She swallowed until the sobbing retreated to her heart. “God, I miss her so much.”
Lucan held her until she calmed, and kept one arm around her as he reached down to pick up the wreath that had fallen at her feet. He produced a silk handkerchief and gently dried the tears from her face before he tucked her against his side. “Come now. We’ll say good-bye to them together.”
As they walked down between the torches to the water, the men bowed their heads, and Werren and the other women curtsied. Lucan stopped, turning around with her as he surveyed the other Kyn.
“We all of us know loss,” he said, his voice deep and soft. “Families and friends, loving and beloved. Those who walked with us in life, who were taken from us in peace and in battle. Tonight we count among them our warrior brother Lord Jamys Durand, and our mortal sister Christian Lang. I know they wished only to be together.” He glanced down at the wreath of flowers. “They sacrificed their love, and their lives, so that all of the Dutchman’s other victims might escape. I will never forget their courage or their generosity.”
Sam reached into her pocket and took out the heart-shaped crystal Chris had left behind on her desk. “One day you were a tough little street kid, and the next you’d become this strong, smart woman. You were more than a friend to me. You became my sister. I didn’t realize it was happening. Before you I never had a family. I don’t know why I never told you that. I should have.” Sam tucked the crystal into the heart of one of the red roses, closing its petals over it before she looked out at the sea. “Take care of her for me, Jamie.”
Sam placed the wreath on the edge of the next wave that rolled in, and straightened to watch the sea carry it out with the tide. It floated for a long time, whirling in a slow circle before a long curl of foam swept over it and it disappeared from sight.
Werren and the other women came to stand beside Sam and Lucan. As the courtesan murmured something in an old language, each woman tossed a coin into the water. Sam thought it was some Kyn variety on a wishing well before she realized the coins they were giving to the sea were actually Dutch’s golden medallions.
“You’re going to make some guy with a metal detector very rich tomorrow,” Sam said to Werren.
“’Tis fitting,” the courtesan said. “Dutch loved his gold as deeply as he hated mortals. Your lord has made it clear that we are unwelcome here, my lady. Do you wish us to go away now?”
“Is that what you and the girls want to do?”
Werren glanced at Lucan before she answered. “We have been a long time kept away from the world. None of us know how to properly conduct ourselves. But we have seen that you have very few Kyn females among your jardin, and men cannot properly attend to you and your ladies.” Werren nodded at the men of the garrison. “In exchange for sanctuary and instruction on how to live in this world, we will make ourselves your maidservants.”
“You were slaves. You don’t have to be maids or serve anyone for any reason, ever again.” The sound of a boat motor penetrated Sam’s misery, and she looked down the length of the pier to see the vague shape of a speedboat running slow and without lights. To Lucan, she said, “I think your gentle persuasion just wore off.”
Sam followed Lucan as he headed for the pier. “Don’t bother chasing them away,” she said, peering at the pair who had stepped off the boat. “We’re pretty much done here.”
Lucan stopped in his tracks. “On this I fear I must disagree with you, love.”
“What’s this? You’re arguing with me, instead of treating me like . . . an . . . invalid.” The scent carried on the breeze reminded Sam of sandalwood and orange blossoms, and hit her like a sap to the skull. “Jamie?”
It couldn’t be them, of course. The tall boy barely had an inch of dark hair covering his head, while the girl beside him had long, luxurious curls that fell to her waist. But as they drew closer, Sam saw their faces and grabbed Lucan’s hand. “You can disagree with me any time you like, my man.”
“My lord, my lady.” Jamys bowed and surveyed the Kyn staring at them from the beach. “Forgive the intrusion, which I hope is welcome.”
“You’re forgiven.” Sam launched herself at him, hugging him before she turned to grab Chris. “You exploded with the ship. We just did the funeral thing for you.” She kissed her friend, hugged her, and then shook her. “Where the hell have you been? Why didn’t you call us? Were you in a hospital? You blew up. I saw you blow up.”
“Yeah, we did kind of blow up. After that, I was really lost in space,” Chris said, and made a pained face. “And sort of dead for a week.”