Page 36 of The Bone Doll

“No one defeated theleshy,” she said softly.

“Still.”

She slowed. “And once you get all this silver, will you come back here?”

“If you would like me to.”

“I would,” she murmured and then kissed him on the cheek.

Viktor wasn’t certain what he felt – sadness, joy, or something else entirely. He didn’t want to leave her, but he owed a debt to theleshy. And Syra had her own family and life here. Without him. But he would come back that one last time, for her.

Syra jerked her chin upwards. Though the sky was still blue, the moon had appeared and alongside it, a red star.

“That is goddess Zorya Vechernaya,” Viktor said of the red star. “She opens the sky gates so that the sun can pass through them at night. When you see her in the morning, she is Zorya Utrennaya, the Red Dawn Maiden, who lets the sun into the sky and leads warriors to victory.”

“No.” Syra smiled. “That is the Lover. He is a man who fell in love with the moon. He climbed up into the sky to be with the moon, but the sky spirits blocked his path, refusing to let him cross to his beloved. They are forever parted, except on days when they both rise while the sun is still in the sky. We believe it’s then that the sun protects them from the sky spirits’ wrath and lets the two lovers meet.”

“Syra, I…” His heart constricted.I don’t want to be like that.“That’s grim.”

“I see the Lover as patient and steadfast.” She squeezed his hand. “I will be like the Lover, waiting for the moon night after night.”

Viktor swallowed. She thought an eternity of wanting, of yearning was admirable? For him, it was certain agony. An agony, he knew he must endure.

“But when you return again,” Syra said, “I want you to consider staying here. Staying with me.”

His eyes stung, and he blinked hard. “Theleshy–”

“Does not need you all the time,” she said. “Stay with me here when you can and … maybe I will go with you to Zoldrovya some seasons.”

“Is that what you want?” he choked.

She turned to him, her eyes shining with tears. “Yes.”

THE END