The Legend of Hombarume (Legends Series, #1)

33.

Evil bargains. There's no real need for it to do so, but it always does. First comes the torment, stealing away your happiness bit by bit until a darkness is left. After that, it leverages a deal, making you feel like you have regained some of your lost power, like you're somehow in control. The outcome is almost always the same.

‘Your son shall be treated, I'll make sure of it. Arrangements will be made as soon as possible. Now go well.’

Revai had been tentatively listening, waiting for the Chief's reply and for once he wasn't as clueless as he'd been. If the silence had droned on longer, it would have been much more excruciating. The Chief saved the situation just in time and in his current state of mind it wasn't quite expected.

Revai wanted to know more about the Chief's plans to rescue his son if of course he wasn't bluffing like he suspected. He wanted to be sure that he would do everything in his power to retrieve him and would prioritize his life at whatever cost, in other words, he was projecting.

Old as he was and no matter how poor his judgement might have been at times, the Chief hadn't disappointed Revai quite yet. After he rescued him from lifelong poverty, all he had to say about him was how great he was. Besides, there was actually a lot of good in him.

He was right about the storm, it never came and the clouds were already dispersing. By the time the visitor left, the clouds had shifter greatly, some still dark. The greyish remnants clashed with the beautiful clashed with the beautiful gold of the sunset to create an alluring sight.

The atmosphere around the compound was dreary and heavy. Pomerai had taken a piece of it when he vanished and now it would never be the same again. Revai had left the Chief by himself as he went to make arrangements for the boy who was ill to be hurried to Makura that very night. This decision pleased him very well. It raised his confidence in the Chief once more and reflected his empathy quite exceptionally.

It was almost nightfall and the dense atmosphere was now a lot less desirable. Revai started back towards the fields to inform the Chief that all was set and also that his presence in his chambers would be required soon as dinner was fast approaching. It was also quite dangerous for an old man to be roaming around after dark when the village was now riddled with tales of men being mauled by strange animals.

From the direction he came from, Revai could clearly see the makeshift shed. From the looks of it, there was no one in it. The seat was bare, save for a pot of beer abandoned on the ground and a drinking gourd beside it in the deserted establishment. He didn't want to make a hasty conclusion about the Chief's whereabouts but he was clearly absent. The fact that he cut through the field, thinking that it would take him to his destination faster only served to make it a lot slower. Cutting through the field meant that he had to tackle the bundles of ploughed earth, an obstacle course that only heightened his anxiety.

When he finally got to the she'd, he heard the Chief's voice coming from behind the shed and he sighed in relief. As he was about to join him and ask why he had abandoned his seat, he heard a second voice emanating from the same place, it's utterances quite displeasing.

***

Banga watched as the head of the guard walk away with his guest and all he could think about was his lost son, Pomerai. He couldn't help but wonder where he was and what was happening to him, if the spirit that had taken over him and imprisoned his soul would ever let him loose. His optimism was dwindling.

Guilt had set him on the course to Nhakayedenga's compound a few days ago but it hadn't nudged him far enough. If he let this man's child die when he could prevent it, that same guilt would swallow him whole this time, he wouldn't survive it. He had to start changing his ways and making better choices, the gods would surely reward him for it.

The clouds had parted, still thick and dark but the sun had painted their edges on its way down. It was a beautiful moment, one of a few in which Banga ever really felt at peace and one in which he felt optimistic about finding his son.

‘Banga.’

The Chief was incredibly startled the suddenly emerging voice. It was deep and frightening and highly unexpected. It had emerged from behind the shed, giving the Chief no time to prepare for it whatsoever. No one was bold enough to call him by name without the title, except for Nhakayedenga, of course, so this was quite a shock for him.

‘Banga,’ the mysterious voice repeated, even louder than before.

The befuddled Chief scrambled to his feet and made his way towards the eerie voice, entirely unsure of what he would discover. He moved slowly and carefully, trying not to strain his already ailing back and in no time, he was face to face with something quite unusual.

A horned man standing perfectly still behind the makeshift shed. The stillness of his body making his presence a lot more terrifying. On further analysis, Banga learnt that the man was wearing a sort of mask or headdress that had horns fashioned on to it.

‘Who are you?’ Banga asked.

The man remained quiet and still. His ability to be unmoving was quite impressive and because of the mask, it was difficult to discern his emotions.

‘You are asking the wrong question,’ he finally beamed.

Banga had heard the voice a few times already but it still sent shivers down his spine.

‘W-where is my son?’ he asked.

The mysterious man let out a laugh that sounded more like a pained grunt rather than a sign of elation.

‘A clever man,’ the being began as moved closer to him, ‘it is however quite tragic when someone of royalty just decides to go on a quest of bloodshed, is it not so?’

Banga's stomach lurched, the man was much more terrifying up close than he had anticipated. His presence was unholy and quite intense and Banga's skin crawled with every word he uttered.

‘What have you done to him?’ Banga asked bluntly.

‘I am only but a messenger, here to strike a deal,’ the man said with another pained giggle.

‘A messenger of whom? Why do you torment my village?’

‘Once again you ask the wrong questions.’

Banga let out a sigh and a tear almost escaped his right eye, luckily it did not get a chance.

‘What deal?’

‘A father's love for his offspring in incredible, he nurtures and his care is unwavering. A father's love for an heir, now that is a completely different story. I know for a fact that you do not wish to spend all your days here, growing old, feeling the hope slowly diminish, the optimism dwindling.’

The man knew Banga's line of thought and that made him terrified by a hundred fold.

‘Bring him back to me, I beg of you. Take me instead.’

The ghastly, unnatural laughter erupted once more.

‘Your son shall return, no need for you to bargain your life. All you have to do is recapture the hunter.’

‘Hombarume? But why? And how? He was exonerated.’

The masked mysterious man moved even closer then laughed yet again.

‘All you have to do is make sure the sparring contest goes on as planned. Everything else will fall into place. And yes, your son will return as he left, of sound mind, body and soul.’