Kelton dropped to his knees, his arms going limp as control of his extremities became difficult. He heard Juno scream and tried to ignore it, concentrating only on their last kiss. As his vision and hearing faded, there were two more yells. The King's massive blade passed harmlessly through the Goddess, followed by another useless attempt by Gossamer. They would die for me, Kelton thought - proof his life was not wholly false.

Pain, far beyond the lesson, coursed through Kelton. It was as if his skin was being torn from his body from the inside. Now blind, deaf, and mute, he wished he could have seen his mother one last time. Odd, how people became more important than events in the end. The land pulled him downward and thought drifted into the wind.

Then the pain stalled. Something was impeding the tearing of Kelton's soul. His thoughts began to resolidify, and with them, the realization of being entwined with the sister he had barely known. A beautiful being unfettered by his body's sins. She had one desire, and that was to remain close and feed off the joys Kelton could find in life. Their mother's return was the peak of her existence as if they were unwhole prior. She lingered over the memory of the futures Kelton had seen, the ones where Juno was heavy with child. Any young ones would be hers as well, at least as her desires saw it. Every time Kelton had held a babe, she was there adding her enchantment - he had long wondered why the sensation of those tiny smiles was so powerful. There was a stubbornness in his sister that would not surrender easily. The pain returned as she pulled against the Goddess. It was a feeble attempt that should never succeed against such power, yet Kelton felt himself reforming.

Hearing was the first sense to return. A delightful sound filled Kelton's ears, a song that wrapped the world in a warm blanket.

Serenity sang as she walked toward the hideous shifting thing. Audria moved alongside and grasped her hand. Serenity used Audria's strength to increase the power of her song. The being - the Goddess, as the visions had named her - stopped undulating, softening the terror she projected.

Juno, who was struggling to revive Kelton, slowed at the sound. She looked toward the Goddess and then Serenity and came to a decision. Through tears, she added her voice to Serenity's - sweet Sorrinian words, a lullaby to the Goddess.

The Cursed on the field began to add their voices. The Goddess looked confused, the claw that stretched toward Kelton lowered, warping into a more delicate human-like form. The Sorrinian Queen rose from the ground and added her voice, a command to the others. The deep voices of the Sorrinian men grew the song in new dimensions as if all other sound had been erased from the world. An echo of the song reverberated from the trees as the Cursed, who had not participated in the battle, joined the chorus.

Serenity smiled when she secured the Goddess' attention. The smile was mirrored on the Goddess, and her face softened more. Love was a weapon for which the Goddess had no shield.

The blackness began to dissolve into colors as Kelton's vision returned. Kneeling next to his head was Juno, her hand idle on his cheek as she sang. His first thought was that she was too close, granting an easy target for the Goddess' vengeance.

Kelton's chest refilled with air, a reflex helped by the returning awareness. He forced his eyes to find the Goddess, a monumental task. The visage was no longer shifting erratically. It was molding slowly, the face and body shifting into that of a young woman, though scars began to form - a strange mix of corrupted normality.

The Goddess' eyes shifted, the nose shrank, and the cheekbones rose to join the smile that no longer looked odd. The face was Audria, yet Kelton doubted the naked form fit what was beneath the real Audria's clothes. It was far too voluptuous, the sheer attractiveness camouflaging the Brethren's burns and scars.

Kelton strained his neck, tilting his head so that he could see who had distracted the Goddess. It was Serenity, hand in hand with Audria. Even though the song was echoed by many, her voice was above the rest. Kelton smiled, though he suspected it did not make it to his lips. Serenity had found her purpose.

"My love," Juno said, her hands cradling Kelton's face. His movements broke her from the song but did not stall her tears. Her smile was a crooked thing marred by fear.

It hurt, but Kelton forced his smile to find his lips. He could not stand to see fear Juno's face, not if he still breathed.

"That is not me," Audria whispered. It looked as if Serenity was in a trance, singing to the thing that had shifted into a version of Audria and started to move closer. The face was close, or at least as close as she had seen in a pond on a clear day. It was the body that was not, and Serenity should know it. A firm squeeze of Audria's hand told her Serenity knew, though her eyes and voice did not falter.

