Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Fyn woke up that morning with the realization that the village had offered no one that night.

With that thought in mind, Fyn bit his lip, looking around the cave. There was now some light coming from the entrance and as usual, Kavan was nowhere to be found. Just a few feet away from him, curled like a ball, was Havu. The serpent was not sleeping, Fyn wondered if serpents even knew how to do that. Instead, the serpent was watching him silently, and once it noticed that he was awake, it slithered from where it was laying down on and crawled up its neck, circling around him like a scarf.

"The master had left a few hours before your wake," Havu's voice echoed inside of Fyn's mind. "He has things to do."

As carefully as he could, Fyn stretched his arms up above his head to get his blood pumping. Yawning, he rubbed his eyes and scratched his belly, "Don't worry, Havu. I'm getting used to not having him around. Plus, you're a much better company, don't you think so?"

"You seem to be in good spirits," The serpent noted, leaning forward to take a good look at Fyn's face. He couldn't help it, a huge grin erupted from his face and immediately he pushed himself off the makeshift bed. "Do tell, Fyn. I want to know what is making you happy this morning."

Fyn didn't stop himself from showing the serpent his elation, "It seems like the villagers of Gashea are changing. Haven't you noticed? They offered no one last night. As...as long as I'm here, no one would be offered."

His mind raced to the village again. Despite not wanting to, Hana's face flashed inside his head. How it had once been beautiful, kind, and understanding. How it instantly melted and turned into something ugly, wicked, and cruel. Next came the face of the village chief. Fyn had once looked up to the old man, once treated him like something of a father. Goosebumps started climbing up his skin once he remembered how the village chief had looked at him when he had captured him, how he touched him inappropriately.

How the village chief made a comment about his mother.

You can't even remember their faces.

The words seemed to echo like a broken record inside of Fyn's mind and he shook his head trying to forget it. Sighing loudly, he brushes his hands along the scales of Havu. He walks towards the entrance of the forest and leans against the cold rocks, careful not to walk near the cliff that would assure his instant death.

"As long as the forest won't let me leave," Fyn found himself repeating in a hushed whisper, "They would offer no one. There would be no more unnecessary deaths."

Havu tightened around his neck, "I'm sorry this is happening to you, Fyn."

"Don't be," Fyn smiled softly, his eyes back to the forest again. He knew it was no one's fault. At least, it wasn't Havu's, and even though he couldn't admit it out loud, it was neither Kavan's fault. It wasn't like he was asking for brides. In fact, if the forest had simply permitted it, Fyn would have gone back to the village last night. Only that didn't happen. The forest had trapped him in there. "It's no one's fault. If anyone's at fault, it's the villagers. They... they took me from my home and brought me here. Just because of some unpaid taxes. Is that even fair?"

"What are taxes?" Havu asked.

"Oh, it's some sort of payment. We give them to the chief of the village. They use it as payment for the goods and services they offer the village. Like food and houses."

"I am still confused," Havu replied, sliding off his neck and circling around his waist instead. The serpent's head bobbed to the side, as if in deep thought. "That food and houses, I am assuming they are from the trees and environment near you. Humans do not make those things. Why do they ask for you to pay for them? It makes little sense."

Fyn chuckled, "Now when you say it that way, I don't feel bad anymore about paying taxes."

"It is just silly."

Choosing to change the subject, Fyn kicked a loose pebble on the ground. Clearing his throat, he asked, "It must have been boring when it's just you here. What do you usually do when your master isn't around?"

"I wait for my master's return."

Fyn rolled his eyes, already expecting the answer from the serpent. "Why doesn't he take you? You must be lonely."

"I am not lonely," Havu said, although Fyn was sure he heard a certain tint of sadness in the serpent's voice. Tightening around his waist, the serpent continued, "There are only rare instances where he brings me to his travels. There was a time when we had always been together. Things were different then."

"What do you mean by different?"

"Just different," Havu said, his voice turning soft. Fyn wondered just what the serpent and the demon were hiding. "He had saved me when I was in trouble. I am not allowed to leave the cave anymore and join him in his travels. I do not want to be a burden by putting myself in danger."

That surprised Fyn. Kavan had saved Havu? How?

He wanted to ask, but the serpent seemed to have wanted to talk about anything else aside from that. His voice had turned low, and he was squeezing Fyn's waist a little too tight. In fear that the serpent might actually cause him bruises, he changed the subject once more.

"Your master... Kavan, what does he usually do when he's not here?"

"He oversees everything within the forest," Havu explains, "Like what he did with the Næps. He goes to those that need him, and he helps them as much as he could. He makes sure that everyone inside the forest is alright."

A little bit confused, Fyn told Havu the truth.

"I'm going to tell you something and you should promise not to kill me, Havu."

If serpents could laugh, he would have thought the hiss that came from Havu was something like that.

"Much like you, Fyn, I am no murderer."

"Alright," Fyn chuckled softly. He wet his lips, and started, "To be honest, I'm a little confused."

