Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed, the only thing I take credit for is my OCs.
Authors note: I want to say thank you to the civilians that have been adding this to their favs and reviewing, I love it. Ok so anyways here's the new chapter, I've been having a hard time figuring out how I'm going to be doing the timing of certain scenes. I know Altair does all his assassinations in the time of like a month but I might be dragging them out to fit my story. Enough talk, more read. Hope ya like.
Taming a Huntress
Chapter IV
Up In Flames
One morning, a week later found Savra in bed, fidgeting with her blankets and staring at the ceiling. She hadn't had a good night's rest. She felt uneasy out of no where and she didn't understand why. But there was a heaviness in her chest that she couldn't shake. It left her unmotivated to get out of bed and start the day, but she knew that she would have to.
Noises from downstairs caught her attention, and she tilted her head toward her door. She could hear the rest of the house awake. She stayed still for a few moments, losing herself in her tired mind before she tossed the blankets aside and began moving about her room to dress.
Clad in a deep green tunic, and deeper brown breeches, she sluggishly pulled on her boots. She walked over to her mirror and grabbed the brush to run it brusquely through the tangles, braiding it messily over her shoulder afterward. She pulled on a leather band to cover her forehead and keep the loose strands from her face.
She glanced at the window to see the sky lightning up slightly to a dull grey. Savra made her way into the hallway then. She peeked her head in her brother's room when she saw his door slightly ajar, but he wasn't there. She did the same with her parent's room, only to see the same thing.
Orange light came from the stairs, meaning the fireplace was going. She walked down the steps, her boots thumping loudly against the narrow rug covering them, and even louder when her soles hit the wood. Few candles were lit in the living area, so the fireplace was the main source of light. She went to sit on the lounging pillows she usually occupied, resting her elbows on her thighs and her chin in her palm, as her eyes lost themselves in the glowing flames.
She could smell something cooking in the kiln coming from the kitchen. But she sat still, having no desire to move from where she was. She could hear her father's voice, low, as he spoke, she guessed to her mother.
A click and a cool breeze hit her from the side. The room brightened for a second before dimming again, followed by another click and footfalls. But her eyes stayed on the flames.
"Look who decided to wake up," Haydar spoke as he settled himself on some pillows across from her. He eyed his sister's solemn expression, taking it as tiredness. "Well, you better wake yourself up. We have a lot to do today."
"I know…" she murmured as she watched the embers disappear up the chimney.
Haydar stood then and gave the top of her head a pat. "Come on, Ma cooked food. Half the workers are already outside preparing. If we start sooner, maybe we'll finish even quicker than last time."
Savra gave a weary huff as she stood as well and followed her brother through the archway and into the kitchen.
Most of the candles in the room were lit, making it brighter than the living room. Her mother had her back to them, kneeling in front of the kiln, stirring something in a pan. Her father looked up at their entrance from where he was seated at the wooden table, drinking from an earthenware mug. Haydar went over to the kiln to peek at the food, only to be swatted away by Sasha. He grinned and took a seat at the bench. Savra slumped down next to him, resting her arms crossed on the table, laying her chin atop them.
Her eyes watched the burning candle in the center of the table, following the melting wax as it made its descent.
The clatter of plates and utensils came from behind her, and not too long after a wooden plate of food was deposited in front of her. She didn't look up at her mother, nor did she thank her. Haydar and her father did, but not she. And she felt her father's gaze, wordlessly telling her to. But she didn't. She wasn't in the mood.
Sasha sat down across the table from Haydar and her and they began eating in silence. She stirred her food around on the plate. A meal of potatoes with eggs. She took nibbling bites every now and then, but her utensil stayed in her hand mostly, pushing the food around. She knew her father was watching, and she knew Haydar kept glancing at her from beside her. Her mother though, was speaking about a trip into the city, oblivious to her behavior.
"Are you ready for the harvest today, Savra?" Nasir spoke between bites.
