Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
T he wake went on well into the night until finally the last of the relatives left. After a few hours of sleep, the pack mates were sitting around the kitchen table eating breakfast – and pretty much everyone was overdosing on coffee.
“You did well, Puff,” Oz said looking at him. “But can I suggest that you do actually stop talking for a few days, otherwise your voice will never come back. Just talk to us via the pack link.”
Puff nodded. Yeah, that probably would help.
“It will,” Ajax agreed.
“I’m still holding out hope that Puff talks by interpretive dance.” Ash grinned Puff’s way.
Puff gave a silent laugh. That is never gonna happen.
The clinking of a knife against a cup cut through their conversation. As silence descended, everyone looked at Blake, who stood up.
“I want to thank everyone for yesterday. The families were pleased with the vigil and burials. We now have the gargoyle vigils to go to. The wonder twins, Puff, Mateo, Atticus, Tudor, Dane, Donovan, Jason, Ares, and myself will be staying at the gargoyle palace until the burials. Any packmates who want to come and support Tudor are most welcome.
Ares is also bringing the gargoyle guards back to the Palace. General Delinga has doubled the dragon guards to cover for the gargoyles. Any dragon that wants to attend the vigil and burials can. I think that’s it.”
“I think I speak for all of us when I say, we all want to come and support our Tudor,” London said, smiling the gargoyle’s way.
“Thanks the next few days won’t be a fun experience but I thank you all for coming to support us you have no idea what it means to me.” He stopped talking when Alex touched his arm.
Twilight that evening saw Tudor and the other kings and consorts again wearing their finery and crowns.
The pack mates had been stunned upon seeing the gargoyle palace.
“Wow, Tudor, you used to live here?” Ash gushed with wide eyes.
Tudor nodded. “I did our pack house is much more comfortable,”
Dane touched his arm. “It really is,” he agreed.
Everyone had been shown to their rooms and lunch had been eaten. The kings, led by Tudor and Alex, had welcomed the families of the fallen and then led them to the gargoyle burial ground. It was a large, well-kept space; the perfect peaceful oasis. Like the dragon vigil, altars were standing at the ready.
The pack mates stood flanking Tudor and Alex, the families close. The gargoyle guards formed a ring around them, and the dragons created an outer ring.
Donovan looked to Tudor and nodded. Taking a breath, Tudor stepped forward.
“We are here today to start the vigil for our fallen guards taken from us far too soon I mean they should have had a long and happy life ...”
Alex stepped forward and placed his hand on Tudor’s back.
Tudor stopped and blew out a breath. “We can’t bring them back but we can hold this space for them it was the God Ares who told us of this old tradition and we that is King Blake King Puff King Bob and I have embraced it.”
Alex patted his back and Tudor took another breath. “We are here to hold the space for Captain Tommy Globe.”
A body appeared shrouded on the first altar.
“Corporal Jackal Knight.”
His shrouded body appeared on the second altar.
“And Sergeant Earla Palmer.”
Her shrouded body appeared on the final altar.
“Consort Alex King Father Donovan Prince Dane and myself will hold the space until twilight tomorrow evening everyone is welcome to stay and hold the space or come and go whatever you feel comfortable with.”
Again, Alex gently patted his back.
Tudor looked to the west and the setting of the sun. “It is time,” he declared, taking his crown off and passing it to Puff to hold. Meanwhile, Alex took his off and passed it to Baylan to hold and Dane took his off, passing it to Peyton to hold.
Alex was adamant he wanted to shift as well, and Ares had promised to keep them safe. Hades surprised everyone by turning up, and he also promised to keep Alex safe.
Tudor shifted into his half-human, half-gargoyle self. He would fully shift later.
“Shift and hold the space with me,” Tudor said in a deep voice.
Suddenly, hundreds of gargoyles were surrounding the altars.
Alex shifted into his black unicorn and settled down next to Tudor with Donovan and Dane at their sides.
Puff sat down on the ground, he would stay and hold the space as well. Mateo and Atticus blanketed him. Their other pack mates settled down and kept vigil with them. Then Han turned up and joined them.
Twilight was falling the next evening. Everyone was back forming circles around the area.
A few hours into the vigil, Tudor had changed into his proper stone form. Now, he shifted back into his human form. He heard a click and was suddenly clothed. He smiled at Ares.
Puff stepped forward and held his crown out to him.
He placed it on his head and looked around. “Shift back now,” Tudor commanded.
Everyone shifted back. Baylan passed Alex his crown and Peyton passed Dane his crown.
As soon as everyone was dressed, Tudor stepped forward, Alex by his side. “Thank you my friends for holding the space with us I’m sure our fallen appreciated it now it is time for anyone who wants to say a few words to step forward and share them with us.”
Alex gently touched his back.
