12-2
Although Syffox already knew the answer, he felt compelled to ask, “What the hell is that?”
“The Snake King. Attack him before he gets close!”
“That’s the Snake King? I thought you were talking about some crazy hermit that talks to snakes.”
“No, he’s a monster. Attack him now.”
Syffox shot back at her, “Are you crazy? Look at the size of that thing. We should talk our way out of this.”
“You can’t negotiate with a snake!”
Syffox shook his head and called out to the Snake King, “We did not mean to disturb you. We only wished to pass through the mountains when your snakes attacked us.”
Vantaiga whispered from behind him: “That’s not true.”
From the corner of his mouth, Syffox whispered back, “You’re not helping.”
The Snake King hissed and spread his hood. “Nobody can cross my mountains.” He raised his unarmed hand with the medallions and sent out a blast of magic. The magic burst into Vantaiga, Syffox, and the horse, knocking all three to the ground. Vantaiga landed with a hard thud that winded her, but Syffox took the fall with a roll. He scrambled to Vantaiga, pulling her toward a boulder.
The two took cover behind the rock. Syffox panted, a bit of panic slipping into his voice. “Does everyone know magic out here?”
Vantaiga grimaced at him, still stunned by the blast and breathing heavily with rattling lungs. “It’s boring out here. There’s nothing else to do.”
“Well, I hope you can fight.” Syffox pulled his quiver around his shoulder. “I only have five arrows left.”
Vantaiga glanced at his swords. “What about those?”
“What, my swords? Let’s hope we don’t get to that point.” He peered over the rock at the hulking serpent lumbering towards them. “Can you fight? I’m going to need help with this thing.”
Vantaiga looked at him, insulted. “I can fight.”
“Then let’s go.”
Syffox jumped out from behind the rock and fired his arrow. The arrow caught the Snake King in the chest but did not penetrate deeply into his thick hide. The arrow was not meant to be a powerful shot. It was just to allow Syffox to quickly distract and gauge his target. The Snake King towered over him. With only a few arrows left, he would have to pick his strikes carefully.
While the Snake King pulled the first arrow out, Syffox pulled back his bow to its full draw and released an arrow into the shoulder of the Snake King’s sword arm. This time, the arrow sunk into the creature and pierced its shoulder blade. The Snake King let out a screech of pain and clutched at the arrow. The arrow stayed fast. It glared at Syffox with rage and a fanged hiss, then lunged at him.
Syffox pulled an arrow from his quiver and jumped out of the way. With another roll, he came around to draw and release the arrow into the side of the monstrous serpent. The arrow burrowed itself deeply into the flesh of the creature. In a hiss of agony, it swung its unarmoured hand, smashing Syffox to the ground. The Snake King tried to strike with its cruel sword but was hampered from the impaled arrows. Syffox evaded the weak thrusts and jumped out of range of the beast.
The Snake King staggered closer to Syffox as a blast of magic struck the monster from behind. He twisted around to spy Vantaiga among the rocks. He clenched a medallion and, with a swipe of his hand, cast a glimmering bolt of magic at her.
The bolt struck Vantaiga in the side of the face. She let out a yelp as she was knocked backwards off her feet to fall in a heap on the ground. She felt as if she’d been hit with a rock. Her ears exploded with ringing vibrations while white sparkles danced before her eyes and her mouth filled with the taste of blood.
The King returned its attention to Syffox just in time to see him fire an arrow at his head. With a lightning-quick flinch, the serpent dodged the missile. Enraged by the assaults, the King flared his hood at Syffox and leapt on top of him. Syffox pulled out one of his short swords and blocked the Snake King’s heavy blade.
Vantaiga fumbled on the ground, trying to regain her senses. Her vision was blurred by tears and double images, but she managed to make out a small bush among the rocks next to the battling pair. She commanded the bush to entwine the Snake King.
The bush snarled around the serpent’s tail. Infuriated, the King dropped its sword and grabbed Syffox with both hands. The great beast lifted him off the ground and, with a heave, threw Syffox into the air and next to Vantaiga.
