Chapter 22
On the northernmost side of the island where the Temple hid was a beautiful garden, lovingly tended and carefully guarded. Nearly two hundred people gathered in the bright afternoon sun to bid farewell to one of their own.
Risheri Macebyo stood with his arms fixed at his sides as his daughters, Auana and Nankoa, hugged one another. They stood in the midst of the crowd and yet apart from it, looking at their wife and mother's fresh grave. Hae's arms were around the young women; Quiana had taken the blast that would have killed her. After this, Satherlin had decreed that Hae would no longer go out on missions. She was too frail, and her heart had nearly given out a dozen times since she had unsuited. The medical doctors had protested her attendance at the memorial.
Sylenn stood next to Mosin, her hand clasped in his. It wasn't the first time she'd seen someone die. It wasn't the first time she'd seen an unfair death. It wouldn't be the last time, either. But this was the first time she'd known the person who died. It was the first time she'd cared about the person who had died.
After the final words, she marched over to Satherlin and sat next to him on the grass so she could look him in the eye.
"Their leader's name is Daoin, Satherlin. If we can find him, we may be able to end this once and for all."
"Any ideas how we do that?" Satherlin replied, wiping his red eyes.
"No. But I'm going to try. We've got to find a way to make them talk. Whenever we find an old one, we've got to catch it. I'll work with the Hunter on figuring out a way to freeze them so they can't escape while we interrogate them. But we have to change how we're doing this. If we keep fighting the same way we always have, then it will always be like this: a stalemate. Isn't a stalemate what made the Ancients create the Hunter and the Sukkers take hosts? Do we want that kind of thing to happen again, or are we going to end this?"
Satherlin didn't reply, for Risheri came up to them.
"This is your fault," the slender man said in lightly accented Island speech. "You all are at fault for this. First you bring shame to our family by making her like you, and now you have killed her. You have destroyed our honor; there is nothing left for us. We have nothing, no honor, and no way to redeem ourselves. You have taken all from us!"
Satherlin stood and faced the widower. "What would you have us do?" he asked quietly.
Risheri's fists clenched, but he did not speak.
"What would you have us do, Risheri? We cannot control who is and is not a Descendant. We cannot control who does or does not die. Your wife chose to fight; she chose to sacrifice herself to save another. We all make that choice! And we do it for you! For the people of this planet! If you have no honor, it is because you choose to see dishonor in the noblest humans to walk the earth! Your wife was an amazing woman, Risheri, and she was my sister. My daughter! As the leader of the Descendants, I owe a father's debt to each and every one of the Descendants!
"Do not think to heap shame on me, Risheri Macebyo. Do not tell me this is my fault. I already know that it is."
Satherlin turned and limped away. After a moment, Risheri called his daughters and left.
Sylenn did not watch them go. Her eyes remained fixed on the freshly turned ground.
"Sylenn? Are-- are you alright?" Mosin asked hesitantly.
Sylenn rose to her feet and walked toward the grave and past it. She continued walking until she stood on the shore, letting the waves lap at her shoes as she gazed over the water. After a moment, she sensed others behind her. Mosin and Konyetta.
"Sweetie?" Konyetta probed. "Will you be alright?"
Sylenn nodded. After a moment, she realized that there were tears on her cheeks.
"I-- I really didn't know Quiana that well. I've been here over a year, and I didn't ever get to know her. And now I never will. You all-- We've got to stop this. We have to. We shouldn't have to keep fighting some stupid war we don't even know the point of."
"We will," Mosin assured her, daring to take her hand. "Satherlin will find a way."
"Oh? And what are you going to do, Mosin?" Sylenn glared at him. "Are you just going to sit on your hands and leave it all up to him? Clatyn and Kylle have been giving you extra combat training, haven't they? Why don't you use that to come up with better ideas about how to capture the Sukkers?
"And you, Konyetta! Are you going to lie around sighing over Tad, or are you going to actually help him do his work? You think the whole world is made of pretty flowers and dreams, but when are you going to truly awaken and realize that you have to do something to get anywhere? If you want Tad's favor, then help him. Don't just spout nonsense and hope it all works out.
"If we're going to get out of this stupid war, then we've got to end it. We've got to do something about it, not just hope that someone else will figure out a way." She scrubbed the tears from her face. "I'm sick of being a puppet. I'm sick of having no choices. So I'm going to do something about it."
About the Author
Sharon grew up in the military, which did its level best to turn her into a highly trained and functional contributor to Society. Being of the independent sort, Sharon rebelled and ran away to live under a rock, where she still resides. After frittering away some years with college degrees and corporate jobs in an attempt to amuse herself, she finally overthrew the last vestiges of her upbringing and became a Writer. Having attained this exalted state, she nevertheless persists in seeking new forms of diversion, primarily by reading online comics, weblit, spamming her various Twitter feeds, and ignoring social responsibilities.
To participate in her lifestyle of choice, please utilize the following resources:
https://lilyfields.digitalnovelists.com/
https://rosesinkwell.wordpress.com
https://www.twitter.com/sharontherose
https://www.twitter.com/LadyJrgella
https://www.twitter.com/proseofsharon
Facebook: Sharon T. Rose
Acknowledgements
No-one lives in a vacuum (even astronauts!), and I would be remiss to fail to mention those who have supported me along the way. So may have done so much, and I feel some chagrin that I can offer no greater thanks to them.
My family, for helping me become who I am.
My helpers, who offered their ideas to cover for my lack thereof:
Tara Dewberry
April C Raines
Clare K R Miller
Joyce M.
Cha Anng
Jessica Rosen
Jim Zoetewey
Gabriel Ho
Richard Laxson
David Abed-Rabboh
Chris Wraggs
Special thanks for financial assistance to:
Manfred Weber
Michael Kolb
Nancy Brauer
Fiona Gregory
Iron River Armoury
Emily Wilcken
Elizabeth Morris
Tara Dewberry
And of course to all my readers at LilyFields Entertainment!
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