Chapter 9 Village Of The Snakemen

Night 3 continues……

“By the gods… I finally managed to subdue this pale vixen.” Now that the witch could cause no further harm, my mind was at ease. My strength was reduced back to its idle level. With this, the pain that had been numb by my indomitable will began forcing itself back to the forefront of my awareness.

“AAAAAA!” I hollered out from the excruciating agony which was kicking me from all wounded angles. My rib cage that was abused started disrupting my flow of circulation. My chewed out neck punished me by the assault of a thousand needles. I could still taste the blasted metal from my testicle that had been snipped off, not to mention the incisors still stinking into my iron manhood. The many serpent bite marks decorating my legs were dripping with blood mixed with tainted venom; moreover, my face and chest which had suffered brutal scratching from the pale lady's nails were stinging my body’s pain sensors like myriads of agitated bees.

[Thud!] I fell to my knees then glanced at the wicked woman who had brought me great pain. I would never forget how I was tricked and swindled for the prize of my baby-maker. To solidify this life experience within my memories, I scooted closer to the pale lady and ripped off her scorpion amulet. [Whoosh!]

“This amulet will serve as a trophy piece as well as a catalyst to my character’s growth. From this moment onward, I shall never be overcome by the Lure of Deception nor by the Lure of Lust ever again.” I made a solemn vow that night which would act as a great servitude to my future endeavours.

Moments later, my vision became blurred by the ashes of victory and agony. As I was passing out on the damped floor, I heard the rear galloping of my steed. The last thing I saw before I lose consciousness was the starry constellations of the unreachable sky.

Day 6…..

My eye slowly opened to find myself resting in a strange environment. I was lying on a comfy bed made from the compilation of medicinal leaves. Taking a look around, I noticed there was a wooden bowl accompanied by a mixture of healing apparatuses sitting close to my left flank. I was in an enclosed space, a hut of some sorts. As I raised my head to try and see below me, I felt a dreadful wave of pain rushing through my body. “Awe!” I quickly lowered my head back to the floor.

“My injuries still hurt but not as bad as they used to. An adept healer must have looked after my wounds while I was out. Where am I and what of Tagon? Has he returned to his senses or is he still being affected by that pale witch’s spell.” A person came into my hut shortly after I voiced these thoughts internally.

“I see that you have awoken, warrior. You have a very resilient body being able to survive those terrible wounds. Any other man would have been in eternal slumber with their ancestors by now.”

It was the presence of a woman! One of elderly nature, still I quickly made sure to protect myself with the Lure of Deception that I had stolen from that pale woman’s neck. There was no way I would allow myself to be swindled again, less I be a fool.

“Have some medicinal water now that you’ve awoken.” This elderly person motioned a bowl of suspicious liquid to my mouth lips. At first, I was going to refuse but after recognizing the elder’s distinctive apparel and the familiar marking over her body, I settled my concerns and took a few sips of the medicine. [Gulp! Gulp!]

“You have my thanks for nursing me back to health, healer. May I be wrong in assuming that I’m within the village of the Snakemen?”

“You’re not wrong, warrior. You are among the Snakemen tribe.”

“I see. How did I get here? The last thing I remember was passing out underneath the many faces of stars.”

“Oh, is that so? It was your gallant mount that brought you to our village. When I was fetching water 3 nights ago at the stream, I noticed its frightening presence rushing towards me while dragging a dying naked man by its teeth.”

“Wait, did you just mention 3 nights ago?”

“Yes, warrior. You’ve been in my care for 3 days now. During that time I did what I could to medicate your critical injuries. I noticed the unique saddle on your horse bearing the distinctive emblem of the Aigoo tribe. Could you be one of their descendants?”

“Yes, healer. I shall repay your kindness by gifting you my full name. I am warrior Ludwig B. Aigoo, the seventh son of my father’s seed linage.”

“Ludwig B, Aigoo…? Could you perhaps be the son of Lord Rotip B. Aigoo? You remind me of him somehow.”

“Indeed. It sounds of it you are affiliated with my father. Who might you be, healer?”

“I’m just an old lady who was once infatuated with your father during my early childhood days. Due to our strict policies which prevented the mixing of our lineage with outsiders, I was not able to be with your father intimately. That was ages ago. Who would have thought that I would be able to meet one of his sons all the way out here at this old age of mine?”

“Oh, so you could have potentially wound up being my mother? Thanks again for helping me in my time of peril, healer. They don’t make people as kind as you anymore.”

“Such flattering words. There is no doubt that you are your father’s child. Please address me as, K. Molrova.”

“As you wish, healer.” We chatted for a while until the sun came out brightly in the sky. I had a nice conversation with this elderly woman. It was the first in my life I was being affected by the Lure of Care so strongly. When it was around time for me to fill my tummy, this elderly healer helped me sat upright and brought me a bowl of snake soup to help reduce the venom toxicity within my body. I almost lost myself conversing with this healer known as K. Molrova. Had it not been for the intervention of my steed, I wouldn’t have cut our conversation short and stepped outside the hut.

“Careful, young warrior Ludwig. You’re not fit to be walking about just yet.”

“Its fine, granny. I need to be able to handle this much if I want to make it back to my tribe in time for the Warriors Ceremony. 3 days have already flown by. I must set out as soon as possible.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it, young warrior. I heard that a violent storm is approaching from the Sahara desert down south. I don’t mind you waiting out the storm inside my abode, there is plenty of room for one more.”

“There is no need. I must be getting back now.”

“If you insist on leaving then take this with you. It will keep you safe on your perilous journey back home.”

“Thank you, granny.” I accepted a wrapped gift from the healer then climbed atop my mount. I checked the contents of the gift before departing. Inside I found a thin dark piece of cloth with snake patterns etch into it. “What is this far, granny?”

“Take it. This scarf is supposed to be worn around the face. Amidst the storm of dust where breathing will be difficult this ophidian scarf will expand your lungs capacity and greatly enhanced your breath.”

“In short, the Lure of Breath will take effect whilst wearing this ophidian scarf? This is a wonderful gift, granny. I’ll make good use of it in the future. Take good care of yourself now.” [Gallop! Gallop!] I commanded my steed to ride out of the Snakemen village after wishing goodbye to the healer. Not much time I had left to admire the village’s environment, thus I could hardly remember how it looked.

I was racing my way in the opposite direction from where I once rode with the pale witch. Due to her duplicitous nature, I had wasted 3 days recovering my health. My injuries weren’t fully mended both because I had no time to linger and basked in the sunlight which would have sped up my healing exponentially.

[Gallop! Gallop!] I was riding past the bamboo grove where I had slaughtered the pale lady. I glanced around for signs of her defunct corpse but didn’t spot any. So I concluded that the Snakemen villagers must have buried her or a wild beast had run off with her corpse. I tried not to let the memories of that evildoer trouble me. The scorpion necklace that I’ve stolen from her was dangling around my neck. This would ensure that I was unaffected to any future Lure of Deception and Lust.