She took a moment to answer. "I suppose."
"Haydar is sure this one will be finished in record time. What do you think?" He gave her an amused smile.
She rested her cheek on her knuckles. "Doesn't matter to me if it isn't."
Out of the corner of her eye she saw him place his utensil down to look at her fully.
"What's wrong, girl?"
"Nothing…" she mumbled.
Sasha glanced up at her for a second before patting her mouth with a piece of cloth. "So, I was saying. I do not think I'll be back until late, but I'll have a cart bring me back so you won't have a need to, Nasir."
Nasir gripped his utensil a little tighter. "Why don't you stay and help, Sasha? We could use some extra hands."
Sasha let out an airy laugh. "Out there? The days of callousing my hands are over. I keep telling you that."
"You could wear gloves, Ma," Haydar spoke through his food. "Savra has some that would fit."
Savra scoffed but said nothing. She could see her father's warning out of the corner of her eye.
She felt Sasha's glare. "No, Haydar. I promised some ladies I'd visit them today. I cannot go back on my word. It would be improper and rude."
Nasir glanced Savra for a moment before looking to Sasha. "Well then, why don't you take Savra with you into the city? She does not look to be in the mood for the harvest. She's been complaining about her lack of paints anyway. It would be good." He smiled gently.
Savra knew what he was doing. Ever since the night of the feast, which had been a week ago, he'd been reluctant to let Sasha go into the city. They argued and argued some more about the man she was dancing with. But Sasha adamantly insisted he was only being a gentleman. Nasir though, was not so sure. Which was the reason he was suggesting she go with her mother, for Sasha wouldn't do anything 'improper' if Savra was there watching.
Sasha stilled at his words before regaining herself. "Not looking like that I'm not. She looks as if she rolled around in the stables. Look at her hair, Nasir, and that idiotic rag she has around her head. Not to mention those tatter clothes she's wearing. No, I won't."
Savra ignored her mother's rant as she scooped a small bite into her mouth.
Nasir spoke sternly then."You are over exaggerating, Sasha. She looks fine. Unless there's a reason you do not wish for her to go?" he asked suspiciously.
Sasha's eyes widened for a second before shaking her head. "What are you suggesting, Nasir? I told you my reasons, she looks like a bag of rags. If she wants to come with me she has to let me redo her hair, and she is to wear something of mine that isn't so… that."
Savra's eyes snapped up. "No."
Sasha gave a small smirk. "Then you can't come."
"Just like you wanted, yes? Without me there you can run to your nobleman and spread your legs without worry."
Sasha's face contorted at the insult. Haydar froze his chewing and looked between Savra and his mother, and Nasir closed his eyes, rubbing his index and middle fingers against his temples in tight circles. Savra pushed her food from her to where it clattered onto the ground.
Sasha started shouting at her but she ignored it as she spun on her heel, dodging Nasir when he stood to grip her arm and stormed for the door, slamming it hard enough to shake the window shutters.
Nasir braced his hands flat against the table and hung his head. Haydar stood from the bench and with a sigh and made for the door after Savra. The door clicking shut quietly behind him
Sasha rose from her seat and walked over to a basket in the corner, grabbing an old rag before hitching the hem of her dress up a little to kneel down with more ease as she began cleaning the spilled meal angrily.
"I cannot believe that girl," she hissed as she scrubbed the floor harder. "And of course, you do not say anything at all about her lies and delusions. You just fuel her behavior more and mo—"
Nasir looked up from the table in irritation. "Do not start."
"I will start! I am sick of this. All of it. Every day it is something different, and every day she gets bolder and bolder with her tongue, and every day you sit there with indifference about it, and every day I am the one to suffer. Every day, Nasir. Every single day."
He didn't answer, only curled his hands into tight fists.
"See? You do not deny it," she sneered as she stood, tossing the dirtied rag onto the table.
When he spoke, it was slow and measured. "I am not indifferent about any of it, but there is nothing I can do."
