Not a warrior...

That evening, after the funeral pyre ceremony. Kiril motions to both Penladan and Spring to stay a moment. When both of them are close, he says," We suffered a loss today. We lost a valued comrade. But while you might look on this as a defeat or a setback, don't. It is nothing of the sort. We defeated, sent back to the Hell it crawled from, an unnatural Demon Spawn. It did not belong here. And now it is banished through its destruction. Yes, we lost one of us. But normal folk can't stand up yo such as that. But we did, not without a grievous loss, but we did it. No, don't feel defeated, instead feel Elation!" The last word is said with a shout.

Looking steadily and determinedly at the both of them , he reaches his right arm to grasp Penladan's forearm in a soldiers arm clasp. Then releasing him, he turns to squarely face Spring. "I think you may take this hardest. Your not a warrior, not used to the brutality and horrible finality that comes with the losing side of battle. Sadly, you will get used to it. And your magical prowess has yet to grow into its full strength. But Spring, it will. And soon the damage we do will pale in comparison to what you will be able to do with a mere whim.  Do not be disheartened."

Then, suddenly, Kiril grinned, turning the formerly grim lines of his face into a mischievous heartiness. "Indeed someday, Penladan and I can tell stories to the awe and amazement of our audience. "The Great and Powerful Spring. you say? Why I knew her when she was barely more than an apprentice, you know. Ah, those were some heady days, let me me tell you!..."

And he pulls her into a hug. "It will be alright. I promise to be here for you until you get over this." Releasing her, he steps back, addresses both of them, and now, lets get some rest, we have more still to do, though I believe the worst is now behind us, at least in that pile of ruins. Morning will come soon enough for all of us.

Kiril turns and begins to walk away, singing a Elven song of Martial Glory called "The flight of the White Swans", A uplifting song of triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, The white swans for the fletching used on the arrows. Any who hears the song can't help but to feel their spirits lifted a bit.

After finding out, that indeed, there will be no bringing Valeros back from his fate, arranging for his body to be cleaned and prepared, then talking with Alma, is the next order of business. It is now very late, but he am not nearly ready to end this day.

"No, I shall go out and cleanse myself in the sands, under the rising moon's light, maybe some more exercises to wear me out so I can find the requisite state of tiredness, so sleep may come to gather me up", Kiril thinks to himself.

"And to ponder on my thoughts of Spring. Spring. Yes, I must come to terms with these burgeoning feelings" he further muses.

So, later, a restless, saddened young man is found a short distance away from the camp. Having alerted the sentries to where he would be; he doesn't want to cause an alarm if they should spy him moving about on the fringes of their paths. Kiril is stripped down to his skin, though he does still have his sword sheathed and attached to his belt, being the only item of clothing that is still being worn. Being without armor is one thing. Weaponless in these lands is just insanity.

Kiril attends to his cleansing, and his exercises.

o0o