Syffox landed heavily but deftly twisted over to the dazed woman while still keeping hold of his bow and sword. “Are you all right?”
Vantaiga had trouble opening one eye, and her head wobbled as she tried to focus on him. “Just wonderful.”
Syffox looked over at the Snake King. The serpent was taking the pause in the fight to remove the arrows from his shoulder and side. Syffox could see his rage grow with each blood-coated inch of arrow he pulled from his body. “I only have one arrow left. This could get serious.”
Vantaiga painfully shifted herself next to the rock. She groaned through laboured rattling breaths. “ isn’t serious?” She fumbled out her hand for him. “Give me your last arrow.”
Syffox looked at her, surprised. “What do you need an arrow for?”
“Just give me the arrow. I have an idea.”
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Syffox slapped the arrow into her hand. Vantaiga took the arrow and held it next to her. She used what concentration she could manage to force her magic into the wood and fibres. It would be an easier task if the wood was still alive, but she found she could still imbue it with her power.
The Snake King pulled the last arrow from his body. It slumped to catch its breath while glaring at Syffox. Then it picked up its sword and flicked its tail, shredding the small shrub that clung to it. With hatred in its eyes, it slowly slithered towards the couple. Long red streaks trickled down its body.
Vantaiga handed the arrow back to Syffox. “Use this.”
Syffox took the arrow and loaded it into his bow. It was hot to the touch, and white flecks of magic seeped out of it. The Snake King stopped and tensed, preparing to leap away from Syffox’s attack.
Still slumping against the rock, Vantaiga placed her hand on Syffox’s shoulder in a gesture to hold his aim. She then picked up a small clump of dirt and blew it from her hand. With the last of her magic, she grew it into a spray of dust and sand. The serpent beast twisted out of the way of the gust, but Syffox took the moment of distraction to let loose his arrow.
The arrow struck with a blinding flash and an ear-shattering bang that knocked Syffox and Vantaiga down. Dazed, Syffox tried to shake the ringing from his ears and spots from his eyes. Vantaiga clenched her head and doubled over in pain. Already injured, she had a harder time shrugging off the blast. Syffox dropped his bow and drew his second sword defensively. The Snake King was on the ground, blasted several yards back by the magic arrow.
The monster lay on its back feebly trying to roll over, a bloody wound smouldering in its chest. It reached an uninjured hand to grab one of the smaller medallions wrapped around a now limp wrist. Its head wavered as it stared at the two.
Syffox helped Vantaiga sit up. Her head pounded, but her vision finally cleared enough to stare back at the monster. With a final, pained effort, the Snake King broke the medallion it clutched. The air about the beast swirled inwards and it vanished with a dull thump. Vantaiga stared at the empty space left by the creature and shuddered.
Syffox lifted Vantaiga to her feet. Her legs were shaking, and her head throbbed. Syffox sucked in a breath and pang of guilt for her swollen eye and the darkening red patch on the side of her face. “That looks like it is really going to hurt tomorrow.” He forced a smile to distract her. “I thought you said you could fight?”
Unimpressed, Vantaiga lulled her head towards him. “What do you mean? I was fighting! You were the one rolling on the ground like tumbleweed.”
He taunted back, “That’s how I avoid a black eye.”
Vantaiga’s glare turned stern. “I told you not to kill the snake.”
Syffox’s face and shoulders dropped. She tried to give him a joking push, but her arms were too weak, and it made her stumble. “It’ll be fine. I’ll heal myself up once I restore some magic.” She waved her hand dismissively. “I’ve been in worse shape.”
Syffox was glad for her casualness but still couldn’t let go of his guilty feelings. “I’m sorry I got you into this and into a fight with your neighbour.”
Vantaiga was looking around for her hat. “Pfft! The Snake King? I’ve wanted to deliver him that arrow since I was a child.” She found his concern cute but really didn’t want his sympathy. “I knew what was out here. I’m a big girl; I can take care of myself.”
Syffox bit his lip, both in sheepishness and in awe. “You certainly are full of surprises.” He looked around the narrow, empty canyon. “You wouldn’t happen to be able to conjure up my horse, would you?”
