Chapter 35 – The Human Woman
I had to do something. The crowd of villagers boiled with rage; my friends and neighbors were a mindless mob. But what right did I have to interfere? This was a living human.
Like Lancet said: I was never a slave. I’m different.
Someone in the crowd. No, someone in the mob threw a rock towards the human. Thank the gods it landed at her feet. But she still fell backwards into the dirt.
More jeering. “Leave! Get out of here! Windthrow, throw her into the Weald!”
She held up her hands, trying to shield herself. Both were covered in cuts, bruises and jagged scars. For the first time, the flickering torchlight illuminated beneath her hood. Long red hair, bangs that covered her eyes, and a face slick with tears.
In my old life–when I was confused and weak, I wasn’t so different. I was thrown down in the locker room. Everyone watched me cry; which made it so much worse. No one stood up for me. Standing up for the queer kid would only invite their own bullying.
Fuck this! Vylet is reckless and wild. It’s basically my thing. I won’t stand and watch a vulnerable person get forced into monster infested woods!
I put myself between the mob and the human woman.
“Stop! Everyone calm the hell down!” I gestured towards the crying girl. “Ya’ll really think she’s a threat?”
Windthrow took a step forward, as if he wanted to protect me from the unarmed human.
“Come on Windthrow! Look at her. You’re my mate–I know that you’re strong.”
“Humans are always a threat. It’s in their nature to dominate and destroy. Everyone”–he motioned to the villagers—”here has lost people they love because of humans and their Empire.”
“Not because of this human. And I might be related to something bad–really really bad. Am I a threat too?”
“That’s different–of course you aren’t.”
Cleyre marched through the crowd–people made way for the most respected person in Sapwood. Her skimpy nightwear was jarring, given the situation. She spoke in a loud voice. Loud enough for even the villagers who decided to stay in bed.
“He’s right. You’re still learning. It’s no fault of yours, Vylet. You simply don’t understand. We’ll escort the human away.”
“Not you too!”
I looked down at the human. Her eyes were finally visible between her bangs. She stared at me, with those wide sky-blue eyes. What choice did I have?
“Vylet. You heard Cleyre. Get away from her and go back to bed. I’ll join you soon,” Windthrow said.
My spectral wings burst from my back. The orange light of the torches was drowned out by the arcane brightness from my wings. The villagers reeled, shielding their eyes. I stood behind the woman and helped her up. She was silent, but tentatively accepted my hand.
Then I wrapped my wings around her trembling body.
“I see you’re not giving up,” Cleyre sighed. "If no one objects, perhaps she can spend the night.”
No one said anything. My wings must have silenced the mob.
In the daytime, they looked like a beautiful curiosity, but in the night they looked otherworldly and dangerous. Like they would scorch your hand with a touch; luckily my wings were actually harmless.
“She’ll be my responsibility. No one has to worry,” I said.
I slowly walked us through the villagers. Towards our home. So much less anger now; they seemed mostly curious. Except for Windthrow. His usually kind eyes burned with hatred.
We made it to my room. I quickly closed the door behind us. Then I finally exhaled; it felt like I’d been holding my breath for minutes.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She didn’t respond, just stood there shivering. The woman was taller than me, extremely skinny. Wearing rags. And she was filthy. How could anyone feel threatened by her!? A breeze would topple her over!
“Do you want some clean clothes?”
She nodded.
Alright! Progress! We’ll be friends in no time. Sleepovers, telling secrets, Sunday brunch. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but still!
“I’ll be right back. Stay put! I mean that.”
I dug around the closets downstairs and grabbed a spare robe. Cleyre and Windthrow were speaking outside. Probably about me, but I didn’t stick around to listen.
The human was exactly where I left them. I laid the robe on the bed.
“Put that on. I promise it’s clean.”
Grumble grumble
“Ah, you must be starving! I’ll get some fruit for you downstairs, hold on.”
One more quick roundtrip for a few of my favorite fruits. Hopefully our guest would enjoy these!
I pushed back into our room.
“Ahhh! Sorry, sorry, sorry!”
Immediately, I shielded my eyes.
How could I be so stupid?! They were getting changed. It’s not like they would have underwear under those rags!
They shrieked and covered themselves, blushing furiously. I retreated back out.
But…I saw something very very interesting.
The woman had a part that most women don’t! It was small, but it was there!.
Now I wanted to protect them even more!