Queen of Light (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #3)

Twenty-Seven

The sun rose several days later, and Cal and Matias dressed in all black. Tears streamed down Matias's face as he pulled on his gloves.

Cal crossed over and wiped his tears away. "It's going to be okay."

He nodded. "I know. I just can't stop thinking about what he must have been feeling before he was killed."

"Don't think about that. Reminisce about the good memories with him."

Matias inhaled deeply. "You're right. We should probably go down. Not keep them waiting."

Hand in hand, they made their way down to the courtyard. Citizens stood on the sides of the streets and peered in. Cal passed the two horse drawn cannon carriages. The red and gold Lucinean flag was draped over both coffins as well as Azar and a golden crown on Marilyn's coffin, and a sword on Miles's.

They mounted their horses and Cal looked at the procession behind them. The new captain of the royal guard nodded, giving her the go ahead. She looked over at her husband. "Let's go put them to rest."

She spurred Khalesi into a trot. They slowly moved through the main streets, a church bell tolling in the distance. It tolled nineteen times-nineteen times for Queen Marilyn's nineteen year long reign.

She looked behind her and saw the third coffin. There weren't any pale blue coffins, so Cal and Lucas settled on a Krigerean flag covering it. But her brother was adamant that their fathers casket was to be carried the entire way.

The procession stopped at the edge of the beach, the waves crashing in the shoreline. A dozen guards approached Miles and Marilyn's coffin and set them down on the pyres next to Akaljot's.

A priest stood in front of Marilyn's casket. "You three may say goodbye to the deceased."

Cal wined her fingers in Matias's. They approached Miles's coffin.

"You helped us get out of Valon all those months ago," said Cal, tears threatening to choke her. "You gave your life in the hopes that your death wouldn't be in vain. We are forever in your debt, Lord Miles Gomez."

Matias wiped his tears and placed a hand on the coffin. "You fought valiantly, Captain. A witch tortured you for so long and yet you never broke. She made you murder so many innocents against your will. You have redeemed yourself, father. You can rest easy now knowing that none of your suffering was taken for granted. I love you, father."

They both moved on to Queen Marilyn's casket. They both placed a hand on the lid and murmured their goodbyes. And finally came Akaljot's coffin.

Cal cleared her throat. "I didn't know you very well or for very long, but I know that I loved you. I wish that we could have had more time together. May Baldur take you with open arms and light the way to Valhalla."

"I also didn't know you very well," said Matias, "but you kept my wife alive when I couldn't. You helped me tell the difference between what was true and what was false. For all of that, I thank you. Farewell, Commander Bjorndottir."

They stood beside Lucas. They watched as the guards removed the swords, and the priest removed Marilyn's crown and placed it on a purple velvet pillow. Soldiers approached the coffins and began to fold the flags. They stepped back.

"Your Majesty, if you will," said the priest.

Cal raised a hand, tears beginning to stream down her face, and snapped her fingers. Smoke rose and flames engulfed the caskets.