Prime, The Day After the Kalends of June

  The Northern Border of Eastpoint, Bahim, Drum

  The air still seemed to be shaking. Everything smelled of smoke. The silence was only broken every now and then by timid coughs. Despite the rising sun, the sky remained charcoal.

  All had seen the burst of lightning. The helia, who knew the Old Scriptures, knew what this symbolised. The braxin, who did not know the Old Scriptures, were still awestruck and whispered amongst themselves. They were all together, both the remaining revolutionaries and Taylor’s army, at the border. They all knew that it was not the time or place for them to continue in battle.

  Kate was at the front of the crowd, on her knees. Laid down with her head on Kate’s laps was Hazel. Kate was stroking her hair softly.

  Then Kate looked up and saw a figure approaching.

  “Logan,” said Kate.

  Excited whispers welled up among the crowd, then died down again into a silence. Logan was carrying Taylor Keys. When he reached the border the last remaining Councillor’s Guard, who was named Wein, took Taylor from Logan’s arms.

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  “She is still alive,” said Logan, before Wein could even ask.

  Then Logan walked past him and continued on towards Kate and Hazel. Once he reached them he fell down onto his knees. Kate saw that he was paler than she had ever seen him. Logan did not look at Kate, only down at Hazel. He lay his face close to hers.

  There was no breath.

  With a trembling hand, Logan felt for Hazel’s pulse. There was nothing.

  Logan looked up at Kate.

  “Yes,” she said.

  For a moment Kate thought that Logan would strike her, but instead he reached out and grasped Kate’s collars with both hands.

  “Why,” said Logan. “Why.”

  Kate shook her head. She had already wept all her tears.

  “You said you would look over her,” said Logan. He was trembling all over, and his voice was no louder than a whisper. “So why. Why.”

  Then he was silent, looking down at Hazel again. Her expression was like that of a sleeping goddess.

  “You told me to live,” said Logan, to Hazel. “So why did you go. Why.”

  Then he screamed.

  A hand fell onto Logan’s shoulder. Logan turned. It was Damien.

  Damien said nothing. He knew that there was nothing he could say that would lessen the tragedy of that moment. He simply lay his hand there.

  Logan did not pull away.

  Instead, he turned back towards Hazel and buried his face into her chest, and wept.

  He had loved her.

  Northern Alleys, Eastpoint, Bahim, Drum

  The Bodies of the dead were still. Most of them were charred, and many defaced beyond recognition. But the smoke had already begun to clear.

  And the air near the ground began to shift and turn, and black wisps began to dance, slowly coming together…