So, so many. He had not known what to expect, but it hadn't been all of these, lost souls in a parade, a throng, a stream that gathered around them and walked in peace in the light of an otherworldly lantern, to the tune of a song no mortal had composed. Jigano shivered in spite of his awe - or perhaps because of it. These were not vengeful spirits but gentle souls, lost in the dark, but no longer alone as they found each other and the light, found Amalia and the guidance of Ludo in her hand.
He sang on, voice raised as his training and endurance took over long past the time a normal melody might have ended. Ludo had, he hoped, chosen him for this task because he was a bard, with the skill to sing for hours on end if he needed to. Even the hawk that alit on his shoulder, a cool breeze against the side of his face, didn't shake the resolve of his voice, but eventually he began to worry past the honor and pride of serving as Ludo's herald. They had been walking for so long, and he knew the woodlands, had run them in his foxform for months now. They should have been forced to turn aside by now, and he didn't recognize the landmarks-
Amalia's voice echoed his thoughts aloud, and he squeezed her hand gently. His voice softened a little, unsure of whether he should keep singing or not... but he had the feeling that stopping now might not be wise. Stay brave, he thought to her, his mental voice faint with the reluctance he still felt at using it with others. But Amalia was closer to him be far than Caiside, and some of that affection warmed his quiet tone. We'll walk until we find the sunrise again, if we have to. For us, and our precious charges.
He sang on, voice raised as his training and endurance took over long past the time a normal melody might have ended. Ludo had, he hoped, chosen him for this task because he was a bard, with the skill to sing for hours on end if he needed to. Even the hawk that alit on his shoulder, a cool breeze against the side of his face, didn't shake the resolve of his voice, but eventually he began to worry past the honor and pride of serving as Ludo's herald. They had been walking for so long, and he knew the woodlands, had run them in his foxform for months now. They should have been forced to turn aside by now, and he didn't recognize the landmarks-
Amalia's voice echoed his thoughts aloud, and he squeezed her hand gently. His voice softened a little, unsure of whether he should keep singing or not... but he had the feeling that stopping now might not be wise. Stay brave, he thought to her, his mental voice faint with the reluctance he still felt at using it with others. But Amalia was closer to him be far than Caiside, and some of that affection warmed his quiet tone. We'll walk until we find the sunrise again, if we have to. For us, and our precious charges.
