Savia's Heart [Sequel to Bastian's Song] [HIATUS]

[ 8 ]

[ Auron ]

Auron needed air. The village of Usk suffocated him with its desperate hypocrisy. He slipped out of Delia's home, where all the village sick lay gasping and moaning under Savia's tender care. No one seemed to notice him leave, and he planned to be back before that changed.

Under the starlit night, he walked to the southernmost edge of Usk. There, a large lake glittered under the stars, but it wasn't the water he sought. It was the solitude.

Over the past three weeks of helping Savia with her craft, Auron had observed the habits of the villagers. Usk was a remote village, like Huw, and so their superstitions ruled them. As a village that relied on the land for sustenance, the goddess Demeter held the most sway over them. They prayed to her daily for good harvest and good health.

Like most other people, they also praised Helios for the light and the warmth he brought to them. Savia did not speak against them, though Auron had asked her if it bothered her. She had only smiled at him and said: "The sun may burn my skin, but the herbs I use in my work also flourish under that golden light. The Gods protect us all, Auron, and they deserve our appreciation."

He snorted at the memory of her voice. Even if he had to admit that she had a good point about how the world worked, he did not like the way that the villagers still looked at her. Their eyes slid right over her like she did not exist. Worse was when their faces filled with fear at the sight of her.

The villagers of Usk brought their dying loved ones to her to be saved, and they couldn't even give her the courtesy of a thank you. Where was the fairness in that?

Auron felt the rage of injustice grow inside of his chest. His anger made his hands tremble with the force of it. The worst of it was how helpless he felt. For all his disgust and hatred, he could do nothing. His words did not convince the villagers of Savia's humanity, and they could not convince Savia of her worth.

Auron swung out in his anger. The rough bark of the tree he hit dug into his skin and sent little bites of pain up his arm. For a brief moment, the pain satisfied him.

"Oh!"

The voice surprised Auron. He'd thought he was alone out here by the lake. Auron looked to his left and caught sight of a young woman peeking out from behind another tree. Her red hair fell in long curls toward the grass as she leaned around to look at him.

The spark of anger in his chest cooled, replaced by the shame of acting violently. No matter how much he felt he wanted to hit something, Auron despised violence for violence's sake. "Sorry," he said quietly as he looked away from her. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Deep blue eyes considered him from the relative safety behind the other tree. Finally, she stepped around it and stood on her tiptoes to look at him. Under her rough clothes, she was thin, and her face was elfin. Though it was hard to tell for sure in the darkness, she seemed to be about his age. Perhaps a year or two younger. She looked like a bird about to take flight. "You didn't scare me. You surprised me! I didn't think there would be anyone out here."

Auron felt a smile tug at his lips. "I know the feeling. I needed to clear my head." He didn't think he'd met her before, though most of the villagers he'd met had been sick or kin of the sick. "I'm Auron."

She beamed at him. "I'm Aeronwy. I came out for a swim." As she spoke, her hands lifted to animate her words. She gestured to the lake. "The water is so soothing, it really calms me down."

He lifted a brow at her. "At night? Isn't the water chilly?"

A blush stole over her cheeks. "A bit, but not so much this week. It's still warm from the sun." She lifted her chin in defiance of him. "And besides, it beats hitting the trees. They don't deserve that, you know."

Auron sighed. "You have a point."

Aeronwy tilted her head and then stepped forward in a cautious manner. "You really have a lot on your mind, don't you?" Without waiting for an answer, she slipped her hand into his and tugged him toward the lake. "Come join me! You'll feel better after a nice swim."

Auron felt a brief panic well up inside of him. "Oh, no. I couldn't. I, uh, don't know how to swim." His protest was weak, though, and she kept tugging him.

"It's not hard to float. I can teach you that much at least. Besides, you have me to help you. Trust me." She turned to face the lake, her hand still firm on his wrist. Ahead of them, the dark waters of the lake reflected the twinkling lights of the heavens. The grass under their feet became sparser until it gave way to the mud of the bank. Aeronwy made no move to slow down or disrobe.

"Wait! Aeronwy, I really don—"

Her foot splashed into the water, disrupting him. She bolted forward, throwing Auron off balance and he was dragged with her until they were both knee deep in the water. Panic clawed at his throat now. The heat of half-remembered flames seared his left side, while the taste of salt overwhelmed his mouth. He gagged.

She turned to face him. "Don't worry Auron." Her voice purred into the night air. "You're with me." When she smiled, her pointed teeth gleamed. "We're just going for a nice swim."

Her words wrapped around him and soothed him. The panic faded, along with his focus. Auron tried to remember what he'd been about to say. "Oh. That sounds like fun." He'd remember if it was important, he thought.

"That's it. Come on." She tugged him close, wrapping her arms around his waist and stepping deeper into the water. Her red hair slithered over the surface of the lake and around his legs. Aeronwy fell backward, taking Auron with her.

As the water closed over their heads, Auron wondered how many other people were swimming tonight. The lake was full of red-headed women, all smiling their sharp-toothed smiles at him. Their hands slid over his clothes and pulled him down and down. Their scaled-tails shimmered in the blue water.

"I'm so glad you came out tonight, Auron." Aeronwy laughed. Her voice echoed in the water--an infectious sound of pure joy.

Auron opened his mouth and laughed with her as the water poured into his lungs. 

Freshwater mermaids!

They heard that he was the best juice box around and wanted to try for themselves. >:)