The Del’Unday were released and the entire army marched back over the hill. It was a sight no Ov’Unday would have believed if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes.
Thorik ran over to Santorray who continued to stand in defiance in the center of the battlefield. “How did you do that? What did you say?”
Santorray’s pain had taken its toll. His wounds had reopened and blood had been lost to the dirt at his feet. The Blothrud fell.
Santorray dreamed of days past as a child, when his sister and he trained to fight. Visions of later battles flowed through his mind while Darkmere and Ambrosius faded in and out of view. The series of visions crossed his thoughts until he felt himself being stabbed in his right shoulder blade.
Waking from his sleep, the Blothrud felt a sharp poking on his back. One of the local Gathler women was tapping a hammer onto a long stick with an angled fine tip to it. The tip was periodically dipping into black ink.
“Congratulations,” Grewen announced to Santorray. “You’re the first Del to become part of the Ro’Ov’Unday Family.”
The tattoo on his shoulder blade had just been finished. The symbol of the family was now a permanent mark on Santorray’s body. The decorative circle with a wavy line crossing it at the center was very similar to the one he had seen on Grewen’s back. Each line was actually made up of tightly placed symbols.
Grewen helped the Blothrud up off his stomach to a sitting position. “You are now free to walk our land and help us protect it from outsiders.”
Santorray looked at the audience who had watched the tattooing. The entire village had come out to participate. Tears in many of their eyes, they smiled softly at the new member.
“Grewen, what’s this all about?”
“They have all come to give you a part of themselves. You will now be responsible for their lives as much as they are for yours.”
One of the Mognins stepped up to Santorray. Pricking his finger, he placed it up against the fresh tattoo, pressing his blood against the red skin of the Blothrud. “I trust you with the lives of myself, my wife and my children.” Moving off, he let the next Ov’Unday have his turn.
Santorray realized that the entire village was standing in line to do the same thing.
Next was a young Clupper with tears in his eyes. Leaning his face against Santorray’s back, he brushed his tears against the tattoo. “Thank you for saving my father’s life. I’m in your debt.”
Santorray looked up at Grewen. “Are they all going to…”
“Yes.”
“This could take hours.”
“Usually does.”
By the time the last Ov’Unday pressed her lips against the tattoo, the ink had smeared down his back as it mixed with blood, tears, and saliva. The original circle and wavy line still held strong as the smeared tail faded the farther down it went.
Santorray was emotionally drained. He had never witnessed such an outpouring of love and trust. Spending most of his life on his own had made him immune to such needs. Or at least he thought he was immune.
For the first time in a long time, he felt welcomed. Not being on edge and ready to fight was an odd feeling. So odd, he didn’t know if he liked it or not. But he wouldn’t have time to find out; they needed to head south.
Santorray stood and walked over to Thorik who was watching Avanda and Ericc play in the lake. “We must leave.”
“Why? This place is peaceful. Avanda has finally opened Ericc up. We’re safe here.”
“For how long?”
“Until we decide to leave,” Thorik said.
“Sec, we are placing these people in danger. Don’t you think Darkmere will find us here? And when he does, he will kill everyone in his path.”
“We should wait at least until the Eve of Light has passed.”
“No, the Corrockians know he is here and this is the first place Darkmere will look. We need to leave before he arrives. He’ll know right away that the son of Ambrosius is not among them and leave them be.”
“Where could we go that is safer than here?”
“We shall retreat to the mist of the Lagona Falls. My understanding is that it’s the Ov’s safe haven for their afterlife.”
“A grave yard?”
“No one lives there, so no one will be placed in jeopardy.”
Thorik breathed in the calmness of the village. Even Brimmelle was getting comfortable on the shoreline. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I’m trusting you with our lives, Santorray.”
The Blothrud looked at each of Thorik’s family pod members and sighed. “I know.”
Chapter 35
Lagona Falls