LEGEND OF THE STRIGA {LOTS}

CHAPTER 3*ICARUS*

“Father!”

“Pai!”

“Pai, don’t leave me.”

Icarus jolts awake from the mattress made on his bamboo bed, looking around the hut frantically with laboured breaths.

The Twenty six-year-old sighed as he wiped the dripping sweat off his face. Even after sixteen years, that night still haunts his dreams, yet he had already made peace with his past.

Icarus just couldn’t understand why his subconscious always takes him back to that same night, to the moment where the people he saw as parents discarded him; a ten-year-old boy who couldn’t fend for himself.

Yet they banished him from the lands he’s known since birth into the wild, expecting him to survive. Perhaps they didn’t think he would.

As time passed by and Icarus grew up, roaming wild lands with powers he didn’t know how to control, he realised his parents didn’t disown him because they pitied him or wanted to save him.

They didn’t have the courage to execution him so they cast him out, hoping he would either die of starvation or his unusual powers would consume, it took him years to understand their motive and it only made him hate them more.

“Father, father did you call for me?”

A 15-year-old boy rushes into the bamboo hut and squats beside the bed. Icarus sits up, throwing his leg off the bed as he turns to the boy.

“No Kenji, I didn’t. Where were you?”

Icarus asks, wiping his face again.

“I was out back turning the wet leaf to dry properly on the other side.”

Kenji answers and Icarus nods, prepared to answer the boy when he stills, finding himself being pulled into a trance in the forest’s heart.

Watching from where he stood, Icarus sees a man who seemed of noble blood running away from something bent on killing him, and Icarus wondered what a noble was doing in the forest of bones and blood.

“Father?, Master, are you alright? You stopped talking.”

Turning his focus away from the running noble, Icarus turns to the distance voice of Kenji and he knew he had to snap out of the trance in order not to worry the young boy.

“I’m here now, everything is wonderful.”

Icarus responds, blinking away from his trance, and he faces the boy with a smile.

“Okay, I’ll get back to what I was doing.”

Kenji says, standing up to take his leave, and Icarus stops him.

“Kenji, can you pick some wild herbs for me just after the meadow?”

Icarus asks, and the boy nods.

“Don’t walk further into the forest away from the meadow, remember we have to respect boundaries of the forest entities.”

Icarus warns and Kenji nods.

“Of course, father, I know this well enough from how often you remind me. I can only go farther into the forest when I’m sixteen and I’ve mastered the language of the forest. I’ll be back soon.”

Kenji responds cheerfully before skipping out of the room and Icarus gets up from the bed, discarding the garment he had on which got drenched from sweat because of his nightmare.

Icarus quickly wears his slack, throws on a tunic over it, he grabs his grey robe from the wooden stand that serves as a keep for most of his garments.

Picking up his sword, he sets to walk out of the hut. Icarus had not forgotten the trance of the man he saw in the forest’s heart, and he was going to find out who.

He just needed to get Kenji out of the hut before he drags the man back or send him out of the forest, he knows if Kenji sees him get dressed to go into the heart for no reason the boy would panic, and he doesn’t like to worry the boy.

**********

After successfully escaping the Hamadryads, king Erik had his attention on his every surroundings, and focused on following the direction of the compass like item stringed around his wrist.

The king had always read tales about the tree creatures in the old scrolls in the Royal library, but they have had he imagined them to be real.

To king Erik things like were just made up mythical creatures for people to respect and fear their forefathers for conquering one of those, but seeing the Hamadryads with his naked eyes today changed his entire perspective about so many things.

First was the forest entrance being replaced with darkness, that had taken him by surprise, the weird sensation in the forest and the contrast in nature had fascinated him at first, but the chill cold that ran down his spines when he stood the territory of the Hamadryads was something else.

Walking for over two hours in the forest endlessly was taking a toll on the king and he wanted to rest so badly but the king know resting was a bad idea, especially in a place like this.