Sasha let out a disbelieving scoff but he continued.
"You act so surprised when she says the things that she does, but do you ever take the time to hear the words leaving your mouth? The problem here is not Savra, the problem here is you, Sasha." He looked up to her to see her eyes widened in offense. "You cannot expect to push someone as much as you do without retaliation, which is what she has been doing, but you do not see."
"I am pushing her to be as a woman should be."
"She does not want to be the way you want her to be, Sasha." His voice rose as he straightened. "She is not one to be forced, which is why she backlashes at you so much."
"Because you allow it," Sasha ground out.
"No, because I do not know how to solve it," he snapped at her. "If I scold her for it she sees it as me taking your side, which I don't. I don't know how long it's going to take you to see, but she will never be the girl that you desire her to be. I've accepted her a long time ago, it is time for you to do the same. Then maybe you two can have a proper relationship."
Sasha let out a guffaw. "You ask that I condone her attitude towards me?"
"You are not listening," Nasir growled.
"I have heard your words Nas—"
"No you haven't, you hear only what you wish to hear, and what I am saying to you is not something you wish to hear, so you don't."
Sasha glared at him. "Don't presume to know what I am thinking."
"I don't." He scowled. "I don't presume to know anything about you anymore, you've changed. Everything is about materialistic items. Items our coin shouldn't be wasted on. We aren't noble Sasha, yet you act as if we are. Your image, you family's image suddenly means so much to you. You were never that way before."
"That is not true!"
"It is. Perhaps I should do as you do, and force you to change, be the woman you once were, push you until you snap. It is what you do to Savra, should I not be allowed to do the same to you?"
Sasha opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out. So Nasir kept talking.
"But I will not do that to you, because you are my wife, a woman I love, and I would never try to change you to suit my needs. I accept you as you are, even as you change into something different, I accept you. Perhaps you should learn to do the same with our daughter. You might learn something interesting about her one day that you didn't know before."
Sasha fixed her gaze on the table as she gripped the sides of her dress. "You say I have changed, but you have as well. You are not the man I married all those years ago. You were not an assassin then. Had I known I—"
Nasir scoffed and shook his head in irritation. She had been bringing that up a lot lately and it was getting on his nerves. "I was always an assassin. The only thing that changed was your knowledge of it. Why you bring this up now is beyond me. It never bothered you so much before."
"I was naïve then, and I pushed it from my mind. I pretended you were a winery owner. And went along with your lies when you left. I am not naïve any longer."
Nasir's eyes softened in hurt. "Let us pretended again that I am not an assassin. I am still a winery owner. And that, Sasha, is still not enough for you anymore. You have it in your head that you belong with the noble people. And my occupation, whether assassin, or farmer, will not change. My status will not change. Forgive me for my inability to give you more."
Sasha avoided his gaze as she brushed her skirt.
Nasir sighed wearily and began walking towards the door outside. He paused and glanced at her before speaking low and tired, "Go to the city Sasha. Go to your wealthy friends. Go see your gentleman who cheers you up so." She turned from him at his words. "The farm could use a day without the tension between you two and I could use a break from it as well."
"You are telling me to leave?" Her eyes snapped to his and narrowed.
He gave another sigh as he shook his head and walked to the door. "Again, you don't hear my words. Do what you wish, Sasha."
With that he closed the door gently behind him leaving the woman alone in the kitchen.
Haydar found Savra sitting on the fence of the paddock where the two horses were grazing. She had her legs locked on the middle bar of the fence as she hugged the post she was leaning on, with her cheek resting against it.
He rested his forearms on the fence while he leaned and watched the horses. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before poking her in the rib. She flinched and turned to give him a glare. He did it again harder when she had turned back and he saw her lips struggle to remain fixed in their frown. When he moved to repeat the motion she caught his finger and bent it back until he yelped and pulled his finger free.
He returned to his position against the fence. "What was that all about in there?"
