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

[ 15 ]

[ Savia ]

Savia brushed her hands down the gleaming wood of Delia's front door. Despite the danger Auron had been in, and the breadth of the illness in Usk, she still thought the journey had been entirely worth the travel. Five souls had been snatched back from the doors of Aides, and thirteen more were rescued long before their lives were in danger.

Her lips curved up into a smile as she remembered the youngest of her patients: Wynn. Though she had been the longest suffering of the patients due to the extent of the damage to her body, she'd been a little ball of happiness in Savia's daily routine. Wynn never hesitated to share her stories with anyone who would listen to her, and her sweet voice had passed many hours of loneliness.

Outside the home, Savia could hear the horses huffing with annoyance as they were strapped into the harnesses that would guide their wagon back to Huw. She knew Auron would be near, ensuring that no sunlight would be able to reach Savia during the trip.

When he called to her, Savia left the house behind, stepping into the hot night with her hands clasped delicately in front of her. To her surprise, there was a crowd of villagers gathered near the wagon. Auron looked tense, surrounded by so many people.

Delia stepped toward her and placed a woven basket in front of Savia's feet. She remained bowed as she stepped back, and the other villagers joined her in bowing one by one, all of them facing toward Savia.

She couldn't help the tears that came to her eyes. Savia leaned down and picked up the basket. Inside the woven fibers, there were an armful of plums and a single bracelet of woven leather with beautiful beads of glass decorating the ends. She picked up the bracelet and then looked back to Delia.

Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she spoke. "Thank you." Though she hated how her voice sounded when it was full of tears, she also knew that it was only right for her to show how much their kindness meant to her.

The village of Usk did not like vampyres, partly because they feared them and partly because the Sun shunned them. Still, they understood that Savia had done them a great favor and they were willing to thank her despite their fear of her. It was more than she had imagined was possible. She slipped the bracelet into her dress.

Movement among the crowd of still-bowed villagers drew her eyes. Silver metal caught the moon's light as a man drew a wickedly-long knife from his tunic. He shoved his way to the front of the crowd, and Auron called out a warning as confusion spread through the villagers.

Auron ran toward Savia at the same time as her would-be assailant. In a split second, she understood that Auron did not intend to move her out of harm's way. The way he turned himself as he ran told her that he was going to block the hit with his own body.

Savia set the basket down, careful not to disturb the plums overmuch. She looked up as Auron's shadow fell over her. His arms were lifted up to cover his face, and she had a brief moment of appreciation for the fact that he was at least trying to defend himself somewhat.

The man lifted his arm and the knife shone like a beacon of anger. He opened his mouth and screamed as he brought his arm down. She reached forward until her fingers caught the rough fabric of Auron's tunic. Without ceremony, she pulled hard against her friend and he slammed into the dirt beside her, safely out of harm's way. A startled squawk assured her that he hadn't hurt himself too bad in the fall.

Savia opened her arms as though she were about to receive a hug. A sickening squelch filled the air as his knife settled deep into her chest. The metal was cold and cruel, full of white hot anger and fear.

She looked into the eyes of the man who had stabbed her and watched them widen with surprise. His hand fell slack, his fingers loosening their grip on the weapon. Silence descended over the village.

"Savia!" Auron's scream spurred Delia forward from the crowd. She grabbed onto the man's wrist and pulled him backward, into the waiting villagers. Several of them leaned forward and caught onto the man, giving him no room to escape.

It didn't matter. He wasn't struggling. He was staring at her.

Savia lifted a hand to the blade. "I'm sorry." Her fingers gripped the handle and pulled it slowly out of her chest. "I'm truly sorry. But I'm afraid I cannot be killed like this."

She wiped dark blood over her skirt until the blade gleamed once more in the light of the moon. "I don't know what offense I have given to warrant this behavior, but I apologize if I have wronged you."

The man's mouth worked open and closed for a moment. "You are an abomination! A worker of evil magics who shuns the gods." Some murmurs of agreement rose up from the crowd. Obviously, they had not all agreed on the parting gift.

Auron clutched at Savia's skirts, looking up to the gash in her bosom that had been home to the knife. Anguish was written over his features.

Savia placed her free hand over his head and gave him a gentle pat. But she kept her eyes on the man who wanted her dead. "I worship the Moon, sir. And the Stars and the Ocean and the Sky. I give praise to the gods as you do, though it is true some of them do not take kindly to me in return." She shrugged. The same could be said of the humans.

He spit at her feet. "Because you steal the life of innocents and bleed us for your meals." The cruel words cut deeper than his knife had.

"I am sorry that my existence bothers you. Rest assured, so long as I exist, I shall not return to Usk. You have my word."

For a moment, the man lit up with triumph. And then the women nearest Savia fell to their knees and wailed. Confusion crossed his face. Realization came too late.

Savia bowed her head to Delia. "Thank you for allowing me to help you. It was an honor and my pleasure to meet you all."

"W-wait!" He cried out as the other villagers turned on him.

She helped Auron to his feet, murmuring to him that she was fine. All was well. They climbed into the wagon together and left the man to the wrath of his own people.

With the knife in her hand, and the woven bracelet in her dress, Savia the healer turned her back to Usk. She prayed that the gods would watch over them, because she no longer could. Savia never went where she wasn't wanted.

I think maybe I should stop writing such depressing scenes? Lately it seems like everything is either all action or all sad. I'll have to work on that. 

Do you guys think knife dude is totally unreasonable?  And what about how Savia handled him? Was it the right thing to do?