“No, but I’m not done with my surprises yet.” She reached out with her mind to find a disappointed vulture watching high on a cliff top. With a wave of her hand, she called it to them. The vulture spread its wings and swooped down the cliff face.
Syffox’s jaw dropped. “You’re not serious?”
Vantaiga only smiled. As the bird glided over their heads, she commanded it to seek out his horse. It squawked in response and flew around the bend of the canyon. Vantaiga walked over to collect her hat. She put it on and beckoned to Syffox. “Come. The horse is this way.” Syffox followed her, shaking his head in astonishment and no small amount of desire.
***
The following day, the pair made their way through the mountains to a broad valley that held a road that could take Syffox the rest of his way. Vantaiga had managed to heal her face but did not have enough magic for more than that. Both had earned several aches from the previous days battle.
Through groans of sore muscles and stiff necks and shoulders, the pair dismounted the horse to stare down the valley to the road below. The vulture, still accompanying them, circled overhead. Pushing herself to speak through an aching heart, Vantaiga finally broke the silence. “Do you… have much farther to travel?”
Syffox replied without taking his eyes from the distance, lost in thoughts of his own, “Yes. I have a long ways to go still.”
“What will you do when you’re done?”
“I don’t know. Probably head back.”
There was a long pause before Vantaiga spoke again, finding herself fighting a sudden case of shyness. “Will you… come by this way when you head back?”
Syffox faced her with a warm smile that made her stomach melt and her chest ache even more. “Yes, I will be coming back this way.”
Vantaiga struggled to maintain looking him in the eyes, afraid of what answer he might have to her next question. “Will you… come see me?” She secretly cursed herself. She felt like a childish girl again and couldn’t stop herself from blushing.
But Syffox’s smile only broadened. “Yes, I would love to see you again.” He leaned in and hugged her. “I would love that very much.” He held her without releasing her.
Vantaiga let herself be engulfed and fell into the embrace of his body. If she forced away the thought he had to leave, she could also force away the pain in her heart and enjoy his arms around her. She hadn’t realised she could miss someone so much when they hadn’t even left yet.
She wanted to stay in this moment forever but thoughts of her farm and animals waiting to be fed intruded on her. There was always a task she was slave to. She tried to ease the burden of separating from him with a small quip. “We will never get to see each other again if you don’t go. Come, I’ll walk you down to the road.”
As Syffox walked his horse by the reins, Vantaiga commanded to the vulture, and it flew back into the mountains behind them.
Syffox watched the bird as it disappeared. “Can you not command snakes like that?”
“I can’t communicate with reptiles, nor fish. I don’t know why. They feel to me like they are from a different world, too strange to reach.” She took his hand and the two walked down the mountain pass while Vantaiga talked about her life with the plants and the animals.
Once at the road, a silence overtook the couple. Each stared down the long trail before Syffox turned to Vantaiga. “I’ll miss you, you know.”
Vantaiga smiled sadly. “I’ll miss you too.”
Syffox looked back up the mountain. “How will you get back home with the snakes and the King?”
“I don’t think I’ll have to worry about the Snake King for a long time. Besides, I have a friend coming to take me on a different route home.” She turned to begin making her way back up the mountain.
“You have a friend out here?”
Vantaiga turned back with a coy smile. “Yes, I have friends everywhere.”
As she continued up to the mountain pass, the vulture announced its return with a screech overhead. Following the bird was a large ibex mountain goat.
Syffox couldn’t help but chuckle, before calling out to her, “You’re amazing. You know that?”
Vantaiga called back with a shake of her head, “No. I’m just a woman doing what she can.”
“No woman can do what you can. You are the envy of the gods—a Goddess!”
Vantaiga continued up the mountain as she laughed back to him. “You’re crazy. There are no goddesses.”
“Well, there is one now.” Syffox watched her before mounting his horse and continuing on his way.
When Vantaiga met up with the ibex, it nuzzled her a welcome as she watched Syffox ride away in the distance below. The dull ache in her chest refused to leave. She rubbed the goat around the base of its long, curved horns before grabbing it by its neck and hopping onto its back. “Let’s go home.”