She glanced at him before speaking hesitantly, "I don't know… she just wouldn't be quiet."
Haydar remained silent while he watched the new stallion Savra named Baroshe prance and strut around Zeta who gave him none of her attention.
"Are they fighting?" she asked after a while.
"Most likely."
She sighed as she pressed her cheek back onto the post.
"Don't worry about it," Haydar said to her. "Papa always wins."
He saw her lips quirk and he let out a chuckle. After a while he pulled an apple from his pocket and grabbed his dagger, cutting the fruit into sections. He stepped onto the lowest fence bar before clicking his tongue loudly. Immediately Zeta's ears perked and she began totting over to him, greedily nipping the slices he held out for her.
Baroshe followed her slowly in curiosity. Savra stole a slice from Haydar's hand to hold out to him. After a moment of sniffing her with suspicion, began nibbling happily. He began pressing his muzzle to her as he sniffed around for more apple slices. She gave him a small smile as she stroked his cheek.
"Such a change, aye?" a male's voice came from behind them. Haydar turned to see Ryad one of the workers walk up with his wife Alya.
Savra looked at him when he approached and nodded.
"Have you ridden him then?" Ryad asked as he stepped onto the fence to grip Baroshe's halter and look him over.
"Not since yesterday," she answered.
He glanced at her and grinned. "Afraid?"
"Ryad," Alya scolded with a smile.
"What? It's alright if she is. I understand she has a little bit of fear to handle such a large horse without being under the watchful eye of the great horse trainer Ryad."
"You're not so great." Savra smiled as she ran her finger through the dark mane of the horse.
"Oh no? He's able to be ridden now is he not?"
"I did most of the work," Savra replied with a smirk.
"Hah! Without my help there wouldn't have been any work to do. I performed a miracle I tell you. But I see how you're going to be, little Savra. Next time he acts up, don't come crying to me."
Savra grinned and Haydar chuckled.
Alya shook her head as she rolled her eyes, grabbing Ryad's elbow and began to tug him away. "Alright, oh great Ryad, let us go see the others to prepare before Nasir sees you slacking."
Nasir had been walking up to the paddock and smiled to himself as he turned back to the two horses in front of him. He held out his hand and watched as the deep brown horse sniffed it curiously before running it along the side of its face.
"Worth all that coin, huh, Papa?" Savra asked as she watched.
Nasir snorted. "Not the problems it brought, no."
"Minuscule problems." She waved a hand.
"For you, maybe," he replied. "Though, I will admit he is a very handsome horse."
"He should be mine," Haydar spoke. "I am your only son." He grinned. "Should I not have the better horse of the two?"
Nasir glanced at him in amusement. "And what of Zeta? You learned to ride on her and cared for her all these years. She still doesn't respond as well to anyone as she does you. You would trade her for him?"
"And what about the fact that I paid for the horse," Savra cut in, nervous that her father would actually agree with Haydar.
"In an instant," Haydar replied as he ignored his sister, Savra glared and he smirked. "No, Zeta is the better horse, but she is getting too old."
"Hmm," Nasir agreed as he looked at the grey horse. "Well, save some of your coin and I will help you get a new one."
Haydar nodded with a smile, but Savra's eyes widened.
"What! Just like that? You mean you would have bought him if I would have asked!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, but you didn't. Instead you chose the route that would cause the most problems, as usual." He smirked.
"As usual," Haydar repeated before walking towards where the rest of the workers were emerging.
"It was a matter of life and death. I chose the quickest route," she mumbled.
Nasir chuckled quietly. "If that is what you want to believe."
Savra made to reply but stopped herself when the door to the villa slammed shut. Both looked over their shoulder to see Sasha storming down the main path that led to the road in a new gown. She glanced at Nasir and glowered, then to Savra, only to give her a displeased frown.
Savra turned away and ground her jaw, while Nasir watched Sasha leave with a rueful look.