As he walked farther in the forest’s heart, with the compass as his guide, the smell of fresh water hit him and the king in a deep breath, swallowing his saliva as his throat clogged together in thirst.

He had emptied the water content in the gourd he brought with him and had been in desperate thirst for a tiny drink, let his thirst and the fresh smell cloud his senses.

The king follows a happy trail that leads him closer to the source of that fresh water smell, and his insides became giddy when he heard the rush of spring running over rocks.

Without noting his surroundings, he rushed over to the flowing water, quickly filling up his gourd. A little drink won’t cause any harm and the water looks too fresh to bring any harm towards him.

Besides, if the compass is leading him this way, that means Icarus might be close by, which means the area might be free of the evil inhabiting the forests.

These thoughts were off King Erik as he filled his gourd and he gulped down a desired amount of water, sighing with content as his throat felt alive and smooth and then he heard it.

“እንባዋ በተፈጥሮ የሚፈስ የውሃ አካል ነበር ፡፡ ልክ እንደ እባብ አይታይቲስቶች ምድርን እንደምትሸፍን ፣ እንደ አንድ ክንዶች እንደሚነሳ በመነሳት በአንድ አቅጣጫ አቅጣጫን ይዳስሳል ፡፡ ተፈጥሮ ኃይል ተደፋ. አንድ ሦስተኛ ፣ ውሸቶች ሕይወት እና ሞት. inibawa betefet’iro yemīfesi yewiha ākali neberi ፡፡ liki inide ibabi āyitayitīsitochi midirini inidemitishefini ፣ inide ānidi kinidochi inidemīnesa bemenesati be’ānidi āk’it’ach’a āk’it’ach’ani yidasisali ፡፡ tefet’iro ḫayili tedefa. ānidi šositenya ፣ wishetochi ḥiyiweti ina moti.”

The voice, the power in the song’s sound, was enchanting, the way it slithers through king Erik’s ears. He could swear on his life that had to be the most beautiful, celestial and deathly voice he’s ever heard.

The rhythm of the song sounded so calm to the ears, yet it felt like poison to his heart and stings of bees to his skin.

King Erik turns his head, searching from the source of the voice, and that made his body react in a million ways.

Far across the spring, above a sedimentary rock laid a lofty body naked as radiant daylight, her skin a lustrous sheen grey, with hair flowing down her entire form like a river over a steep of rock.

The mysterious woman-like creature stands up graciously on one leg, while the other remained folded behind her spine.

King Erik stared mystified at the hypnotic creature as its arm raises towards the sky and slowly it began the melodious singing again, this time carrying more fluidity than before.

The more king Erik paid attention to the song, he realised he could slowly make out the words in the lyric, even if the enigmatic creature was singing in a foreign language.

Slowly the creature turned its head towards King Erik, singing the song repeatedly with more vigour, like it wanted king Erik to make out the meaning for a reason.

“HER TEARS WERE A FLOWING RIVER, A BODY OF WATER IN NATURE. LIKE A SNAKE IT SLITTHERS ACCROSS THE EARTH, IT MOVES MEANDEARING IN ONE DIRECTION, RISING LIKE AN ARM IT AWAITS. BEHOLD THE POWER OF NATURE. A QUENCH OF THIRST, LIES LIFE AND DEATH.”

King Erik had no explanation how it was possible for him to read out the meaning of the lyrics loud in a language he understands.

He repeated the words once more, then like the build of a running stomach, the words finally hit him.

He looked up to the creature as he made meaning of the lyrics, only to see her float across the river with her hair on the surface of the water.

The power in her voice increased and king Erik could feel stings on his skin, his stomach slowly build an achy feeling and his throat clogged.

The creature stopped few metres away from him, smiling down at King Erik cynically. Despite the pain building up all over his body, the King couldn’t help but acknowledge the selenous beauty of the creature.

