[Ansteorra] Brianna, Tuesday

[Robert G. Ferrell]

On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 8:56 PM, Carolle Ternus <clternus at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
> She's not the first SCA loved one we've lost; she won't be the last.  But
> each one is a knife in our hearts as we struggle with our grief.  Don't wait
> to tell your loved ones that they are loved; tell them today.

This morning at 6:00 AM an owl was hooting softly just outside my
window, heralding the approaching dawn or bemoaning the end of
comforting darkness--it's hard to say sometimes with owls.  I sat and
listened for a long moment while I cleared my head for the coming day,
and though I did not then understand the reason, the owl's call seemed
less that of a territorial predator than a herald from some kingdom
not wholly within the confines of the world we know.

The plaintive chant faded as the bird sought another vantage from
which to broadcast its ethereal tidings, and I turned to peruse my own
morning messages.

As I read Emrys' words, somehow through the tumultuous swirl of
emotions I became dimly aware that the owl was calling once again, far
away. The call was powerful this time, more a clarion than a
contemplation.  I saw the address of the sanctum to which Brianna had
been entrusted and realized with a start that it was a scant few
hundred yards from my window.  A second later I also came to realize
that the owl was now calling from that same direction, most likely
from a tree in the very courtyard of the hospice itself.

Suddenly, I understood.

Cynric
Privileged to know Brianna ny Oran, Lion of Ansteorra in all but
title, for over 20 years