He glanced at Savra when he returned his sights forward. She gripped the fence to the point of whitening her knuckles and he could see her jaw working.
"Why are you so upset this morning, Savra?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head and remained silent.
Nasir sighed. "Does it have to do with your mother at least?" The two argued enough as it is, but the girl hardly ever snapped as she did this morning. And he had already seen something was bothering her at the table.
"Yes..." she murmured, suddenly sounding very tired.
"What then?"
She let out a huff and started tugging at the string holding her braid tied. "I don't want to talk about it," she replied quietly.
Nasir looked at her for a moment before eventually giving a nod. "Well then, I will not make you. But if it bothers you so much, you should tell me. You know I will listen."
"I know…" she whispered as she watched the grass blow from the breeze beneath her.
Nasir frowned at her tone while he pushed himself from the fence. "Don't stay here too long. There is much to be done," he told her. She nodded, and he patted her arm before walking towards his workers.
Savra sat on her crossed ankles with a deep brown woven basket strapped to her front, her fingers held the stem of a group of grapes still while she cut it with a small sickle held in her other hand. She repeated the motions until nothing was left in front of her and scooted herself down the row, dragging the dirt with her scuffed up boots. Her eyes focused on the deep purple orb clusters hanging from the vines. A frown held still on her face. A faint line creased the skin between her brows. Her shoulders slumped with her spine.
Her basket was not even half full yet, and the other workers had already made a few trips to empty theirs into the large crates sitting on the path. She could hear them conversing in rows over, laughing, and telling jokes as they worked. She could hear Haydar working a row on the other side of the path as he flirted with one of the younger girls who had just begun working there. She could hear the girl giggle, and another male taunt Haydar playfully.
Someone was pulling a cart to her left up the path, the wagon already filled with grapes. She looked at her bare basket, and the hanging clusters in front of her, sighing wearily as she cut a few halfheartedly, dropping them into the woven bin.
A pat on her head startled her enough to give a small jump, and she looked up to see two women looking down at her. Alya and Salma. They crouched at her left a few paces from each other and placed their baskets down.
Alya gazed at her for a second before speaking, "We were asked by Nasir to take over your section."
Savra's brows furrowed. "Why?"
Salma glanced over from the cluster she was cutting giving a small chuckle. "Well, little Savra, if you haven't noticed it's been more than an hour and you're not even half done with this row."
Alya smiled. "You're usually fairly quick." When Savra didn't smile back Alya's expression faltered. "So, what's wrong? Some of the others said they saw you quite angry when you left the house."
Savra didn't reply but dropped another cluster in her basket.
"It's probably Sasha again," Salma said without looking up from her work. "She didn't look too happy either when she left. Though, when does that woman ever look happy?"
"When she comes home with new jewels," Alya muttered, Salma snickered and Savra remained quiet. "But anyway, your father said for you to just sweep the rows that are finished, check for any clusters that were looked over."
Savra nodded dully as she got to her feet, and walked down the row to the cart sitting at the path. She pulled the basket strap off of her shoulder and dumped the contents into one of the crates.
"That's it?" She heard Haydar's voice ask in disbelief. She glanced up to see him down another row with two others, full baskets sitting on the ground around them. "This whole time and that's all you've picked?"
She held back a scowl. "Don't talk to me, Haydar. I'm not in the mood."
His eyes narrowed at her. "What's wrong with you?"
She didn't reply as she began to walk away down the path where the rows were already finished. "Savra." She heard him follow but she didn't turn. "Savra! What's wrong with you?"
She felt his hand on her shoulder and he turned her, she shrugged it off in irritation and glared. "Don't."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said as she made to walk away.
"It's not nothing. Why are—"
"It's nothing okay?" she snapped in agitation. "Nothing. There's nothing wrong with me. Nothing's wrong. Stop asking."
Haydar's brows furrowed, she could feel the workers near enough to the pause what they were doing to look over. "Savra…" he said.
