Free Celadonian Tales Vol: 1 Blood and Brass by Walter Shuler Page B

lifeless form. He bent forward, lips touching the cold skin of Davin's forehead. They had been enemies at the end, but they had been brothers all the same, and that was a tie that could never be sundered. The last prince in Celadon wept quietly as he folded his brother's hands over his chest and then rose. Head bent, voice cracking, he murmured an ancient prayer.
    "Black has been the night,
    And long.
    Dark have been your dreams of late,
    And long.
    Now the winds of winter sing you to sleep,
    No more the painful watch of days.
    Stone your heart and shuddering breath,
    No more the hurt of life.
    Sleep, now, beneath the earth and feel,
    No more the long grasp of pain.
    Sleep, now, beneath the sky and feel,
    No more the piercing pain of heart.
    Black has been the night,
    And long.
    Dark have been your dreams of late,
    And long."
    "Farewell, Davin. May you find some sort of peace wherever the gods have taken you." Bran turned and made his way out of the room, back toward the day-lit world above the Stone.
    The End
    Postlude
     
    Ah, would you look at that? The sun creeps up the horizon – we’ve talked the night away. It happens. It’s a far sight better than spending the night cold and alone on the side of the road!
    What happened to Bran? Well now, if you don’t know the rest of the tale, I shan’t spoil it for you. There is much left to that tale, and more that might never be known. I’ve heard some claim that Bran went on to become something more than human, but you’ll have to judge that for yourself when you hear the rest of his story.
    It’s been a pleasure – now you’d best off to the city. The great lady fills up quick these days, what with peasants thronging her gates before sunup. Remember what I said, though. She can be a mean bitch as well as a beauty. You just have to keep your eyes open when you get there.