The Legend Of The Grim Reaper

CHAPTER 9 — The Cannibals

As soon as they had conquered the robbers, skeletons came out from the ground, more than a hundred skeletons, but less than one hundred and thirty. They conquered, though it wasn't easy.

They journeyed deeper, made night camps when it got dark and continued the next day. One morning, as they were packing, they found Julie missing.

"Where is Julie?" Andrew raised an alarm.

"Check her tent," Michael said, packing his own tent.

"She isn't there" Andrew panicked. He has just gotten fearful these days, after a lot of terrifying encounters.

"Is there a locket and note?" Michael asked, waiting to be sure it is not Grim Reaper.

"No! There isn't" Andrew hardly completed his sentence when families of cannibals surrounded them.

"Oh my God! We're in for it" Andrew moved behind Michael, both men drew out their swords, alongside Alrodes.

"Seize them!" One of the cannibals shouted. He appears to be the head of the cannibals. Michael, Andrew and Alrodes charged towards them. The cannibals overpowered them and locked them inside cages.

"Take them to the kitchen!" The head of the cannibals laughed hysterically.

The other cannibals carried the cages in which their hostage were. They took them to the kitchen. There was a big fire being made, a pot of hot water was steaming. Julie was found in another cage.

"Put them together in that one!" The head of the cannibals pointed to another bigger, wider cage. Michael and friends were put together into one bigger, wider cage.

"Julie, how are you? How did this happen?" Michael asked touching her head affectionately.

"I was out to pick some fruits when I realized I was being surrounded by these cannibals. I couldn't defend myself much" Julie explained fearfully.

"You weren't far into the bush then, why didn't you shout for help?" Michael asked further.

"I couldn't because before I could, I was being seized" Julie answered.

"We must get out of here before that water gets hot, I guess that water is meant for us" Andrew said.

"What shall we do Alrodes?" Michael asked.

"Are you asking me? Michael, I should be asking you that. We depend on you" Alrodes said feeling very tired.

"Andrew let's unlock the padlock with our short knives. It's an advantage that it's big" Michael whispered. They had all been whispering all along.

"Julie, Alrodes watch these guys, and signal if they are about to notice us," Michael said. He and Andrew worked the padlock to unlock it.

"When we get out of here, how are we going to fight them? They are many." Julie said.

"Alrodes, you'll have to help us with magic," Michael said.

"Michael, you've also gotten your own magical powers, you can arouse them and control them, why need my magic" Alrodes protested.

"There is no time for this Alrodes, just help. I have a logic bomb here. When we are out, we make sure they all come nearer then we detonate the logic bomb, then you help us disappear. You know quite well that we can't run or else we'll be caught up by the bomb as well." Michael explained.

"Okay!" Alrodes gave up as he started meditating. Finally, they unlocked the padlock. When Julie came out, the cannibals noticed.

"Get them!"

"Let's fight them a little" Michael urged.

Michael, Andrew and Julie attacked with swords. Michael had taught Julie during their journey how to fight. Alrodes was weak and couldn't use the sword, so he used magic. He made the cannibals get burnt with a wave of his hand. When they had killed a great number.

"It's time!" Michael calls out. Julie let out the bomb and off they all disappeared, leaving the remaining cannibals to wander.

"Check what they dropped" The head instructed one of his servants. The logic bomb took a beguiling shape of pure circular gold.

"It's gold! Pure gold!" The servant said with joy.

"Take it," The head said happily.

"They are all bunch of fools. Cowards!" They all laughed, but their laughs ended in a scream, as the logic bomb exploded, destroying all of them.

Michael and his crew reappeared at their camping area and continued packing. They ate to regain their strength, before journeying far into the northeast.

Soon their food was finished, they started picking fruits to eat along the way.

They arrived in a land called Naomi. They received in an Inn.

"We need a big room for all of us." Michael booked.

"Of course" Barnabas the Innkeeper said. He noticed the gyroscope.

"You must be on an important mission," He said.

"Yes, we are," Michael said wondering how he knew.

"How did you know that?" Michael asked.

"The gyroscope. I know about stuff like this. I'm a great antiquarian" Barnabas said.

"Gyroscope isn't released to just anybody. You must be a hero" Barnabas said with great respect.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Am Michael. You?" Michael replied.

"Am Barnabas, my Lord!" He bowed.

"These are my friends Andrew, Alrodes and Julie" Michael introduced.

"Pleased to meet friends of the hero and Alrodes? Lord of Nafitath! Unbelievable!" Barnabas said with great shock.

"I'm honoured to have such an exclusive guest. You can have the room for free. If you need help, please I will be very happy to render one" Barnabas offered.

He introduced his guests to everyone present at his bar.

"Attention everyone, I have here the most exclusive guests to ever grace this Inn, Lord Alrodes of Nafitath and Michael the hero" Barnabas bragged.

"In the company of Andrew and Julie, great friends to my most noble guests" Barnabas added.

Everyone in the bar bowed in respect.

They were offered an exquisite room. They spent two days and were set to leave, but the gyroscope stopped working.

"What's happening?" Julie asked

"It's not corresponding" Michael answered.

"There must be a reason, it means we will stay here in Naomi until the gyroscope responds," Alrodes said. There was a knock.

"Come in," Michael said opening the door. It was Barnabas.

"There is a cultural event at the arena, you can come to watch" Barnabas invited.

