War Maid's Choice-ARC (92 page)

<
To tell this big lummox you’re married to not to fret,
> Vaijon said. He turned back to Bahzell, and his smile turned softer. <
It’s not your fault, you know. I always wanted to serve Tomanāk, and you were simply kind enough to straighten me out
.>

His smile faded away completely, but his blue eyes were warm as they met Bahzell’s.

<
Bahzell, there’s not a moment of my life—or my death—since that day in Belhadan that I’ve regretted. You
gave
me my life, the one I always wanted, and no man ever had a friend or a brother he loved more than I love you. I died doing what I was born to do, and I’m not entirely sure I’m done doing it yet. I’m still working on understanding the rules, and you may recall that I can be a little bit of a slow study. But tell Hurthang and the others how much they meant to me, and that the other lads and I will be waiting for them—and you, of course
.> He smiled again. <
Not that I have any grim portents of impending doom for any of you
.>

“And—” Bahzell paused and cleared his throat. “And I’m sure it’s glad they’ll all be to hear it,” he told his friend just a bit huskily.

<
Probably
.> Vaijon agreed. <
But in the meantime, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy. In fact, I see one—Well, never mind. That would be telling
.>

“I can see as there are some things even dying doesn’t change,” Bahzell said much more dryly, and Vaijon laughed.

<
Of course not, Bahzell! Where would be the fun in
that?> His body began to thin, becoming increasingly translucent, and his smile turned impish once more. <
But don’t worry! I’ll be keeping an eye on you. What else are friends for?
>

He was almost invisible now, and Bahzell seemed to feel a hand resting on his shoulder. It squeezed for just a moment, then released him, and he heard Vaijon’s laughing voice one last time.

<
After all, I’ll need to take lots of notes for the nights I spend helping Brandark work on new verses, won’t I?
>