A Grave To The Grave

[SirJulienDelval]

Grave sat in his tent, eyes closed, forearms resting on his knees. It was all over. The Wolves were gone from his life. The Lady Inanna, who he had known since she was a girl, passed into shadow. Mackenzie Gael, she of the tumbling auburn hair and beautiful flashing eyes, away traveling who knew where. Anthem, his horse, off running in the forest somewhere. Hrunting he had cast into freezing waters of the river along with his sword belt and locks of long grey hair.

He felt the pain in his leg still from the day that he had taken the tumble from his mount's back. Memories flashed unbidden through his mind once more and his life passed literally before him. They were like objects laying upon a table. He could pick them up and turn them over in his hands, his rough calluses against their oft-turned smoothness. Eyes and mouthes and swirling stars passed before him. Ever she was there - she of Midnight, of the Moon, of the inky blackness, of the statue that was two. She laughed at him for being a fool, and he laughed with her. Laughed and wept.

He had forgotten food for a long time. Now he passed once per day to the town and bought himself some humble bread or corn. Often he was weak from hunger but the pain of his gnawing insides distracted from the pain in his heart and soul. Everything that had once meant so much to him was now gone. It left him empty. He could feel the soul wind whistling through his bones, passing through him without even noticing. He was a ghost to the people of the town now. Reaching up he ran his hand across his bald pate. The simple black sleeve of his rough robe fell down and pooled around his elbow. He could smell mint, and his own body odor rank around him, and the sewage pit he had dug with his old sword. Sword turned spade turned dust.

"As we all will turn to dust." He muttered to himself. His voice sounded weak and broken even to his own ears. Not that it mattered. Nothing really mattered anymore but the soul. His own soul that had once raged and danced within him was now at painful peace.

A sound cracked outside. Was that...? He he heard...? No. That sound he thought he had heard a thousand times a day but would never hear again. His head dropped downward, and the tears splattered like rain upon his cold naked feet.