The Flyers by Peter L. Scamardo II

Author:Peter L. Scamardo II
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Peter L. Scamardo II
Published: 2023-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13: The Icari

For a while they just sat there in silence. Ellie, trying to keep Dafne awake, held her head with one hand and the revolver, pointed at Noah, in the other. Aiden and Sawyer remained unconscious around them, but Noah kept his eyes locked on Ellie. After not making eye contact for so long, it was odd how calm both were.

Ultimately, out of curiosity and a desire to break the silence, Ellie gave her command.

“Tell me about you people,” she said to Noah. “I want to know it all.”

“My people, the flyers?” Noah asked.

“Yes. Tell me everything,” Ellie said.

Noah, accepting the assignment, began to craft the tale. He chose to begin with the story of the Icari.

The term Icari first appears in the writing of Italian merchant Claudio Chiesa in 1096. While the rest of Europe was dominated by the First Crusade, the Napolitano had made his way to Piedmont in the north. His intention was to meet the French travelers heading to Italy to begin their crusades.

It was in October of that year that Chiesa stumbled into the forest and, as he wrote, discovered a pack of boys in the forest. But they were not normal boys. They were almost naked, giggling creatures that jumped from tree to tree without their feet ever touching the ground. They soared through the air like hummingbirds. Some faster than others, but all flying for one reason: they could.

It shook Chiesa to his soul, he wrote, for these children were bewitched. Innocent youths by their appearance that undoubtedly had made a deal with the Devil to gain the powers they held. But it was during his observations that Chiesa learned their great weakness. For their power also made them vulnerable.

One of the boys’ grips slipped as he tried to grab hold of a branch. Losing his concentration, Chiesa watched as the boy continued to rise higher into the trees at an increasing pace. The others shouted for him to grab hold of something, but the boy’s fingers could not grab hold of the treetops. The boy shot into the sky and never came down.

Chiesa watched as the boy disappeared into the sun. Horrified, the other boys scattered. In that moment, Chiesa remembered the tale of Icarus, who wore wax wings that melted when he flew too close to the sun. So, too, was that nameless boy’s fate. Thus, he named those forest sprites the Icari.

Chiesa did not wait to spread the word. Not one minute passed after finding lodgings at the nearest town before he was sharing the news that devils were in Italy. Word spread from town to town that flying creatures, witches, were hiding in the forests. It did not take long for the Church to hear word of this. They spoke with Chiesa about his findings. Rewards for any information, or capture, of an Icari were shared in every church across Europe. Those who found and compromised an Icari would be properly rewarded.

Little is known if anyone ever received a reward for killing an Icari.

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