“የእኔን ውሃ የጠጡት ብቻ የእኔን ዘፈን ማየት ፣ መስማት እና መተርጎም ይችላሉ ፣ ከሱ ጠጥተዋል። ባላየውም እንኳ ሶቶሎናሬ ይሰማኛል። ye’inēni wiha yet’et’uti bicha ye’inēni zefeni mayeti ፣ mesimati ina meterigomi yichilalu ፣ kesu t’et’itewali። balayewimi inikwa sotolonarē yisemanyali,”

[Only those who drank from my water can see, hear and interpret my song. You drank from it. I can feel you Sottolunare even if I can’t see you.]

The creature says, chuckling in a voice that sounds masculine compared to how it sounded a while ago. King Erik attempted to gulp down his fears but failed, and he took fearful steps backwards.

“You cannot escape me Sottolunare, I am Eresh-kigal the goddess of death and today you drank from your demise. “

Erish-kigal says in words that the king would understand as she suddenly transforms into what looked like a wildcat. King Erik didn’t need a national warning to tell him that was his cue to run.

He fast tracked on his heels, turning as he ran for dear life away from the spring, his heart slammed against his ribcage as he ran and he didn’t know when he let go of the water gourd in his hand or the supposed that serves as his lead to the cursed one.

All that matters now was getting away from the creature that called himself, or herself goddess of death, Erik ran like the entire forest was against him, even though they were they didn’t attack him, the pounding of the large wildcat chasing his scent scared him more than the presence if Adresteia did.

King Erik almost escaped the creature if he didn’t make the mistake of looking behind him to see how much distance was between him and the wildcat.

As the king turned his neck forward, his eyes missed the fallen log of wood crossing the tiny path and he trips over it, screaming loudly as he fell on his face.

He didn’t realise the danger he had opened himself to until he felt a fiery breath against his neck and he turned his neck, coming face to face with the disfigured face of the wildcat.

Another frightened scream escapes the king’s mouth as he scrambled back, away from the beast. Suddenly he clasps his palm around his mouth when he realised what just happened.

‘No matter what, don’t scream out in fright.’

King Erik remembered the warning of the witches, and he paled. He screamed not once but twice, which means the beast can see him now.

A growl thunders through the thick of the forest and the king trembled against the dead leaves. This was the end for him, so he thought as the dark beast, who now looks formless, approached him.

King Erik closes his eyes, knowing there was no out. Even if he escaped the beast, what about the other creatures in the forest, how can he escape them now with the cloak spell, how can he get to Icarus with the compass?

Giving up the need to run, king Erik takes a deep breath as he awaits the beast to strike him dead. Joy coursed through the creature, seeing the resignment in king Erik.

Raising its formless paw which had sharp claws elongating, the creature aims for king Erik’s neck, ready to strike.

“ተወ. tewe. “

[stop]

Icarus voice boomed over the dead silence and the creature halts, raising its disfigured head to Icarus.

“Bidder ፣ ወደ ሰፈራዎ ይመለሱ ፣ ይህ አያሳስብዎትም። Hididmar ፣ wede seferawo yimelesu ፣ yihi āyasasibiwotimi,” [Hreidmar, go back to your settlement, this doesn’t concern you.]

The Eresh-kigal warns and Icarus shakes his head.

“እሱ እኔን ኢሬስን ይመለከታል ፣ እባክዎን ይሂድ ፡፡isu inēni īrēsini yimeleketali ፣ ibakiwoni yihīdi.” [t concerns me Eresh, please let him go.]

Icarus beckons, and Eresh drops its paw.

“How?”

“He is here to see me.”

Icarus responds.

“You didn’t invite him in. He trespassed the wrong territory, drank from my water without requesting permission. He neds to get punished.”

Eresh hisses low like a serpent and Icarus nods, taking a few steps closer to King Erik, whose eyes remained shut.

“I am aware of that, but pardon his foolishness Eresh, remember you once told me you wouldn’t shed blood again so you can be free from your curse and ascend. If you do this won’t it put a dent to you plan?”