"Confused?" Havu asked, "About what?"

Fyn didn't even know where to start. The demon he encountered the past few days, and from the stories Havu was telling him, was entirely different from what the villagers had told him. It was different from what he believed in a few days ago.

"Is there another demon in this forest aside from Kavan?"

Havu's voice turned sour when he answered, "I have told you countless times, the master is not a demon."

"Sorry," Fyn tried again, "I mean, is there someone else here in the forest. You know, someone who's as powerful as your master."

The serpent shook its head.

"Right, sorry." Fyn sighed, "It's just... how your master was talked about beyond the forest differs from how he's acting. I thought maybe there was another demon roaming the forest. Because the demon that was being talked about back in the village was someone malevolent, evil, and the cause of all disease, drought, and famine. From what I heard from you, and how your master... from how Kavan was acting, he’s anything but that."

"Rightly so," Havu stated rather proudly, "My master is not a demon, he never was. At least, he's not the demon you think of."

"Then..." Fyn drawled, "Then just what exactly is he?"

"My master is the spirit within the forest of Gashea," Havu explained. "A guardian, if you will. Sure, he's a demon, but he's not a bad one. Long ago, the people of Gashea offered prayers to my master. They used mirrors to light fires and burn potpourri as an offering. He didn’t bring drought, famine, and disease. He was doing all he could to stop it."

Fyn blinked in surprise. Words seemed to die in his mouth and he found himself utterly speechless.

"I am not surprised that you seem to be in shock," Havu's voice echoed inside Fyn's mind sadly, "It is no wonder that the master is not as strong as he once was before. Tell me, are there still villagers offering prayers to him?"

"I've never once heard anyone thinking of giving prayers to Kavan. Like I said, they, we, all thought he was some evil demon."

Havu slithered off Fyn. He watched as the serpent crawled towards the cliff, overseeing the dense forest just below them. "Then it is no wonder there are bad things happening in your village. My master has not enough powers to stop the bad things from happening since no one is offering prayers. For humans, it is food that gives them strength. For my master, it is the prayers of those he takes care of."

"It's amazing how he's still alive," Fyn said, "No one has offered a prayer to him in years."

"There must be some people who offered in secret, seeing as the master is still roaming about."

"Impossible. The villagers, they only see him as a demon and nothing else."

Havu turned its head around and looked at Fyn straight in the eyes, "I wonder if that could still change."

"I don't know," Fyn answered honestly. "If bad things continue to happen, no one would pray soon. They believe all the misfortune is because of Kavan's wrath."

Havu bobbed its head, "What about you?"

"Me?"

"Do you still believe the master is an evil demon?" Havu asked. "Do you still believe he is the reason for all of these things?"

Fyn knew if the serpent had asked him the same question a few days ago, he would have answered fast. He would have stared at the serpent straight in the eyes and told him, 'Yes, that demon is dangerous and murderous. Once you see him, run fast!' He knew that he would have thought of the nursery rhyme children had sung back in his village. The song he used to sing to himself for comfort.

Except things are different now.

When Havu had asked him that, the only thing that flashed inside of Fyn's mind was images of fruits and fire.

He thought of how Kavan had brought him fruit the night he was there, how he had fed him even though he threatened to kill him. He had given him fruits the next day, the ones that he ate the most. Aside from the snarky remarks, Kavan had never been violent with him. And when Kavan had noticed he was cold, with no words, he started a fire.

Fyn can't remember if he even thanked him.

Suddenly, he felt his heart beat against his chest again. Much like how he did the night before. Blood rushes to his cheeks, and he found himself unable to answer. Fyn blinked, confused about just what was happening.

Havu didn't wait for his answer anymore. The serpent looked up and stated, "The master is here."

Soon enough, Kavan lands just by the cliff, his eyes instantly narrowing down on Fyn.

Fyn took a sharp intake of breath. The stare alone made him feel hot for some odd reason. Luckily, Kavan averted his gaze quick enough that he could breathe freely once more. Fyn knew he should really get it all together, the forest was getting to him. With one sharp look, Kavan nodded at his serpent, "Havu."

The serpent bowed. Satisfied, Kavan started walking back towards the cave. When he was just about to pass Fyn, he stopped in his tracks. He casts one look to Fyn, turning his head sideways, tilting his head slightly, he mumbled a soft, "Fyn."

The way he said his name made Fyn shiver and made his heart skip a beat. Nevertheless, he places his hand on his chest and beams, and then says, "That’s the first time you said my name."

"Don't get used to it." Kavan spat back, curling his lips in disgust with the way he smiled.

He then turned around and continued walking back inside the cave, Havu following just in tow.

"Wait!" Fyn said loudly, the grin on his face expanding. As expected, Kavan had ignored him. "Wait for me!"

Fyn couldn't quite explain it, but he could tell that Kavan had slowed down.

And he swore that even in the cave's darkness, when Kavan turned slightly sideways as if to look at him, he tilted his lips up in a smile.

And that made Fyn smile more so.