"I want to be left alone," she repeated, quieter. "I don't want to talk. I don't want to be bothered."
Haydar nodded slowly, still holding an unsure expression. He turned back and walked to where he was originally and disappeared between the rows. Grey eyes had followed him, and shifted around to see the other workers slowly get back to work.
Nasir stood high up the path watching her, his items held still in his hands. His expression was narrowed and calculating, piercing her with his concern. She glanced away as she turned, retreating down the path to hide herself in the rows, and get away from the questioning stares.
Savra plopped herself down into the dirt and tossed the basket aside. She sank her elbows into her thighs and cupped her palms to hold her head, threading her fingers into her messy auburn hair as she closed her eyes with a heavy sigh.
She was so irritated, and tired, and frustrated, and just… angry...
Her mother's comments in the morning didn't help. That woman was pushing her to the edge and she was getting tired of it. She was getting tired of just taking it. She wished Sasha would just shut up. She has to point out flaw, after flaw, after flaw with her passive-aggressive remarks. And Savra couldn't do anything about it, except retort with her own words. But some days, like this day, it wasn't enough. And the fact that she knew, she knew her mother was having an affair and her father seemed to accept it only upset her further.
Dirt crunching under heavy boots came from her right, and someone crouched next to her. She glanced up to see Nasir watching her, staring stoically.
Savra grabbed her basket and moved to stand. "I'm getting to it," she said quietly.
Nasir stilled her with a hand on her shoulder and grabbed the basket she held, placing it down beside him. "No, you're not. You're going to sit there, and you're going to tell me what the issue is."
"There's no issue," she stressed.
"Do not lie, Savra," he warned sternly, his hazel eyes hardening.
Savra didn't provide any answer but dropped her gaze to the dirt, her finger tracing patterns through the gravel. Nasir didn't move, but waited unchanged and patient, showing no signs of dropping the subject.
"I'm tired," she said at last.
"Yes, that much is obvious," he replied. "But that is not all."
Savra swallowed and shifted herself on the dirt. "I hate her…" she whispered.
She saw her father stiffen, and she felt his stare. "Hate… hate is too strong a word to be using, I think," he spoke low.
Savra shook her head. "No, I think it's the right word for how I feel."
He remained silent while he watched her and when he finally spoke it was weary, "You are just still upset from this morning. Your anger will subside, just wait."
"It's not just this morning!" Savra protested. "It's always, she's so… she's just… there's no words and you don't understand."
"Savra—"
"Why can't she just leave me alone?" Savra stood as she asked, and Nasir stood as well as he looked down at her. "Why?I can't even walk through the house without her nagging. That's all she does!" she exclaimed. "Savra why can't you do this, are you really going outside to have people seeing you dressed in that? So and so's daughter would never dare! So and so would never look twice at you. You make this family look bad. It's all about so and so! Who cares about her stupid rich acquaintances? Who cares about what they think! I don't! I can't stand her anymore! I just…" She let out a heavy sigh. "I can't… I can't. I don't even want to be here when she's here anymore. I'm not even comfortable in my own home with her there."
Savra kicked a rock as she scuffed her boot in the dirt. Her gaze dropped down again as her fists curled. Nasir was quiet, standing still as he surveyed her.
"Why do you let her continue," Savra finally whispered.
Nasir stilled and turned his face from his daughter, clenching his jaw.
"She shames you, Papa. How can you allow it?"
"How about you go for a ride, hmm?" Nasir asked. She looked up in confusion at the sudden change of subject. Her eyes narrowed but her father ignored her and he continued, "Take your mind off things for a while. It might calm your nerves."
"But… what about the harvest?"
He gave a wry chuckle. "I doubt there will be a noticeable change if you stopped. You haven't been much help to us today."
She thought about it for a moment. "If I leave, Haydar's going to hold it over me for weeks."
Nasir smiled at her childish worries. "Do not worry about that boy. Just go take your ride."
