Nothing was said as Shakha's body was engulfed in flame.
Three cremators from Eimval led the ceremony and a handful of other Rendaro stood by as guests.
Gid walked up to Calëb who, much to everyone's surprise, wasn't crying.
He offered her his hand and she gently accepted it as the embers from Shakha's fire flew with the wind.
One of those embers flew towards Khal and she gently cradled it as it died in her hands.
Gid then cleared his throat.
"We lost a good man today. Shakha was many things. A son, brother, husband and friend..."
"The- The Ia have a saying: the brightest of flowers often grow from the palest of ash. Shakha was one such flower in the vast desert we call home. As stubborn and rash as he was kind and understanding." Gid said through gnashed teeth.
"The war isn't over. We will have to fight with all we have in the coming days to protect the many flowers of the Expanse as Shakha did once before! Weep not, my brethren! For his ashes, those that fly with the wind, will help the next generation of flowers to bloom!" He said while messily wiping his tears.
He then fell forward and broke out into a wail as Shakha's body burnt.
Calëb stood closely by his side as he wept.
The ceremony eventually ended and everyone left, leaving only Shakha's close friends and family.
They all stood around the dark bed where his body once laid.
Gid wiped the last of his tears and stood upright.
"I would really love to stay and help with everything, but I am needed on the plateau."
"Oh, no. Don't worry about us. Just stay safe up there." Calëb said.
Gid nodded before made his way towards his hut.
"Will you be leaving as well?" Laïn asked Khal, who placed her hand above her belly.
"Not yet. I need to rest for a little bit."
Laïn nodded before returning home with Eshi in tow.
Calëb returned to the Oasis leaving Khal and her men.
Hanzani walked up to her and gently patted her shoulder.
"Lets go." She said before leading her men back to the barracks where they silently sat in the largest tent.
Khal walked over to her new set of armor and grabbed the helmet.
It was a sturdy, but light piece of equipment that protected most of the head leaving only the eyes open.
She sighed before placing it down and exiting the tent.
She then made her way back home to find Laïn and Eshi sitting in complete silence.
She joined them and it wasn't long before she fell asleep, although she could've sworn she heard the sounds of someone crying as she drifted into unconsciousness.
.
..
Khal eventually awoke in the dead of night.
Laïn and Eshi were still sleeping and so she quietly sat up only to wince as a certain throbbing pain in her lower abdomen returned.
She bit her teeth and crawled onto her feet before exiting the hut.
She then made her way to the barracks where she found Hanzani training.
He did all manner of stretches while wearing nothing but a pair of loose fitting pants.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked the half naked Rendaro.
"Are you feeling better?" He asked with a raised brow.
"N-no, but I could use something to do right about now."
Hanzani scoffed before fully facing her.
"Alright. Let's spar."
Khal nodded before readying herself for battle.
Hanzani dashed towards her while raising his right fist.
Khal tried dashing away but she tumbled backwards, fell onto her butt and vomited what little contents her stomach held.
Hanzani walked up to her as she messily wiped her mouth.
She then looked up at Hanzani with teary eyes to find that he was glaring at her.
"Get up and go to your office." He instructed and Khal did so.
She sat in her office and waited anxiously for Hanzani's arrival.
In her waiting, she realized that this tent once served as Shakha's office.
Sitting next to her was his old fur jacket.
She grabbed the old thing and tightly pressed it over her aching abdomen with no particular thoughts in mind.
Hanzani eventually arrived with a healer and a small leather bag.
"Hello, ma'am. Mind if I do some quick check ups on you?" The healer asked. From his fancy clothes and neatly cut hair, Khal deduced that he was an Ia.
"Go ahead." She said prompting the healer to do a quick nod.
His eyes then began glowing green and they quickly widened before losing their glow.
He then raised his hand and sent wisps of green light into her belly and head.
"Alright, nothing out of the ordinary. Just some period cramps. They should be gone within a few days, but I gave Mr. Hanzani here some pain medication just in case it becomes unbearable. Also, both of you are littered with small cuts. Do you want me to patch them up-"
"NO!" Hanzani and Khal yelled, frightening the little healer a little.
"Oh- well, if that's all. Can you take me back now?"
Hanzani nodded before suddenly disappearing along with the doctor.
He eventually returned with a bowl of cereal which looked like it was freshly cooked.
"Thank you." Khal said as he handed it to her.
"Yeah, yeah. Eat up." He scoffed while sitting opposite her.
Some time passed and Khal eventually finished eating.
She then sat with Hanzani in silence as he looked down in thought.
"Do you regret allowing me to be your captain?" She asked.
"No and stop it with the useless questions." Hanzani snapped.
Khal nodded before resting her head on the table.
Her eyes eventually grew heavy but before she could close them to sleep, Tinah dashed into the room and crashed into Hanzani.
