She bit her lip and nodded.
“LeBron’s death rites will be different from those you’ve seen. The firnam may be physically difficult for you. It may also be hard on you emotionally. We will celebrate him as a warrior who died a warrior’s death. But if you are willing, there is a place for you in this ceremony.”
Lily was silent for a long moment, then sighed, slow and deep. “Yes. I want to be part of it. They aren’t going to let me out of here real soon, though.”
“Soon enough.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ll let Alex know. He’s making the arrangements.” He needed to tell her what had happened at Nokolai Clanhome last night. She still didn’t know that Benedict had been gifted with a Chosen, much less that the woman had snuck into Clanhome for some unknown purpose involving unknown potions. But not now. She was exhausted, dragged down by grief and more than one kind of pain. “I know you dislike being doped up, but I think you—”
His stomach growled.
Her laugh was weak, a little breathless, but real. “I’ll take my drug now. And you’ll go eat.”
“I believe I will,” he said wryly. “I’ll ask Jeff to remain on the other side of your door, not inside the room.”
She gave him a level look. “I can live with that for now. We’re going to talk about this business of guards again.”
“I can live with that.” He carried her hand to his lips for another kiss. “For now.”
RULE left as soon as Lily downed her pain pill. He spoke with Jeff first. The youngster was barely trained, and he wanted to be sure Jeff didn’t allow anyone in the room other than medical personnel he’d already seen and smelled. Unless the police came again, of course. Which they undoubtedly would, and probably sooner rather than later. Jeff couldn’t ban them, but he could summon Rule, and he could go into the room with them.
Rule also told Jeff that Lily would participate in the firnam . Jeff nodded solemnly. “Good. That’s good. She’ll be the wounded? Though with so few reliquae—” He stopped, blinking. “I shouldn’t assume.”
“True, but you may always assume I honor those who serve. LeBron won’t be slighted. I will serve as reliquae also, and I’ll bring all of my Leidolf guards here for the firnam.”
Jeff’s eyes widened. “You will? The guys will be glad to hear that. I knew the clan’s coffers were low, so I didn’t think they’d be able to, but—now, don’t take this wrong. Me and the guys will be honored to have you serve with us, but some of the older clan … well, they’re used to doing things a certain way.”
Leidolf’s style of firnam set the Rho apart, rather than having him serve as reliquae alongside the other witnesses. “Tradition is important. I’m returning Leidolf to some of the older traditions. It will be at least a week and probably longer before we can hold the ceremony.”
“That’s not a problem. Uh … I talked to Samuel earlier to see how he was holding up. He said you called and told him about his father yourself. I guess you called both of LeBron’s sons, and their granddad, too.”
“Of course.” Such a duty could not be delegated.
“You called them while Lily was in surgery. You told Samuel that she’d lived to be operated on because of his father’s courage.”
Rule nodded, unsure of Jeff’s point. Did he need reassurance that Rule could be a proper Rho to Leidolf?
Jeff sighed. “I miss LeBron. It was a good death, but I miss him something fierce. I wish I knew who to kill.”
“So do I,” Rule said. “Though we may not be able to … ah.” Relief dawned as he saw who was coming down the hall. “The others have arrived.”
Alex had sent five guards. Two replaced Jeff at Lily’s door; one went with Rule to the Courtyard Café. The other two, along with Jeff, would have the night shift, though one would run an errand first. Rule needed his laptop.
Rule hadn’t originally intended to go to the café, which was in another building, but with additional guards around Lily, he decided he could take a little more time. The café offered freshly cooked food and real coffee. Starbucks might not be his first choice, but they brewed real coffee.
Rule ordered three eggs over easy with hash browns, a double side of bacon, and biscuits. His guard—Randy Carlson, a bulky young man with sun-streaked brown hair and a mustache—had already eaten, as per instructions. Rule had made sure that any lupi he brought into the hospital were well fed. Randy took up position at a nearby table where he could sip coffee and watch.
Once Rule finished eating, he slipped on an earbud and made some calls. The first went to Alex, who needed to know Lily’s status and that she would participate in the vitae reliquus . Next was his father, who also needed to know about Lily. It was very early in San Diego, but Isen slept even less than Rule did. Rule expected him to be up, and he was.
They talked about Lily first and the surgeon’s unwelcome expectations. Briefly then they touched on Clanhome’s odd late-night visitor. She was still unconscious, just as she’d predicted. That was a curious business, but after asking a few questions he hadn’t had time for earlier, Rule left the matter in Isen’s and Benedict’s hands. There was clan business to deal with.
He spoke with formal courtesy. “The Leidolf Rho wishes to speak with the Nokolai Rho.”
“The Nokolai Rho greets the Leidolf Rho, and offers condolences on the loss of your clansman.”
“Thank you. I’ve a request to make. I hope you will grant permission to those Nokolai guards who served with my clansman to attend the firnam, if they so wish, that they may act as reliquae.”
“Ah.” Silence for a moment. Rule knew Isen was thinking quickly, considering angles. Having more than one clan serve as reliquae was unusual, but not unheard of—save between Nokolai and Leidolf. Reliquae—a term also used by the Catholic Church, though in a different context—meant those who were left behind. They were drawn from those who had served in combat with the fallen warrior. Guarding a Rho was considered a combat position; all those who had served as guards with LeBron were eligible to act as reliquae.
At one time, every clan had observed the same death rites for its warriors. Some clans still followed the old custom in which a Rho served as simply another reliquae for any who fell in his service. That was Nokolai’s practice, for in death all who serve the clan and the Lady are equal. Some clans—such as Leidolf—elevated the Rho’s role in the reliquus . Rule disliked that practice heartily.
Isen spoke formally. “I am pleased by your request and grant it gladly. As a token of Nokolai’s appreciation of Leidolf’s sacrifice and your clansman’s courage, Nokolai will pay the travel expenses of any who accept your invitation. Do you wish to extend the invitation yourself?”
“I do. I thank you. You should know that I’ve already invited one Nokolai. I apologize for not consulting you first.”
“I assume you mean Lily.”
“Yes.”
“She wouldn’t know she needed my permission—or care. You do know, but I choose not to find insult in this omission. There was a need?”
“The manner of LeBron’s death affects her strongly.”
“I see. Tell her—no, she won’t need to hear from her Rho. I would speak with my son.”
“I’m here.”