Page 153 of To Free a Soul
When she first spotted a marmot, she considered killing it but didn’t want to risk the sickness they sometimes gave to humans, despite being a delicacy in this part of the world. She’d tried it before but didn’t wish to risk it while pregnant. Instead, she captured a hare.
Then she made herself a fire on top of a flat piece of rock, skinned it, and cooked it. The process took some time, pushing her into the midmorning when she started eating. She was midway through when a Demon came to inspect her smoke and the smell of meat in the air.
She covered herself in a protective dome, and it proceeded to snarl and bash at it. She didn’t give it another thought, even when her baby growled back while scratching at the inside of the dome to fight it.
Cutie. It’s in their instincts to fight Demons.
“Lindiwe,”Weldir called, when she was taking her last few mouthfuls of meat.“A group of humans has stepped into my mist bordering the Veil.”
“So?” she asked around a warm bite. “If they want to die, then that’s their choice.”
“There’s a bound woman with them.”
That made her pause, and she pulled her meat away from her mouth to frown. “But the occultists are mostly gone. None have sacrificed women in over a century.”
“These people don’t look like occultists. Most of them are armoured.”
“Like from a town?”
“I believe so. They have crests on their armour. I think the woman is a criminal of some kind. They’ve mentioned a murder.”
She lowered her food entirely. “Throwing someone into the Veil for a crime is barbaric. She must have killed someone of importance if they marched all the way there just for her.”
She probably pissed off the wrong person, and they wanted to make an example out of her. I don’t see why it matters to us.Humans were cruel. Enough to stab Lindiwe and leave her to die and be eaten. Enough to do other vile things to each other.
“I thought you’d be interested to know. And that they’re very close to Fennec’s cave.”
“Then he’ll gain some humanity – unless the Demons get to her first,” she murmured, taking another bite.
“I’m... surprised by your response.”
Her gaze lowered to her fire in shame.I can’t save everyone.She’d turned her back on humankind a long, long time ago.I can only care about my children. They’re my priority.
Yet, her next bite was harder to swallow, and she gave up on her meal entirely when she just felt sick for all the worst reasons.
I guess I could save her.But to what end? To leave her in the forest on the surface just to be eaten?I would have to walk with her to a nearby town and hope she isn’t arrested again.Not saving her life could save her from living in a prison cell for the rest of her days – which was more merciful, in Lindiwe’s opinion.
Then a thought crossed her mind, and her shoulders lifted self-consciously.
“Howclose to Fennec’s cave?”
“Enough that he would find her with ease from where she falls.”
Her mind rotated with an idea.I told myself I wouldn’t interfere anymore.She rubbed the side of her neck.But... I know he seeks a companion like Orpheus.She pulled her hand away to look down at her palm.What do I do? Let her die, or give her a chance at a new kind of life?Her hand held noanswers, and her next question sent dread through her chest.What if she’s like Katerina?
She curled her fingers until she made a fist.What if she’s not?
A resigned groan came from her, and she threw her mostly eaten meat into the fire. She stood, kicked snow onto the flames, and picked up her featureless, unnamed baby.
“Okay. Take me to their location.”
“If you intend to save her, you don’t have much time left.”
“Then let’s be quick.”
As soon as Lindiwe was thrown into midafternoon sunshine, she immediately leapt into motion. Just as she arrived, the tanned woman, who had shoulder-length dark hair, was shoved off the canyon’s cliff.
She pulled her hood over her head, ran in the woman’s direction while holding her taut belly, and jumped off the cliff. Her heart was already racing when she leapt, and it only grew more rapid when she transformed into an owl.
