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\n\n\n

\n\n

Otheris and the Serpents of Qhudrus

\n\n

By Richard Shekari

\n\n

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This book remains the copyrighted\nproperty of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for\ncommercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please\nencourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite\nauthorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

\n\n

CONTENTS

\n\n

Acknowledgments

\n\n

Dedication

\n\n

The great witch of Moughdug

\n\n

Otheris

\n\n

Devourer

\n\n

The road to Qhudrus

\n\n

The Serpents of Qhudrus

\n\n

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

\n\n

Gordana Misciew, Ron Terna Torkwembe

\n\n

Ayiwulu Alaku

\n\n

Martin Ibrahim

\n\n

J.T. Iosun

\n\n

Felix Dominic

\n\n

Shima I. Stephen

\n\n

…Your words of encouragement and profound support greatly influenced my\ndesire to write this piece.

\n\n

You’re appreciated, Richard.

\n\n

DEDICATION

\n\n

To Felix Ikani.

\n\n

THE GREAT WITCH OF MOUGHDUG

\n\n

“Let go of me Otheris!” cried the old witch in her black cloak as she\nstruggled to free her neck from his grip, he kept walking and didn’t\ncare to look back as he dragged her down the village, “Let me go!” she\nbarely choked struggling with mucus all over her face and his hand.\nOther than her creaky old voice, only the chirping of the crickets and\nthe hooting of the owls could be heard. Otheris uttered no words as he\ntugged her.

\n\n

“Please Otheris son of Delial, have mercy and free me,” she pleaded, “I\nshall not come near thy household again!” still struggling for air to\nbreathe.

\n\n

“You shall be free. I have no plans of taking your life oh great witch\nof Moughdug. You should know that by now, the village folk need to see\nyou in your true form,” replied Otheris.

\n\n

“I beg of you. Heed my words son of Delial; neither I nor my prentice\nshall fly near thy domain from hence. Spare me,” she entreated.

\n\n

The village was as mute as a graveyard. They passed some houses and\narrived at a place that seemed to look like the market place, with his\nfingers still clenched to her wrinkled neck. Otheris threw his sword on\nthe ground as he approached a big bell hung to a barren old tree at the\ncentre of the village.

\n\n

“Otheris No! No Otheris!” she cried out.

\n\n

Otheris picked a mallet that was kept on top of the big bell and struck\nit three times, and the old witch turned in dismay as a dreadful horror\nusurped her senses.

\n\n

“Why do you worry? The village folk said that the oracle had foretold\nyour fall in the hands of the one who is pure in heart,” he said, “not\nthat I am an ardent follower of such ridiculous asinine way of thinking,\nI am just fed up with your vileness!”

\n\n

“Your tongue reeks of pride son of Delial! No one is burning anyone\ntonight, you’ll see!” she vaunted.

\n\n

The village folk began to light up their lamps and their voices were\nheard. The witch didn’t want them to see her as she was, and for every\ntime Otheris banged the big old bell more lamps would be lit and more\nchatters heard.

\n\n

“You have really put up a good fight,” he threw the mallet on the\nground. “I’ve got to admit, you’ve got skills even the serpents of\nQhudrus lack,” he said smiling as he lifted her up above his head with\nhis left hand, leaving her legs dangling in the air, “for years no one\nbelieved me” he heaved a deep sigh, “but today….the truth shall come\nout!”

\n\n

The old witch managed to turn around to see if anyone was coming, she\nthen stared down into his eyes and made few attempts to kick him with\nher legs but he lowered her down hard.

\n\n

“You fool,” she grumbled, “no one burns tonight! You hear me son of\nDelial? No one!” she bit his left hand almost ripping a lump off of it.

\n\n

Otheris screamed but didn’t let go of the witch.

\n\n

“Mark my words son of Delial; I shall bring dusk on you gullible lad!”\nbragged the witch.

\n\n

Otheris quickly released his left grip and squeezed her neck harder with\nhis right hand.

\n\n

“Shiek mukth quevieth!” chanted the old witch as she shape shifted,\nand began to shrink right before his very eyes.

\n\n

“You beldam! You bit me!” He cried out. Otheris was astonished seeing\nthat she could shape shift into a smaller being.

\n\n

She again locked her powerful teeth to his thenal and the excruciating\npain sent Otheris to his knees.

\n\n

“I rule this filthy lands you and these wretched people call home and\nall of Qhudrus as well, and there is nothing you can do about it boy!”\nboasted the witch as she shrank small enough in order to escape his\ngrip. Otheris still refused to let her go, he wanted to make sure her\ntrue identity was exposed to the villagers.

\n\n

The villagers started to come out as they headed toward the old tree.

\n\n

“You fool! Today you shall know why they call me the great witch of\nMoughdug!” she maniacally bragged, opened her mouth wide once more and\nwent for his flesh.

\n\n

“To hell with it!” Otheris said as he opened his mouth and swallowed her\nhead.

\n\n

“No!” shrieked the old witch, but it was too late; Otheris had ran his\nteeth through the tissues around the bones in her neck, he felt the\nsound of her flesh ruptured as his incisors pieced through her bones\nripping her head off with one bite.

\n\n

Otheris fell to the ground and spat the head out, he could not bear the\nunpleasant taste of blood in his mouth and began to puke still holding\nto her miniature body in his hand. Otheris then fell to the ground\npanting, and as he lay facing the full moon, the villagers arrived.

\n\n

“What now son of Delial?” asked one of the villagers.

\n\n

Otheris lifted his head to look at them, spat again then rested his head\non the ground.

\n\n

“Have you come to parade your folly again Otheris!” said another who was\nholding a torch.

\n\n

Otheris stood up, “Here!” He suspired as he raised his right hand up for\nthe village folk to see what he held, Behold! The great witch of\nMoughdug! I have caught her and brought her to you my brothers, to see,\nand to know that I lied not to anyone!”

\n\n

The village folk began to laugh at him, Otheris then threw the headless\nminiature body of the witch at the one holding the torch.

\n\n

“You must be mad!” said the one holding the torch as he jumped off. The\nvillage folk gathered around to see it as Otheris stood up in search for\nthe head. Astounded by what their eyes beheld, they all left their jaws\nopen.

\n\n

“This can’t be true!” said the one holding the torch, baffled as he\nlowered the torch down to shine light on the body. Otheris found the\nhead then threw it near the miniature body, as it landed, the villagers\nmoved a few steps back quickly.

\n\n

“You have to take this to the third palace! We have to alert the king!\nOtheris! Otheris?” said one of the villagers who looked around but\nsighted Otheris walking home, wiping his mouth with his garment.

\n\n

OTHERIS

\n\n

“Otheris! Otheris!” a woman voiced out, “wake up Otheris!”

\n\n

“Oh come on, can’t a man just have a good rest in this house?” he\ngrumbled.

\n\n

“Yes he can! Of course he can…if he sleeps like normal people do and not\ngo about hunting crones and fays every night. Get up!” commanded the\nwoman.

\n\n

“Alright! Alright! I am up already,” he said as he stretched, “what’s\nfor breakfast? I am hungry!”

\n\n

“Of course you are! But first, the king has sent for you, the guards are\noutside!” she said.

\n\n

“I have to eat something! I don’t want to die of hunger, and I know you\nwon’t be happy if your precious Otheris dies either!” joked Otheris as\nhe yawned.

\n\n

“Well, I promise you by the time you get back son I’d have your\nfavourite meal on the table! Now go before the villagers have another\nreason to start spreading silly rumours about you again dear!” she\npleaded.

\n\n

“Okay aunt Zeenah!” he said as he stood up and walked out of his room,\n“off I go!”

\n\n

Otheris met the guards outside and tried to keep up with them as they\nwalked to the third palace, but he was too weak so he spoke to one of\nthe guards to please run fast and have food be made ready for him at the\npalace.

\n\n

On their arrival, he met most of the village folk standing and some men\nseated near the king.

\n\n

“Aha! Otheris! You have earned a place amongst men, my friend. Here!”\nsaid the king to Otheris as he pointed his finger at the seat next to\nhim.

\n\n

Otheris walked through the crowds, “I am hungry my liege!” he said.

\n\n

“Oh no,” exclaimed the king, “if the great village of Moughdug lacked no\nfood, it would be an insult for its king to have half of what it owned\nin the storehouse my friend,” he laughed, “what would you like to eat?”\nasked the king as he smiled gleefully at Otheris.

\n\n

“Anything with bread would be fine your majesty!” replied Otheris.

