Saying Goodbye - Chapter #90

Free Enterprise  -  Saying Goodbye -  Chapter #90



Tyr followed The Matriarch and entered the large common room where everything was set up. The elders had prepared Barbarossa's body, dressed him in his Nietzschean best, including his crown and bone blade gauntlets. They had laid him out in a flat, coffin-like case. All of this was set up on several saw-horse like stands.

Tyr stepped up to the case and gazed down at his father's face. They had loosed his gray dread locks and they now hung across his shoulders. One had to be blind as a bat not to see the strong family resemblance. If Tyr didn't know any better he would've thought Barbarossa was asleep.

Tyr looked to his right where a small portable table had been set up. On it rested the dagger in it's sheath, and Barbarossa's bone blades which were in a purple drawstring bag.

Tyr took up the dagger, reached down, and gently formed his father's stiffening fingers around the weapon, then arranged the clasped hands on his chest. Tyr then turned to reach for the bone blades and found them gone. He looked up and saw Victoria had the bag containing them clutched to her breast. Clearly, she had chosen to keep Barbarossa's bone blades as mementos.

Tyr then kissed his right palm and pressed the palm upon his father's brow.

“Goodbye Father.” Tyr thought.

He then turned to leave so that others could enter and pay their respects. As soon as he stepped out of the door, he was confronted by the Ceremonial Guard. Cornelius, the captain of the guard bowed before Tyr, the rest of his ranks following suit.

“We pledge ourselves to you. To protect you, your family and those you love, we would gladly lay down our lives for you, Sire!” Cornelius declared loudly. Totally stunning Tyr, who had momentarily forgotten he was now Viceroy. Grief had a way of doing that to a person.

“I accept your fealty Captain, and of your men.” Tyr replied. The men stood, saluted as one and returned to their positions.

“How long until sunrise?” Tyr asked Tamara.

“Three hours, twenty-five minutes.” she replied.

“Then we will have more than enough time.” Tyr replied. Nietzschean tradition dictated that the Arch Duke be interred just before sunrise if he was “dirtside”.

Victoria, Tyr, his wives, friends and Ceremonial Guard stood by and watched as the rest of the extended family and pride filed in to pay their last respects. After the last person filed by, the elders closed and sealed the case. Six elders took hold of the straps and lifted in unison.

One Nietzschean male was more than capable of carrying that case all by his lonesome. But, this part of ceremony was a throwback to their Human roots. Victoria, Tyr, his wives, family and friends formed up behind the elders as they marched out of The Arch Duke's house, and out of the compound. They all walked the two mile trek to the family interment grounds in silence, with the exception of a few sobs and whimpers from several young children.

When they arrived most of the crowd were left standing outside as the immediate family went in. They watched as the elders hoisted the case up on their shoulders, then over their heads, and slid it into the niche which had been prepared before hand. The waiting attendants then went to work sealing up the niche. Once that was done they would install a gold plaque on the front with Barbarossa's name and honorifics inscribed on it.

While the attendants were working, Khan raised his voice in song.

“A good man has left us today. Many good things he had done. . . . . . . .” the Katay started.

Suddenly hundreds of Katay voices took up the cue and continued the song. It was an ancient Katay war/death ballard, and Khan was honoring Barbarossa by singing it.

It was far too dark to see the Katay but they had made their presence known by singing. There had to be thousands of them. By the time the last note of the song died away, Tyr had goosebumps all over, and Victoria was crying. Tamara reached over to embrace and wipe her tears.

“We must return to the compound and prepare for The Speaking tonight.” Victoria snuffled as she dabbed her eyes. The Speaking was a memorial type gathering where all adults present gave a short testimony about the deceased.

It was the last thing Tyr wanted to attend, but since the Arch Duke was his father, it was required that he attend.

“And you my son, will have to prepare to receive guests bringing condolences.” Victoria continued. They stepped out of the mausoleum and were greeted with a faint “ribbon in the sky” start of sunrise.

Tyr thought of the heads of state and delegations from various Prides, who would be stopping by to express grief, bring gifts or tribute. Food and lodging had to be prepared for those who were making long trips. . . . . .

Most of all, people would want to see him. . . . . . .

“This looks like this is going to be a very long day. . . . . “ Tyr thought.