Welcome everyone. Continuing from "Zuvowang Goes to Albalonga" this tells what happened after. We won't be getting to Brigid and Henti's rescue for some time to be patient. Enjoy and review.
The Sphinx of Akheron
For the deaths caused by Zuvowang's want for vengeance, the Evabon of Albalonga had tree tasks for him to perform to pay penance. The first of these was to slay the Sphinx of Akheron.
Akheron was a village that was terrorized by a Sphinx, a terrible creature that was immune to harm for no weapon could harm it. It made food of the flocks of livestock and even kept a young Evabon woman prisoner. Young men often went to rescue the young women but never did they return.
As Zuvowang approached the lair of the Sphinx, a feeling of hope began to come over him. What if the young woman was Henti, who in some way escaped from Inge but was captured by the Sphinx?
Entering the cave, Zuvowang saw skeletons here and there. Some of them were those of livestock, the others those of Evabon.
Seeing a silhouette, Zuvowang moved a bit to let the light in and there he saw a young woman of twenty-one, five years older than Henti. At the sight of her, Zuvowang's shoulders drooped. He had so hoped it would have been Henti but if she had not escaped then she was still with Inge and where Henti was Brigid was and thus the search for those daughters of his bloodline would be shorter.
"Where is the Sphinx?" asked Zuvowang.
"Kiss me, hero, to show me you are real." Said the woman. "Surely one as old as you must have the most experienced of lips!"
"I don't have time for this." Zuvowang, club in hand looked upwards. "Where is the Sphinx?"
"Here!"
Zuvowang turned to the young woman and his eyes widened as she turned into the Sphinx! What manner of magic was this?
Leaping at the Sphinx, Zuvowang struck at the monster with his club. The club broke, leaving Zuvowang without a weapon.
Jumping into the air, Zuvowang landed on the Sphinx's back. With his great strength, he used his hands to break the Sphinx's neck!
One task was finished, two more remained.