KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
That blushed and bloomed,
"It might," Korbin admitted. "It would scream that you disapproved of your brother as Warden too though." He regarded Loren, tried to weigh what he'd said so far against that little display of faith. "You may be right that he's committed to Halo, and that he means well. I guess, what we all question is whether he knows what Halo's best really is. Since he has made no attempt to be one of us." Loren had done more to that end in a few weeks than Neron had in years. If it was a choice between which brother to choose... But it was more than that.
He grew quiet again, lost in thought. Bowing his head to show he heard the advice, he didn't respond. But after a while, his fingers found their way back to the instrument, and the melody that rose this time was distinct. Simple, sweet and a bit melancholy, it repeated itself, the echo within the cave building a chorus that billowed and flowed. Like the wind whipping snow about outside.
"Firelight on a moonless night,
oh Mother, we have far to go
A long road yet back to heart and home,
and oh, how the wind is howling
It's a baying wolf, it's a dawn-cold smile,
it's a promise of an end to sorrow
Don't listen to the sweetest voice in the dark,
oh, Mother, it's the Eirachi calling..."
His voice was deep and rich, smooth as smoke and honey and moved easily through the register. The song spoke of a long journey undertaken at night, and the many struggles that had to be overcome. It was told from the perspectives of a child, that saw the troubles as the tricks of the Eirachi and navigated them through with clever advice.
There were many verses, and they all detailed ways to survive in Halo. How to stay warm. How to find food, and shelter, how to hunt and fish.
It was, as seemed universal throughout many worlds, a childrens song. Haunting and grim... predictably, it ended with the child building a pyre for its mother.
"...oh Mother, may you now burn brightly."
Korbin grew quiet, and stilled the vibration of the tines with the slow touch of a hand.
He grew quiet again, lost in thought. Bowing his head to show he heard the advice, he didn't respond. But after a while, his fingers found their way back to the instrument, and the melody that rose this time was distinct. Simple, sweet and a bit melancholy, it repeated itself, the echo within the cave building a chorus that billowed and flowed. Like the wind whipping snow about outside.
"Firelight on a moonless night,
oh Mother, we have far to go
A long road yet back to heart and home,
and oh, how the wind is howling
It's a baying wolf, it's a dawn-cold smile,
it's a promise of an end to sorrow
Don't listen to the sweetest voice in the dark,
oh, Mother, it's the Eirachi calling..."
His voice was deep and rich, smooth as smoke and honey and moved easily through the register. The song spoke of a long journey undertaken at night, and the many struggles that had to be overcome. It was told from the perspectives of a child, that saw the troubles as the tricks of the Eirachi and navigated them through with clever advice.
There were many verses, and they all detailed ways to survive in Halo. How to stay warm. How to find food, and shelter, how to hunt and fish.
It was, as seemed universal throughout many worlds, a childrens song. Haunting and grim... predictably, it ended with the child building a pyre for its mother.
"...oh Mother, may you now burn brightly."
Korbin grew quiet, and stilled the vibration of the tines with the slow touch of a hand.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Of the old time entombed.