Savra nodded reluctantly and started walking toward the path that led up to the stables, biting her cheek distractedly.
"Savra," Nasir spoke to her from behind, she turned to look at him questioningly. "Regardless of what your mother says. You are perfectly fine to me."
She hesitated as her eyes softened before she walked back to hug him tight. He rubbed her back and spoke again, "Do not start allowing it to get to you. You are too strong for that, little Savra."
He pushed her away by the shoulders and gave her an encouraging wink, she nodded and stepped back.
"Okay, I guess I'll just be in the forest for a while then."
"Don't stray too far from the stream," he warned.
"No, I won't," she agreed as she made for the path again, looking over her shoulder. "I'll see you later, Papa."
He gave a nod. "Before dark, remember."
Savra nodded, giving him a small wave before she walked up the dirt path and into the stables, bringing out her saddle and making her way for the new stallion Baroshe.
Once saddled, she mounted and kicked him towards the tree line. She past by some workers, picking out Ryad as he watched, smiling proudly as he spoke to another. She heard him say something about being the reason Savra's riding the horse in the first place and she smiled to herself.
She heard Haydar's voice calling out to her, asking what she was doing in shock, that they weren't finished. But she heard her father then say to leave her alone. She glanced at Nasir as he made his way to work by her brother. He gestured for the trees, and her to go, with a calmed expression before he disappeared between a row.
So she went.
The two had been traveling for some time at a leisurely pace since midday, it was calming. Riding allowed her to take the time to gaze up at the trees, and sky, and all around without having to worry about tripping over a stone or hole like she normally did had she been walking.
They traveled a bit longer and the sun had made its way towards the horizon. Deciding to rest for a time before heading back home, she pulled the horse to walk down a small slope she knew led to a stream. As she neared the water, Baroshe stopped, making no move to continue. Savra kicked her heels lightly to move on but had no luck.
"Do not tell me you fear water as well," she groaned, the stallion snorted, tossing his head slightly. "Come on, it is not even knee-deep. The only thing you have to fear is getting kissed on your hooves by the fish, which feels quite nice if you ask me." She chuckled quietly. "Now forward, come on," she ordered, snapping the reins and giving a kick. He took a tentative step into the water, followed by another, the water was midway between his hoof and knee. "There you are, not deep at all." She patted his neck encouragingly as they crossed the stream.
They arrived to her destination, which was a small clearing filled with grass and a few large rocks. She dismounted and tied the horse to a nearby tree, giving him enough lead to graze if he wished.
After she unsaddled him, she took the saddle to an area in the middle of the clearing, setting it down in the grass and promptly sat down, resting her head on it. She kept her gaze on the blue sky watching, the various birds fly over. She heard the distinct call of an eagle, and sure enough it came into view. Though very high from where she was, it was still easy to tell. She watched as its flight pattern started to circle above a small flock of birds that flew at a distance below it. The eagle dove and caught an unsuspecting bird in its talons, flying off to have his meal.
The scene had caused her mind to drift as she relaxed in the grass, to drift to the same thing she found her mind going back to over the past week; the night in the alley. More specifically; the man who didn't kill her. His name she did not know, she knew nothing of him. She didn't even know what he looked like, it was too dark and all she could tell was that he seemed to wear some sort of light-colored robe.
She sighed as she listened to the chirping of the birds resting in the trees around her. Her eyelids became heavy, mostly due to a fitful sleep. She glanced over to Baroshe who was quietly grazing, and made herself more comfortable, resting an arm over her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Nasir had been working in the fields all day with his son, talking idly every once and awhile. They spoke of the assassination of Talal. Altair had been sloppy, and Haydar had joked about all the ways one-armed Malik was going to kill him for it. His son had teased his sister for wholeheartedly believing Malik made cheese for a living. Nasir laughed at his daughter's innocent naivetés.
