Hope Sundered

As the decades passed, Wyndham’s architects went vertical to accommodate the city’s growing population. Layers of homes were built upon one another, all of which were shouldered by shops, taverns, and storehouses.

Bridges spanned the narrow gulfs between edifices, forming a complex web of walkways and porticos across the city at every level. Buttressed patios and wide verandas helped to create the impression of floating islands, tethered to earth by supporting pillars to keep them from soaring away on the breeze.

From one such platform, far from the luminescent cloud of torches, Lark and Tanni could see every star the night sky had to offer. Lark hadn’t seen so many lights since his last mountain excursion, years ago.

He missed those days, but he pushed the bittersweet memories aside to enjoy the moment. She was enjoying the view as well, and for a while they both forgot that tens of thousands of soldiers surrounded the city below, eager to kill them.

“Have you ever heard any of the stories about the stars?” she asked.

He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t know there were any stories.”

“Oh, yes! In fact, each constellation has its own. They’re just myths of course, but still entertaining. My favorite is the tale of Siza the Dragon. Do you see that bright red one there?”

She leaned in close as she pointed skyward. He could smell the lilac in her hair, which he certainly didn’t remember from the Wall’s Shadow. It smelled inviting. He swallowed hard. “Y-yes, I uh, I see it.”

“That one is Siza’s head, and the smaller ones curving below it form his tail. Long ago, dragons roamed the land, and he was the greatest of them all. He did as he pleased, whenever it pleased him.

“Dragon hunters came from far and wide to claim their horns as trophies, and in time all but Siza had been slain, so he fled to the mountains. The hunters found him there so he fled to the sea, but they found him there too, so he soared high into the sky.

“Clever and patient, the hunters spread out across the land and waited for him to land. With nowhere else to go, Siza flew higher and higher until he flew beyond the sun and hid in the night sky.

“The hunters gave up, but he knew he’d be in danger if he were to return, and so he wanders the night sky for eternity, always out of reach.”

“It sounds very lonely,” Lark said before he thought better of it.

“You must’ve lost someone dear to you,” Tanni replied.

He turned to face her but saw only concern in her eyes. He nodded, unsure how vulnerable he was willing to be with her. “Yes. I lost my mother and father.” He paused. “And my betrothed.”

“That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“Why you apologize with your eyes every time you look at me.”

He cast his eyes at his feet. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to offend you.”

She shook her head and giggled. “There you go again! It’s alright. I’m not offended.” Several moments passed before she asked, “Would you tell me about her?”

He looked as if she’d slapped him. “Why?”

“I’m curious to know about the amazing woman who captured the heart of the great Lark Prentice, Archery Champion of last year’s Spring Festival Tournament.”

He paused before chuckling and shaking his head. “I didn’t know you recognized me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Every maiden in Wyndham recognizes you, Lark. So, who was she?”

“I, uh, I’m not sure that would be, um…respectful?”

“Why not? I’ve no right to be jealous. It’s not like we knew each other before the siege. In fact, we never would’ve met otherwise. What happened to Chastin was unjust, and for what it’s worth I’m sorry things didn’t turn out the way you’d hoped. I’ve no expectations or illusions about us. I’m content with your friendship. I thought talking about her might help you to grieve, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

The silence hanging between them for a dozen heartbeats was deafening.

“Her name was Keila.”

Tanni smiled. “That’s a lovely name. What was she like?”

“She was perfect.” He sighed more than spoke, then remembered himself and added, “I apologize! I didn’t mean to imply—”

Tanni laughed again and held up her hand to stop him. “No more apologies! Now, describe perfection to me.”

He took a deep breath. “She was an exceptional hunter. Better than most. Her senses were keen; when we’d go out together, she’d often spot our prey before I would. She also possessed a natural talent with a bow. She mastered the ability to shoot two arrows at once.

“Her beauty was without comparison. Her hair was like liquid copper, and her eyes were a shade of pure green even nature itself couldn’t duplicate. Every time she smiled, I forgot my name.”

“Well, aren’t you quite the poet!” Tanni remarked with a smirk.

He grinned, realizing how desperate he’d been for someone to listen, someone to understand. He looked at her again, this time as a friend, and it became comfortable to open up.

“She had a way of innocence and wonder about her, as if each trip into the forest was her first. She cherished the wilderness and seemed to understand it in a way no one else could, like it was part of her.”

Lark smiled, recalling a private moment. “She was incredibly stubborn at times, too. When she was certain she was right, Yajuel himself couldn’t change her mind. She was fierce and passionate and loyal, especially to her father. I could live a thousand years and travel the world from one end to the other and never find another woman as unique as her.”

“Keila sounds like a remarkable woman indeed,” Tanni said. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.” A moment passed before she added, “You should pick a star.”

“What?”

“Pick a star, to honor her memory. Pick one and name it after her. She was beautiful and unique, just like they are. Find one you feel best captures her personality. Then you can show others and tell them the tale of Keila the Huntress so she too can live forever.”

Lark held Tanni’s gaze for a long moment until she became blurry. “Thank you,” he whispered before wiping the tears from his eyes.

He looked up and studied the field of twinkling light with the same scrutiny he used to find his quarry in the Deep Wood. “That one,” he said eventually, pointing up at a small star, twinkling brightly in the center of a ring of other stars. “That’s Keila the Huntress.”

Tanni smiled. “She gives her light to the entire world now.”