Page 64 of The Spirit Key
We stopped outside of a town to purchase supplies, and one of the men there grabbed my wrist. Before I could cry out, Vano was there, tearing him from me and shoving him away. I had never known such strength in one so young.
When the men scattered, Vano came over and took my hand. “Are you well?”
“Yes, he didn’t hurt me. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I feel as though it is my responsibility to protect you.”
From that day forth, Vano refused to leave my side. One night, several years later, very late in the evening, I woke from a dream. I stepped outside to get some air and found Vano sitting on the stairs to our wagon.
“I could not sleep either.” He picked up a pebble and tossed it, then turned to me. “Do you feel as though something is about to happen?”
I did. That was what woke me.
I took the two steps and sat beside him. “Yes. I don’t know what, but I am chilled.”
“As am I. My mother said the feeling was as though someone had stepped on my grave.”
We both turned as one toward a noise beyond the wagon—a sound not unlike footsteps coming toward us. Vano stood and put himself between me and whatever was approaching. When it—he—finally stepped into view, Vano was at a loss, for our visitor was not human. At least not any longer. He had been a young man once, fair of skin, with brown eyes that were wide with wonder.
“You can see me?”
Vano turned and looked at me. I nodded, and then he returned his attention to the spirit. “Yes, we both can.”
He pushed by Vano and dropped to his knees in front of me. “Please, I beg of you to help me.”
“Who are you?”
He dropped his gaze. “In life, my name was Silvanus. Born the third son of my parents, I grew to adulthood knowing the love of my family. When I fell in love, they encouraged me to act on it, to tell of my heart’s desires.”
I had been taught that the Romani people never abandoned the people, even after death. Knowing this, I was not surprised by a spirit coming to me, seeking my assistance. Still, I never heard of a ghost asking for help from the living, and I was intrigued.
“How can we aid you?”
Before the spirit could speak, Vano held up a hand. “I am not certain it would be wise to listen to him. Something tells me he—”
“We must help him. He is of the people, and we should not turn him away.” I faced Silvanus once more. “Please, continue.”
He looked up and gave a sad smile. “It’s a tale not unlike many others. I trusted a person I thought was a friend. Foolishly, I told him that I was saving my coins to ask my beloved to marry me. He wanted to know more, and I, thinking he wished me well, told him all. Then he gave a smile that chilled me to my bones, as he plunged a dagger into my heart. He took my body and buried it in the forest, and there it remains to this day. Now he is wed to my Tania, using the money I had saved as part of a dowry to win her. This must not stand. While I want her happy, I cannot bear the thought that he would hurt her if the need arose. Please, you must make him pay for my murder, and save Tania.”
Once again, Vano cleared his throat, but I, being the softhearted person I was, ignored him in favor of the spirit.
“I would help you. Tell me of your former friend.”
Silvanus sighed. “Patrin and I knew each other our whole lives. When he found out that I loved Tania, he made small comments about how I would be unable to make her happy, then told me he was joking. While I laughed them off, they still hurt me. He continued, each thing he said getting meaner and ruder. Finally I told him I had had enough, and that if he couldn’t stop, he was no longer welcome in my home. He apologized and said that he meant no harm. Like a fool, I believed him. On the day he… killed me, he stood over me and said, ‘Tania is far too beautiful to be with someone such as yourself. I will make her a much better husband. We will have many strapping sons and the most beautiful daughters. In time, she will forget you ever existed. Fear not, I promise I will make her happy.’ And with those words, he stabbed me once again, thus ending my life.”
I gasped, for who would consider one such as Patrin a friend? I stood and threw back my shoulders. “Of course I will help you. I shall expose Patrin as a liar and murderer.”
“Sofia, I do not think—”
I glared at Vano. “Would you condemn him to eternity, then? Seeing the woman he loved being taken by a man who would kill his own best friend? You may stay if you wish, but I cannot abide this.”
Vano sighed. “My place is by your side. To protect you from yourself, if nothing else.”
“Oh, thank you!” Silvanus stepped closer, but Vano got between us. “Patrin must pay for what he did.”
I agreed, and when I learned that Patrin and Tania lived in the town beyond our campsite, I decided I would make my way there at the first light of dawn and confront the murderer. After informing Silvanus of my decision, he smiled and faded from sight.
Vano put a hand on my shoulder. “We should sleep if we are to go into the village tomorrow.”
