Black Hart Black Hart
To Kill A King
Chapter 27 - The Funeral
They grimaced as the cold rain lashed down on the
graveyard, soaking them to the skin. As they stood about the open
grave, awaiting the coffin's arrival there was no desire on
anyone's part to converse, a dark cloud also hanging over that
day in a less literal sense. Even Akhan seemed to judge his usual
mischief would be ill-placed.
The party were all there, including Ash and Grymalkin, although
Sholin had long gone. Standing by Akhan's side, taking his arm,
Hanali, the one-time Countess of Axewood, stood, her handmaiden
and manservant just behind. Lieutenant Harbes was also there, and
Bermen noticed Euch'tir, Gratte and Takker walking in just ahead
of a fine carriage. Takker had a set of Dwer bagpipes under his
arm. As they arrived, greeting him with a firm grip, the carriage
door was opened by a footman and Thoggin emerged, to be followed
by the King.
Glancing around, Jean-Paul could see no Royal Guardsmen nearby,
but there were half a dozen mounted Knights of some strange
faction about the graveyard.
This was the nobles' graveyard, near to the University - small
and exclusive, Hamman's simple grave was dwarfed by the family
tombs about it, but they knew the reasons for such anonymity.
Aranon cleared his throat, and they saw the funeral carriage was
approaching.
As it stopped, the pall-bearers took their places - Akhan,
Bermen, Jean-Paul, Eloi, Aranon and Mordekei, taking the weight
onto their shoulders, moving the coffin over to the grave's edge.
As they prepared to lower it down, the King stepping forward to
speak.
"None have been braver, nor more selfless in defence of a
country which was not even his by birth. To Prince Hamman Guult,
of the House Meeran of Port Toli, I can find no words of
appreciation great enough to convey my thanks, my respects and my
sadness at his loss. He stood up when no others of his country
could find their legs to face the insurmountable enemy."
"I cannot, as you know," he continued, looking to the
pall-bearers, "Bestow any overy honours in his favour. Such
would be recorded, and in these times, for his eternal rest's
sake and for the good of the nation that would not be
advisable."
The King turned around to a nearby servant, who handed him
something. He stepped forward and unravelled the Keoish Royal
Standard, draping it over the coffin.
"But I can say this - Hamman was a King amongst Princes, and
I aspire that I will do so much for Keoland one day as he has
done!"
The King stepped back, the skirl of the pipes began as they
lowered the coffin into the grave.
Euch'tir and Gratte began to sing, their bass tones ringing out
the sombre tune of a Dwer death lament. Bermen joined in, quietly
as his voice was shamed by the Dwerfolk.
As the coffin reached the ground the pipes and the singing
stopped, perfectly timed.
The pall bearers stood back and Aranon stepped to the head of the
grave.
"I would like to say he was a good man, but I knew him not
long enough. I would like to say he was an honest man, but I am
not fit to pass such judgement. All I can say is he was a man, a
friend, a companion and, in that short time we knew him, a loyal
and trusted ally. Olidamarra, guide him and watch his soul on its
journey to the afterlife, and I hope that we may we drink again
together in His house when I also reach the other side, good
friend!"
Aranon poured some wine from a wineskin into his hand, then
scattered it over the coffin, a faint smile on his face.
One by one they all passed the grave, paying their last respects.
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"Aranon! Bring the others!" Thoggin
said, beckoning them over to the King's carriage.
The King, seated within, slid over near ot the door. Jean-Paul
noticed two of the Knights ride closer to the carriage.
"I know this is not ideal, for place or time," he said.
"However, I gather that you are going your separate ways
today, and wish to thank you all for your help. I am forever in
your debt."
He reached forward to the other side of the carriage, hauling a
number of bags over and passing them to Thoggin.
"They are a small and unworthy token of my gratitude,"
he said as Thoggin passed the heavy bags, undoubtedly containing
at least a thousand coins, to each of them.
They nodded their thanks as Thoggin smiled and entered the
carriage, moving away from it.
"Akhan!" Thoggin said as he walked away.
The others continued on, walking a short distance before stopping
to say their goodbyes. Akhan turned back to Thoggin, who took a
parcel wrapped in oilskin from the carriage. On top of it was
Hamman's hat, blue feather and all, intact.
"He left a note, Akhan," Thoggin explained. "If
anything happened he wanted you to have his clothes, reckoned
only you would appreciate them."
Akhan was speechless, and Thoggin quickly went back inside the
carriage. He watched as the carriage, soon surrounded by the six
Knights, was driven off out the graveyard, then turned back to
the party.
"So its goodbye to all, then," Jean-Paul stated, the
rain cascading down his polished armour. "I will return to
Torrisz to find Friederickson, and Canterbury and the other
horses, before continuing on my fight against the Hordes. I wish
you all good fortune in your ways and may Heironeous bring us
together again for some ale and idle chat."
"I will be off with the Baron, if the offer is still open,
Eloi," Bermen said.
Eloi nodded, probably quite glad of the company in his new role
as nobility. They were both red-eyed, but seemed not to be
suffering too badly from the previous night's drinking.
Mordekei smiled, the rain running down his face..
"And I think I will stay in my laboratory for some time now,
perhaps recover my nerves from the experience of the past few
weeks. You all know where I live, and are more than welcome any
time you pass."
As the rain battered down, they seemed to run out of things to
say, and there was an awkward moment's silence. Akhan turned
first and walked off towards Hanali's carriage, followed by
Aranon and Tumbry, and the others started making their way back
to the capital.
As they departed, the gravediggers moved in and started
shovelling the now-sodden earth into the the water-laiden grave.
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This is the end of the first book of the Black Hart campaign, 'To Kill A King'. For the next book, 'Twilight in Gradsul', return to the Black Hart page.