Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,59

a black tent. The sky crackled ominously with thunder in the distance. He stepped in among a group of people he didn’t know. Some of the faces he recognized, like Solomon, Mina, Elise, Nathan, and the two girls, but the rest were strangers. They all were dressed in black, faces somber.

Nathan was the first to look up at the pair as they entered, and a sad smile touched his lips. “Mathieu. Kiev.” Kiev nodded and touched Mathieu’s shoulder before going and standing beside Solomon, immediately starting up a hushed conversation.

Elise beckoned Mathieu over, taking his hand in hers before squeezed it. “It’s good to see you again.” She tucked a strand of his hair back behind his ear. “We were thinking that maybe you should speak if you feel up to it. You knew her best.”

Mathieu swallowed hard and closed his eyes, nodding. He needed a moment to gather his thoughts, and to stop him from crying. It took a few minutes, but eventually his eyes opened again and he was ready. “O-okay…” Mathieu looked at the grass by his feet, using the toe of his borrowed shoe to itch his ankle.

“We should start now.” Nathan turned to the group at large. “Let’s sit.” On the order, everyone took their seats; they seemed to be predetermined. Mathieu moved passed the others and stood beside the grave. He touched the rose carved into the headstone with hesitant fingers.

Swallowing thickly, Mathieu leaned against the tall stone, turning to face the others. “This is rather hard to articulate. I suppose that…I should start with what kind of person she was…” His gaze swept over the group, seeing genuine sorrow in their eyes. “Avian was the kind of person that always did what was right. Rules were merely obstacles to be overcome if she could help someone by breaking them. But she was sweet and funny, one to be adored. She never let the bad keep her down for long.” His face tilted up towards the sky, a few drops of rain starting to fall. One landed on his cheek.

“There wasn’t a person that met her that didn’t come to appreciate her overpowering personality.” He continued. “It’s going to be hard to live without her by my side. She accepted me as I was and I will carry her memory with me.” Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands and blew into them softly. Energy left his lungs, forming into a small flower held between his palms. Avian had always liked when he made her energy flowers. With steady hands, he let the bloom fall to land on the grave. “Rest well, Avian. I love you.”

One by one, the others came to join him. Some muttered a few words about the joy of having met her, some left small gifts. Nathan and Elise both commented about how well she would have ruled; Mina sang a song in a language he didn’t understand; Kiev said she had gotten along well with Avian; Solomon said that with time, the young woman could have become very dear to him. Mathieu just stood there silently.

After a long time, the group moved inside. Everyone sat around the large table Mathieu had been reunited with Avian at while Mina passing out tea. People that Mathieu didn’t know kept telling him that it would be okay; he didn’t feel like it would be. It wasn’t like before where the pain and guilt had been crushing, but it still hurt to think that she was gone. As tempting as it was to hole back up in his room, he wouldn’t let himself do that.

“Hey,” he turned to Kiev who was on his left, “who are these people?” He hopped that talking would help distract him.

She pointed around the room, naming people. There was Lenore, the blacksmith; Lucian, the newly appointed official liaison to Unith; Elric, a healer; and Darcia, a sword master. There were others, but he couldn’t keep them all straight, so he stopped trying. The sullenness of the room was beginning to suffocate Mathieu. He had said his goodbyes and now he was ready to move on. Move on, but never forget his best friend. Now, however, his mind had something more important to focus on: revenge.

Tesla and Nikola slunk into the room eventually, winding around his legs. Both of the Shadowriders ended up curled together in his lap, purring and trying to make him feel better; for once they stayed out of his head. Looking down at the