The scars from blade and fire were there, each in its proper place. It was strange to see such things on another. Odder still, that the entity knew what it could not see, duplicating the disfigurement with such precision only to fail terribly with the figure as a whole. There was tautness where there should have been sag, and the belly was flatter. Curves were accentuated, and the skin color healthier than the pale temple-white forced upon her by lack of sun.

"You sing to me," the entity said, her voice sounding like Audria yet with more resonance and beauty. It was hypnotic in a way.

"Aye," Serenity replied. The song was continued by the hundreds who had latched onto Serenity's verses. "Like a sunrise, beauty deserves a song."

"It has been so long since I have heard it," the entity said. She moved closer, so Audria took a step forward - an instinct to protect Serenity, the one person in the world worth her life.

The entity saw the movement, and her attention shifted to Audria. "You value my daughter," the entity said. A confusing statement or question, Audria could only guess.

"With my life," Audria said with a determination bordering on anger. Arguing with oneself was irritating at best. She felt Serenity squeeze her hand again.

The entity's visage shifted again, molding into a perfection that forced a gasp from Audria. Serenity stood holding her hand, yet she now stood in front of Audria unclothed. Audria's anger fled as confusion reigned.

The faux Serenity smiled. "You are my daughter's daughter. You are one and one. Both are one."

Audria surmised that the entity thought in images, ones pulled from minds. It was an impossible thing, yet it stood before her, yanking Serenity's naked image from her thoughts. Audria smiled - that meant the image of her was pulled from Serenity's mind. Audria was far more beautiful in Serenity's thoughts than in the world. She turned to Serenity. "Aye," she replied. "We are one."

"We are one," Serenity confirmed.

"The song, they sing for me," the entity said as if Audria could not hear it. She understood not a word of it, but the sound of it could not be ignored. The Sorrinian men saw to that with their deep volume.

"Your daughters will sing to you each morn," Serenity said. "We will add to our numbers and teach them to sing of your love as the sun rises."

"Daughters? I have lost so many," the entity said, her face distorting.

Audria started to put together what was happening. She was looking at the power that fueled the Brethren, the one they tried to teach her to pray to. A being misguided, at least in terms of normality. Serenity meant to lead her from one duty to another. It was true; they would have to be much better than their mothers.

"There are many daughters still," Audria said, thinking of the Chosen, who now lacked Brethren. They were lost, but duty could be given to them, duty they were already leaning toward. "We will teach them of your love, and each morn, they will sing for you."

"Aye, my lovely Goddess," Serenity said. "A sisterhood who spreads your love across the land. All will know, and all will rejoice."

The entity closed her eyes, and joy spread across her Serenity-face. Her skin began to glow, adding grace to the most perfect of figures. "Ahh, my one, my one. You are my one." Her shape shifted, a merging of Audria and Serenity.

"Rest now, my Goddess," Serenity said, her voice filled with adoration. "We will see to it all."

"Rest," the entity said, her voice drifting away as was her body. "My one, my one, my..." She was gone.

Audria let a deep breath escape. "How did you know?"

"Something told me," Serenity said with confusion. "I know not what, but it showed me paths to morrows beyond count." She smiled softly. "I chose one that contained us for many winters."

"You have seen our deaths?"

"It is hard to explain," Serenity said, taking both of Aurdia's hands in hers. "The paths shatter apart, though some remain strong intertwining with the many. I saw you and duty. We can save the many Daphnes who hide in the temples. What I saw may or may not be, for the paths shift on the smallest of things, but it is the road I choose to follow, and it began with the song my mother taught me."

Audria smiled. "You chose me."

"Aye."

"We are to be mothers, you and I together," Audria said.

"For Daphne," Serenity said.

"Aye," Audria agreed. Daphne weighed heavily on Serenity, and for that alone, Audria would absorb the duty as her own. Who would know the Chosen better than her, and who would care more for them than Serenity. There was power in the two of them together - and it was a great bonus if it gave Serenity joy.

Kelton attempted to sit up, a clumsy effort that had him flopping back down. It felt as if he could only control a muscle or two at a time. The combined effort of arms, legs, and back was too much for his mind. Things were reconnecting slowly - at least, it was a steady increase.