\n\n

“I like you!” said the king, “Ha-ha! Bring him the finest of the wines\nand make sure the finest of the soup and meat is brought along with the\nloaf.” ordered the king as he tapped Otheris, “You know, when I was your\nage my father taught me a lot of things. He even taught me how to woo a\nwoman my friend,” he laughed, “my father, before he died advised me to\ntry and make every village under my rule look like the capital, and do\nyou know what I did?” he smiled, “well, I built a palace in all the\nseven villages, just like this one! This way I can spend time with my\npeople and understand them better and of course, this requires I spend\nabout a year or so in every village I visit,” he tapped Otheris on the\nshoulder, “now, you! I see that you have hidden gifts which will be of\nbenefit to these villages, and my entire kingdom as a whole,” he lowered\nhis hand and pulled out a small crown from underneath his throne and\nsaid, “could you believe I have crowns like this one under all my\nthrones, in all the seven villages under this kingdom? With all that I\nhave known and with all the wives and concubines I have, my friend, not\na single male child!?” he simpered, “however, I believe I need not worry\nanymore,” as he returned the crown where he pulled it from.

\n\n

Three maids walked in with trays.

\n\n

“Ah! You! Bring the table here!” ordered the king as one of the guards\nquickly brought a small table and kept it before the king and Otheris.\nThe maids placed some bread, a bowl of soup, roasted turkey and a jar\nfilled with wine on the table.

\n\n

“Today you eat with your king! Today this kingdom celebrates and honours\nyou Otheris son of Delial! Eat!” said the king as he pushed the table in\nfront of Otheris, “I shall soon organise a feast in your honour my\nfriend!”

\n\n

Otheris cut a piece of bread from the loaf and dipped into the soup\nbefore him and then he swallowed it.

\n\n

“Ha-Ha! I can see you are a man of action my friend! I like you!” added\nthe king, “Okay! Everybody out!” he clapped, “Karim, you stay!” pointed\nat one of the well-built men among his guards.

\n\n

“I like his beard!” referred Otheris to the one called Karim as he\nturned to the king, “I really would love to have a beard like that!”

\n\n

“It’s easy Otheris, grow it!” answered the king laughing.

\n\n

The guards, the maids and all the men walked out silently leaving only\nOtheris and the king.

\n\n

“I will not waste your time my friend. We both know how precious time\nis, don’t we? Now, you have proven wrong all the village folk after all\nthese years and you have gladdened my heart. But I am not happy about a\nfew things; one, I don’t like the way these witches wrapped their chains\naround the feet of these young men in my kingdom, amongst other things!\nOtheris, I need to ask you for a favour, just one!” the king said, “You\nlook like a young man who has got too much to do! Ah! Too little time!”

\n\n

Otheris cut more from the loaf and dipped it in the soup nodding his\nhead as he ate.

\n\n

“There is also a rumour long dispersed in the kingdom which appears\ntangible; they say that my loins lack the seeds to yield a male\nchild…which also, typically means I would not have any heir. I want it\nto remain a rumour!” he stood to his feet and began to walk gently, “you\nknow, the oracle said that there lies a finical hag and serpents that\nare working against my throne,” he stopped, “however, the oracle made it\nclear months back that this hag’s identity would never be known and that\nif or when known and killed along with the serpents, then I can bear\neven many sons!” the king turned to Otheris, “I do not expect you to\nunderstand the importance of this thing-of you not only capturing the\ngreat witch of Moughdug but delivering her headless body! It’s also very\nimportant to deliver to me the heads of all the serpents…of Qhudrus, for\nanytime these serpents feed destinies are stolen Otheris, serpents do\nnot chomp their meal they swallow it whole so when you encounter them do\nnot only bruise them, decapitate them all even when they appear to you\nin dreams!”

\n\n

Otheris sipped some wine and went for more bread, “Mmm!” expressed\nOtheris as he nodded.

\n\n

“A quarter of my gold and silver all for you if you can locate these\nserpents and bring to me their heads!” said the king.

\n\n

Otheris swallowed the bread in his mouth and grinned, “I’ll need\nsomething more palpable!”

\n\n

“You can carry the oracle along with you on your journey; the best guide\nand protection together with seven of my best men!” said the king, “in\nthe end you’d find out that my offer is more staggering than any reward\na man in this kingdom could ever gain.” The king returned to his throne,\n“Question is, do you have what it takes to earn it?”

\n\n

“When I return I shall tell you how I ensnared the great witch of\nMoughdug! I have all the luck I need to slay the serpents of Qhudrus!”\nsaid Otheris.

\n\n

“You will need more than just luck when you encounter the serpents of\nQhudrus,” said a tender voice, “for they are more cunning and malignant\nthan the great witch of Moughdug…who begot them!”

\n\n

Otheris quaffed his wine and turned to see the one who spoke.

\n\n

“Such pleasing sight!” said Otheris as he stood to his feet amazed by\nher looks, “I feel intoxicated by your beauty my lady. I am Otheris, son\nof…!”

\n\n

“I know who you are son of Delial, I’ve longed to see you ever since you\nfirst appeared in my dream!” she said, “You’ll need more than just\nyourself on this journey. Your skills are no match for the serpents of\nQhudrus, so I suggest you take with you seventy men, for the ones who\nhold Qhudrus in bondage bore many more of their kind, and they boast of\nspifflicating the dreams of many a more men than you could ever\nimagine!”

\n\n

“The soothing sight of your beauty would not allow my ears serve their\npurpose correctly my lady, and you are?” asked Otheris.

\n\n

“You haven’t met the Oracle before, hmm?” inquired the king.

\n\n

“The Oracle?” asked Otheris smiling, “this is the…I mean…she’s\nthe-Oracle?” He emphasised.

\n\n

“Uh huh!” replied the king, “Thakina shall go with you on this journey,\nand when you come face to face with the serpents of Qhudrus she would be\nmore than useful to you!”

\n\n

“Well, in that case I will do it for half of what you have promised me\nif she’d marry me on our return!” Otheris said.

\n\n

“Your words, so strong…like a huge block of ice under the desert sun at\nmidday Otheris!” she said.

\n\n

Otheris sneezed, “Well, trust me I am…”

\n\n

“Bless you! Now, can we focus on what we are all here for? Lady and\ngentleman!?” interrupted the king as he spread his arms, “alright! Good!\nNow where was I? Oh yes! If you bring me their heads I shall offer you\nwhat I have promised.”

\n\n

“What do I get for killing the great witch?” asked Otheris.

\n\n

“Nothing! Besides, you ate from the king’s table that should be enough!”\nshe joked.

\n\n

“Two great men are conversing, you don’t mind, do you?” said Otheris.

\n\n

“My big farm on the northern side of Avigia, the former capital,”\nreplied the king.

\n\n

“This is not happening!?” she protested.

\n\n

“I want the garden on the western side of this village, my aunt loves\nfruits!” Otheris injected.

\n\n

“No! Father you cannot give him that! My favourite fish pond is in the\nmiddle of that garden!” she shouted.

\n\n

“You don’t have to break my eardrums Thakina!” the king said, “calm down\nlove!”

\n\n

Otheris bent and held the turkey on the table then pulled off a lap and\ntook a bite, “The Oracle is your daughter?” he asked in amazement, “okay\nfine, you know what? I don’t want the garden anymore I have changed my\nmind.”

\n\n

“Changed? Your mind?” the king responded, “So you will do it for free?”

\n\n

“Well, Yes! Sort of, but on the condition that she will be my bride when\nI slay the serpents of Qhudrus! Deal?” he said, as he kept the meat back\non the table stretching his right hand to the king.

\n\n

“Hmm! Well, it seems you’ve left me with no choice,” said the king as he\nshook Otheris’ hand, “deal!”

\n\n

“Father, seriously?” she shouted, “you forced me to work at the temple\nlike that isn’t enough punishment, now this!?”

\n\n

“He’s a good boy…I guess,” the king replied.

\n\n

“Who would want to marry a boy?” she said.

\n\n

“Well, I meant to say a man!” responded the king as he turned to\nOtheris, “okay agreed! You can have my daughter’s hand in marriage…and\nthe western garden! Because you…deserve it! And you shall find that I,\nKing Ikaneziah, is very generous!” he stretched his right hand to\nOtheris once more, “Just bring me their heads,” whispered the king, “all\nof them!”

\n\n

“Give me seven of your best men! We set to Qhudrus at dawn tomorrow!”\nOtheris said.

\n\n

“Seven? I advise you take seventy. Besides, you look like a man with too\nmuch pride whose fall is inevitable!” said Thakina.

\n\n

“Done! They shall await you by the palace gates earlier than that!”\nanswered the king as he turned to Karim, “Assemble six of your best\nmen!”

\n\n

“Try and wear something light, the temperature is well, not suitable for\nthick clothes…princess!” Otheris teased.

\n\n

“Don’t you ever call me princess!” she said as she walked away.

\n\n

“Don’t worry, she behaves like that whenever she feels cared for!” said\nthe king as he winked, “You know what I mean?”