"Alright. I forgot you will be leaving today" Barnabas said almost getting out.

"Never mind, we were going to stay for some times," Alrodes said.

"Then let's go out together," Barnabas said. They all went out. When they got to the open arena, they sat in the third row. It was a circular arena. The event took place in the middle. It was like a football pitch.

The cultural event involves ancient dancers, they danced splendidly, as everyone watched admiringly. The event was over.

"Did you enjoy that?" Barnabas asked.

"It is cool" Alrodes nodded.

Barnabas saw a built elegant man walking towards them he hid. Alrodes and the rest were surprised and waited for him.

"Why that?" Michael asked.

"I owe him some money he gave me to support my business" Barnabas explained.

"Why can't you pay, you earn much?" Michael said.

"I don't want to pay now" Barnabas hardly said those words when the man held him.

"You! Where is my money?" He growled.

"Hmmm I um will give you plea…se" Barnabas stammered.

"Leave him, he will pay please" Michael pleaded. The angry man whose name was Ophylis knocked him over. Michael fell in pain.

"You and your friends should meet me at the palace. The king must finally hear this" Ophylis said as he released Barnabas' throat.

"Urgh" Barnabas gasps for breath as he looked at Michael who was seated on the ground gasping for breath.

"That was a huge knockout," Michael said standing up.

"We have to solve this, I guess we in trouble," Alrodes said walking off to their apartment.

"What is it about Ophylis?" Michael asked.

"Well he is the lord of the Olympics, and I am just a victim now… not only I but us asides Alrodes" Barnabas explained. "Lord of the rope walk to be precise" Barnabas said almost immediately.

"Meaning he oversees the rope walk game" Barnabas added.

"So what has that got to do with the debt?" Michael asked.

"Well you see, anyone who owes Ophylis without paying on time or dodges him, when caught would be made to walk on the rope before the villagers" Barnabas explained.

"That's no big deal" Michael shrugged.

"Well, it is, because underneath the rope lays hungry crocodiles waiting to devour anyone who falls into the pit" Barnabas gripped with fear at his last sentence.

"So it is a pit and the rope is above it. We need to practice" Michael said.

"Of course we would. Ophylis would help us practice. It would be left for us on the D-day" Barnabas said.

"Is that all the information?" Julie asked.

Andrew had been listening with rapt attention, he was still figuring out what the rope walk would be like.

"So why don't you just pay him his money and save us all this trouble?" Andrew wondered.

"It's too late now, after what has happened, Ophylis will only accept triple of the original debt or nothing, and I don't have that. It's a huge sum we are talking of here" Barnabas informed.

"And if one should fall into the pit it means two things" They waited for more information.

"It's either the person gets devoured or Ophylis have mercies and rescues such a person on the condition that the debtor pays back double of the original debt" Barnabas explained further.

"I see. Just pray none of you falls" Alrodes cleared his throat.

"I knew staying back only meant trouble" Andrew fears.

The next day was their trial before the king. Michael, Andrew, Julie and Barnabas appeared before the king in his exquisite palace. Alrodes have been saved the trouble because he was an old man, and a known lord for that matter.

The king sat side by side with his son on their thrones.

"What is the case now Ophylis?" King Agripus asked resting his chin on his right hand.

"My Lord this man Barnabas here owes me 500 silver coins and is yet to pay me. Instead of paying me, he waited till the expiration of the due date and then conspired with his friends here to hide from" Ophylis bowed.

"We have a law in this land on such matters and it cannot be broken. The debtor will be judged by the person he is indebted to. I wash my hands off this case, and give my approval to any judgement dimmed fit for the debtor. Ophylis, give your judgement. Or what do you think son?" King Agripus enquire from his son Aries.

"It is rightly so father. Ophylis, let us hear your judgement" Prince Aries said in agreement with his father.

"Well there are three men and a lady"

Pointing to Julie "Take off those wraps around your head" Ophylis commanded. Julie obeyed. Beauty shone through the entire palace.

"Such beauty a victim!" Aries exclaimed.

"The four of them will have to walk on the rope; that is my judgement" Ophylis finalized.

"Urgh" The little audience around, roared in pity.

"We must go and be prepared," Michael said to his friends. Aries's eyes were on Julie.

They practised hard as the trial day was just two days away.

The trial day…

Crowds gathered twenty steps away from the pit.

"Let the games begin" Ophylis declared holding a cup of wine as ladies stood seductively around him.

The king, his wife and their only son prince Aries were all present, seated separately from the crowd.

Andrew went first, he walked carefully and passed his first trial, so also the rest of the men. It now Julie's turn.

"Oh gracious gods of Medronz help me" Julie prayed, stepping her first leg on the rope, it bounced making the crowd roar in pity. No one wanted a beautiful lady to die in the pits.

"Be careful!" Some villagers warned.

Julie closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh.

"Let's do this" Julie encouraged.

She began walking on the rope, and on getting to the middle, she looked briefly at the spectators and the crocodiles waiting to devour her, then she summoned courage and continued. Aries was uneasy where he sat, he closed his eyes.

"Wow!" The crowd shouted in jubilation, the lady passed her first trial.

A brief smile of gratitude emanated from Aries as he opened his eyes.

"Well they have all passed the first trial, they will remain in my prison until after the third trial" Ophylis declared as the crowd dispersed.