuckled, “What has you in such a good mood today?”
Jonen smiled as Mira’s awkward, puzzled expression faded into a neutral smile. She shook her head and pulled away from their extended embrace.
“I can withstand the brand for a bit to allow comfort.”
“Mira—”
“What?” Irae interrupted him.
She leaned back to see the black lines crawl across Mira’s throat. She gasped and bit her lip. Then, she tussled Mira’s hair and pouted.
“What was that for?” Mira frowned.
“I know Sunodagh didn’t let you sleep. You need to rest, Mira.”
“I rested plenty.”
“You also didn’t use a ladder to hang up the banners in the perish.”
She crossed her arms, “I don’t need a ladder.”
“Wait, the banners on the ceiling?” Jonen asked, “Those are high up!”
“Exactly,” Irae sighed, “Mira, you don’t have to earn your keep here. We keep telling you that.”
“I must earn my place wherever I go,” She whispered.
The healer turned and waited for Mira to acknowledge her before she placed her hands on her shoulders. She squeezed lightly and held her gaze intently. Mira fought against the urge to throw her hands off. Irae waited for the lines of her brand to retract before she spoke again.
“You are not a thrall here, Mira. You are just yourself.”
“I am always a thrall, Healer Irae.”
She sighed and closed her eyes, “How many times must I tell you to just call me by my name?”
Mira smiled mischievously, “Perhaps I’ll call you by your name when you let me and Sunodagh fight properly.”
“I’d rather he live,” She laughed, “Besides, he’s an old man. I can only patch him up so many times.”
Jonen watched the pair laugh with each other. Irae patted Mira’s shoulders and let her go. The pink woman elbowed him in the side and continued to walk.
“What… was that?” He asked.
“Healer Irae worries that I overwork myself.”
“I mean, I agree.”
Mira frowned, “I’m fine.”
“I tried to find you last night to see if you were out. Sunodagh said you were in bed, but I can tell he was lying,” He grinned, “Where’d you run off to?”
“No where,” She smiled brightly in her lie, “Now, I should go to this class or Healer Irae will not have a proper excuse for being late.”
“What should I…?”
“Pallik and Sunodagh are training in the front courtyard with some of the guard. You could join them if you’d like,” She shrugged, “You do have some talent, so you could also join the class, I’m sure.”
“Do you mind if I join you, then?”
“It does not matter to me.”
He followed her a bit more before he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Why did you hug me if it would hurt you?”
“I can be uncomfortable for short periods to bring comfort to others,” She bowed her head, “I just need to prepare for it and I can handle the pain.”
“Don’t hurt yourself just to help others, Mira,” He frowned, “If I had known—”
“Then you wouldn’t have accepted a hug,” She looked up at him and smiled brightly, “There is no need to be upset. I liked hugging you.”
“Really?” He coughed to cover the blush on his face, “Why?”
“It was warm. I understand why Tella enjoys being wrapped in warmth,” She hugged her arms around herself, “I could feel your heartbeat and comfort you. It is nice to do something helpful for others.”
He smiled and shook his head, “You’re an odd person, Mira, but I’m glad you liked hugging me.”
“Why?” She furrowed her brow.
Before he could answer, Irae yelled over her shoulder, “Hey you two! Hurry up.”
Mira smiled and followed after the healer. Jonen sighed and realized he might be in more trouble than he originally thought.