Saevitia

“What did you do?”

Saevita’s tail flicked in annoyance. She would not dignify Solanum with an answer.

That, however, only made him more incessant. “You don’t want to talk about it, huh?” He chuckled, sidling up to her. “Got more of a stick up your butt than usual, don’t ya,” and he guffawed and slapped her side with his tail.

Saevita stumbled to the side and swiftly recomposed herself with a flap of her wings. “I have nothing to say to you.”

The low rumble of a growl that Solanum was so fond of doing to terrorize the commoners started creeping up his throat. “Come on now ‘vita, be nice. Let’s not get snippy here.”


// The clack of talons on stone echoed throughout the palace. A timid pearlcatcher was scurrying her way, eyes wide. Saevita’s heart beat just a bit faster. “He wants…” A puff, a huff. She was out of breath, running so fast. “He wants you. He’s uh… He’s waiting for you.”

Her clawtips felt hot. A wordless stare was all the pearlcatcher needed to scurry back to the royal room. She drew in a breath and followed. //


Saevita sharply looked at Solanum, wordlessly glaring at him. He knew his intimidation didn’t work on her. He was simply being an impatient child, trying to pry information out of her.

A flash of frustration briefly flew across Solanum’s face before melting into its usual lazy charm. “You know I’m going to keep asking till you tell me,” he careened his massive head away, “or until I drive you crazy. Ha, I’ll really take either!” He chuckled to himself. “So why don’t you tell me what you did that got a stick in the mud like you get thrown out of a place entirely made out of sticks in the mud?”


// The imperial’s pale eyes stared into her, the tension in the air heavy. From on top of his throne his gigantic form dwarfed her, and she could feel the anger radiating off him in waves. “What. Have you done, Saevita.”

She stared him in the eye, unflinchingly. “I carried out my duty.”

“Your duty was not to MURDER THEM, may lightbringer curse your CORPSE!” He uncurled off his throne, anger fueling his movement. “Your duty was one of peace, Sae! Not to end their lives!” He looked at her, his eyes begging for an explanation.

Saevita did not move her eyes from his gaze. “It needed to be done.”

The imperial looked at her, despair written on his face. “What could have possibly moved you to murder an entire village… To leave them mangled and malformed and broken?”

She drew in a shaky breath, trying not to let her fear shine through. “They were experimenting in evil things. Things that no lightbringer should touch. I simply let the evil things consume them.”

The imperial stared at her with what she could only describe as disappointment. “And it has in turn consumed you, Sae.” His voice was heavy and slow like molasses. “It will in turn, consume you. //


Saevita did not take her gaze from Solanum’s giant clumsy muzzle. “I did what I had to do, for the lightbringer.”

Solanum looked confused. “Your eyes aren’t light colored.”