#sedara

“And that has made all the difference.”  breathing in gently Zalin exhaled with almost a sense of joy.  Eyes falling on the unmarked grave. “It's remarkable what you can accomplish with the right people surrounding you.”  The stone lay against a tree, just a simple black tablet but it spoke volumes to the man that laid it there.  “I haven’t been around in a long time, I’ve gotten a promotion, I am a Dawnward now.  However...”

Gentle breezes began to play with the leaves. “I am still struggling with this head of house thing, I wish~ I had your guidance. Seilaran has come by it so naturally, she leads us with the grace of an elegant crane, I am more like a drunken Hawkstrider.

“Where she was molded for this role, to lead, I have only been trained as a soldier.  That isn’t even the worst of it.”    Shifting to find a comfortable place next to the grave his smile fades.

“I am still stained with the sins of our family.”  Hands falling into his lap.  Another sigh escapes his lips fading away with the rolling of the clouds.  “What do you think I should do?”

Continue your path, you have come this far.  You brought a dying family back into the light, and it’s up to you to see their future.

Never knowing if the words in his mind were really the advice of his mother or merely what he wanted to hear, he nodded regardless.  “I am sorry I haven’t visited sooner, nor that I didn’t bring flowers.”  Shrugging he bumped his head against the tree.    

“I promise next time I come back it will be with better news.”