Disclaimer: Mercedes Lackey is the creator not me; I'm just writing for fun

The Life and Times of Savil Ashkevron

Chapter Two: Magic Sword

By: Delphine

"Then she told me what little she knew—that the sword's name was Need, that she was indestructible so far as Baryl had been able to tell. That she only served women. And that her service was such that she only gave what you yourself did not already have. That to her, a fighter, Need gave a virtual immunity to all magic, but didn't add so much as a fillip to her fighting skills—but for me, a mage, if I let it take control when it needed to, it would make me a master swordswoman, though it wouldn't make the least difference to any spell I cast. And that it would help Heal anything short of a death-wound."

-Kethry from the Oathbound by Mercedes Lackey

The village of Cerelli was a disaster. Glass from broken windows, houses burnt and crumbling and mutilated corpses strewed everywhere. A few citizens on the street carried themselves with slumped shoulders and vacant, downcast eyes. This was the site that greeted Savil Ashkevron as she entered the village, mounted on her horse Lullaby.

Dark hair whipped around her head as a summer breeze tinged with the smell of death greeted her. Her eyes clouded at the horrible site that no one should ever have to see. Halting Lullaby, Savil dismounted the beige horse. Her brown boot covered feet hit the graveled street with a thump. She removed the hunting bow and quiver full of arrows from her supplies attached to Lullaby. I know my arrows aren't meant for battle, but it will at least give me some defense.

Cautiously, the brown outfit clad Savil approached one of the downtrodden villagers, apparently survivors to whatever calamity had hit this town. The local she intended to speak to was an old woman with silver hair and strange wild eyes. "Excuse me, Ma'am, could you please tell me what happened here?" Savil asked politely as she could.

The wild eyes met hers in a sudden recognition. "Elly!" the old woman cried and clutched poor Savil in a weak bear hug. "I thought you be taken with the other girls. Those bandits are absolutely horrible!" the woman sobbed.

Confused, Savil hugged the old woman back. Breaking off her hug, the old woman pulled back. "It's okay now, cause you here's with old Hildy." The old woman, Hildy, grabbed her by the hand and started to drag her over to an unburned house. Not having the heart to resist, Savil followed.

They entered what had once been a lovely little place, now covered in torn clothes and items like broken vases thrown about. As soon as they had reached the center of the room, Hildy dropped Savil's hand. She knelt down and stuck her fingers under a loose board. Curious, the younger girl joined her on the floor. Hildy pulled the wood board up with a loud creak. Reaching into the new hole in the floor, Hildy pulled out an object wrapped in an old gray cloth. She pulled the cloth back to reveal a plain short-sword. Hildy unsheathed the sword and offered the sword to Savil, hilt first. Uncertain to say the least, Savil took the sword. Almost as soon as her hand touched the sword it came to life. Runes flared on the blade that said, "Woman's Need calls me, as Woman's Need made me. Her Need I will answer as my maker bade me."

In astonishment, Savil stared at the blade, even as the runes faded. Only when Hildy handed her the sheath did she snap out of her shock. Accepting it, she sheathed the sword, Need. Savil the donned the magic sword with trembling fingers. Hildy smiled at her, "Now you go save them others, Elly."

"I'm not really your Elly," admitted Savil.

The wild-eyed woman smile grew. "My Elly died twenty winters ago. You be she returned to me so I could say good-bye one last time. Now you no worry about old Hildy, I be just fine. Go save those girls from the bad men, yes?"

Savil nodded in stunned silence. "Good-bye," she said and left the keep of a woman she wasn't sure was totally crazy.

As she mounted Lullaby, she thought, Where do I go? I don't know where those bandits went. Almost as she thought that, Need started to hum at her side. Savil felt the sword pulling her in a direction out of Cerelli. Almost automatically she launched Lullaby into action. With a loud equine cry the mare barreled down the guided path.

Need led her into a forest. As the sword pull grew more, Savil knew she was near. She halted Lullaby and dismounted. It would be best if I proceeded alone. Lullaby might give me away without meaning to. So Savil continued on foot, drawing Need from her sheath in order to be ready for any trouble. She spotted one of the guards almost immediately. Hiding behind a tree, Savil tried to spot anymore of the burly bandits, there were non.

Silently as she could, she crept up to the bandit guard. He never glanced her way once. Though Savil herself did not know what to do, Need did. What Savil could only describe as a spirit of the sword took over and thrusted the blade forward into the bandit's back. Oh gods! As horrified as she was, there was no time for her to think but act. With Need in partial control of her, Savil ran into the campsite headless of danger.

Lady Luck on her side, for most of the bandits were in drunken stupor on the ground. The few that were semi-aware guarded the tied up village girls. The drunken guards charged Savil in their muddled state. The Need controlled Savil quickly made short work of the men. As soon as any apparent danger was over and the men laid on the ground dead or injured, Need released control of Savil.

Grief stricken at the deaths she had caused, Savil dragged her weary self over to the girls. Trying to ignore their frightened whimpers, she used Need to cut them loose. "Is everyone okay?" she asked them.

Nods all around. "Good." Glancing at the unconscious but alive men, she said, "I think we better get back to Cerelli."

The group of girls with Savil in the lead they headed back to the village, only stopping for Savil to retrieve Lullaby. It was a tragic reunion once they got back to Cerelli; most of the girl's parents had been killed in the initial attack. The little few left decided that the safest option would be to go to the Forest Reach keep, incase any of the remaining bandits were to attack again. They were to leave in the morning, but Savil would not be going with them. There was no way she would go back to the place she had run away from.

The girl stayed the night with Hildy. Despite the strange woman's protests, Savil gave Need back to her. "I don't want a sword that makes me kill people, even bad ones," she told Hildy sorrowfully. The old woman relented and took the sword back.

Savil did not sleep well that night, her dreams filled with horrifying visions. When morning came, she awoke grateful at the escape from her nightmare. She bade her farewells to Hildy. Before leaving, Savil handed Hildy a letter for her to deliver to her old nurse Abigail at Forest Reach. Within letter was:

Dear Abigail,

The one who has delivered this letter, Hildy, has been most helpful and I hope you will find a job for her around the keep. Perhaps she would be good helping you watch the younger children?

I apologize for leaving so suddenly, but I knew that if I didn't get away right then I never would. I miss you so much and don't worry I've been taking well care of Lullaby. Please don't tell Father or Withen about this letter, they might think you had something to do with my leaving.

As I am sure you will hear from Hildy, today I rescued a group of village girls from the bandits who attacked Cerelli. Abigail, I killed some of those bandits. I feel a pain in my chest whenever I think about it. I know saving those girls was the right thing but at what price?

I love you and think of you everyday, Mother of my heart.

Yours truly,

Savil Ashkevron

Once the letter was safely in Hildy's hand, Savil mounted Lullaby. On Lullaby's back were the renewed supplies. Young Savil once again commanded Lullaby forward and the two continued on their journey.