Nythe (7)

Though both Rune and Midori longed to continue their first kiss, the sound of someone clearing their throat pulled them both back to reality.

Standing nearby but clearly giving them a bit of personal space was Roy—now sporting a bandage over the eye that had been destroyed—he wore a melancholic smile. Gray stood just behind him though his expression was much more stoic.

“It is good to see you having returned to yourself, Lady Midori.” Roy said with a nod of respect before turning to Rune. “I have been speaking with the soldiers, Rune, not all wish to return knowing what has been done here and what awaits them should they go back.”

“They wish to stay?” Rune asked in mild surprise. Furrowing his brow in thought as Roy gave a nod.

There was a brief conversation between Oda, Toma, the villagers and Rune before he turned to Roy and nodded.

“We will welcome them. But I will speak to them first. I must tell them that their lives here will not be simple, we live differently from the place you are from and I won’t have them be blindsided later when the veil of sobriety has fallen.”

Gray spoke next, “that makes sense. I think they would appreciate some words of support.”

Midori had found her cloak and pulled it tight around her, her eyes finally looking down at the strange new marking on her body.

In the centre of her chest was now a visible wound. The skin looked to have been burned away with parts of it turned black and peeling upward like the bark of an old tree. Bone could even be seen looking hard enough, a tiny patch of which at the centre.

And it looked nearly identical to the one Rune had.

-----

Approaching the small group of individuals gathered at the edge of the port Rune was surprised to find a full six individuals that were willing to defect.

It didn’t seem like many but Rune still had to give credit for giving up the comforts of ones homeland to stand on what they believe to be right.

“Greetings,” he began, smirking slightly at the few of them who seemed shocked he spoke their language. “I won’t deny the strangeness of this situation. It was only a few hours ago we were at each others throats, fighting to kill one another.”

The words were heavy and he let them hang in the air, the gravity of it all.

“But you all have seen the falsehoods you were fed. I will admit I have come to overcome my own prejudices,” he gestured to Roy and Gray who stood by him in the same manner that Oda and Toma did. “I have come to greatly respect the strength of these men, come to understand they are not the devils I thought them but living beings with dreams, dreams similar to my own.”

“I strive to one day attain the position of Khan, what you might call king in your lands. I strive for a better outcome than violence, that has been our history for too long and it is time that we write a new chapter. A better chapter.”

A shout of agreement went up from one of the assembled soldiers, and Rune smiled.

“But as future Khan it is also my duty to be honest with those who are my citizens, or might one day become them. We live a different way than what you are used to, and while we will not force you to adapt we will also not tolerate anyone else trying to do the same.”

“You will be expected to contribute, likely more than you may be used to. But I can promise you one thing,” Rune looked over at them all, some who looked a bit hesitant now. “You will live honest lives here. Lives you can be proud of. The choice is yours, but now you will make it with eyes unclouded.”

-----

The Battle of Nythe had concluded, but it was not a time of celebration.

Only three of the potential defectors ended up staying, the other three sheepishly tried to disappear when the throng of soldiers boarded the boats that had docked at what remained of the port.

Rune knew he would be judged for allowing them to leave, for the mercy he showed to those who killed innocent citizens. Perhaps it was not the right decision to make, but neither Oda, Toma, or any of the surviving villagers argued with that decision.

He watched for a few minutes as the ships grew smaller on the horizon, before turning his attention back to the more important task at hand.

Burials.

Following the traditional burial practices every body was recovered, carefully cleaned and tended to before being wrapped in strips of tree bark. It was a long, and hard process but Rune made sure to take part in tending to every body.

His hands were gentle when tending to the bodies, as the remaining villagers traded stories about each individual as they were being prepared.

When each of the bodies had been cleaned and wrapped they were then brought to the cliff overseeing the settlement and placed within the caves that were there. They were the sacred area that existed in most settlements of Moana Mau’u, a place for the body to return to the earth and the air.

Their funerals were normally celebrations, joyously recalling the life of those who were lost. But there was no celebration this time, these were not lives lived fully they were snatched away by uncaring hands.

It took two days to fully prepare and place each body, two days of searching the shallows, digging up those who had been killed before and buried in a mass grave; it was gruesome, grueling work but none shied away from it.

That final day when all was done Midori did not return to the beach and instead sat on the clifftop, watching the tide as it crashed against the rocks below.

Though she knew she was likely not responsible for the deaths, the fact that some of the bodies were waterlogged it was hard not to think that the possibility was there. Her stomach was in knots knowing she might have taken another life, and she couldn’t help as the tears came.

She wept until a chill crept in, but the moment it did her cloak was draped over her shoulders as Rune sat down beside her.

No words were shared. Midori simply leaned her head against his shoulder, and Rune held her until there were no more tears left to shed.