Riddles will do.
“Hold a moment,” Annon warned the others, listening to the discussion with growing horror. He did not want to alert the creatures that he knew their thoughts, but he feared they were blundering into a trap. They were some sort of spirit creatures. He dared not speak to Nizeera in his mind, lest they overhear him.
The sibilant hissing grew louder, making the others halt.
“Where is it coming from?” Erasmus asked. “Sounds like air passing through a vent. Is this crater volcanic?”
The voices spoke audibly this time. “Welcome to Basilides,” said one.
“What questions do you have for the oracle?”
“I love questions.”
“Quiet now, I am talking to them. You have journeyed a great distance. What are your questions?”
It was a trap. Annon knew it in his blood. Lukias stepped forward. “I am Lukias of Kenatos. We seek—”
His words were interrupted when an enormous reptilian head swooped down from a nearby boulder and swallowed him whole.
Annon stared in shock and horror. One moment Lukias had been standing there, just a few paces ahead. He could see the creatures now, their enormous lizard-like bodies a mix of white with black splotches. They blended in perfectly amidst the rock and snow. There were two of them, both perched on boulders on each side of the path heading to the shrine, as large as wagons with enormous bulging tails. They had held perfectly still, their eyes lidded shut. The one who ate Lukias flicked out a long fat tongue across the ridge of his mouth.
“What are your questions?” the other one hissed, more insistent this time.
Pyricanthas. Sericanthas. Thas. Annon’s hands began to glow blue, bringing a rush of warmth into the frigid mountaintop.
The voices switched to his mind.
He’s so polite!
Yes, he’s a Druidecht. They’re very polite before we eat them.
Bhikhu are polite too. I thought this one was supposed to be a boy.
I don’t like Bhikhu. They taste like grass.
The cat is yours though. You can have her.
That is very kind of you.
“Nizeera!” Annon warned, but she had heard the voices as well and launched herself away.
The second lizard-creature lunged for her. Annon stepped forward, sending out a blast of fire into the massive head. The flames enveloped it in a wash of color and scorching heat. The creature snapped its jaws at Nizeera, but the cat had bounded out of its reach, hissing in fury. The flames swirled from Annon’s hands but did nothing to the creature.
You did not think we would be set as guardians against your coming and not be protected?
Foolish of you to think that, Druidecht. Very foolish.
Annon saw the other one loom over him, coming down at blinding speed.
Khiara rushed to his side in an instant, holding her long staff between her fists in front of her, up at an angle so that the mouth could not close around her because the staff was too long and struck the inside corner of its jaws. The power of its strike knocked her down, but the mouth could not close around her. It recoiled and hissed.
Annon reached down and helped Khiara stand. “Fly!” he told her.
She inhaled deeply and shot into the air, rising above the boulders. Annon ran toward the shrine and saw a flicker of motion as the head followed him quickly. He dived to the side instinctively, just an instant before the head swiped down at him. He struck the sharp stones painfully and struggled to his feet. Fear made him quick. He had seen lizards stalk prey before and recognized the bobbing of the heads, the scuttling motion as they scrabbled from the top of the rock. Their necks were powerful and quick, their tails offering balance to keep from overshooting their victim.
He abandoned using the fireblood and sent out a call to the spirits of the mountains, pleading for help.
He runs! How delicious! Save the Preachán for later. He is hiding behind the rocks.
I want the Vaettir still. She would be very tasty.
I love how they wriggle. The one I ate is still struggling. We will gorge ourselves.
The panic inside Annon mounted as he glanced for a place to hide. The lizard-spirits were quick and crafty, coming down from the boulders and slinking swiftly to each side, trying to box him between them. Their plump tails dragged along the stones, speckled with black.
A rock sailed from behind the boulder and struck one on the side of the head. Erasmus grabbed another and prepared to hurl it too.
Khiara came down on one, jamming the end of her staff into its neck.
How pesky these mortals are.
Indeed. How tiresome.
The one she struck whipped its head around, snapping at her and Khiara barely managed to inhale fast enough to move above its reach. She began twirling the staff, getting ready for another lunge.
Nizeera launched at the one advancing on Annon, raking its side with her claws and teeth. It was like watching a cat attack a horse. It hissed, but the tail swished and swatted Nizeera away in annoyance.
Are you ready to die, Druidecht?