All's Fair in Revenge

Chapter 6: Death Rites

After nightfall, the glow of bonfires and torches illuminated the cove in the southernmost part of Srisset. Amongst long boats and short docks, the priestesses, drenched in long black tunics stitched with golden vines, rested Arin's body on a shallow boat adorned with garlands made of iris and blue leaves. Inside, bowls were piled high with citrine and opal stones, small boxes containing necklaces inlaid with yellow topaz and rings of tourmaline. Dried fruits left over from the harvest spilled from their canisters and pots of dried herbs and local spices laid in offering to Idyr; a payment for guiding Arin's soul through the Netherworld to meet Eyr in Elysios. Yet, considering the wealth about to be sent downstream, it felt like more a bribe.

Our people who'd known Arin since birth stood at the lake's edge with a burning candle raised high above their heads while Sune, Sybil, me, and High Priestess Helga waded in knee-high water around the pyre. The chalk prayer symbols I wrote upon her skin were a powerful synseth, a charm, to repel Hella's monsters, preventing them from pulling my sister below the surface on her way to the gates. The runes danced in the torchlight, but soon they glowed on their own as our sung prayers charged them with power.

The lamenting gathered in my chest, meshing with the anger I'd felt earlier. With the crescendo of our voices, growing louder and stronger, the fury within me consumed. I shuttered. My father squeezed my hand. I barely felt it. The words of the prayer lashed at me, one cut for every time I remembered this wasn't a dream. Pain and grief coiled around my chest, squeezing tighter with every passing moment. I balled my fists behind my back, every moment of mourning a bitter cue that her killer was still out there, breathing.

The first prayer ended, and I looked to the shore where I felt Bröd and my best friend, Liv, watching me. They worried. I didn't have it in me to offer them anything that might reassure. Not even a fake smile. So instead, my attention focused on the water where the Helga plodded to Arin's feet. She stretched her fingers and began an ethereal song. This one high-pitched and lilting with runs and trills made of the old language. As the villagers joined in with soft murmurs, the melody seemed to fill the air around us, washing over us like a tidal wave. Brewing clouds stormed forward toward the cove. The synseth activated in a pulsing white light and Sune lowered the flame of a torch to the dried hay, herbs, and wood stacked under my sister's body.

It took seconds for the pyre to engulf. It took seconds for my sister to be here and then gone.

Black smoke slithered from her body and wrapped itself around us, the smells of burning thyme, sage, and rosemary swayed in the air. Sybil pried my hand from the pyre's side. I stole them back. I replaced them even as its heat burned my face, even as the flame crawled toward me. Even as it threatened to take me with it.

Let it.

Helga cut the anchor and pushed the pyre into the soft waves. It sailed into the current. Sune held my shoulders, forced me to let go.

When the High Priestess finished her song, thunder sounded in the distance, a crack of lightning splitting the night sky. My parents and Helga scurried from the water sensing the sudden electricity in the air, but I remained in the waves, watching my sister's body burn brighter than Sol on high.

Close to the cove, another strike struck a tree. The wood exploded, splinters flying in every direction. The bolt illuminated me, casting a dark silhouette behind, my hair whipping in a static frenzy.

Still, I did not move.

"Hana," Sybil screamed from the shore. "Get out before you kill yourself!"

The slice on my palm throbbed and I clenched it tighter at my side, still watching Arin float away.

"Hana!" Bröd and Liv called. But even they could not deter me. Two firm hands swept around my torso and pulled, but I dug my feet into the sand.

"I swore it, Arin," I roared, a vow to the howling wind. "Vow or not, I will kill him like I promised." Lightning struck closer this time, thunder rolled once more, and the arms managed to lift me from the surf. Tears smattered my face and my heels ripped along the pebbles, dragging.

I fought and the hands relented.

"He will bleed, Arin." I screamed into the thunder, pushing my captor back, returning to the water, relishing the cold washing over my toes. "He will kneel before me and then he will bleed."

The wind stole the scream I unfurled and then Ma'ma stole my dignity. Before everyone, she stormed into the surf and slapped me straight across the face. I pressed my hand against the stinging ache, but it was no match for the hole in my heart.

"Let's go," Sune soothed, and I let him guide me up the shore.