Icarus says, persuading Eresh and the creature snarls, which turns into low hisses as it transforms into an enormous snake, hissing as it slithers back to the river.

“Next time, I won’t care.”

The voice of Eresh echoes in the wind and Icarus sighs, dragging the shivering king up on his feet and drags him along, passing through a weave of tall grasses that had resemblance to a wall.

King Erik wanted to point of the lack of passage in between the tall grasses but held his peace when the wall of grass suddenly vanished before his eyes and he was now standing before a bamboo hut and a field of different vegetables and crops.

The king pivots in his position, looking behind him to see the wall of tall grass up again and he sighed, deciding within himself not to question the possibility of it.

He has seen the witches perform magic, but none like he is seeing in the forest of blood and bones, it’s as if Icarus created a mirage that only he can make sense off.

It was true, the young warlock had created the wall of grass, to cloak his settlement as the entities granted him in the forest toward away from unwelcoming guests, only he knew the way out and In.

Icarus didn’t bother to invite the king into his hut as he turned to him, eyes dark as night, he had saved the Sottolunare from Eresh, not because he cared for the safety of the man, but because he was curious to know what led a noble from the three kingdoms into the forest.

“What is the Sottolunare King doing here?”

Icarus asks, cutting straight to the point.

“At least offer a seat of something to drink.”

The king reprimands, and Icarus frowned.

“You are not my guest. Get straight to the point and tell me why you seek me or I would hand you back to Eresh.”

Icarus threatens, and king Erik gulps at the mention of Eresh. He cleared his throat, facing Icarus with a serious face.

“The three kingdom needs your help. A powerful lady vampire hungry for power is wrecking havoc on the three kingdoms. We’ve done everything in our best abilities to stop her, but she keeps getting stronger. You are our only hope and they sent to seek you to help.”

King Erik explains, and Icarus shakes his head in disbelief.

“Do you even know who I am?”

Icarus asks, because it baffles him why they would think he is a saviour who will get to save them.

“Yes, you’re Icarus the cursed one.”

King Erik foolishly replies and laughter rumbles out of Icarus.

“So that is what the three kingdom calls me now, and you have the audacity to come here?”

Icarus says with venom as he laughed.

“Who sent you?, who told you where to find me, and what gave you the inkling of what direction to go.”

“The three leaders of the three kingdoms held a meeting, and it decided unanimously that I would seek you out. The Chief wizard of Termagant prepared an object enchanted with the blood of your relation, which guided my directions.”

The king explained without a filter.

“Chief Olephiar?”,

Icarus asks, and the king nods.

“Yes, he strongly believes you are the only one who can defeat the lady vampire. He also wants you to know that he would lift your banishment from the lands if you succeeded. And we have decided, to make you emperor of the three kingdoms.”

A sea of anger boiled in Icarus as the king spoke. Sixteen years? It took his father sixteen years to seek him out, not because he cared for his safety but because they want to use him as a weapon.

“How nice of father to see that I deserved a chance back in my birth land, but it is to use me as pawn.”

Icarus laughed, shaking his head until the smile vanished from his face and he grabbed the king by his collar, letting his pheromones fill the entire space as he flashes his ghost eyes.

“Tell Chief Olephiar that Icarus Várdr Hreidmar, the second son he cast out of the kingdom, does not want to help. The three kingdoms can perish for all I care.”

Icarus says letting go of the fear ridden king, who was on the verge of pissing his slacks.

“Pl-e, ease, the innocents are dying, you can.......”

Despite the fear and the way his voice trembled, king Erik still tried to plead their case with Icarus.

“Go. Go back to your troop.”

Icarus barks out a command in a triggered voice. The king tries to open his mouth to say something, only to blink and the next second he finds himself in front of his troop who are all looked partially drained of life.

King Erik turns around to see the entrance of the forest where it stood before he went in.