Page 59 of The Silent Mountain
I apologize for not being able to give you more time, but I will need to ask you to keep an eye on Elio. I cannot stay with him for the whole day. I would have liked to do so and relieve you from your duties for today.
I don’t see this as a duty,he says.Or something I have to do. I want to. I will make sure to stay with him.
My request doesn’t even come a minute too soon because, as if he is waking up from a nightmare, Elio suddenly startles breaking out into a sob and dashing out of the door. “Leave it to me, my king,” Theodor reassures me.
“Maybe I should go after him,” I mutter. “What do you think, Alana?”
Alana tilts her head to the side. “I think your brother should be your top priority. However, making sure Maggie gets properly sent off by the clan is also a top priority. Only you can do it, and it’s not going against ensuring that Elio is ok.”
“I wish I could truly separate into four different persons at certain times.”
“If I may?” Frederick asks.
“Go ahead,” I encourage him.
“Please forgive an old man for speaking,” he says. “But you are our king, and as your king, your lands and your duty will always be at the top of your list. It doesn’t mean you need to neglect your other priorities, your family, your friends, or your mate, but making sure the clan and the land are safe and secure should always come first. Even if it’s unfair, even if it’s sad, even if it means having to do the ugly things first before being able to take a moment for yourself. However, Margarete was also right in saying you shouldn’t neglect yourself. It’s all about balance.”
I nod. “I know. Thank you for reminding me. Let’s make sure everything is prepared for Maggie’s send-off. Theodor will be with Elio. He is like a brother to him.”
“If you want, I can go to the emergency meeting with Azadeh and Shayan,” Alana offers. “The one Stefan organized because of what Cù Sìth mentioned. I doubt much will be decided today, but I will make sure our most trusted friends are all getting the information they need and then plan for our next steps.”
“That would be a great help,” I say, relief filling me. That way, I can make sure everything is prepared for Maggie’s send-off but also check on Elio. “Please take over the meeting. As the future queen, you have as much to say as I do. I will make sure Stefan knows that too, so he can back you up. If time allows, I will join you at a later point.”
Without further ado, Alana steps forward to hug me before taking a deep breath and walking out of the room.
“Come, Frederick,” I say. “Let’s make sure the clan can pay Maggie their last respects.”
nineteen
Loss
*ALANA*
Theshockofhavinglost Maggie sits deep. For the dragons, it’s the first death they face since the years of war. Maggie might have been an elderly lady and ill, but it doesn’t lessen the sadness the clan feels.
Favian has made sure to set up a beautiful send-off for her so that every single clan member can attend. Just like the wolves, the dragons burn the bodies of their deceased, but not outdoors. There is a majestic hall attached to the castle, with an open roof where the dust and fumes can leave. Everything the dragons do is fascinating and otherworldly to me. They are truly majestic.
Elio looks devastated through it all, but he keeps it together in front of the crowd. He is quiet, but his eyes are filled with tears as he watches Maggie’s body being engulfed by the flames. Favian has gone beyond himself to be there for the clan, for his brother, for me, for our guests, and even tried to attend our meetings. I am starting to worry that he is overdoing it again. He has played all the roles he needed to play, but I am relieved to see him putting his hand on Elio’s shoulder now and just being a brother.
The clan starts humming a song I don’t know, but it sounds magical, making the air around me vibrate. And with their humming, the fumes slowly disappear, leaving nothing behind.
Maggie is gone.
The clan members remain, though, the air brimming with stories they share about Maggie. It’s interesting to see the mood shift slightly, and more positivity coming through. Traditionally, the dragons eat salad and freshly baked bread during their wakes, so most of them are currently eating something and standing together in small groups.
I use this moment to check on our guests. They have been paying their respects without intervening too much.
“I am sorry that you had to deal with so much during your short visit,” I say to Aza. “First that bird attack, now the wake.”
“Don’t worry,” Aza reassures me. “I am glad we are allowed to stay and help. It shows how close we have become and how much the dragons and werewolves have opened up to each other.”
“My queen is right,” Shayan says. “It’s a great honor.”
“I hope these lands will finally experience true peace,” Ty says quietly.
“I will make sure they will, though it might take a while.”
“I have heard from one of our warriors through a messenger. Erin will be coming in the next couple of days,” Aza tells me. “I believe she will be a great voice of reason and advice for you and Favian, and be a mentor to Cassie. I can say for certain that she helped me a lot, and our own pack witch has studied under her.”
