All day the people had been paying their respects. Now evening and darkness were beginning to fall. Warriors formed a circle around the bier, and the people fell back.
Pellor touched Bladud’s arm. ‘If there is something you wish to say to my father,’ he told him quietly, ‘say it now, for he leaves us this night.’
Bladud eyed the guarding warriors, but Pellor gave a signal that he should be allowed through.
Close beside the bier, Bladud’s heart was so full of things he wanted to say that he could say almost nothing.
‘You know what is in my heart,’ he whispered at last. ‘Listen for my sorrow, my regret, my admiration... ‘ He suddenly felt the presence of the old man very strongly. ‘Listen for my yearning to know what you knew... ‘
The colour of the sky was deepening, the stars beginning
