"We bury them in the roots," she continued, her eyes fixed on the bundles of cloth. "The forest gave them strength at birth. Now, their strength returns to the forest. In exchange, the Great Heartwood grows stronger. Its wards thicken. It protects us because we are made of the same blood."
Sol looked at the bundles. At the very front, the largest bundle lay in a place of honor. It was the only one with a spear laid across it.
"Korg," Sol murmured.
Kira nodded, a single tear escaping and tracking a path through the ash on her cheek. "He was a Pillar. To lose a Master like him... it's like losing a limb. The forest feels colder already."
Suddenly, the drums stopped.
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the crackle of the torches.
