Re: Heaven's a Lie (Aust Nailo)
(Sorry again. June and July were not the easiest months for me. So I'll get back onto a regular schedule asap.)
Out of obligation, Irine decided to attend the childs wake first, arriving at the new house in relative silence. The service itself seemed fairly typical: somber, reserved and beyond depressing. The death of anyone in this cruel world was a sad affair. But the death of a child was just plain tragic, especially when it could have been prevented by the right measures. But on top of all of this, the addition of resentment only added a greater deal of pressure to the situation. She would have to plan her next few moves very carefully. If she did anything out of turn here, she'd be lynched on the spot. No one even said a word to her as she made her way to the body, her head simply bowed in respect for the departed. Finding a clear enough spot on the floor, Irine would fall to her knees reciting a memorized blessing for the departed, asking certain gods various forms of protection for the departed, including her own patron deity in the final line "And may Mother Notos grant his spirit wings and a fair wind to carry him to the beyond, where he may know true joy and happiness."
Following her closing, she again plucked a feather from her body and placed it before the deceased, another tribute to her patron in the hopes that she would hear the priestesses blessing. Standing, she'd make her way to the boys parents, taking a deep breath and preparing for whatever they had to say following her condolences "You have my most heartfelt condolences. I am truly sorry that I couldn't have done more to protect him. The failure was mine." She knew it was very little, but it would put her mind at rest if she at least offered this much to the family. And whatever they had in response. She wasn't going to stay much longer, feeling that people might not want her there much longer. She didn't want to overstay her welcome.