"What in the world are you doing?" Hanzani asked while grabbing the young Rendaro by his collar.
"Bo brought like two barrels of wine from his personal stash. Want some?" Tinah asked with a grin.
"Err…" Hanzani glanced at Khal but she lazily waved her hand.
"Go ahead. I'll be in here if you need anything." Khal said while resting her hands her short desk.
Hanzani nodded before dragging Tinah out of the tent.
Khal let out a weak yawn before resting her head and closing her eyes.
She eventually found sleep and thanks to the healer, she was rather comfortable.
.
..
"Bah! I'm telling you! If it wasn't for the fact that we were a renegade troop, my name would have already been etched in the minds of future Rendaro. A hero, they would call me!"
Someone yelled waking Khal in the process.
She looked out of the slit of the tent's flaps and saw that night had fallen and sitting around a fire a few meters away were her men.
The feint beatings of a small drum filled the air while the bantered away.
"And I'm telling you that our circumstances don't matter. We are all doomed to die atop that damned plateau and our corpses will rot along with those of our enemies!" Tinah yelled.
Khal couldn't see them all clearly, but she definitely knew the voices of everyone who spoke.
"Where is this pessimism coming from? I swear, you become a different person when you drink." Hanzani scoffed.
"I'm the same as before. These are just my true feelings. We are all going to die for that is the fate of we who bare arms. Fuck banners, fuck tribes and other such nonsensical things. We are killers and we will not be spared by the flames of war. No one will!" Tinah said.
Silence followed.
"You don't truly believe that, do you?" Mambo or Bo asked.
"I… come on, don't ask me that. We see it every day we are up there. Shakha told me that for a warrior, there is nothing beyond combat and death."
"And yet he cared for his men and family like no other." Hanzani muttered.
"Mmm… Dammit." Tinah cursed with a burp.
"If I look closely enough at that spot of dirt it's like he's still here… sitting with us." The young Rendaro said.
"That spot where I swore my life to the troop… I was a weakling of a Foph and yet he and the boss took me in and cared for me." Tinah said through gnashed teeth.
"I… can somewhat relate. As an exile, they tell you to leave but you aren't exactly barred from living near or around the Oasis. Shakha and Khal found me wasting away in a dingy shack and they took me in, fed me and gave me purpose. You're right in saying that it's like he's still here. All this you see around you is a product of his and Khal's hard work. So I want us all to swear on this night, gentlemen, that we will protect Khal and this place for him until we take our last breaths." Hanzani said through gnashed teeth.
All ten Rendaro stood up as Hanzani unsheathed his dagger.
"Let us mark this oath in blood-"
"Please don't!" Khal cried as she snuck out of her tent.
Hanzani and his comrades gasped upon seeing the many tears that fell from her eyes.
She slowly walked towards them while extending her shaking hands.
"Please don't hurt yourselves. I already know how you feel, so don't-"
Khal was interrupted by Hanzani who tightly hugged her.
Tinah joined in the hug and it wasn't long before the entire troop was in one big hug.
The men all eventually let go before lowering their heads.
"Sorry." A flustered Hanzani said, but Khal shook her head while messily wiping her tears.
"Don't worry about it. Your feelings reached me and I can only hope I can become a leader you're proud of working alongside."
Hanzani nodded before sheathing his dagger.
"And we will wait until you are ready to lead us back onto that plane."
A smile formed on Khal's face as her eyes reflected the burning flame of the campfire.
"Then wait just a little longer. I was looking through the many targets on the list and one of them just so happens to be a Legion of knights that's causing trouble in the front lines just north of here."
Hanzani and the others all raised their heads as the air was suddenly filled with a palpable amount of malice.
"And the Kommáti? Why haven't they made a move?" Hanzani asked.
"The report says that they are stretched pretty thin and so they are waiting until all the pieces are in the right places and that's where we come in. The Legion is held up in a human mining town so capturing it will lead to big gains for the Expanse."
"Is it a Cavumium rich site?" Tinah asked.
"Yes." Khal said prompting all of her men to drone in understanding.
"Then let's get some rest." Hanzani suggested.
.
..
Two days had passed since Shakha's death and Khal strapped on the last piece of her new armor as the morning sunlight snuck into the tent.
It was far lighter, modular and quite comfortable.
She placed her whip in its place by her hip before grabbing her helmet and joining her men outside.
Hanzani and his comrades all looked ready for combat and so Khal nodded before leading them to Shakha's place where Laïn and Eshi stood in waiting.
Khal walked up to them and offered them her gloved hand.
"Be safe out there." Eshi said as she and Laïn accepted Khal's hand.
Khal turned to Laïn but no words were uttered between them.
Khal nodded before letting go and joining her men in heading north.