Chapter 2

Danday, 4 Zeanym, 1007 KR While Ceph prepped for the day, Rye wandered. Gazed at the altar. Pored over the wine selection. Taunted the crow. Watched Ceph. ~ Losday, 5 Zeanym, 1007 K R The mood wasn't dark at the Stop. Justcontemplative. There were unspoken words in the air, but they never smothered like the mists outside. ~ Brenday, 6 Zeanym, 1007 KR Ceph heard feet, and put on a smile for Old Tom. "Working already?" "Bar doesn't clean itself." "Make the bird do it. Have a drink with me." ~ Byrday, 7 Zeanym, 1007 KR Old Tom's laugh was a throaty affair. "Kid, you got a great life ahead of you." "You kidding?" Ceph grinned. "With my luck, I'll be dead before you are."

Lorday, 8 Zeanym, 1007 KR

A man had hanged himself in room 4. "Coward." Ceph cut him down. The crow cocked its head. "I'll judge if I want to," Ceph shot back. He liked when they passed in the night, peaceful. Like they'd been led here. Not like they'd sought it out, eager before their time.

Uunday, 9 Zeanym, 1007 KR

"One of these days, I'm moving next door," said the mortician. "I would save a lot of time."

Sunday, 10 Zeanym, 1007 KR "What do you do all day?" "I run a bar, Rye." "I mean, for fun." "You think it's not fun? You've never seen a drunk feyling."

~ Danday, 11 Zeanym, 1007 KR "Everyone wants Trysm copper; Angor can't compete!" Ceph frowned. Knew better. Images of the mine, rock, darknesshe snuck himself a drink.

~ Losday, 12 Zeanym, 1007 KR "You've never gotten laid?" the merchant asked. "Nope," Ceph said, then added innocently, "wait, does the bird count?"

Brenday, 13 Zeanym, 1007 KR Sometimes, neither of them would talk all morning, as Ceph prepared the bar. Ceph needed Rye's silence as much as he needed the bar's noise.

~ Byrday, 14 Zeanym, 1007 KR "You need another drink," Ceph said. The man shook his head. "No money." "It's on the bird. Tomorrow's a new day."

~ Lorday, 15 Zeanym, 1007 KR The weather was miserable, but Ceph needed supplies. "Don't talk to strangers," he told the hooded crow. "And keep Tom company for me."

Uunday, 16 Zeanym, 1007 KR "You want a drink?" Ceph asked. "Looking for work." "Doing what?" "Music." "Wrong kind of bar for music." "No. Exactly the right kind." "Why you, then?" "I've seen a lot of death." "You're blind." "How observant. Ass." But the minstrel grinned. "You can stay," Ceph said. "Just like that?" "Need someone to call me on my thoughtless quips sometimes. The crow just shits in my bed." "A wise bird. I'm Nael." "Ceph. And that's the shortest introduction I've heard from a bard in a while. You'll do well here."

Sunday, 17 Zeanym, 1007 KR "Ceph! We got a minstrel now?" Old Tom said. "How much you paying him for the privilege?" Ceph blinked. "I have to pay him, too?" ~ Danday, 18 Zeanym, 1007 KR "Morning, Ceph." "Why are you so cheerful?" "It's sunny out. We're going for a walk." "Rye, the bar" "Will not burn down. Come on."

~ Losday, 19 Zeanym, 1007 KR "If you haven't yet, perhaps it's not your Fate to die here." "Fate's wrong, then," Tom said. "I'm ready." "Justitia's books are not wrong."

Brenday, 20 Zeanym, 1007 KR

Nael's music was fitting. Serene. Somber. Haunting, at times. It never intruded, but did for the soul what camaraderie did for the heart.

Byrday, 21 Zeanym, 1007 KR "Great Mother Zeanil preserve us!" "No need. It happens," Ceph said. "She justdied!" "Welcome to the Stop," Old Tom said.

~ Lorday, 22 Zeanym, 1007 KR The patter of rain was all the company Ceph had that morning. He wondered where Rye was when not at the Stop. Where he wandered.

~ Uunday, 23 Zeanym, 1007 KR "Where'd you learn to play?" Ceph asked. "Theore's Duskrise College, at first, but I dropped out, Nael said. Travelling taught me more.

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Sunday, 24 Zeanym, 1007 KR The man went to his room, and only minutes later, the crow called. Patrons raised glasses to Azrael; Nael segued into a dirge. Their reactions to death were habit, like clockwork. But it was never without feeling, without respect paid. Every death had meaning.

~ Danday, 25 Zeanym, 1007 KR Death itself couldn't faze Ceph, but the willingness to go of those who came here always baffled him. Could you ever be ready to go?

~ Losday, 26 Zeanym, 1007 KR The hooded crow disappeared into the rafters, leaving Ceph and Rye to themselvesone watching while the other worked.

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Brenday, 27 Zeanym, 1007 KR

The mists were thick, clinging to clothing like a desperate lover's hands. Ceph walked the streets alone, surrounded by people walking alone.

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Byrday, 28 Zeanym, 1007 KR Zeanil creates life. Justitia keeps the books of Fate. Azrael harvests the dead. Cain leads the souls away. Zelda rules the shades. Ceph just observed the process. Over and over. ~ Lorday, 29 Zeanym, 1007 KR No one saw that Ceph wore a mask every evening, smiling and joking. No one but Old Tom. And Rye. And maybe the crow. ~ Uunday, 30 Zeanym, 1007 KR "Where did you grow up, Ceph?" Old Tom asked. "Here and there. I moved around a lot," Ceph said. The crow watched him. Tom always tried to get more out of Ceph; Ceph never gave it. Never asked in return. He didn't want to share the past. People had enough to worry about in the present. The past could inform, but he refused to dwell. Exceptall he did was dwell. ~ Sunday, 1 Gabrianym, 1007 KR They were warriors, bounty hunters in from the mountains. Everyone felt they didn't belong in this bar. Their raucous laughs grated. But Ceph heard one mention the bandits they had hunted down. He let them stay, though it meant regulars left early.

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Danday, 2 Gabrianym, 1007 KR "You okay?" Rye asked. "There was an accident. Up north," Ceph said. "Mine collapse." "You had a rough night." "Yeah." ~ Losday, 3 Gabrianym, 1007 KR For once, Ceph wondered about Nael's story. "You're not ready to die, are you?" he asked. "Are you?" Nael replied. And Ceph didn't know. ~ Brenday, 4 Gabrianym, 1007 KR "You fit in well here, Nael," Ceph said. "You sing, like they all talk, but you never say anything." "You're not listening hard enough."

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Byrday, 5 Gabrianym, 1007 KR It was a particularly rough night for Ceph. No matter what distraction he sought, the faces of the dead lurked behind his eyes. "You all right?" Old Tom asked. "Fine." "You don't sound it," Nael said. "Justtired," Ceph said. But he could tell they didn't buy it. "You don't have to put on a brave face," Tom said. "Not for us." But Ceph didn't do it for them. He did it for himself. Sometimes, it all felt so... final. For so many of them, it just ended, and Ceph was left alone once again. Always alone. Nael seemed to stare at him from beneath the bandage over his eyes. "None of us are alone on the journey. And the journey never ends. Do you know the story of Cain, the Twilight Prince?" "God of outcasts," Ceph said. "Leads the dead to the Shadowrealm." "Forever outcast, forever wandering," Nael said. Then he picked up his guitar and began to play the haunting Elegy of the Twilight Prince. He sang of a man who is cursed to wander the world eternally, with nowhere rest. A man who would not have it any other way, for the world lies waiting before him.

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