Another year, another lantern chosen, and Hadama inclined his head in honor of the raggedy god as its choice was made. He did not know the woman who appeared from Mort's Halls to grace them again for a night, but he knew the one she stood beside, and the quiet pang of sorrow in his heart was salved somewhat by seeing Isla's wish granted.
His roving gaze found his other lanterns, dark amidst the starlight, their lights extinguished for another year. His eyes settled longest on Ray's and he drew in a slow breath, tasting the smoke of snuffed candles even as he lifted the lantern in his arms to study its now-shadowed etchings.
"Perhaps next year," he murmured. Perhaps to himself. Perhaps to the man the lantern represented. Perhaps to Ludo itself.
But he was Safrin's, heart and soul, and there was a price that came with such power. To chose one side was to forever lose the other, and he drew a second deep breath before he tucked the lantern securely under his arm and moved, at last, towards the place where food and drinks - and friends - had been gathered.
His roving gaze found his other lanterns, dark amidst the starlight, their lights extinguished for another year. His eyes settled longest on Ray's and he drew in a slow breath, tasting the smoke of snuffed candles even as he lifted the lantern in his arms to study its now-shadowed etchings.
"Perhaps next year," he murmured. Perhaps to himself. Perhaps to the man the lantern represented. Perhaps to Ludo itself.
But he was Safrin's, heart and soul, and there was a price that came with such power. To chose one side was to forever lose the other, and he drew a second deep breath before he tucked the lantern securely under his arm and moved, at last, towards the place where food and drinks - and friends - had been gathered.