\n\n

DEVOURER

\n\n

“Otheris! Help me!” screamed a familiar voice in the dark. He woke up\nfrom his sleep and stood up as he looked around.

\n\n

“Otheris! Help me, they want to kill me! Please help me!” the voice\ncried out again.

\n\n

Mother? Is that you? He wondered as he hurriedly made his way out of\nthe room.

\n\n

Otheris got out, it was already midnight and he did not carry the lamp\nwith him for the moon gave him enough light he needed to see where he\nwas headed. “Who’s there?” he said as he moved around the small compound\nbut did not see anyone nor hear anything, so he turned to return to his\nroom then stumbled on something and as he was about to fall, a huge\nsnake the size of his thigh aimed for his neck but he instinctively\nacted fast as his two hands sprang into action grabbing the snake by its\nneck.

\n\n

One thing that baffled Otheris as he struggled with the snake was that\nas huge as the snake appeared, it was standing on its tail like a tree.\nThe snake opened its mouth wide trying to take a chunk off Otheris’\nneck, Otheris knew he was in great danger and without any second thought\nhe went straight for the snake’s neck and bit a chunk off. The snake\nhissed and swayed violently then threw itself on the ground and quickly\ncrawled out of the compound. Otheris ran back to his room, as he\nwondered whether what just happened was real or just a dream, he lay\ndown and dozed off.

\n\n

“Otheris! Please do not let them kill me!” the familiar voice screamed\nagain. This time he was sure he’d heard that voice before but he could\nnot put a face to it, so he stood up and walked out again to see if he\ncould trace her location but he got attacked by the same snake again.\nInstead of biting the snake Otheris forced his fingers into the wound he\ninflicted on it earlier, injuring it the more, the snake ran away yet\nagain.

\n\n

Otheris went back to bed but before closing his eyes he heard another\nscream, “This can’t be happening!” he said as he grabbed a sword from\nunderneath his bed then walked out and as he stepped out of the door, he\nrealised that he walked pass a dark figure but before he could turn,\nsomething cold touched him on the neck. He could not move, Otheris was\nfrozen.

\n\n

The dark figure moved from where it stood and hovered like a thick dark\nsmoke in human form, Otheris began to follow as though parented by the\ndark figure. He could not talk nor do anything apart from just\nhopelessly follow the smoke. Otheris could not tell what it was; it had\nno face and no definite shape. Otheris tried to open his mouth to call\nfor help but couldn’t. His heart pounded, he then remembered something\nhe should have done, and he thought of a name and spoke it from within\nhis heart. He could hear the name resound in his mind and heart, even\nthough his lips were still glued together. As Otheris continued to\nrepeatedly call out that name in his heart, three men came out of\nnowhere in the bushes and attacked the dark figure, they touched Otheris\nand he regained control of his body.

\n\n

“Go home!” said one of the men.

\n\n

Otheris could not tell from their faces if he had seen them before but\nhe turned as instructed and started to walk home, he then heard a\nhorrible sound from behind him fast approaching and as he looked back,\nthe dark figure hit him to the ground.

\n\n

“No!” Otheris shouted as he woke up from sleep. He had a nightmare.

\n\n

“It was just a dream!” he exhaled, then covered his face with his two\nhands and laid his head back on the headrest.

\n\n

After a little rest and a little thought, Otheris got off the bed and\ndressed up for his journey to Qhudrus. He took his sword and knelt down,\nsaid a little prayer then went up to his aunt’s door to knock.

\n\n

“I am here! Your breakfast is ready, I also prepared some food for you\nto carry along!” she said standing behind him, “I heard you\nscream…another bad dream I guess?”

\n\n

“Yes!” he answered, “more of an attack!”

\n\n

“Is it about your parents again my dear?” she asked.

\n\n

“No aunt Zeenah! It’s uh…umm! Nothing to bother!” he said as he kissed\nher on the forehead then went to eat his breakfast, “I couldn’t kill\nit…again!”

\n\n

“You couldn’t kill what dear?” she asked.

\n\n

“The snake that attacked me in my dream, this is the fourth time it\nappeared!” he responded.

\n\n

“Don’t sweat yourself child, the good thing is, you seem to be favoured\nby the one you prayed to! There’s a reason He allows such a so many\nthings to happen to us all. You just have to learn one thing,” she\nplaced a plate of food on the table, “maybe next time you get attacked,\ndo not defend yourself as though the power comes from you!” she\nwhispered as she smiled.

\n\n

“I’m getting tired of all these night attacks and battles!” said Otheris\nas he sipped his tea from a cup.

\n\n

“You have such a great task ahead of you Otheris, I can sense that in\nyou, but perseverance is the key and you must be very careful son!” she\nmoved the lamp from her front to the centre of the table, “and about\nthose dreams; it’s evident that you’ve always come out victorious in all\nyou’ve faced so far. You see, a man can either have the roots of his\nsoul grow downward into the dark or upward into the light; every soul\nbears its own kind of fruit depending on the source of its essence,\nbecause each is being fed distinctively!” she paused, “It is important\nchild, for you to know which ground you dip the roots of your soul in,\nfor when the time for harvest is nigh, the light would only pick that\nwhich is rooted in its marrow!” Zeenah turned to him, “When last did you\nflip through the pages of the book I gave you?”

\n\n

Otheris cleared his throat, “Well, you know I’ve been busy lately aunt\nZeenah!” He scratched his head, “Besides, some of the writings are not\nreally clear because some of the pages are stained with…”

\n\n

“Blood!” She interjected with a feeble smile, “Have I ever told you how\nI got the book Otheris?”

\n\n

“Yes! You told me your husband gave it to you before he passed away?” he\nanswered.

\n\n

“Well, yes but not exactly in that manner!” she replied, “Anyways, many\nyears ago when your cousin Jaharial was only three years old, his father\nand four of his friends went hunting in the nearby mountains and that\nevening they came across a stranger in a carriage who was badly injured,\nso they rendered help to him and as the men were treating his wounds, my\nhusband’s friends discovered some silver and gold in a wooden box hidden\nbeneath the seat of the carriage,” she smiled, “that’s where the trouble\nstarted; they all got greedy and lost their senses and wanted to steal\nwhat they had stumbled upon, but my husband disagreed. So the men\nattacked my husband and the stranger then ran away with the wooden box,”\nshe sighed, “as my husband made an attempt to go after his friends, the\nstranger called him back and told him to let them go!”

\n\n

Otheris stopped eating then opened his mouth to talk, Zeenah shook her\nhead, “I’ve told you several times to always allow a lady talk, your job\nis to listen, listen and…”

\n\n

“Listen!” chorused Otheris.

\n\n

Zeenah smiled, “We prefer if you men would just, you know…”

\n\n

“Listen!” they both spoke in unison.

\n\n

Otheris placed his right elbow on the table and buried the right side of\nhis face in his palm, “I-am-all-ears!” he smiled.

\n\n

Zeenah chortled, “Anyways, after my husband returned to the stranger,\nthe man handed a book to my husband and told him it was worth more than\nwhat the men have taken, then he gave up the ghost!”

\n\n

“It’s a very powerful book, and that’s a really deplorable and tragic\nstory,” said Otheris.

\n\n

Zeenah nodded, “Yes, it is! But the story didn’t end there; my husband\ndecided to return home that night, but, he encountered his friends\nwaiting for him on his way back. Thinking what he held was another big\nbar of gold or probably fearing he may expose them, they confronted him\nand one of the men stabbed him in the stomach.”

\n\n

Otheris felt soaked in sadness, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

\n\n

Zeenah smiled, “Well, after that, they threw the book on his body and\nfled the scene, however, on that fateful night the men packed their\nbelongings and their families and left Moughdug. My husband was a very\nstrong man, he got up and crawled his way home, dragged himself to the\ndoor that night,” she said, “he used the book to cover his wounds…that’s\nwhy I’m finding it hard to flip through those pages myself! He died the\nnext morning in my arms with his hand clenched to a book he never got to\nread!” She bent her head down.

\n\n

Otheris moved his hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, “I lack\nwords to say! You’re a strong woman!”

\n\n

“I do not need sympathy now son! You see, that is why your cousin ran\naway from home,” she suspired, “I made the biggest mistake the day\nJaharial turned twenty three; I told him how his fathered was killed!”\nShe sobbed.

\n\n

“Jaharial? He’s gone after them?” Otheris asked.

\n\n

Zeenah nodded, “He said he’d avenge his father! I cried and begged him\nbut he wouldn’t listen! Now I haven’t seen him in months! I can’t afford\nto lose the two of them, no! I shouldn’t! This is not fair!”

\n\n

Jaharial left for a great adventure without me, and I thought he went\nto Guiheq to learn the merchant trade, Otheris thought.

\n\n

That morning, Otheris comforted his aunt and assured her he would go\nseek his cousin when he returned from his mission. He made a few jokes\nto make her laugh and they hugged each other.