"What did that thing do?" Juno demanded. Her concern was lovely. She shifted and placed Kelton's head in her lap - a loving pillow. Her hands were silk and her words sweet cream - worth far more than before since he almost lost them.

"A slap, nothing more," Kelton lied. "I will be whole soon."

Gossamer plopped down next to Kelton, his body looking ragged. "I thought we lost you," he said with winded words.

Kelton turned his head, his eyes pointing to Serenity, who was approaching. "It seems I have a persuasive friend."

The King set his monstrous sword into the ground and sat as well. Everyone was having trouble standing. "What was that thing - swords travel through it as if it were air?"

"The Goddess," Serenity replied. "She was feeling neglected. She rests now, and I will do what I can to keep her there." Audria and her sat in the wet grass. Tired muscles cared nothing for dampness. At least the rain had stopped.

"I thank you for the song," Kelton said. "I thought I had breathed my last." He smiled, mainly to Juno, who was stroking his head as if he were a child. He was sure It looked foolish, but it felt wonderful. Everyone else was too tired to comment.

"I too thank you for the song," the King said. "For a moment, I thought I lost my son - a terrible notion since I only just found him again."

"How did you know?" Gossamer asked Serenity.

"As strange as the Goddess was, there is something stranger," Serenity replied. "It filled me, not unlike the Nagada, though it felt like it went on for winters upon winters."

"Possible morrows?" Kelton asked, his interest now peaked.

"Aye," Serenity replied with some surprise. "It has been a very odd day. You felt it as well?"

"Aye," Kelton said. "I saw many morrows and chose among them." He smiled, thinking of the path he had chosen. "None were perfect, but some far better than others. They are not certain, only directions. Many decisions still steer them."

"As did I," Serenity said. "Mayhap, we are steering more than we know." She looked at Juno, then at Juno's belly, and smiled. "I saw much in the path I had chosen."

"What?" Juno asked, looking down as if she had a stain on her clothes. They were well bloodied and wet, as was everyone else's. She looked at Kelton, who had found comfort in her lap. He was sharing a conspiratorial smile with Serenity. "What did you see?" she demanded of him since Serenity had not answered timely.

"You become fat," Kelton said with all seriousness. Serenity laughed.

"I will not!" Juno insisted. "I have never been one to eat..." Her words trailed away as Kelton's smile returned. She looked up at Serenity's laughter, then back at Kelton. She whispered as if saying it out loud would damage the words. "What did you see?"

"A red-haired boy," Kelton said. "He ran to me in hopes I would shield him from your wrath. It seems he had spoiled a new dress of yours." Juno's eyes widened. "You waddled in with a belly ready to burst." Kelton chuckled. "Love mama, love mama, was all he said as he tried to hide in my arms. You lost your anger at his words and looked so beautiful. That was the path I chose."

"I only saw you ready for birth," Serenity said with a shrug. "It was all moving so fast, like a dream; much of it is fading now."

"A son," Juno said, her face leaning over Kelton. "Mayhap, it was only a dream." Kelton could see the hope in her eyes. She did not want to commit her heart, for it was an unlikely thing given winters of drinking the Darny Leaf tea.

"Mayhap, though true or not, we will find out together," Kelton said. That earned him a sweet peck on his forehead. He had regained enough to stand but remained lying in Juno's lap. The world could wait a moment longer.

"It is good you live," Rolic said as he arrived, though it sounded like an afterthought. Striker, who was bloodied and weak, hobbled alongside - the battle had demanded a lot from him. "The Brethren must be burned," Rolic added as if the victory was not complete. "I will be the last of it."

Kelton sighed and forced his body to rise. Rolic was right - the world would not wait. It was a sad victory, one without cheering, for few had the strength for it. That, and too many had died.

Mannily propped himself on his elbows in the wet grass. His leg was a mess, a deep gash above the knee. A good thing, he thought humorously, for he lacked the energy to stand. That, and whatever thing that attacked the Answer was beyond his capability - best to remain low. He tried to slow his heart which was beating far harder than necessary. Fear had returned, and with it, the desire for survival. Killing, however easy it became, was not worth the scars it left in his memories.

