Chapter 141 - Ilio part 8

The sky remained overcast all through the morning, the rain falling intermittently. Every leaf, every blade of grass, every mortal face around us was beaded with water-- dripping, dripping. It was as if the entire world had been dunked in a great pool. The sodden gloom was a blessing to us, however, as it kept our discomfort to a minimum. I doubt the Neirie would have been so welcoming if blood-streaked tears were dribbling down our faces.

I was curious to find out what Ilio and Priss had said to one another, and how the boy had understood the Tanti tongue—even spoke it himself!-- but I did not press him for details. We had plenty of time to speak of it later, when we weren't so tormented by the smell of mortal blood.

The Neirie continued to accost us after the Tanti hustled away. Most of the escaped slaves spoke Oombai, which I was somewhat able to decipher, but they said little of import to this narrative. They introduced themselves to us. Thanked us for slaying the Elders, and for interceding when the Oombai warriors tried to retake them.

All around us shifted grinning mortal faces, eyes gleaming with superstitious awe, their soft mortal flesh flush with pulsing blood. Dirty hands clutched at our clothing, patted our arms and backs. I don't think I've ever been groped so much in my life, not even when I was a mortal man, and the tribe I hailed from had engaged in ritual orgies!

Ilio was trying his best to follow what they were saying, but there were too many people talking all at once. He was starting to become overwhelmed.

"He says that he prayed every night for deliverance," Ilio translated for me as some toothless old man gabbled in my face. "He thinks the gods sent you to strike down the Elders. He says that you're… Ne w'ae?"

Someone stumbled against the boy then, and he hissed, baring his fangs.

"Kwa Wa'elah!" he snarled, a Denghoi pejorative.

I grabbed Ilio by the arm as quick as I could. As he brought his free hand up to strike the clumsy mortal, his fingers curled into claws, I yanked the boy from the throng, moving to a safe distance at superhuman speed.

"Father!" Ilio cried out breathlessly, shocked by the speed that I had moved us from the Neirie. His knees went weak and he fell against me.

"I'm sorry, Son. I had to get us away from that crowd. Are you unhurt?"

He nodded as I helped him to his feet. "Yes… I-- I am fine."

He recovered quickly, turned to look at the horde in the center of the Neirie camp. I had swept him just beyond the furthest lean-to, away from all the chaos, the maddening smell of blood.

"I almost lost control," he confessed shakily. "If you hadn't pulled me away—"

"I know."

"We should go now!" he said.

"I agree. We've done what we came here to do. They have seen us, laid hands on us. You've spoken to the woman who claims to bear your child. We should retire to our own camp before we push our luck too far." I glanced to the sky, which was showing a few patches of blue. "The storm has nearly spent itself. The sun will come out soon. Let me bid Tapas farewell, and then we will fly away from here. Can you hold on just a moment longer?"

"Yes, just… let me wait for you here."

Tapas was looking for me in the camp. Moving at great speed, I appeared at his side. He started, his red hair lifting at the swirl of wind that accompanied my arrival, then he chuckled in appreciation of the trick.

"Your sudden disappearance has sealed your reputation," he said teasingly. "Now they are certain of your divinity. Was that your intention all along, T'sukuru?"

"Not at all," I said. "The crowd was making us uncomfortable."

Tapas noticed Ilio in the distance. The man-child stood slouching with his elbows in his hands, watching us impatiently. From where we stood, he looked like any other teenage boy. Short, slim, just on the cusp of manhood, his chest and shoulders developed, but his waist narrow, his legs gangling. As he was now, so would he remain forever.

"They cannot figure out where you've vanished to," Tapas said with amusement. The Neirie were milling around aimlessly, everyone babbling at once. I moved subtly to put the giant between us. I didn't want to be spotted before we could make good on our escape.

"We are returning to our camp momentarily. I just wanted to bid you farewell, Tapas. Perhaps I will come visit you when my chick has flown the nest."

"I would welcome that, Thest," Tapas said, turning away from the Neirie with a grin. "The Vis'hantu territory is but two fists walk to the south of the Tanti village. Come see me if you tire of fables and fishing stories. And good luck with that boy of yours. I have a feeling he's quite a handful."

I smiled and nodded my head, and then I was away. I moved at full speed to where my vampire child awaited. "Come, Ilio!" I said, pausing at his side only long enough to speak, and then I was in motion again, the wind whistling in my ears. I sped to the top of the hill, and then I threw my arms out and flew.