Page 115 of Ever After

We’d stood for a while in the graveyard, looking down at the grave and the open coffin. Branok’s skeleton had been resting under the magistrate’s bigger one. It had been a pathetic sort of sight, and in the end, I’d hopped over a couple of graves and borrowed a few flowers from another one. We’d thrown them into the grave and then shovelled the soil back into the gaping hole.

Branok hadn’t reappeared by the time we left the graveyard. It was as if he’d never been there.

“Maybe he had it wrong, and to be at peace did mean he had to move on,” I say, resting for a moment.

“Where do you think the dead go?”

“I have no idea,” I say very honestly. “I think there is something beyond this world, but whatever it is, it’s not for the likes of me to intrude on.”

“Are you too loud for it?”

I look at him indignantly and he smirks. “Too alive,” I finally say. “What happens after this life is a secret the dead keep to themselves.”

We make our slow way up the steps and through the garden, and when Levi finally puts his key in the lock, I actually contemplate dropping to the ground and kissing the welcome mat.

There’s a light flickering through the kitchen door when we walk in, and we both freeze for a second before gladness floods through me.

I dash into the kitchen. “You’re still here,” I exclaim.

Branok looks up from his rocking chair. A faint smile flickers on his lips. “So it would appear.

“I’m so glad.”

My earnestness warms my cheeks, and Branok gazes at me for a few moments. Then he clears his throat and says gruffly, “Me too. Not because I would miss your face, of course.”

“Obviously not.” Dog yaps, thankfully breaking the horribly mushy moment, and I edge closer to the fire, holding out my hands. “I’m so cold,” I murmur.

Levi appears in the doorway. He shoots Branok a look. “You okay?”

“Still dead,” Branok offers. “It’s all rather disappointing.”

I snort and Levi shakes his head and says, “It’s too early or too late for this, and I’m too tired to fathom which one.”

Branok knocks his pipe against the chair and then reaches a hand down to fondle Dog’s ears.

“Where do you keep Dog?” I ask. “He wasn’t with you when we went to the church.”

“Ah. Not an environment for such a sunny creature. I told him to stay here and guard the fire.”

“You did a very good job, Dog,” I say and he yaps happily.

Levi starts the kettle, and I sit cross-legged on the rug by the fire feeling the warmth on my side. I’m so tired that I could sleep where I’m sitting, but we have things to do. “So,” I say.

Branok huffs before taking a puff of his pipe. “Yes, I know everything.”

Levi comes to sit at the table, abandoning the kettle and his tea machinations for the moment. “You know what happened?”

“Aye, it was as we thought. Richard killed me.” His words are light, but his brow is furrowed and his lips are pulled thin with what looks like hurt.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

He shrugs. “It was centuries ago, Blue.”

“But he was your friend and he betrayed you, so the hurt is fresh. Why did he do it?”

He puffs on his pipe, staring into the flames of the fire. “I found out who he really was.”

“And who was that?” Levi asks.