Family members came forward to say words, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but all heartfelt.
Finally, General Gasgoyne came forward. “It’s a sad day when guards die, to have three pass on the same day is beyond difficult. I find solace in the fact that they are now resting in Elysium. They will be missed.”
The general stepped back and Tudor looked at Alex. Three graves appeared.
“If any family member would like to lower their loved one into their graves, you can do so now,” Alex said.
Two older men stepped forward with one young-looking lad and picked up their loved ones’ bodies and laid them in the graves. They each picked up a handful of dirt and sprinkled it on the bodies. More family members came forward and finally, they all stepped back and Alex filled the rest of the graves in.
Headstones appeared and now the funerals were over.
“Thank you all of you whether gargoyle or not for holding the space with us food has been laid out in the palace grounds so please help yourselves,” Tudor said.
Alex gently patted his lower back.
People started to move, some towards the graves and others off to get food.
Tudor turned to look at his friends and packmates. “Thank you all of you for your support you have no idea how much that means to me.” Alex took his hand.
“You did really well, Tudor,” Windsor said to him. It was a sentiment that was soon echoed by everyone.
“Thank you it was hard and sad but on the plus side I didn’t cry.”
“I’m so proud of you, Tudor,” Donovan said to him. “You did the gargoyles proud.”
“Thank you Dad I tried to channel you because you’re always so dignified.”
Donovan touched his arm. “Thank you. Also, King Father?”
Tudor nodded. “Well you are some places have Queen Mothers you’re my father so King Father I couldn’t just refer to you as dad or Donovan we’ll have to get you a crown made.”
“The queen’s crown is available,” Dane said with a grin.
Those gathered laughed as Donovan looked at Dane. “I am not wearing the queen’s crown.”
“I don’t know, Donovan, I think you’d look fetching in it,” Blake said laughing.
Donovan rolled his eyes. “Come on, folks, let’s go and eat. We should mingle with the guests.”
The pack mates walked off to get food and Tudor looked towards the graves where one lone man stood.
Tudor dropped Alex’s hand and went to stand by him. He looked to be in his late teens or early twenties.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Tudor said simply.
“Are you?” the man bit out. “Isn’t it your fault they died?”
“No, they were killed by dream walkers sent by a demon,” Tudor said softly.
The angry young man turned and glared at Tudor. “They died because of you. Because you moved the guards to live in a wolf pack. You gave no thought to the families that were left behind, did you? No, because you’re a pathetic wannabe king. You deposed your father to take his place and this is the result, these deaths. My brother’s death is on you,” he bit out loudly.
“Now wait a minute,” he heard Donovan say as he stormed over.
“It’s okay Dad,” Tudor said, placing a hand on his forearm and stalling him.
The young man looked at Donovan. “How could you let this waste of space be king? Does the gargoyle race mean nothing to you?”
Tudor felt his friends and pack mates near and drew strength from them. “Blaming my father is uncalled for I was made King of the gargoyles and all flying shifters by Lord Zeus himself and everyone has assured me he doesn’t make mistakes.”
The young man snorted.
“Do I feel worthy of being king to our amazing people no do I wish my father was still king yes with all my heart everyone knows there is a war coming a demon by the name of Barnabus is trying to start one our fallen were casualties of this demon he is trying to break our alliance with the dragons but the thing is King Puff and King Bob as well as King Blake are all my friends and family and we can’t be broken.” Tudor felt someone touch his arm, he didn’t look away but he did take a large breath. “I can’t even begin to tell you how upset I am that our guards and dragon guards died the other day it shouldn’t have happened but it did and there’s nothing any of us can do to change that all we can do is keep working together to try and stop the demon before war breaks out and many more people die.”
“You have every right to feel angry,” Donovan said to the young man. “Scream, shout, and rant at the unfairness of it all, and if it makes you feel better, blame us. But never again call into question our loyalty. Tudor is an amazing king, and I’m so proud of him. And as for bringing our guards’ families over, yes, we have talked about it, but at the moment, we have nowhere for families to live and it would be unfair to have them live in tents. Would you not agree?”
The young man nodded reluctantly.
“Even though your brother has died you and your family can still move with us if that’s what you want,” Tudor said to him.
The young man swallowed and seemed to retreat in on himself. “There’s only me. Jackal was my only family.”
“If you want to stay here you can, but you’re more than welcome to move in with the other gargoyles,” Blake offered, stepping forward.
“But I’m not a guard,” he replied.
“I’m sure we can find something for you to do,” Blake told him. “But, I won’t let you abuse King Tudor or the King Father again. This is the only time you get to talk to them like that. If you do it again, you’ll see why Tudor is king.”
The young man nodded, before half turning away. “You still need to die,” he said and suddenly he swung back round with a knife in his hand, slashing out at Tudor.