Page 53 of Broken Oath

Fresh earth surrounded six temporary markers.

The permanent headstones would come later.

Flowers covered the ground.

Wreaths.

Flags.

Photographs.

Tokens left by friends and family.

Rook stood before Hammer’s grave first.

“You still owed Sniper fifty bucks.”

A sound escaped Sniper.

Not quite a laugh.

Not quite a sob.

Rook moved to Ghost’s grave.

“You were the quietest bastard I ever met.”

Rain slid from the edge of his hood.

“You were also the bravest.”

He stopped in front of Bishop.

The man who had faced an army alone.

“You got us out.”

The words broke slightly.

Rook swallowed.

“I won’t forget that.”

Ridge’s grave came next.

Rook stared at the fresh earth.

For a moment, he saw the mountain erupting again.

Saw Ridge walking toward death with two grenades and absolute certainty.

“You made it mean something,” Rook whispered. “I swear you did.”

Then Viking.

Noah Kane.

Dates.