But that was earlier and it was dusk. Savra had yet to return. Nasir kept glancing at the tree line that bordered the vineyard for her return. She had not taken her camping supplies, so she did not plan on sleeping in the forest. It was a simple ride and she had been gone for hours. The lack of light was forcing them all to stop. Workers around him were fatigued and they carried their tools and baskets toward the winery shed, speaking amongst themselves.
A cool breeze hit him and he looked up. There would be no stars tonight by the looks of the heavy clouds. The leaves from the vines rustled from the wind, and it was all he heard for a while since most were up the path. Something felt out of place, something felt wrong. He glanced around again, the vineyard bathed in an orange-red light from the sinking sun. The trees from behind were dark, shielding the sun from penetrating the forest.
He heard a loud laugh and jerked his sight up toward the house, but it was only the workers. His brows furrowed and he shook his head to rid himself of the nervous feeling. He collected his supplies from the ground, moving down the row of vines towards the path that lead to the villa.
Continuing up the path, that's when he heard them; hooves. At first he thought it was his daughter running from the forest. But when he turned he saw that down on the main traveling road, still some distance away, men rode hard on horses, fully armed and armored with torches in hand, and they were riding this way.
He dropped the items he was carrying and began running up the path.
"Haydar!" he shouted for his son. "HAYDAR!"
His son's head popped up over a row of vines looking alarmed.
"Boy, get my weapons! Get yours as well! Now!"
Haydar looked confused for a split second but decided to trust what his father wanted, sprinting towards the villa. He returned just as fast with their weapons in hand and the workers began moving around in a panic.
The men on horses came into their sights at the bottom of the hill.
"ASSASSINS," the front runner bellowed as they neared with raised swords.
Nasir and Haydar readied their stances. Nasir glanced at the tree line one last time.
"Stay there," he whispered to his daughter as his eyes sought the armored men again.
Savra woke with a start, something was pulling her hair. She realized it was already nightfall and the clearing was dark, the moon shining overhead. She turned to the source of the hair pulling and had Baroshe in her sights, nibbling on her locks.
"How did you free yourself? I thought I tied that well enough," she asked, smiling.
The horse only continued munching on her hair. "Hey, no more of that," she said as she stood, pulling her hair from him.
After she saddled him up and mounted she moved them over towards the stream. This time he didn't hesitate to cross.
"Good boy," she praised as she patted his neck. They made their way back onto the trail, and they were still quite a distance away from the farm. Moving him into a trot, the pair continued towards home.
After some time traveling, Savra got an odd feeling, like something was wrong. She glanced around the forest thinking that maybe someone was following her, but she couldn't pick up on another presence.
Baroshe's ears were pricked forward and he had picked up on her uneasy feeling. She could feel him tense as they continued and that only made her feel worse.
"Something's not right," she spoke quietly.
Soon something caught her attention, it was the smell. Something was burning, but it didn't smell like a campfire. Baroshe became more vocal. She pushed him into a gallop and they raced through the woods. The closer they got to the farm the thicker the smell was.
When the forest wasn't as dense, she could see smoke high in the sky. It was big billowing clouds of smoke, and it was coming from the direction of the vineyards, her home.
"Faster," she urged, the stomping hooves did not overpower the sound of her heart was playing in her ears. Trees flew by them in a blur as her focus was straight ahead, the moonshine dancing on the forest path through the leaves.
"Come on, faster!" she yelled as she kicked. The horse threw his head back with a snort and sped up.
They ran the path as fast as the horse could take them. Her anxiety built the closer they got, her mind raced. All she wanted to do was see that what she feared was not true, was another farm perhaps.
But that was not to be.
Baroshe came to a skidding halt at the tree line and reared up in fear, letting out a loud deep whine. Savra gasped at the sight while she tried to stay upright on the horse. The farm, vineyards… her home, was up in flames.
Author's Note: A wittle cliffhanger. Let me know what you thought. Thanks for reading!
Sombrette