Chapter 8 Martha's Burial

I struggled to open my eyes, I felt the cold floor beneath me as I tried to seat up,

"he's waking up, Captain Wit is awake" I heard someone shouting, I looked up and saw a soldier kneeling close to me, he seems to be the one who shouted, 'who did he call though' I thought as I held my head with one hand as a great headache assaulted me, and then from the corner of my eyes I saw Captain Levi walking over.

"you're finally up Wit" captain Levi said as with a small smile as he got down squatting, relieving the other soldiers watching me "are you okay, ...I mean of course you're not okay but ... " he sighed.

"how long have I been out" I asked,

"Just one day. Iris, look I know you just woke up but, the king has summoned you" He replied. I opened my eyes abruptly, I looked around, I saw that I was in the evacuation shelter, I saw barely two hundred soldiers moving around including the injured ones that escaped the unslaught of the men in purple armour.

"word of what happened have reached Curtis, the king sent some of our messengers to Curtis, help should arrive this evening and we will hopefully be out of here soon." Levi kept talking about some other things as I stared blankly at the floor, my mind empty. And then... it all came back, the men in purple armour, general Riker, and .....

"MOTHER... where is my mother, " Captain Levi looked at with me a pained expression, "come on Wit" he said as he stood up, he stretched his arm out, I took it and he pulled me up, I almost lost my balance but he caught me before I fell. He led me to a corner in the shelter and on the floor was my mother covered with a cloth. I got on my knees I pulled off the cloth covering her face, I touched her face and I saw her closed eyes show no reaction. Tears fell down my cheeks as I broke down, my head on the floor as I started sobbing, Captain Levi put his hand on my shoulder, a sign of consolation, but I doubt anything could lift my mood at the moment. After a while I stopped. I saw her sword lying beside her, I picked it up and put it through my belt, I checked her hands for her storage ring, I saw it on one of her left fingers, I pulled it off and put it on.

I picked up my mother in my arms as tears flowed down my face. I started walking out of the shelter, and Captain Levi followed closely behind me, we passed by some soldiers, and many civilians, and then I got to where the king and Queen were seated, I walked past even without bowing, Captain Levi bowed and apologised on my behalf, but the king didn't look angry, he looked more concerned. Levi caught up to me, I kept walking, we passed many dishevelled buildings, until we got to mine it was one of the only houses still in good shape.

I walked behind the house and put my mother on the ground behind the house, I walked into the house and came out with a shovel, and then I started digging, and digging and digging, I was getting tired but i kept digging, Captain Levi walked away and soon came back with a shovel, he joined me and once the hole was deep enough, I went into the house, I wrapped my mother in a white blanket, then put my mother to rest. We filled the grave back up.

"She deserves a way better burial than this" i said to Levi,

"I know Iris, so do all the dead soldiers, but... this is war, there's no time for a proper burial." We stood there for a sometime while it drizzled, and after a while... we left.

Iris walked away as tears fell out of his eyes. Captain Levi walked up to him, put a hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him, but it was pointless.

"Iris, ... listen, I know this isn't the right time but.. the king he heard about your,.?..... 'help' during battle and has summoned you. I told you earlier but um, you know. .." Levi said to Iris.

"...You told him?" Iris asked still staring down as raindrizzled,

"Yes, I did" levi responded

"..." Iris looked at Levi, and then he put both hands on his face wiping off the tears and water on his face, he started walking towards the shelter and Levi followed behind him.

A few minutes later they arrived and Levi led him to the king. When they arrived, the both got on one knee and bowed.

"Your majesty, you sent for me" Iris looked to the king.

"You may rise" the king answered "Is what captain Levi said true, that you defeated the invaders?" The king asked as he stared intently at Iris.

Iris frowned, "your majesty, I barely remember anything, it was all a blur honestly.

"If what captain Levi said is true then it means that you're touched by the gods Iris. It is rare to find your kind around these parts, even in all of the seven kingdoms there are none touched by the gods. You will be a great asset, to us Iris. Your mother was a great warrior, it was an honour to have her at our side," The king said and looked at Iris with a meaningful expression, "it is unfortunate to have lost her."

"My king," Iris spoke, "I... am not in the right state of mind at the moment, I would ask for some time to clear my head"

"Very well" the king said and Iris left. Captain Levi bowed and walked away.

.....

Back at Kingsland, the purple armoured men were in the throne room waiting for King Steven to arrive. A few minutes later King Steven walked in. He wore black trousers with a chain mail, a belt around his waist with his sword in its scabbard, and of course a silver crown on his head. He walked in and sat on the throne.