Chapter I, Reading 1

"Papa always loved this place," Flindra said quietly as she watched her brother dig the grave.

Leudh was a tall man and his strength was easily seen in his broad shoulders and muscular arms.  He'd taken off his tunic to work and his chest glistened with sweat.

"He did," Leudh answered as he worked.  "I think he would be pleased to know we chose this place for his grave.  This is one of the best spots overlooking Lake Eghero and I know he loved coming here to enjoy the view."

"I bet Papa was proud to have been named after the lake," she remarked.

"He wasn't named after the lake," Leudh corrected gently, but with the authority of an older sibling.  "There was once a king named Eghero and it is told that he was a wise and just man.  Grandpa chose a strong name from our history to name his son.  In fact, the lake was named after King Eghero."

"I never knew that."

"Papa told me the story once."

Flindra had just celebrated her nineteenth birthday this past summer.  She was five years younger than her brother and was tall like him.  That was where the similarities ended.  Leudh had inherited their mother's blue eyes and blond hair, while Flindra was crowned with strikingly beautiful auburn tresses.  She had expressive brown eyes, which seemed to mirror her emotions. 

It was autumn and the breeze blowing from the northwest felt cool on Flindra's face.  Raindrops from an earlier shower still clung to the grasses and leaves of the trees along the crown of the hill.  The sunlight shining though the droplets gave the impression of jeweled beads adorning the landscape.  The breeze toyed with the droplets, blowing them from the leaves and onto the ground.

The breeze rippled the surface of the lake, which softened the reflection of the surrounding landscape.  Great flocks of geese and ducks were resting along the shoreline as they paused on their migration south.  The air was filled with their raucous voices and the lake was busy with their presence. 

"I remember Papa and I came up here one afternoon before he fell ill," Flindra reminisced with a tender smile.  "He was so filled with the beauty of the day and this place.  He seemed to make the whole world so alive that I felt blessed to share the moment with him.  He told me that the beauty of the world is a mirror reflecting the grandeur and glory of the Spirit and that every day of life is a blessing from Him.  He said that to notice the beauty abounding in the world is to appreciate and do homage to our Beloved Spirit."

Leudh smiled as he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.  His blond hair was dark with sweat and his mustache tasted salty as he licked his lips.  "Papa was a wise man."

Flindra handed her brother a waterskin for she knew he was tired from his labors.  Digging was always difficult work and this task was made harder with the knowledge of the purpose of this effort.

Leudh put down his shovel and drank his fill.  "Thank you."  He returned the water to her.

"You're welcome."

"I think this is deep enough," he remarked sadly.  "I'll widen it a little at the bottom and then it’ll be ready."

Flindra nodded in understanding and her eyes suddenly flooded with tears.  She looked away to hide her sorrow for she had promised her father she wouldn't cry.  In spite of her efforts to force back her tears, she sobbed audibly.

Leudh dug out one last shovelful of dirt, threw the spade into the heap of dirt piled to the side of the grave, and climbed out of the hole.

Flindra felt strong arms surrounded her as Leudh embraced her.  "Don't be ashamed to cry, little sister.  Death is always hard."  His voice was husky with emotion.

"I told him I wouldn't cry, though," she protested.  "I know he's finally free of pain and has returned to the Spirit, but I miss him so very much."

"We’ll always miss him, but I'd like to hope he is somewhere in the Beyond and is looking back at us with a kind smile."

Flindra smiled through her tears, "Thanks, Leudh.  That helps."

"Let's go home and get Momma, Brehwan and the boys.  It's time to send Papa home."

"All right."