\n\n

“Did I tell you?” he asked.

\n\n

“What?” she inquired.

\n\n

“The king…he promised to give me his daughter’s hand in marriage on my\nreturn!” he said excitedly.

\n\n

“You mean one of the king’s daughters?” she said.

\n\n

“The most beautiful one among them…um, Thakina!” said Otheris, “yeah\nthat’s her name!”

\n\n

“Hmm!” exclaimed Zeenah, “The Oracle? Is that so?”

\n\n

“Yeah!” he sighed, “plus the king’s western garden! All mine when I\nreturn?”

\n\n

“The one with the fish pond?” she asked.

\n\n

“Yes! That one!” he answered.

\n\n

“Hmmm!” she sat opposite him, “I hope you know that the king could kill\nhis own brother over that garden. As a matter of fact, the rightful\nowner of that garden was killed by…”

\n\n

“I am not his brother, and we had a deal okay! I don’t want to hear what\nhappened with whom, when or where! Got to go!” he said as he stood up,\nkissed her forehead again and walked out, “just don’t forget to pray for\nme!”

\n\n

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” she said.

\n\n

Otheris walked back in and picked a small bag kept on the wooden table,\n“That garden is yours on my return aunt Zeenah! All of it.”

\n\n

“Wouldn’t it be better if you’d carry the book along with you on this\njourney Otheris!?” Zeenah yelled.

\n\n

“No need, I have memorised some part of it, I’d reflect on the ones in\nmy head! Thanks for the food!”

\n\n

“Okay! I shall pray for you and when you’re faced with fire, remember\nson, there‘s a fire that burns all fires!” she said.

\n\n

THE ROAD TO QHUDRUS

\n\n

“I thought they would have some slaves drive you in some royal chariot\nor carry you on a litter my princess!” Otheris gagged.

\n\n

“You can call me Thakina, and I am not your princess!” she answered.\nThakina led the way on her black horse as Otheris and the rest of the\nmen trotted along behind her, “by the way, if I am ever going to marry\nanyone from Moughdug, it certainly won’t be you!”

\n\n

“Oh! I am falling in love with you every step of the way…princess!” he\nsaid, “the more I hear your voice the deeper the ship that carries my\nheart sinks! I am not a proud man! I am just a boy who happens to be in\nlove with the most beautiful girl in the world!” winked from his own\nhorse, “Pride? Hmm!” he turned, “Look at Karim on that horse,” as he\npointed at the huge warrior among the seven men traveling with them,\n“now that is a man who’s got pride written all over him! I heard you\nslain thousands when you served under the former king, Karim!”

\n\n

“I have slain more than a thousand,” said Karim as he drew his sword\nfrom its fully decorated scabbard, “in battle, to me a thousand men are\nlike a woman’s heart! Already stolen without even thinking of wooing!”\nanswered Karim, “that is why king Ikaneziah gave me this beauty as a\ngift!” lifted his sword up high for the rest to see, they all cheered.

\n\n

“You’re all unbelievable!” said Thakina as she neck reined her horse to\npush Otheris away from her side, “imbeciles!” She whipped her horse\nleaving the men behind.

\n\n

“Easy princess, don’t talk to your knight in shining armour like that!”\njoked one of the men as they laughed.

\n\n

“She’s mine boys! You know that, so beat it!” Otheris said.

\n\n

Otheris, Thakina and the seven men journeyed through the hot desert sand\nand ran out of drinking water but were lucky to come across a beautiful\norchard. Otheris tried hard to get Thakina’s attention but she\nstubbornly ignored all his efforts.

\n\n

“The king has more than thirty beautiful daughters, I do not know why\nyou waste your effort picking the arrogant one Otheris!” shouted one of\nthe men as they mounted their horses to continue their journey.

\n\n

“Just in case you’re blind my brother, it is called love!” Otheris\nreplied.

\n\n

“Yeah! Brothers, Otheris is right! He is in love…because he is blind!”\nsaid another laughing hysterically.

\n\n

“Half-wits!” said Otheris as he dashed his horse, Karim stood next to\nhis horse admiring his sword.

\n\n

Otheris rode away and caught up with Thakina, “Hey princess!”

\n\n

“Ugh!” she exclaimed, “I’ve told you several times stop calling me\nthat!”

\n\n

“Oh I am sorry! I thought girls like it when a boy calls them princess,”\nhe japed.

\n\n

“Well, I don’t deal with boys and I am not a girl…I am a lady!” she\nshouted, “and so should be treated like one…by a real man that is but,\nas you can see my friend, you’re a boy so I understand!” she teased.

\n\n

“Whoa there! How many times are you going to talk about the boy-girl\nthing? I am a twenty six year old male and that makes me a man!” he\nsaid, “Look at these? See?” raised his arm and showed her his biceps to\nimpress her.

\n\n

“Yes you are…a man who still lives with his aunt!” she mocked, “You\nthink you’ll win a woman’s heart acting like that?”

\n\n

“Hey! When we get back I am going to own a beautiful garden, the best of\nall the gardens in the kingdom for that matter and I heard it has got a\nbeautiful fish pond in the middle of it!” he said, “and the good Lord\nhas bestowed me with a beautiful woman!”

\n\n

“My father will never give you that garden, trust me! Even if you slay\nthe devil himself!” she said, “By the way, why would you choose\nsomething like that? Of all the things a man would ask a king, you chose\na garden!? Gosh you’re way more boyish than I thought!”

\n\n

“Well, I did swap it with the most precious thing in the world, didn’t\nI? Still the generous king offered to give me both the garden and his\nbeautiful daughter’s hand in marriage when I return?” he giggled, “So\nwho’s wiser now?”

\n\n

“Stop fooling yourself, I am not beautiful. You haven’t seen my sisters\nyet, have you?” Thakina said, “And stop telling me you gave it all up\nsimply because I am beautiful!”

\n\n

“I’d give up the world itself just for you!” he replied.

\n\n

“Only a foolish boy would do that, do you know what a real man would\ndo?” she asked.

\n\n

“Oh here we go again!” he injected.

\n\n

“A real man would go for the world so the girls would rush for him!” she\nadded.

\n\n

“Well, I don’t want to be a man then, I want to remain a boy…who loves\nyou!” he blew a kiss in the air for her but she acted as though she\ncaught it then bent towards her horse’s mouth and fed it the symbolic\nkiss, then drew her hand from the horse’s mouth to its tail and threw it\noff like the horse just dropped some dung.

\n\n

“What? You did not just do that princess,” he said.

\n\n

“Aargh!” she exclaimed.

\n\n

“Ha-Ha! You’re so going to make a fun companion, and a great mother\ntoo!” Otheris winked.

\n\n

“I hate it when you wink! I hate it when you address me as a princess!\nStop it already!” she said, “why are you so annoying?”

\n\n

“Only on one condition!” he answered.

\n\n

“Which is?” she asked.

\n\n

“If you will sing for me on the day of our wedding?” he teased.

\n\n

“I am dead! Yep, I am definitely dead!” she replied, “Do you even know\nwhy I came along with you on this journey?”

\n\n

“Well, maybe your father wants you to go see the world and probably\nexpects that you’d learn a lot about life and maybe meet the man of your\ndreams!” he joked.

\n\n

“There is no such thing as the man of my dreams but you may be right;\nfather did want me to go out and interact more but then…you and my\nfather had already struck a deal so if his problem was for me to get a\npartner he would’ve told me to just stay home and wait for you to come\nback, then we marry, don’t you think?” she replied.

\n\n

“Aah! So she does like me!” he said.

\n\n

“You’re pathetic!” said Thakina.

\n\n

Otheris started to whistle a sweet song.

\n\n

“What song is that? You got the tunes wrong!” she added.

\n\n

“Then teach me!” he replied.

\n\n

“I won’t whistle, I’ll sing it so move your horse from my view and\nlisten to a professional sing,” prided Thakina, and as she opened her\nmouth to sing, Karim and the others galloped through.

\n\n

“I think we should rest beneath the mountains and camp there for the\nnight!” Karim insisted.

\n\n

“Unbelievable! This is so not fair! I can’t believe this!” Otheris\ndeplored.

\n\n

“What did I do?” Karim asked, “I was only trying to save your life! You\nshould thank me!” he stared at Thakina.

\n\n

“Save my life? Ugh!” Otheris emphasised life, “On this journey, I am the\none doing the saving!”

\n\n

“Did you hear that boys?” said Karim, “our young-wanna-be hero here\nthinks he will save the day when this all ends!” the men laughed.

\n\n

“Not only is he going to save the day, he’s taking home your swords\nalong with the heads of the serpents of Qhudrus…boys!” said Thakina as\nshe flogged her horse leaving the men with nothing but dust.

\n\n

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Princess!” mocked one of the men, “very funny!”

