Sleep evaded me. Thoughts of Robber dying in Dodger's hands kept me sleeping. I admitted defeat and went to the living room to light the fireplace. The kindling in the fire turned black as orange flames rose from the wood

A floorboard behind me creaked, and I quickly turned my head in surprise. It was only Daniel.

"Is something wrong?" The low light of the fire made it impossible to see his expression, but I could hear the concern in his voice.

"I'm worried." I confided in him. Daniel walked up to me, bending down to rub my back.

"What is it?"

"I have this strange feeling that Dodger killed Robber."

"How?" he asked. I sounded silly, I knew that. However, it was a feeling I couldn't control.

"Before Robber died, I saw a spark of light flash between his fingers. I don't know how he did it or what it even was, but it almost looked like lightning."

"Well… it could have been a spark from the fire," he said, offering up other options.

"I wasn't looking close enough. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me?" I muttered, hoping Daniel agreed. The possibility that I was losing my mind was an option I'd rather consider.

"It could be. Without a spell book or a wand, it's impossible to cast lightning." He confirmed a fact I already knew.

"How did Robber die then? She's still young."

"Somethings happen without explanation. If we knew everything then life would be too easy." He nudged me as he smiled jokingly. I chuckled with him.

"I don't know. I just have this awful feeling in my gut, and I want it to calm down."

"Let's make you more tea. My mother always made chamomile tea an hour before bed. Said that it could calm trolls and ogres even when they would go berserk."

I didn't know how his mother could have possibly known that. The only race of trolls native to our realm were to the north-west, in the Icelands. Going any further south would have been too cold for them, and ogres were known across the oceans. They were simply tales to feed children's imaginations.

Daniel took the pot that sat on top of the fireplace and filled it with water. He set it on the iron rod, and let it boil before making us tea. I took the mug he offered me and let its warmth seep into my fingers. My worries disappeared with it, at least for the time being.

~~

Snow turned to rain over night.

Shortly after sunrise, Dodger and I trudged through the frozen aftermath. Ice crept into my boots and became razor sharp blades shaving off the sides of my ankles with every step. Dodger was carrying Robber's box. He stopped suddenly and lifted his arms, grunting to be lifted. We stopped, and I shoveled the ice out of his boots before putting him on my back. It was only a matter of minutes before we were at the burial site for Robber's mother and siblings. The rocks have been untouched. We dug a hole close by so she could rest forever with her family. Without shovels or even a trowel, we were stuck using flat rocks and our bare fingers. It took us a long time, enough time to cause our fingers to turn white from the numbing cold.

"Time to let her rest," I told Dodger, nudging him to place her inside.

Dodger didn't move. he held onto the lidless box with one arm and stared down at her as if he could see her. Gently, he caressed her fuzzy cheeks with his finger. His eyes didn't show signs of tears, but rather enchantment.

"Dodger?" I called out to him. "We need to bury her."

He didn't show any interest in me. He had this tendency for doing whatever he wanted and, in that moment, he was mesmerized on his little friend. It was as if he was memorizing the feel of her soft fur.

I knelt beside him and rubbed his back. Deep down, I wanted to grab the box from him and shove her in the ground. It would end my frozen torture, but I didn't want to take the moment away from him. I never intended for Dodger to fear death, but rather to learn how to embrace it. We had but to live in the Godius' sunlight and let ourselves be guided by the Goddessa's moonlight in order to never fear their judgment. I needed to teach Dodger that.

"When we put her in the ground, she feeds the soil. The soil thanks her by blooming a beautiful flower over her grave." Nothing. He showed no response. "We can come back to visit her whenever you want."

He broke his trance finally and lifted his chin in my direction.

"I promise." I whispered.

Dodger smiled and offered me the box. I set her gently in the ground and piled a mixture of snow and dirt over her. We gathered several large stones and placed them as gravestones.

"Let's sit in silence in memory of her," I said to Dodger. Memories of Robber's dead animal offerings, random acts of malice, and the scars on my feet from her should have made me hate her. Instead, I missed her. It was becoming clear that she truly was a part of our family and, without her, we wouldn't be complete.

I didn't notice that Dodger had grabbed onto my numb fingers until he tugged on my arm. He raised his arms to me be picked up, and I lifted the heavy child onto my hip. Dodger felt the contours of my face with his small hands. His little fingers toyed with an icy tear drop before wiping it away. I brushed away several stray tears. It seemed that I was more upset about Robber's absence than he was. Then again, his actions yesterday made me wonder if he truly understood death.

"We can always see her in the next life. She'll be waiting for us." I told Dodger.