Tonight was the night when Nero’s and Serra’s souls had to leave the home of their ancestors and move on to their rebirth. Their next lives would depend on how their forefathers had met them and their judgment.
“Am I dreaming?” Hadjar asked. “Or am I really... really…” the words were difficult to say, “…talking to you?”
Nero smiled again and exhaled some more smoke rings.
“I don’t know, brother, I don’t know. Does it really matter?”
Hadjar took a long drag from his pipe. The potent, fragrant smoke entered his lungs, causing him to cough. It was quite powerful.
Nero laughed and nudged Hadjar with his shoulder. It was such a familiar gesture, one that Hadjar missed so much that he involuntarily touched the sleeve of his caftan.
“I never said goodbye to you,” Hadjar sighed. “I did
