After a quick bath and donning some fresh clothes I felt properly alive again. Well, my neck was still a little stiff but it was getting better. I wouldn't let it keep me down anyway. The invigorating smell of the herbal soap Kaele provided helped as well. And of course she had helped me do my hair up properly again, including colorful ribbons and everything. I even wore my softly glowing circlet again for the occasion. I couldn't help but notice that I was never quite alone with Kaele though. There was always someone else around and usually they were in full war gear.

My sister noticed that I noticed as well. She shot me a look that told me that not everything was forgotten and forgiven, as we moved to join the rest of the officers near the prepared pyres. “To make sure you don't run off on your own again, just like that. You aren't just a girl from the countryside anymore, you know.”

Well, at least she didn't sound bitter or as if she were on the verge of tears anymore. I put an arm around her shoulder and hugged her anyway. She was right of course. Never mind how I wished that it might be not the case this time. Would I ever be able to go back to being just some girl from the countryside? If I wanted some peace and quite I probably would have to fight to earn it. I kept my mouth shut though. I didn't want to burden her with these thoughts of mine.

These worries quickly fled my mind though as I beheld the crowd that had gathered. The pyres had been built well beyond the edge of the camp to allow the locals access to them without compromising our own security. And the locals had come to see the spectacle. Young and old had gathered to see firsthand if our claims of defeating the pale king were true. It wasn't just the people from the nearby farmsteads either. Some of these people had to have traveled the better part of the day to get here.

Tortho, Quu'za and their men and women must have been rather throughout in spreading the word. I had no clue if they actually believed in the tale of the pale king or not but they certainly knew about the headhunters and their practices. Seeing the remains of the cannibalistic lot now, stacked atop big piles of wood surrounding a pole with the smashed corpse of the fat, old king of the headhunters tied to it, certainly put them into a good mood. Some of the people even passed around mugs of beer and freshly baked bread to celebrate the occasion.

Most of my people were arranged around a group of smaller pyres instead of the big one though. On each one rested the remains of one warrior we lost to these abominations. The bodies, or what remained of them were usually wrapped in shrouds to hide the worst that had been done to them. There were some long faces, especially among the scouts and harpies, as they were the ones who had suffered worst. Even Quu'za emitted a soft, sad keening sound as I reached her side.

I patted her back gently and she nestled her head against my side for a moment before straightening back up. Numerous little trinkets, funerary goods of various kinds, already lay with our dead. That meant that most of the grieving had already been done and people were really only waiting for the pyres to be lit by now. Just as well, I wasn't sure if I could have held a proper speech for any or all of them. Grieving was left to friends and family or sometimes like right now comrades, the people who knew the departed best, for a reason after all.

I gave Tortho's shoulder a friendly squeeze in passing as well. He tried to act stoic but I knew that the loss of his men and women did not leave him untouched. Even with decades of mercenary work under his belt he still felt keenly for every man or woman he would never see again. Just as well, if you stopped caring for those under your command you were dangerously close already to walk a path that would lead only into darkness.

It was the captain of scouts who signaled for the torch bearers to light the pyres and before long they were all ablaze. They lit the big pyre we built for our enemies as well under the watchful eyes of the crowd. As it properly caught on fire a great cheer went up, both among the civilians as well as among my men and women. I felt gratification as well. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

At the same time though the words the Maidens had shared with me in my dream came back to me. There would be worse. Much worse. And I was leading all these brave souls to face these terrors at my side. How many of them would I lead to their doom? How many more pyres would we build? My heart felt heavy. I just couldn't help it.

Only when Kaele gave my hand a good squeeze did I manage to break free of that depressing train of thought. “The pyres will burn for quite some time. Hours probably. Maybe all night. The cooks will be handing out food soon, so we can share a last meal with ours.” She paused for a moment, looking at the gathered locals. “There will be food for the civilians as well. We might have paid a high price but we also lifted a great burden from the shoulders of these people.”

Quu'za laughed at that, wiping away a tear at the same time. “You might have just given that whole carved pumpkin tradition a new spin. By this time next year they might be smashing and burning crowned pumpkins while feasting and celebrating instead of hiding away in their homes fearfully.”

Tortho joined in at this point. “There is also something about sweet treats although I have not quite figured out what is up with that. It is mostly the youngsters though. Children will be children, no matter when or where.” Those words seemed to bring some cheer back into his voice.

I chuckled, joining the laughter of the others but as I made to leave and move over to the gathered locals I was swiftly brought to a stop as Kaele didn't let go of my hand. “Nuhu! You are not leaving on your own again.”

Before I could protest though Gash'zur joined in, siding with Kaele and nodding in earnest. “I wont say that you should stop being heroic and all that … but please stop being heroic all on your own. You aren't on your own in this. You have comrades, family and friends, people who will stand with you.”

I could only sigh in resignation, although that might not be the right word. Maybe it was exasperation? Well, I couldn't help but smile as well. “Fine, come along you two. I'm only going to mingle a little with the people from around here though.”

As I made my way over there, with my sister at my side and the giantess following us, I let my ears as well as my eyes guide us. I was looking for the knife I had gifted to a little boy. At the same time I kept my ears open, listening for his voice. At the same time I took in the crowd surrounding us. Many of the people wore their best clothes and while some wore knifes on their belts I doubted that any of them would make an attempt at my life.

Finally I found what I had been searching for. A boy standing with a number of even younger siblings and a middle aged woman as well as two other adults who probably were farmhands, judging by their slightly less ornate clothes. The boy did indeed wear the knife I had gifted him at his belt, although he wore it like I would a long sword. With some satisfaction I noticed that he was not playing around with it and his hand on the weapon's hilt kept his younger siblings from doing anything stupid as well.

He noticed me before I, or his mother, had a chance to speak up. “You did it! You really did it! You killed the pale king!”

His outburst drew some attention from those around us but they kept their distance, at least for the better part. It might have been Gash'zur's presence keeping them at bay. Someone put a wooden mug with fresh beer in my hand anyway, as a cheer went up around us.

Another cheer went up as the fire reached the aforementioned pale king and began eating away at his disgusting remains. It was one of the boy's younger sisters who spoke up next. “He will not be back, will he?”

I shook my head. “No. The fire will consume his flesh and crack his bones. There will be nothing left but the cursed crown once morning comes. That thing we will cast into lead before locking it in a iron chest to be taken away.”

I looked over at Gash'zur as I said that and the giantess nodded in agreement. “I have the forge prepared. I have the iron chest ready and we gathered enough lead to seal that damned thing away as well. The guards know to make sure no one tries to take it either.”

“You won't claim it for yourself?” That had come from one of the farmhands.

I just shook my head. “No. I wont and I will make sure no one else does either. That thing poisons both the body and the soul of any fool who puts it on their head. Just look at what a wretched thing that pale king has become.”

I received a round of nods for an answer. Especially the mention of the wretched king of headhunters had driven my point home.

I patted the man's shoulder before tussling the boy's hair. “Now enjoy the night but don't become careless. Don't let your guard down. The pale king is not the only monster lurking in the dark. There are others. Don't become reckless. Lock your doors at night, hug your family and stay on guard.”