\n\n

“Let’s not forget boys! Thakina here is the all mighty Oracle! Oracles\nhave foresight, right?” said Otheris. The men didn’t find it funny as\nthey stared at him.

\n\n

Otheris walked his horse passed the men, “I thought so!”

\n\n

“This woman I don’t like the way she talks!” said one of the men.

\n\n

“She’s a princess, that’s how they talk Zuka!” Karim responded.

\n\n

“Well, I don’t like princesses! And this Otheris I say we cut off his\nhead after we are done with the serpents of Qhudrus and fabricate a\nstory of how he died heroically!” Zuka added.

\n\n

“The princess will tell the king!” said another.

\n\n

“Who says her body must return home with its heart still beating?” Zuka\nsuggested.

\n\n

“That’ll do boys! Let’s not waste our time scheming on silly things!\nDon’t you just love the drama and entertainment they put up? Imagine how\nboring this trip would be if these love birds weren’t with us!” said\nKarim.

\n\n

“You think she loves him?” asked Zuka.

\n\n

“She likes him alright!” answered Karim, “let’s go make a camp for the\nnight men!” he moved his horse in front of the men and turned, “by the\nway, this talks about cutting heads and taking a lifeless body home!” he\ncleared his throat, “let it die here and now, unless you want to choose\na new leader but if you still trust me to lead this mission I say no one\nshould even dare to think about what my ears just heard! We’re on this\njourney for one thing, and that is to help the young man here bring back\nthe heads of the serpents of Qhudrus to King Ikaneziah!” Karim turned to\nlook at where Otheris was headed, “I don’t know how he intend to do, but\nours is to follow the orders of the king!”

\n\n

“I’m starving!” said Zuka.

\n\n

Karim led the men and by the time the seven of them got beneath the\nmountains, it was sun down. Thakina and Otheris had gathered some sticks\nto set up a fire.

\n\n

The men got a nice spot and tied their horses to the trees in order to\nrest for the night. Zuka and two of the men went up the mountain.

\n\n

“We should be at the gates of Qhudrus by dawn!” said Thakina.

\n\n

“I heard there’s a shortcut up these mountains!” Otheris responded.

\n\n

“Well, it’s best we go through the gates. It’ll be less suspicious, we\ndon’t want any of the serpents alerted before we even make any move, do\nwe?” she said, “let me see your sword!” as she turned to Otheris.

\n\n

“My sword?” Otheris asked posing like a warrior.

\n\n

“Yes! Your sword, might I have a look at it?” she said.

\n\n

“Why not! Here!” as he handed it to her.

\n\n

“Hmm! I kind of like it,” she drew her own sword, “let’s see!” Thakina\nthrew his sword back at him and as soon as he grabbed it, she charged\ntowards him faster than he’d think; Otheris used his sword to protect\nhimself, and as their swords clanked, half of Otheris’s sword went\nflying in the air.

\n\n

“What the hell!? What was that all about?” Otheris asked, holding to his\nbroken sword while lying with his back to the ground panting.

\n\n

“I thought as much!” she stretched her hand and lifted him up.

\n\n

“Here! Take this, you may find it more useful than that cucumber you\ncarried!” as she handed her sword to him.

\n\n

“Hmm!” he exclaimed, “light and sharp! Where did you get this baby\nfrom?”

\n\n

“Forged in the mountains of Ghunakog by the legendary Jheet of Sunthai\nhimself,” she replied.

\n\n

“Jheet of Sunthai? The great blacksmith from the east who got killed by\nhis apprentice with a wooden sword?” he laughed, “I heard the story!”

\n\n

“Did you? Well, probably contrary to what you must have heard; after\nkilling his arch enemy Zugthak, the leader of his rivalled tribe, whom\nJheet believed ordered the killing of his entire clan. Jheet fled up the\nmountains of Ghunakog. The rivalled clan known as the Oaturans made\nseveral attempts to kill Jheet but failed. Well, actually his skin was\nimpenetrable to metal…that was wield by any man. He one day welcomed a\nyoung orphaned girl into his house up the mountains, and after some\nyears she discovered his secret. Well, actually he spilled the beans\nafter he got drunk one night.”

\n\n

“Wait, are you saying…” Otheris interrupted.

\n\n

“Why don’t you let me finish? Well, he let his guard down and told her\nhis deepest kept secret of secrets. So, she killed him in his sleep…with\na wooden sword!” Thakina sighed, “The girl Jheet welcomed into his home\nwas actually Zugthak’s daughter!”

\n\n

“Hmm! Sounds like good bedtime story for children!”

\n\n

“Whatever, but if you deny this occurrence then the story of you killing\nthe great witch of Moughdug is but a fairy tale as well. I am hungry!”\nshe responded.

\n\n

“Ha! You wish!” exclaimed Otheris, “I’ve got something in my small bag,\nmy aunt prepared some…”

\n\n

“Go get it already!”

\n\n

“Okay! Okay!” Otheris put the new sword into his sheath, left Thakina\nand moved to his horse as Karim walked towards her.

\n\n

“You should call your men back, this place is not a place to wander!”\nsaid Thakina.

\n\n

“They’ll be fine Princess Thakina!” Karim answered.

\n\n

“How many times do we have to go through this Karim?” she said in a soft\nvoice.

\n\n

“Forgive me Princess Thakina! It is my duty to protect you!” he replied,\n“This is how I am able to put the food on the table.”

\n\n

“Doesn’t serving me also mean you should have respect for my words?” she\nasked.

\n\n

“Yes it does Princess Thakina! But my services to you require I\nconstantly remind my heart and my sword whom I live to protect and\nserve!” he answered, “Is the young man an eyesore?”

\n\n

“No! He’s just too stubborn, just like my father. Once I am away from my\nfather’s sight it’d please my heart if you’d all stop calling me\nprincess!” she said, “I know what the hearts of your men emit, this\nmission is a failure without Otheris so you must protect him as much as\nyou so passionately-desire to shield me from harm.” she said.

\n\n

“Your wish is my command princess Thakina!” answered Karim as he bowed.

\n\n

“Where we’re headed is no place for men who put their trust in swords\nKarim! Your men may need a special kind of knowledge if they intend to\nface and defeat this particular enemy!”

\n\n

Karim smiled, “We have faced men who terrorised great kings, encountered\nand have killed lions so fierce the jungle…”

\n\n

“These are not lions, they are no ordinary animal Karim! Your swords\ncannot save you from their deception! They do not devour the flesh of\nmen, they raven destinies!” she said, “my father just wants you to\nprotect us along the way, when we reach the gates of Qhudrus you must\nstay back and let us go in alone and if we return then you escort us\nback to Moughdug!”

\n\n

“My instruction is to protect you with my life and I cannot perform my\nduty with you out of sight princess Thakina. The king did not utter such\nthing to me. He said I should protect you with my life and bring you\nback home without a scratch!” he replied.

\n\n

“Do not rub my face with songs from the lips of my father!” she shouted,\n“if you follow what my father told you then you would not go home alive.\nIf you want to return home to your wife and children you must listen to\nme and do as I say!” said Thakina.

\n\n

Karim lowered his head, “But princess…”

\n\n

“There is no but Karim! If you allow that to have a comfortable spot in\nthis journey it is your sword that shall return home, and not you on\nthat horse! If you have never honoured my words, I beg of you to make\nsure you stay outside the gates of Qhudrus!” she added.

\n\n

Karim nodded, “And what is this special knowledge you speak of?”

\n\n

“I do not know of this knowledge, but I know one who does! And I believe\nit’d help us all not only in this journey but the ones we’d take after\nthis,” she said as she turned and looked at Otheris coming back with\nsomething in his hand.

\n\n

“The son of Delial?” asked Karim, “they say no good thing would ever\ncome out of the house of Delial!”

\n\n

“Yes indeed…they thought wrong,” said Thakina as she turned her face\ntowards the fire, “just don’t go through the gates of Qhudrus!”

\n\n

“Hey beautiful, look what I have got for us!” Otheris panted as he knelt\nbefore the fire with some fruits, smoked fish and loaves.

\n\n

“Yeah!” said Zuka, “Look what we’ve got princess!” he threw a\nslaughtered sheep next to the fire.

\n\n

“A sheep? Are you crazy?” said Otheris.

\n\n

“Yes! It’s just one sheep it’s not like we captured and killed a whole\nherd! Besides, when a sheep strays away from the herd and the shepherd\ndid not notice it in time to come looking for it…finders, keepers!” he\nlaughed.

\n\n

“A good shepherd would leave his ninety nine in order to search for the\none that’s lost!” said Otheris.

\n\n

“Well, in that case, we’d steal one and hide it, and as the so-called\ngood shepherd goes looking for the lost sheep, we’d come steal the\nninety nine, right boys?” Hollered Zuka as the rest of the men exhorted.

