The top of the hill was also surrounded by a fence, a well-built wall of stone. Behind those walls stood the tombs of the city's wealthy and important. The lower slopes were for the rest of the city.

Demok passed through the gate in the lower fence and turned, circling the hill toward the back, where the unmarked graves were.

After a long, quiet walk through the tall, brown stalks of grass, he stepped up to the side of a familiar, if bulky, figure.

"Knew you'd find me here, did you?" asked Tiglath.

Demok said nothing.

"Such a waste," said Tiglath, looking over the graves covered with freshly turned dirt. "So many good people fell. So many more lives ruined and sacrificed to Gilgeam even after he was dead."

"You?" Demok asked.

"I still have nightmares," she said. Then she chuckled. "Smelling fifteen-year-old morning breath is not something you get over easily."

"Your arm?" he asked.

Tiglath looked down at the sling and wrappings that held her arm across her chest and said, "It'll heal with time, but I don't think I'll ever have full use of it again. The chirurgeon set it as well as he could, but I can feel the broken chips in there. Gilgeam didn't just break my arm; he crushed it like a shell."

"I know some healers," he said. "They can help."

Tiglath snorted, "Tiamat takes a dim view of those who resort to magical healing."

Demok considered that, then said, "So?"

Tiglath cast a sideways look at him, then chuckled.

"Yeah," she said, "I guess you're right. I accept your offer."

"Let's go."

"Hold on," said Tiglath. "I'm not quite finished."

Her eyes passed back and forth over the graves one more time, trying to sense the magnitude of loss.

"Any idea where Kehrsyn is?" she asked.

"Jackal's Courtyard," said Demok. "Her favorite."

Tiglath smiled, thinking of the young woman's penchant for performance, and said, "Good for her."

The two turned and left the graves behind, walking side by side, each lost in their own thoughts. As they exited the gate, Tiglath looked up at the sun, squinting against its pale light.

"Spring will be here soon," she said.

Demok nodded and said, "For the kids in the courtyard, it's already here."