Days passed.
Regulus and Mahazioth surrendered their iron spheres, sent the soldiers and woodcutters home, and flew away.
The forest folk took their forty-one dead braves to the top of the sacred mountain for their sky-burial. The birds and beasts of the forest would dine on their flesh, then nourish the forest folk in turn, making the cycle complete.
Apollo, Helios, and the four remaining cyclopean hoplites took the remains of their fallen comrades — including their leader, Polymachos — and returned to their world to bury them with honors in their homeland.
Zebulun healed Nahash. Amalek and Nahash cremated the remains of Hassan, Parvaneh, Nasrallah, and Talal. They scattered their ashes in the sky.
Zoya wept alone in darkness, far from the fires. Emet found her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"I’m sorry," she said. "I know I’m not supposed to be womanly."
Emet gave her a soft smile. "I’ll overlook it just this once."
He looked up at the waning moon and sighed. "Elu died defending his people. He fought a dragon for us. All his sins are forgiven. We will honor and remember him."
Zoya placed her hand on his. Emet gave her shoulder a squeeze, then turned and left. Many more needed comfort.