Chapter 182: Farewell
As much as the others asked if they could go with her, Irene was insistent on going alone. Even if Felix and Leif wanted to pay their own respects, she felt like doing it by herself just for a moment.
After Sir Cress left the wagon behind since the stables were empty for the time being, she was able to be completely alone with the man who was certainly special to her, but likely even more special to her father.
Gathering courage, Irene walked to the side of the wagon and looked miserably down at the cloth that had been placed over the man. His large body practically covered the entire bed of the straw-covered wagon. The cloth was thick and didn’t show the horrors likely concealed, and for that, she was appreciative.
"Thank you so much for everything," she began with tears already gathering in her eyes. "Not only for my father’s hand and the friendship you gave him when he felt like an outcast in a kingdom he was an outsider in, but for the bow and arrow. This bow has carried me through so many things, sir. I will cherish it for as long as I’m able."
The floodgates soon opened, and Irene tossed off her gloves so she could cover her face with her hands.
"I’m sorry we weren’t here earlier," she apologized. "I would have done anything to warn you to stay away from that poison and the monsters. You deserved so much better."
In a time of such doubt, Irene bowed her head and put it in her arms that rested alongside the side of the wagon, she uttered a Sünsto prayer that would offer Samson safe passing into the next phase—at least she said was she remembered of it considering her knowledge of the language was a bit rusty.
The girl then touched her shoulder where the protective tattoo was, and she pressed the hand against what was likely his arm underneath the cover, hoping it would offer him a bit of protection as well.
However, one thing about Sünstoian funeral customs was that they were often buried with their weapons alongside them. All the girl had with her was an arrow that she could give away, so she unsheathed it and gently lifted the cover so she could place it against his hand.