\n\n

“I can’t believe I’m stuck with a bunch of saps!” uttered Thakina.

\n\n

Karim drew his sword, “Who’s there?” as he sensed some movement in the\nwoods.

\n\n

The rest of them became mute and those that were seated stood to their\nfeet and drew their swords too.

\n\n

“Show yourself?” he said as he stepped forward.

\n\n

“We mean no harm!” replied a sweet untoughened voice as two young\nbeautiful ladies appeared and walked toward them.

\n\n

“Stop right there!” commanded Karim as he took some steps further, “who\nare you and what do you seek?”

\n\n

“I am Emerald and this is my sister Golden!” said one of the ladies.

\n\n

“Emerald and Golden…what brought you two out at this time of the night?”\nKarim asked.

\n\n

“Our father sent us to look for his lost sheep!” said the one referred\nas Golden.

\n\n

“Lost sheep?” Karim asked, “There’s no lost sheep here!”

\n\n

“Well, it’s cold out here and we’ve been searching for hours, can we\ncome sit by the fire, please?” said Emerald.

\n\n

“Sure!” Karim turned to the men, “Why not? Please come!”

\n\n

“You don’t need fire to get warm my lady! I am here,” said Zuka soaked\nin the thick pool of his pride. The rest of the men cheered.

\n\n

Emerald held her sister’s hand and led her near the fire where Otheris\nand Thakina were standing. As the women made their way through, their\nbeauty beamed as the fire shone on them and stole the hearts of the six\nmen.

\n\n

“Whao! I feel like drowning in my own saliva!” said one of the men.

\n\n

“Ewww!” Thakina exclaimed.

\n\n

“Hi! I am Emerald and this is my sister Golden,” Emerald said as they\nboth squat to get warm around the fire.

\n\n

Otheris knelt as Thakina squatted next to him, “Yeah I heard your names\nwhen you first introduced yourselves!”

\n\n

“So what’s your name?” Golden interjected with her eyes gazed at\nOtheris.

\n\n

“He’s taken!” Thakina interrupted.

\n\n

“Taken? What kind of name is that?” responded Emerald.

\n\n

“I meant to say, he’s mine!” Thakina replied, “Yes! Taken! Get it?”

\n\n

“Oh! I am sorry, he doesn’t look entangled to me!” said Emerald as she\nstood up and moved closer to Otheris, “I love your eyes!”

\n\n

“The rest of the men look strong and well built, your hauteur will find\nunmerited affection in their sight! Like I said; this one is taken!”\nThakina protested as she left where she was and stood between Otheris\nand Emerald.

\n\n

“In my village we have tons of young men just like him!” replied\nEmerald.

\n\n

“Well, staying away from this one shouldn’t be a problem for you then!”\nreplied Thakina.

\n\n

“Hey! Hey! Ladies, come on! No one fights over an unripe apple hanging\non the tree when lots of well ripen ones are scattered on the ground, my\nsweet loves!” said Zuka as he approached the fire, “Fakal! Bring the\nwine and let’s make a merry out of the night!”

\n\n

“Yeah!” the rest of the men cheered again.

\n\n

The men brought wine they carried along on their horses and made merry\nof the evening as proposed by Zuka. While Otheris, Thakina and Karim sat\nnot far from the fire enjoying the amusement, six of the men got drunk\nand danced around the fire singing battle songs and laughing hard at one\nanother as the two strangers danced seductively.

\n\n

“I love my life!” Zuka voiced out, “things are getting better and better\nby the day from where I’m standing boys!” as he pranced and staggered.

\n\n

“I don’t like them! I don’t trust them!” said Thakina.

\n\n

“Ah! You’re just a little jealous!” Otheris said.

\n\n

“No I am not! Jealous?” she replied as she reclined her head on a\nheadrest and drape herself with a blanket turning herself away from\nOtheris.

\n\n

“Don’t touch me!” she said as Otheris made an attempt to say something,\n“good night.”

\n\n

“Good night!”

\n\n

Karim, Otheris and Thakina slept off before midnight while the rest of\nthe men along with the two strangers enjoyed the evening.

\n\n

THE SERPENTS OF QHUDRUS

\n\n

“Otheris! Otheris!” someone called in the dark, “wake up son!” said the\nvoice louder.

\n\n

Otheris woke up but saw Karim and four of the men aiming their swords at\nhim.

\n\n

“Where is Thakina?” he asked, “What have you done to her?”

\n\n

“I am here, I am okay!” she said, “don’t move!”

\n\n

“What?” asked Otheris, a bit frightened.

\n\n

“Don’t move Otheris! We’re thinking of the best thing to do, whatever\nyou do…don’t move!” said Karim.

\n\n

“I don’t understand?” said Otheris as he looked at his feet carefully\nthen sighted a big black snaked curled itself around his right ankle.

\n\n

“Where are the rest of the men? Otheris asked with apprehension, “and\nplease…what is that?”

\n\n

“Mekel and Pelinias? They are dead! And that’s a big snake curled up on\nyour right ankle.” Zuka replied, “We believe that those two damn women\nkilled them…somehow, after we all gave in to slumber!”

\n\n

“It was a very stupid thing to do!” uttered one of the men.

\n\n

“Yes, a very stupid thing to do!” added Zuka as he shook his head.

\n\n

Otheris was sweating, “I’m dreaming, right guys?” he turned to Thakina.

\n\n

“No!” They all chorused.

\n\n

Otheris did not bother to listen to what they were saying and he saw how\nscared they all were. He looked around and sighted a small rock, then\ncautiously dragged his body towards the rock with the snake still curled\nto his ankle.

\n\n

“No! No!” they cried out as they slowly follow him.

\n\n

Otheris picked the rock and smashed the head of the snake but it refused\nto let go, instead it curled itself tighter around Otheris’ ankle.\nOtheris then raised the rock higher and aimed its head again not minding\nhis own leg, the snake quickly loosen its grip on Otheris as Karim ran\nforth and cut off its head.

\n\n

Thakina rushed to Otheris to make sure he was not hurt, “Are you okay?”\nas she checked his ankle.

\n\n

“Yes! I am fine!” he replied.

\n\n

“Hmm! So much for the one who’d slay the serpents of Qhudrus!” said\nZuka, “well, all the horses are dead too! All killed!”

\n\n

While they wondered what just transpired, they heard a sound in the\nwoods as though something large was making its way through and so kept\ntheir guard up, and as they gathered in one place forming a circle, a\nwild wind blew its way through and swept them all off their feet. A huge\ngolden scaled serpent made its way and stood tall before them with its\nhead spread like that of a mad cobra. Otheris quickly moved backwards in\nsearch of a weapon good enough to attack the serpent but could not find,\nhe then saw his sword lying on the ground near the ashes from the fire\nand made an attempt to pick it, unknown to him a huge serpent same\ncolour as the earth was lying close to it. The serpent expelled venom\nfrom its fangs and aimed directly at Otheris’ eyes, Otheris used his\nleft hand and covered his eyes as fast as his eyelids could.

\n\n

The serpent continued to disgorge its venoms until it drenched Otheris’\nentire clothe as though his entire body was immersed in a slimed\nsubstance. He realised that the closer he moved towards the sword the\nmore venom the serpent spewed.

\n\n

While its attention was on Otheris, the serpent sensed Karim approaching\nfrom behind so it turned fast and like lightning struck Karim on the\nchest, his sword fell off his hand on one side, his body on the other.

\n\n

Otheris lowered his hand and went straight for his sword, picked it and\nattacked the serpent but his attempt was futile.

\n\n

Thakina got scared and turned to flee, the serpent hit her with its tail\nsending her into the air as it charged towards her, she fainted on\nlanding as six more huge serpents came and surrounded her. The serpents\nbegan hissing and a great dark smoke arose and swallowed Thakina and all\nthe serpents away into the woods.

\n\n

“No! No! Thakina!” yelled Otheris as the men ran after the smoke but it\ndisappeared leaving an evil laughter that echoed through the\nsurroundings.

\n\n

“I thought princess Thakina is supposed to use her powers to repel these\nblood suckers!” said Otheris.

\n\n

“She’s only a dreamer! She dream dreams and the king mistook her for an\noracle,” said Zuka, “and now it is your power that we are yet to see\nyoung Otheris!”

\n\n

“I do not have any powers!” Otheris answered, “I only have faith in\nsomeone, that’s all!”

\n\n

“You’ve got lucky Otheris, that serpent wanted to blind you,” said\nFakal.

\n\n

“Faith? Hmm!” exclaimed Zuka, “You should have put your faith into good\nuse when they appeared and not land us in this fate. Faith! We’ll see\nabout that! Let’s go save your princess Otheris, they couldn’t have gone\nfar!”

\n\n

“Let me check on Karim!” said Fakal as he turned to move.

