How long has it been since I last did this? Uncle wondered as he watched the sun slowly disappearing behind the trees. From behind him, he heard the trapdoor accessing the roof open. Some part of him waited for his older brother’s smiling face to appear next to him. But even as the view made him think back to his childhood he could not ignore the truth. He has been gone for so long.

“I swear, you boys all think this is the best place to hide,” his wife said, sitting beside him. She smiled, and nudged him with her shoulder. “I know Toln is upset, but I cannot understand why you are hiding from him. You did your best and even he understands that, even if he will not admit it.”

“I am not hiding from Toln.” He shook his head, “he has always been a bit emotional, and time is the only thing to help that. My presence will not matter either way.”

“Then Mareen?” She leaned back surprised. “She does not blame you at all. If anything we need to talk to her about blaming herself. She finally gave Orn some space, and now he is lying bed wrapped in bandages. She will likely smother the boy when he recovers if we do not start working on her now.”

“I am not,” he began, only to wince at the pained look on the girl’s face. “Fine I am avoiding her a bit, but I did not come here to get away from my family. I just wanted to be close to Mernan for a bit.”

Her expression softened and her tone became gentle. “You have barely talked of your brother since he passed.”

He sighed, “I know, and I do not like to think about it. His absence is a wound that never seems to heal, so I try not to agitate it.”

She paused for a moment then put her arm around him. “I remember the two of you spent most of your time in the forest, so why here?”

“Before I could go in the forest, this was the place I came when everything became too much. He would always find me and make everything better. After he got his path, he promised that he would convince our old man to reconsider the mantles.” He chuckled at the memory, “he was going to let me keep the headman mantle since he wanted to go wandering.”

“There is no rule that says a knight cannot have a mantle.” He tried to do impression of his brother’s voice. Even though he failed miserably, he could not stop the grin from appearing on his face, or the tears from his eyes. He looked so ridiculous, standing with his hands on his hips trying to look serious.

“That was a long time ago. What made you think of that?” He felt her hand rubbing his upper arm comfortingly. Then it stopped as her expression turned to shock. “You mean you gave him your mantle?”

He nodded feebly. “He was dying. For a few moments I was sure he was. But when I saw his chest rise I knew he was holding on. I could not just let him go, and I thought the mantle would help him stay alive.”

She seemed to consider the implications for a moment before speaking again. “I am sure he will grow into it, but imagining that sweet child as the headman is hard. His father is technically the village lord so that makes some sense. I cannot shake the image of him settling disputes as he looks now, but I know he will get time to grow into it.”

“That is what I was thinking. The forest tends to make sure the mantle’s owner can grow into it. I had no idea if it would work, but I just needed to make it back here. Mareen was already coming in case we got hurt, so he just needed to get back alive.” He spoke slowly thinking back to the moment he placed his cut hand against one to the wounds on Orn’s arms. “Do you know the boy smirks just like his grandfather? I swear he was unconscious, but the moment I touched him he had that same smug look. Then before I could offer, he took the mantle from me.”

He shook his head sighing. “I know they say those who have passed are not gone, but in that moment I could have sworn I was dealing with Mernan. And my brother kept his promise.”

She stared at him. “You mean Orn has that mantle?”

“Yes,” he replied thinking back to the feeling of the weight being pulled off his soul. “He took it from me as if it had always been his. Maybe is it, I always thought it would be better with someone else. He took to it well, possibly too well. I would almost bet that those wounds will scar, despite his mother’s efforts. They will probably become his first markings.”

She considered his words before slowly rising. “Then we should tell Mareen to slow down. If these injuries are part of his mantle, she will not be able to heal him any further. All she is doing is wearing herself out for no reason.”

“I would not say that.” he watched her brushing the dust from the back of her dress. “It makes her feel she is doing something. Why take that away from her?”

“Because,” she said, emphasizing the word, “her pushing herself to exhaustion is not good for the baby.”

He stared at her dumbstruck, “The baby? I thought they were not going to have another child.”

She snorted, “They have just been too worried about Orn. Current injuries aside though, he is much better. I am sure Mareen suspects, but she is in denial so she can care for Orn.”

She held out her hand, “We need to tell them. They need to know what is happening, the good and the bad. We can wait to tell Orn until he is older.”

[A quite room]

Kao stood in the dark room looking down at Orn’s still form. He was slowly recovering even with her mother’s mantle slowing healing in places. Even through the bandages she could see the energy running through his injuries.

Among the lines of scars that the mantle was not allowing to heal, she could see overlapping patterns of claws and fangs. I am happy she kept him alive, but I hope she does not intend to mark him every time he kills a monster.

She watched the energy tracing its course through a particularly deep wound in his arm, and cringed. What could she want by marking the bone in his arm, no one will even see that?

Kao shook her head and sat on the side of the bed. Turning, she lifted one leg up on the bed so she could look at Orn comfortably. She gently stroked his hair back and sighed. Looking up from him she caught sight of a still unhealed crack on the side of her leg. What a pair we are; a half dead knight and a cracked goddess.

Smiling she rubbed her finger over the crack causing it to close. It looks as if I need a bit of rest as well.

Slowly stretching, Kao adjusted herself on the bed and fell asleep next to Orn.