"Lay back." The words came from a soft, competent voice. Without thinking, Mannily did as he was told. A young woman, one as old as he, kneeled at his leg. She was soaked with hair that had escaped the bound tail matted to her face. Without asking, she tore his trousers at the site of the wound, far extending what a blade had started. "It must be closed," she said. It sounded like a warning.

"Will it hurt?" Mannily asked. He hated himself for asking. Fear was one thing but presenting it another entirely.

"Aye," the girl said. She looked at him with a forced smile. "Though a hero such as you will think it only a prick."

Mannily looked away. "I am no hero," he admitted and squeezed his eyes shut. A shudder went through him when her hands touched his skin. An odd sensation, pleasant at first, then painful as her fingers examined the wound more closely. He held in a groan. "Mayhap, it will heal on its own."

"In time, mayhap," the girl said. "But you will be long dead by loss of blood. It must be closed."

"You are skilled in such things?"

"Aye," the girl replied. "Grit your teeth now." Mannily was already doing that.

It was a good thing she left him no time to think it through. When the pain started, he struggled to remain silent, dreaming of reasons to convince her to stop. The needle was burrowing into his skin with delayed hatred - pushing hard, then popping through as if it were on fire.

"Breathe," she instructed. "It is almost done." He let out the breath he was holding, and it escaped with a moan he did not intend. A hero he was not.

"There," she said with some satisfaction. It was the most beautiful word Mannily had ever heard. "I will wrap it, and you must try not to tear the stitching out."

Mannily opened his eyes as she began to wrap cloth around his thigh. Her attention was so complete, eyes and hands working on his leg as if the rest of the world did not exist. Each movement seemed intentional and precise. Impressive, Mannily thought as she tied off the makeshift bandage.

"I will live?" Mannily asked, trying to sound unconcerned and brave. The worst was over.

The girl looked up and smiled. It was full and created dimples in her cheeks. "Aye. Now you are a hero who can tell his own tale."

Mannily rose on his elbows again. The field was full of other heroes who would not tell their stories. "I think I shall never speak of this," he said as the sorrow of it came to roost.

"It is best if it is remembered," the girl said, seriousness replacing her smile. "If it is forgotten, the Brethren may rise again."

Mannily sighed a the wisdom. "Who do I thank for such painful care?" The question brought those dimples back. He found them pleasing.

"Sarafina, my hero," she said with the same levity.

"I am a wagoneer like my father, not a hero, my lady," He said. "It is what I am best at and what I will return to."

"I am no lady," Sarafina said, holding up her arm. The wilted rose was plain as day, not faded as on older Cursed.

"You are no longer cursed," Mannily said. "That is all over now."

"Aye, and nay," Sarafina said with a shrug. "It is true I am no longer bound to a nighthouse by decree. But cursed, I will always be. Dirty, they will call me." She smiled as if it mattered not - no dimples.

"The Answer loves one who was Cursed. Surely that will end such talk."

"Today, he speaks of love, but what of the morrow," Sarafina said. "There is talk of him becoming king. Will he make her a queen? I think not, for it would be unseemly. At best, she will be a mistress. Some lord's daughter will claim the crown."

"I do not..." Mannily began.

"It is a problem for another day," Sarafina said as she rose. She held out her hand and lifted Mannily to his feet. "You must keep your leg stiff and find yourself a fire to warm by. I would help, but others are in more dire need."

"I thank you, my lady," Mannily said, adding the honorific as a way of argument. The war was worth nothing if it did not end all the wrong.

"And I thank you, my hero," Sarafina said and kissed his forehead. She gathered her supplies and headed off in search of other wounded.

Mannily left his blades lying in the grass and limped away in search of a fire. The cold iron swords were no longer of any interest to him - too many sins were carved with them.

From a distance, the pyre presented beauty with oversized embers dancing into the heavens. It resembled the flowers that burst forth in the spring, sending their seeds to float upon the breeze. Up close, it was horrific. Downwind, even worse. Those who fed it bodies had wrapped cloth around their nose and mouth in a futile attempt to hide from the scent.