\n\n

“He’s dead! Let’s forge ahead before we lose their trail!” Zuka yelled.

\n\n

The men walked through the woods that same night and arrived at an old\nhouse up on the mountain that looked haunted; the house looked like it\nstood the test of time through centuries. They approached carefully and\nbroke their way in through its mighty doors, and because it had no light\nin it, they lit their way with torches. Thick cobwebs were everywhere,\nit seemed no one had lived there in a long while.

\n\n

The men looked around carefully and with great caution. The wooden stair\ncases cracked and squeaked as they go up searching for signs of life in\nthere. The entire house was old and cold, and it felt as though it\nwatches them through its many hidden eyes on the walls.

\n\n

“Thakina!” whispered Otheris.

\n\n

“I don’t like this place!” Fakal said, he drew a second sword as they\nwalked gently up the stairs.

\n\n

They pushed themselves deep into the creepy old house but could not find\nthe serpents nor anyone, instead, they came across cages made of steel\nfilled with many starved children; when the children saw them they all\nstood up stretching their hands, “Help us!” the children said in a weak\nvoice, they all looked sapless.

\n\n

Otheris approached one of the cages, bent on his knees and looked around\nfor a way to open the cage as the little girl stared at him.

\n\n

“Please give me water to drink!” said the little girl.

\n\n

Otheris tried to open the locks.

\n\n

“You can’t open it without the keys!” she said.

\n\n

“Where are the keys? Who has them?” he asked looking into the girl’s\neyes as the rest of the children gathered behind her, all looking weak\nand feeble.

\n\n

“With the witch down below!” the children responded.

\n\n

“With the witch down below?” he asked.

\n\n

The children shook their heads.

\n\n

“What’s your name little one?” he asked.

\n\n

“Aaricia!” answered the little girl.

\n\n

“Lovely name!” he smiled, “I’ll get you out of here! All of you!”

\n\n

“Otheris! Come on we’re running out time. Let’s go, we can come for them\nlater!” suggested Zuka, Otheris stood to his feet.

\n\n

“Please don’t leave us Mister! Mister please stay with us!” the children\ncried.

\n\n

Saddened by the unpleasant situation, Otheris exhaled audibly and said,\n“I’ll be back for you! I promise! Just stay quiet okay?” he ran his hand\nthrough the little girl’s dusty hair, “stay strong, I’ll be back!”

\n\n

“Come back with food and water! We are all hungry!” said Aaricia.

\n\n

“We’ll bring something better than that Aaricia, we’ll bring freedom!”\nhe answered. The children smiled and some in tears as they felt a\nglimpse of hope.

\n\n

“Otheris!” Zuka yelled.

\n\n

The men planned to split in order to comb the old house and after a long\notiose hunt they all came down and gathered in what appeared to be the\nliving room.

\n\n

“I don’t think they are here!” said Zuka.

\n\n

The men saw old paintings dating more than a century old,

\n\n

Otheris approached one of the big paintings hung on the wall above the\nfire place, “I know this face!” he raised his torch higher revealing\nwhat appeared to be the portrait of the great witch of Moughdug.

\n\n

“Who is it then?” Zuka asked as he admired his beards in a dusty mirror\non the wall, “Hmm I think my beard would soon look like Karim’s! Maybe\neven longer, and finer!”

\n\n

They heard a horrible laughter from the rooms upstairs that echoed\nthroughout the creepy-old house, all went on alert and drew their swords\npressing their backs against each other, then something began to roll\ndownstairs like a crystal ball. It bounced its way down the big old\nwooden staircase, emitting smoke as it landed on the floor. The men\nwatched it roll to the centre of the room.

\n\n

“What’s this?” asked Zuka as he lowered his torch down walking towards\nthe crystal ball. There seemed to be something shiny in the crystal, it\nglittered and dimmed continuously, Zuka turned away from the crystal\nball and looked up the stairs.

\n\n

“I think we should stick together!” said Fakal, “come and see what’s\ninside the crystal!”

\n\n

The men stared down at the crystal ball as their reflections stared back\nat them, they saw something like a golden scaled serpent raising its\nhead in the crystal ball. Unknown to them, it was the reflection of what\nwas hanging on the big chandelier above their heads.

\n\n

“Yes! You should!” hissed the golden scaled serpent as the crystal ball\nshattered to pieces breaking the floor beneath their feet, exposing what\nappeared to be a big conical opening about fifteen feet in diameter. The\ngolden scaled serpent dropped itself upon them as they all slid along\ninto the hole and down below into a cavern; the men screamed and yelled\nas they fell, then plunged into a slimy pool filled with human skulls\nand bones. The golden scaled serpent disappeared under the slimy pool.

\n\n

The men got out of the slimy pool and laid on the rocks, and as they\npanted, they heard a sound, then looked around the cave and saw an old\nwoman seated naked on a big rock humming a song.

\n\n

Otheris left the others and walked a little closer to see her face, he\nsaw her gently sponge-bathing something between her thighs so he stopped\nand wondered whether he should go ahead or not, the old woman then\nturned; the sight of her sent chills down his spine.

\n\n

“Otheris! Son of Delial…I told you no one would burn me that night,\ndidn’t I?” she said as the cave shook a bit over the sound of her\nlaughter.

\n\n

“Melnourat!?” he said in shock, gazing at the golden necklace around her\nneck ornamented with many keys.

\n\n

“Otheris!” shouted Thakina.

\n\n

The men sighted Thakina lying on the ground with her hands tied together\nacross on the other side, surrounded by twelve Serpents.

\n\n

“Aww! Isn’t this romantic? Hey Princess…your knight in shining armour is\nhere to save you!” the witch mocked, “while the world burns and needs\nsaving, you young lads rushed in like fools to come save just one…lady\nin distress!?” She laughed, “Oh! Otheris my hero, you’ve come to save\nme!” mimicked in Thakina’s voice.

\n\n

“Melnourat? The great witch of Moughdug?” Zuka asked.

\n\n

“Yes! Oh Yes! It is I, in the flesh you sons of wretched whores!” she\nmanaged to stand on her shaky feet stack naked with a huge black serpent\nhanging in between her thighs.

\n\n

“Whoa! Whoa!” Zuka screamed as they all took some steps backward.

\n\n

“How come?” asked Otheris, “I killed you! I cut your head off!”

\n\n

“Yes you did Otheris, indeed you had killed that body…and saved me from\nthat old sacking bag that fateful night!” she uttered with such great\npride, “you see, the body is just a vessel, son of Delial, you can\nchannel the substance anywhere anytime, and you did to me a great favour\nthat night!” she mocked, “how do I look now, huh?” laughed and raised\nher hands up like a peacock’s tail, as the black serpent between her\nthighs made a fierce hissing sound.

\n\n

“It’s impossible!” said Otheris.

\n\n

“Yes! Yes! Oh yes! It is…impossible son of Delial! But considering the\nfact that you have whom you worship and we have whom we bow to as well!\nHa! Ha! Ha!” bragged the witch, “You see, you did destroy a body that\nnight. Oh yes, but then it is only a body, as long as I am willing to\nserve and sacrifice as much to darkness the blood it seeks then having\nanother body is as easy as milking a lactating cow! When you take this\npath son of Delial, you’d find that even the dark lord provides for his\nown!”

\n\n

The black serpent between her thighs swung its head up with half of its\nbody still stuck inside of her. The sight terrified the men, they began\nto look around for a way out.

\n\n

“The only way out is up gents,” said the witch, “there is no escaping\nthis Otheris! There-is-no escaping Melnourat the great witch of\nMoughdug…tonight!” she yelled, “You and these poor devils have had your\nfill of self-glorification and the gates of Hades await your ill-scented\nsouls…all you wretched beings, I shall devour you!” she prided herself\non being the most vicious of them all, “after that fateful night I knew\nthat old wilt of a king would gather the grunts to come hunting for my\noffspring so I await his army yet he sent you-imbeciles and as I waited\npatiently, I smelled the essence of Delial. That foolish king directed\nhis best warriors and you Otheris right into my snare!”

\n\n

The serpent that hung between her thighs raised its head and hissed at\nOtheris.

\n\n

“Your time has come Otheris! I had told you once and will tell you\nagain…no one shall burn me tonight! I shall devour you and once done\nwith you and this worthless daughter of your king, my babies and I will\nwalk through your little villages and wipe out all your people!” added\nthe old witch, “come out my babies!” Thousands of snakes of many colours\nbegan to make their way slowly out of rocks that surrounded them, and\nfrom the pool behind the men “you think you know me. Well, you’re dead\nwrong!”

\n\n

Zuka signalled Otheris to take on the old witch as he and the rest of\nthe two men quickly sprang into action to attack the twelve serpents of\nQhudrus.

