Page 25 of I Will Always Find You
“Yes, I see from your astonished faces, good people, that you all know the legend of theTwelve Laboursof the demigod Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes.”
Even though he was from Italia, the Romani witch intended to show respect to his audience by using the gods’ Greek names and not their Roman ones.
“Hera, the ever-faithful wife of ever-unfaithful Zeus, had tormented and tried to kill Heracles from the moment he was born. Though named for her, an attempt at honouring the goddess, he insulted her instead; he was not her child. In a fit of madness that Hera had induced, the demigod tragically killed his wife and children.
“Seeking atonement, Heracles went to the Oracle of Delphi and prayed to the god Apollo for guidance. He was instructed to serve Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, for ten years and perform a series of challenging feats: the Twelve Labours. Heracles’ fourth labour involved capturing the man-eating Erymanthian Boar and bringing it alive to Eurystheus.
“Few are aware that the great boar sired offspring throughout its long life, with each boarlet being almost as large, vicious, and brutal as its parent. One of these progeny was captured and sold to an Etruscan warlord, who transported it across land and sea to ancient Pompeii for sport.
“Upon its arrival in the city, the goddess Artemis freed the beast in a self-serving act, intending to hunt the creature herself.
“Hecate, goddess of magic, seeking to play a trick on the bloodthirsty Olympian, cast a sleeping spell on the boar and concealed its massive body in the earth at the foot of Vesuvius. As time passed, Artemis lost interest in hunting the beast, and the boar remained under its magical enchantment, unable to awaken, deep within the earth of a foreign land.
“However—!”
Anastasios cried out, “What? Tell us!” The dramatic pauses were wreaking havoc on his nerves; he was deeply invested in the story.
The Romani witch turned, smiled at his new friend, winked, and continued.
“However, this all changed when Cassander’s spellwork unexpectedly reversed, bringing misfortune back to him. Thiswas the price of performing magic wildly without proper incantations, sigil casting, or the raw power needed to suppress the cost.
“The earth began to tremble violently, sending shivers throughout the bodies of the two boys. A low, menacing rumble echoed from within the earth’s dark depths as if the very heart of Vesuvius was awakening from a long slumber. But it was not the mountain awakening! The surrounding air whispered of ancient forces stirring the dormant soil. Hecate’s spell had finally broken! Bad luck for the two boys, indeed.
“Before Cassander and Anestis could get their bearings, the ground beneath them erupted, the force of the disturbance sending the two boys flying in opposite directions. The massive boar, mad with hunger and rage in its bloodshot eyes, violently shook off the chunks of soil clinging to its pelt. Deep growls and grunts escaped its tusked maw.
“Sprawled out on the ground, having landed not far from the enraged beast, Cassander lay motionless, his heart pounding as he took in the creature’s fierce gaze and its aggressive pawing at the ground. Overwhelmed by fear, he found himself without any magical solutions to his terrifying predicament. No spell or conjuration came to mind that might save him and his new friend. His only friend.
“And Cassander carried no weapon! Not that he knew how to wield one, for he had never gone hunting with his father, remaining within the caravan, always studying his spells and rituals. A heavy cloak of fear and indecision enveloped him, immobilizing him as if Medusa the Gorgon had turned him to stone.
“And when the massive boar charged him, its mighty tusks gleaming menacingly in the sunlight, Cassander was certain that he and Anestis were destined for a brutal, bloody death.”
Many audience members showed wide eyes and gaping mouths, expressing deep concern for the story’s two leads, while others, all men, wore smiles of anticipation, eager for blood and brutality; Greeks were well known for their love of tragedy and drama.
“Anestis, however,” the Romani witch continued, his voice smooth and crisp, “had no such dark and defeatist thoughts. He had already picked himself up off the ground and brushed himself off. He stood firm and fearless, showing no signs of hysteria.
“As he saw the boar charging Cassander, Anestis quickly reached for his dagger, and when it was clasped tightly in his hand, he began cutting himself. Quick, shallow cuts along his arms and legs, dozens of them, and as he slashed himself, he spoke ancient Egyptian words. His methodical actions exuded a quiet strength that contrasted sharply with Cassander’s paralyzing panic.
“Now, this ornate blade was no conventional weapon but a potent talisman that assisted Anestis in channelling his magic, a sorcery taught to him by his mother—Egyptian blood magic!”
The inebriated crowd balked loudly at the mention of that sort of sorcery. Some even spat on the ground. The hostile response to the Romani witch’s revelation unfolded as he had expected.
Blood magic was still widely considered one of the darker arts, but the Romani witch knew this type of sorcery was not inherently evil, nor was sex magic or necromancy. They were all forms of elemental magic—power over man and nature, of which sex, death, and blood were all aspects. It was all part of a larger mystical interconnected whole.
“Now, now, good people, please calm down,” requested the Romani witch. “The practitioner and theintentof magic should be questioned, not the Art itself. And there was no kinder soul than Anestis, who only ever sought to do good.”
The Romani witch noted that neither Anastasios nor Nicholas showed any form of judgment. He liked these two more and more. The rest of the crowd remained unsettled, but they quieted down to listen.
“So, as Anestis slowly bled, the great boar began to bleed profusely. The mystical attack caused the beast to arrest its charge, buck wildly, and emit loud, high-pitched squeals. As the blood continued to flow from its body at an alarming rate, the shock to the boar’s system soon caused it to collapse to the ground.
“You see, whatever injury happened to Anestis also happened to the one he concentrated his power upon. The spell’s strength and intensity were channelled through the dagger, linking the caster and target, but the consequences were far worse for one than the other.
“Once the boar was down, Anestis, his wounds miraculously healed, quickly ran over to Cassander, hugged him, and checked to ensure he was unhurt. Fortunately, neither of the boys was injured. Anestis explained his power as a magic passed down through his mother’s lineage. He told Cassander the purpose of the spell was to drain the beast’s energy through the mystical bloodletting, resulting in sleep and paralysis without causing permanent harm.
“As Cassander was about to suggest they inform the guards about the boar, he abruptly stopped, pointed behind Anestis’ shoulder, and told his friend that although the self-inflicted cuts on his body were fully healed, the sedentary beast was still bleeding out.
“Quickly turning around, Anestis’ jaw dropped in shock as he witnessed the ongoing violent effects of his magic. He raved to Cassander that this was not supposed to happen. Running over to the boar, he began chanting ancient Egyptian words whilerubbing his hands over the boar’s body, smearing the blood. But nothing was happening. The blood continued to pour out.
“Anestis pounded upon the beast, commanding the wounds to heal up, and when that did not happen, he took out his dagger again. Still chanting, Anestis began cutting the boar, which caused large wounds to appear uponhisflesh!”
