Cally followed Marcus into the mortuary. It was a relatively small building, one story, neat with a few decorative plants on the outside at the entrance. As with many such places the inside was peaceful with low music in the background. Mr. Harland stepped out of his office and quickly greeted Marcus. "Marcus you are here to complete the arrangements for Mr. Hamundarson?" Marcus was shaking Harland"s hand as he said, "No, I brought Olen"s friend here to make those arrangements." Harland then noticed the exquisite girl walking behind Marcus with some shock. "And this is?"Cally stepped up beside Marcus and nodded to the Funeral director. "I am Olen"s only family. I will be responsible for Olen"s final trip." The bemused Funeral Director asked, "final trip?" Cally smiled slowly, " Olen was with me in spirit when he died. He is Einherjar or one who has died in battle, he belongs to Valhalla now." Marcus looked at this beautiful solemn girl and also smiled slowly, "Olen said to tell you to give him a Viking funeral or he would haunt your a.s.s." Cally"s smile bloomed, "Of course. Let"s step into your office and go over the details. As much as I loved him he"s not getting human sacrifices so it"s not going to be a traditional funeral." Mr Harland thought he was used to the strange having to deal with werewolves. He was mistaken.
Mr Aaron Harland sat behind his desk and gestured to the chairs in front. Marcus sat the trunk in the floor and gentlemanly a.s.sisted Cally in sitting. "So, a viking funeral. No sacrifices?" She smirked, "I didn"t say No sacrifices, just no human sacrifices." Harland briefly thought he should have been a cop as it was more stress free than dealing with wolves. He wiped his suddenly sweaty face and smiled to rea.s.sure himself. "Please, umm, tell me what you have in mind?" Using military jargon that was not lost on Marcus, "Prepare to copy; In 4 days time Olen will be brought to his ship at the cove. He will be placed in a specially prepared bed. Food such as fruit, basil, bread, meat, and onions will be placed around him. He will also have copious amounts of ale and fine wines. Some of his personal possessions will fill the ship. We will sail the ship into the bay where it will be set a blaze." The funeral director looked up from his notes. "You"re setting fire to a ship in the bay?" Seeing Cally"s serious look, he nodded of course she"s going to burn a boat with a person on it what was he thinking?
"Olen built a "Karve" which is a small type of Viking longship. He built it himself for the purpose of his burial. As to the necessary sacrifices. I will purchase the required sacrifices at the grocery store." Muddy brown eyes jerked up from his notes, "Yes that would be...best?"
Marcus was dealing with messages on his phone and only half listening. When he heard about Olen"s boat, he looked over and said, "I didn"t realize he had built the longship for this purpose. I thought he just wanted to do some sailing along the coast." Cally replied, "Olen always loved being on the water. That"s why we settled here and established Clan Home here." Marcus nodded and went back to his messages, Clan home security was a constant job.
"So, if you could take me to Olen now I should like to prepare him." Muddy brown eyes again looked up and were nervous, "Prepare how exactly? We can do almost anything you require for you." Cally sighed, "You are not family. I need to cut his fingernails and comb and braid his hair. I have his burial clothes that he prepared also. You may dress him after I have done this." "Marcus, I won"t be long, an hour at most if you have something you need to take care of?" Marcus looked up and stated, "I will await you here. I can handle most of my duties with my phone."
Mr. Harland went to pick up the trunk that Cally and Marcus had carried with ease. Sadly for him it was solid oak with metal banding, it was also full of clothing and grave goods. He stooped to pick it up and immediately groaned, "ehhh." Cally glanced over, "I"ll get it." She then neatly picked it up and looked expectantly at the director to lead the way.
Entering into the preparation room the director had already brought Olen out for family viewing. Cally sat the box aside and walked to her dearest friend. 1 and 1/2 centuries was along time to friends. Olen was a big man with shoulder length reddish brown hair. His facial hair was a brighter red with blond streaks from being in the sun. He looked very peaceful as if he could simply wake up at any moment. Cally pulled a wooden comb from the box and brushed out his hair, she then braided the sides. She next used a decorative dagger to carefully trim his fingernails. Collecting the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs for safe disposal later she told Harland how to dress Olen in the period clothing that had he had had made. Clothing doesn"t last as long as weapons and Olen had very very little that had survived from his youth as a viking warrior.