Chapter 5 #2
She wiped her grimy face on her equally grimy arm as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
She glimpsed a set of eyes near the ground.
They were staring into hers with surprise.
She watched them change to sympathy when the man noticed the tear.
Unable to hold back the hope, her eyes begged him for help.
She gasped as she saw him crawl in her direction.
Knowing he would be caught and killed, she hid her face once more.
She couldn't bear to see her only hope destroyed.
Forever seemed to pass while Eveline remained chained and helpless.
The scent of seared flesh was worse than the sand.
She was gagging from the stench. Something warm touched her foot.
She jumped, fearing it was a dead man's hand.
She couldn't control the scream that came from her mouth.
She dared look up, and to her shock, it was the man who had been crawling slowly towards her.
He held a finger to his lips, asking for her silence.
She gave it gladly. But she was too late.
Her scream had caught the attention of one of the Savra.
He came to her side. She saw that her rescuer was pretending to be dead at her feet.
He didn't even flinch when the reptile slapped her in the head.
The ruse worked, and the Savra walked away.
The stranger rose to his knees and lifted his weapon.
This was the end. He wasn't here to save her.
He wanted her dead. She closed her eyes, but the pain she was expecting never came.
Instead, her chain was disconnected from the post. She tried to stand as the stranger pulled on her arm, but her broken leg gave way sending excruciating pain throughout her body.
Confused blue eyes looked down at her. She saw them change as he comprehended her situation.
He bent down to lift her into his arms. Over his shoulder, she saw the Savra soldier raise his gun.
She screamed with all she was worth. It was all she was capable of doing to warn her savior.
Out of the sky came a huge, red dragon. It incinerated the Savra and landed in the ashes. Hearing it speak was too much for Eveline. She passed out once more.
When her eyes opened, she was in a strange room.
Her body was on a metal slab. Her savior had his back turned until she whimpered.
He spun around, and those intense blue eyes drilled into hers.
"You are awake," he stated. "I had hoped to remove the collar and set your leg while you were unconscious.
I did not wish you to endure more pain. Our healer is not with us.
We each are trained a little in order to keep ourselves alive until we reach home, but I do not know how much pain medication you require.
I will have to guess. It will probably not erase all the pain because I do not want to kill you by giving you too much. Do you understand?"
Eveline nodded. She had grown used to pain. The Savra had gleefully inflicted it. She trusted this man not to purposely cause unnecessary anguish. His blue eyes were honest and kind, though she knew he could become a dragon like the others .
"We will begin with your leg. I will numb it as much as I dare after I give you some oral pain medication.
Do not be frightened. I am not like the Savra.
" Tae lifted her head so she could drink the pain medication.
Then he picked up a syringe filled with yellow liquid.
Before he stuck her leg with the needle, he apologized.
"I am sorry. This will hurt, and the medicine will burn. "
The pain was nothing compared to what she had endured at the hands of the Savra. She could easily handle this.
"I will give the medication a moment to work," he said as he brushed her hair from her face.
He picked up a warm, wet cloth and wiped her forehead and cheeks.
It felt wonderful to be rid of some of the dirt and grime.
If only she could have a bath or a shower, she would feel like a human instead of an animal.
"It is time. I will set the bone quickly.
Scream if you must. There are no Savra to attack you here.
You are safe with me." He lifted her leg and gave it a hard pull, twisting it at the same time.
The bone snapped into place. Her screams echoed off the metal walls and then she was silent.
"Good," Tae said to the unconscious woman.
"You will not be frightened or move while I get rid of that collar. "
*** Tae ***
Tae set the laser on its lowest setting and carefully cut through the collar.
He washed her body, paying extra attention to her wounds.
Then, he slathered them with medication and covered them.
He bound the leg tightly to keep the bone in place.
He could do no more for her. She required the healer's help.
He sat down to wait for the war to end, hoping his side would win. The woman had never spoken a word.