\n\n

“Such pitiful waste of bootless effort, don’t you think Otheris?” said\nthe old witch, “your lives have come face to face with the portal that\nleads to its doom!”

\n\n

Otheris raised his sword, “Hey you listen to me old witch, you let\nThakina go and we…I mean I’ll let you live to see the sunrise!” a bit\nfrightened.

\n\n

The old witch laughed so hard then took two giant steps forward as the\ncave shook, “Show me what you’ve got Otheris son of Delial!” turned to\nthe thirteen serpents, “Kill them all my babies! Kill them all!”

\n\n

A fierce fight broke out between the serpents and the men, after a long\nand fierce battle, Zuka was able to free Thakina and she ran to Otheris.

\n\n

“What do we do?” Thakina asked Otheris.

\n\n

“What can you do?” yelled the great witch of Moughdug, she took another\nstep down as the black serpent protruded more of its body out of her, as\nit struggled to have a taste of Otheris’ blood while it tried to\nforcefully exit her fragile vessel.

\n\n

The twelve serpents killed three of the men, they also ganged up against\nZuka and devoured him.

\n\n

“I don’t want to die like this my love!” said Thakina.

\n\n

Otheris’ eyes got wider, “Did you just? Wait, does this mean you’ve\nagreed to marry me?”

\n\n

“Shut up and think of a way out of here, silly!” she shouted, “How can I\nmarry you when I am dead? Or are you going to run your sweet lips and\ntell me you’d still marry me even when I’m dead!?”

\n\n

The serpents began to advance toward them as the old witch took another\nheavy step, the snakes continued to make their way out of the\nsurrounding rocks moving swiftly and advancing toward Otheris and\nThakina.

\n\n

“We shall not die tonight!” said Otheris as he closed his eyes. Thakina\nwatched his lips moved as though he was enchanting.

\n\n

“What are you doing?” she asked, “what do you think you’re doing? We’re\nabout to be ingested and you’re what? Praying? Seriously Otheris?”

\n\n

Otheris used his hand and covered her mouth, “I am trying to concentrate\nhere! Do you mind?”

\n\n

“Oh! Otheris listen to the princess and just beg for mercy!” said witch,\n“he prays every time he’s afraid princess but tonight, prayer saves no\none from the great witch of Moughdug!” She laughed wickedly and advanced\ntowards them as the golden coloured serpent emerged from the slimy pool.

\n\n

Otheris turned to Thakina and looked into her beautiful eyes, “Can you\ntrust me?”

\n\n

“I-I-I do!” she stammered.

\n\n

“You do?” he reacted with a lift of his eyebrow, “wait, this feels like\na wedding!”

\n\n

“Yea…yes I can! I do trust you! God!” she shouted, “Otheris!”

\n\n

“Oh!” he exclaimed, “Then close your eyes! Hold me tight and don’t let\ngo no matter what!”

\n\n

“Okay!” she said as she held him with her eyes close, “What now?”

\n\n

“Just hush!” He said.

\n\n

The snakes parented by the serpents gathered and placed Otheris and\nThakina in the centre, the old witch laughed and boasted manically.\nChanting as she emphasised her name.

\n\n

Otheris then put his sword back into its sheath and as he continued to\npray, something like a ball of fire surrounded them and began to burn\nthe snakes close to them.

\n\n

“Impossible!” cried the witch as the black serpent hanging between her\nthighs made a swift attempt to strike Otheris but the fiery force field\nprotected them.

\n\n

On seeing that they are being shielded by a fiery force field, Thakina\ncould not believe her eyes, “Teach me Otheris! Please teach me!” she\nsaid softly without hesitation.

\n\n

Otheris opened his eyes, “I told you to keep those beautiful eyes\nclose!” he sighed, smiled and whispered something into her ears.

\n\n

“That’s it?” she asked.

\n\n

Otheris nodded smiling, “Yeah! That’s all you need! But you must have no\ndoubt, not even a drop of it.”

\n\n

The witch and all the serpents watched from where they stood as Otheris\ntalked to Thakina and she seemed to repeat every word he said.

\n\n

“What are you reciting!?” yelled the witch, “Get them!”

\n\n

The serpents turned and looked at the witch.

\n\n

“Go after them!” added the witch, but the serpents moved back as Thakina\nclosed her eyes and uttered something, then another ball of fire formed\ninside the one Otheris commanded and there were two force fields made of\nfire protecting them each.

\n\n

Thakina looked a bit excited and reacted like a little girl as she\nstepped out of the first fiery force field created by Otheris.

\n\n

Otheris then turned and faced the witch and the serpents, the fiery\nforce field continued to expand as it incinerate the snakes.

\n\n

“My babies! No! My babies!” cried the witch.

\n\n

Otheris drew his sword, jumped up and cut off the head of the black\nserpent that hung between the witch’s thighs and as he landed right in\nfront of the old witch, he pieced his sword through her heart, the fiery\nforce field burnt her as the witch sank to her knees then the fire grew\nwith such strong explosion and consumed all the serpents.

\n\n

The only thing that stood in the cave was Thakina and Otheris, even the\nslimy pool dried up and all the skulls burnt.

\n\n

“Look for the necklace!” said Otheris as the fiery force field subsided.

\n\n

Thakina ran up and started searching for the necklace the witch wore;\nshe found the necklace buried in ashes exactly where the witch stood\nwith the keys tied to it as Otheris looked for a way out of the cave but\ncould not find any.

\n\n

“What do we do now?” she asked.

\n\n

“We wait!” he responded.

\n\n

Thakina smiled, walked to him and immersed herself in his arms.

\n\n

“Woman, this is no time for hugs! I am trying to find us a way out!” he\nsaid.

\n\n

“Hmm! Stop acting like you wouldn’t kill for a hug from me” she replied\nlost in his eyes.

\n\n

“Princess Thakina can you hear me?” yelled a voice through the hole from\nabove.

\n\n

“Karim? Is that you?” she answered, “Yes! Oh my God yes we can hear you!\nIt’s Karim”

\n\n

“Can you throw us a rope down here Karim!” said Otheris!

\n\n

“Yes on one condition!” echoed Karim’s voice.

\n\n

“What’s that?” Otheris and Thakina asked in unison.

\n\n

“You’ll name your first child after me!?” shouted Karim.

\n\n

“What if it’s a girl?” Otheris asked.

\n\n

“Then uh! Then we spell my name backwards and name her that!” said\nKarim, he managed to swing down on a thick rope and suspended himself as\nhe held firm his sword with his left hand looking down the cave.

\n\n

“What happened here?” he asked while hanging from the rope.

\n\n

“I don’t think that’s important for now, how the hell did you survive\nthat?” asked Otheris.

\n\n

Karim beat his chest hard with his left hand, “The armour never fails my\nbrother! One of the king’s best gift to his humble servant…a sword-proof\nvest he got as a gift from Jheet of Sunthai!”

\n\n

“How many gifts has the king given you Karim?” asked Otheris.

\n\n

“When you get close to the king, you’d find that he is very generous!”\nAnswered Karim.

\n\n

“Generous Indeed!” protested Otheris, “I just hope when we get back you\nwon’t tell me that the garden promised to me was offered to you as\nwell!”

\n\n

Thakina shook her head as Otheris held her by the waist and dragged her\nback into his arms again.

\n\n

“Take it easy handsome! I hope you’d be as good of a father to our\nbabies as you are a good talker!” she said looking into his eyes.

\n\n

“Our babies!?” he responded excitedly, “I wonder what you are going to\nteach them!”

\n\n

Thakina blushed, “You of all people should know…I will spend my time\nteaching them the power behind the name you whispered into my ears!”

\n\n

“A name? I can’t recall ever mentioning any name!” he joked.

\n\n

“Jesus!” she blushed, “You sweet rescuer!” she pinched Otheris and they\nkissed passionately.

\n\n

“The king is so not-going to be happy with you, you know!” Said Karim as\nhe hung from the rope, “If I remember correctly, he specifically ordered\nyou to bring their heads, not to… incinerate them all to oblivion!”

\n\n

They all laughed!

\n\n

**### **

\n\n

Hi, thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please\ntake a moment to leave me a review?

\n\n

Thanks!

\n\n

Richard Shekari.

\n\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

\n\n

Richard Shekari is a novelist, lyricist, singer, and a poet from Abuja,\nNigeria. He is a Humanitarian Officer with the National Emergency\nManagement Agency, Nigeria. An alumnus of the Federal University of\nTechnology, Architecture department (ATBU) Bauchi, Nigeria.

\n\n

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

\n\n

The Broken Wings of Forgiveness, Anna the Human, Saving rose Green.

\n\n

CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

\n\n

Twitter: http://twitter.com/therealrexrazor

\n\n

Facebook: http://facebook.com/richardshekari

\n\n

Instagram: http://instagram.com/richardshekari

\n\n\n

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