Lucien was allowed out of bed two days later.
Cienna would probably have preferred keeping him there longer, but Lucien had reached the point where lying still hurt more than walking.
Luke remained under stricter supervision.
His wound had not penetrated deeply enough to threaten his organs, but it had torn across enough flesh that any careless movement could reopen it. Cienna had apparently decided that Lucien was merely stubborn while Luke was actively irresponsible.
Lucien saw no reason to disagree.
His first destination was not the damaged wall.
The village buried its dead that morning.
The graves had been prepared on a gentle rise beyond the western fields, where several generations of villagers already rested beneath simple stone markers.
Most of the settlement attended.
Lucien stood beside Luke and Cienna while the two bodies were lowered into the earth.
There were no elaborate ceremonies.
