today.. sin helped with the tending of the wounded, she ensured all were fed, the kettles as they were emptied were washed and dried and repacked for travel..
she spent time today, preparing the fallen for the pyre, each warrior washed, their arms folded over their chest was tied with binding fiber to be held in place, each was covered with a clean rep and my thanks for their honor and courage offered, as well as my tears...
: she glanced towards the out side of the camp the ominous job soon she was ordered would be to prepare the fallen for pyre, she bit her lip hard then and looked to the food, quickly dishing out many more bowled full the girls came and took trays full to offer to those on the mend she rose slowly and moved to the freight wagon, pulling out arms full of long reps, before turning and heading to the out skirts of the wagons..where many of the girls where already with buckets of clean water and rags.. to wash our fallen heroes, who died to protect family and friends in their honor to Master Ubar...what a wonderful way to die if one must, she thought, as a hero, who's names would be long remembered in the year of the river of tears attack..
she smiled softly as she moved to lay the rep down.. taking a bucket and rags, a few of the reps she moved furthest from the camp as the bodies had been lain with care in rows to be prepared for their send off to the CoD, kneeling beside a Master she bowed her head in reverence thanking him for her safety and his bravery, with gentle hands she washed away the dirt and blood from his face, arms and body, his scars very visible for all to see his bravery and courage, her tears flowed gently now, falling to his tunic as she carefully laid his arms over his chest, and with soft binding fiber tied them in place, cutting the fiber she reached over taking one of the long reps and laid it over his body, rocking back she stepped back and moved on to the next,
kneeling her breath was taken as she recognized the warrior who had been kind to her her first night here, she closed her eyes and trembled shaking her head... she had to prepare him as well as the others so she couldn't get emotional now, taking a rag she began washing his face gently, oh she knew they were dead, but, their death has been so violent, perhaps, maybe this bit of tenderness could be appreciated, maybe there were rewards in the CoD for those who treated the dead with such dignity and honor,
she swallowed and continued washing the young warrior up, straighting his tunic not worrying that the tears fell unchecked, she hummed softly as she worked, using the binding fiber to hold his arms in place over his chest she tied it off and cut it.. small hands reaching up to close his eyes in final sleep, before she covered his body...rising she moved to toss the old water and grab a new bucket, leaving the old to be cleaned and refilled before she went back to preparing the bodies, after she and many others finished the preparation of the warriors she looked out over the rows of bodies and sighed.. turning she moved with the others to clean the buckets and let the others know the bodies where now readied for the sending
sings softly
Warrior, when slain in battle you shall fall
As all who wear the scarlet someday must
And silent lay, who stood so bright and tall,
Your spirit in the Cities of the Dust
Will catch the whispered echoes of a song
Remembering you - then may you sleep content,
Knowing your honor still is whole and strong
Though broken your proud body, cold and rent.
Not ever lost will be the name of one
Who loved his life yet dared to laugh at death.
However brief your days beneath the sun, Know,
Warrior, when you draw your final breath
These lips will sing for you such song as this,
That never touched yours in a single kiss.
