Freedom Delivered [Satu Solo]

[Satu]

Date: 3rd of Spring, 511 A.V. Location: Sylira Coast, a few miles northeast of Sunberth Satu walked away from the company of her companions. The need to think and to plan was always foremost in her mind now. The others did not understand how their emotions played upon hers and distracted her from her thoughts. So she walked, against Asha'ney's protests and Arianni's worries. After a time, the Konti heard, “Be careful, its not safe.” Satu froze. Only tendrils of white hair flew about her face as her head whipped around to try and locate who it was that had spoken. There was no one. Automatically, the suvai fighter's knees began to bend into the Defense Stance. “Over here... here,” a man's voice called, whispering off to the side, somewhere in the brush. A woman sat huddled next to him, but so quiet had they been that Satu had almost walked part them with noticing their presence. With furtive movements of their hands they motioned her over. “Get down! Please… so they won’t find us!” The woman whined, almost begged. The Konti's blue eyes studied them, and they were beautiful, even dirty and covered with the leaves of their hiding spot. The man’s leg bled badly and a tight sash, likely from the woman’s dress wrapped around it. He noticed Satu's gaze and said, “I can’t walk, only barely.” The woman started to cry, but he squeezed her hand firmly, “Don’t...” Then he looked to Satu for reassurance, though he also cautioned her, “Please hide, they might spot you. We only just escaped. Will you help us?” With the grace of the Konti race in her limbs, Satu sat down next to the woman, “Shhh now, I will help.” she soothed, though their fear made her nose curl, and their worry made her frown. Weakness filled them. Deplorable Weakness! The HeartSeer found them pathetic, with their bloody wrists... that threatened to trigger an unwanted memory within her. Satu's body shivered. They thought her harmless, they thought her weak. Just like them. And they doubted her strength, for she was alone with only her suvai nestled on her hips, almost hidden within the folds of the flowing dress. “Which way?” Satu demanded and slowly turned her head to scan the trees, “Have you any weapons?” The man pointed, “They went after the others. I don’t think they will find us now, but we wait, just in case.” The woman added, her tears falling now, “Slavers. It was slavers! And... only this,” the woman held up a rusty, but usable dagger. Gingerly the Konti reached out to touch the tip of it. A sweet smile appeared on Satu's scaled face and compassion shown in her eyes. The suvai fighter rested her hand on the woman's arm, to soothe and calm... and while the HeartSeer cared about her new companions, it was also a covert way to attach Sagallius' invisible Cordas strings to the woman's body. The man asked, “Are you a healer? You have such a soothing presence...” For they both mistakenly thought Satu had imparted a magical Konti healing. If the Konti was offended she did not show it. “No, I am sorry,” she said lowly, though she was not. “Everything will be right soon... you will see.” Due to Satu's gentle and positive spirit, the runaway slaves felt more hopeful than they had since their ordeal had begun. The three companions sat in silence, keeping watch as Satu's hand never left the woman’s arm.

[Satu]

A noise sounded in the brush not far from where the little group sat. As one, all three heads turned to search for the cause. It was a bird, small and harmless and it hopped as it foraged for berries and bugs in the underbrush. Tiny and insignificant, it was unaware of the danger that lay close by, yet it held their attention completely. After a time, the white haired Konti squeezed the woman’s arm and looking past her, said to the man, “I will return, but first I must look around.” Fear erupted in the humans as Satu spoke, her HeartSense saw it clearly. Coldness shone in the Konti’s eyes, but the humans regarded it as the result of the dire situation they were in. The woman whispered, “Take this,” and offered Satu the dagger. The Konti slowly pushed the weapon back into the woman’s hands and shook her head gently no, as if to a child. “You will need it, I have my suvai,” Satu replied as she slowly rose to walk silently away through grass and trees. Stepping lightly, her dress billowed out as she moved; their eyes never left her, for they felt protected in the circle of her courage and compassion. With renewed hope in the midst of tragedy, they looked at one another. When Satu had gone as far as she was able to, without breaking the Cordas strings, she stopped. Out there within the wildernesss, Arianni and Asha’ney waited for her. And the others - the Slavers... she saw no sign of. It was likely they had gone, though if not, it was no matter... The Konti looked back to the couple. They watched her still, and Satu gestured with one hand to stay put. How they wanted to be lead! And guided! Already the Konti had assumed leadership; so easily they gave their wills to her direction. For a brief moment, Satu closed her eyes, pale lashes long against pale cheeks. All was as it should be… Satu would deliver them to Sagallius, and they would be free from their trials. A gentle peace infused her soul. She was very needed! Blue eyes flashed as she hardened her will to let them go. From the half-concealed spot the Konti’s fingers moved, and the woman suddenly twitched where she sat in the brush. She tried to open her mouth to speak, but no words tumbled out. So focused was the man on the sounds in the forest, he did not notice his woman's distress. Satu’s nimble fingers pulled again upon the Cordas strings, as if she played a fine instrument. The woman’s eyes opened wider in horror as both of her worn hands gripped the dagger with a unearthly grip. Satu watched from the shadows, a small smile played across her face. A breeze drifted through the trees and lifted her white hair, only to set it down once more, a slightly ruffled mantle about her angelic face.