EpilogueHayyan’s hand rested on the twisted head of my axe. Most of the metal had been sheared away by the pillar, but enough remained to serve as a marker for Delsaran. “I didn’t know you for very long,” they said, “but I thank you for always being someone I can be proud of.”
I enveloped Hayyan’s slender body in my own. My left shoulder protested, still tender after healers and rest, but that would never stop me. A moment later, Bri joined the hug, his arms going around Hayyan and resting on my back.
After a while, Hayyan relaxed their arms, and Bri and I broke the hug. Hayyan smiled, their eyes glistening.
“Thank you,” they whispered.
“Chase?” Bri said.
I looked at the axe and the stone quill marker beside it. We had never found Jon’s body, so both the graves were empty. But I felt
