| Sect eight: the scorpion and the spider By Richard LeBlanc Drake and Julia cautiously rode down to the gates of the fallen Kingdom Gemma. Drake looked around at all of the people that were going about their business as though the place hadn't been razed. "This isn't supposed to be like this right?" she asked calmly. "You are riding a six foot tall wolf and no one is blinking an eye. You tell me," Drake replied. Julia looked down at the wolf that was acting surprisingly calm in spite of the crowds they were sifting through. "Makes you wonder how such a place could have fallen," she commented - looking at the surrounding towers - the large walls that had hundreds of armed soldiers on watch. "Rumor has it that the city was betrayed - shortly before the guardian mages fled," he replied calmly - keeping an eye on the soldiers. Julia looked over at him and then turned away. "Do - do you think they did?" she asked - not looking at him. "I don't think - I know. The wards were set by the guardians. There was no way the demon host would have been able to breach the defenses," he stated calmly. Julia focused her attention on the sites around her. "But - didn't that war last a while? Couldn't something have gone wrong?" she asked. "The guardian mages were supposedly the best at what they did. With their full support - plus the men and armaments here there would have been no way Gemma would have fallen. Not to mention the other kingdoms as well," he added. "But why would they do it?" she asked curiously. "Who knows? If you believe they were innocent - tell me who other than a mage - could make their way through a warded - heavily guarded sanctum - and break the enchantment?" he rebutted. When worded like that - even Julia was hard pressed to argue the issue. "Let's not talk about that anymore - let's find out why this place is alive and kicking," he suggested. Julia nodded. It was then that something caught her attention in the sea of faces. One person - was looking right at her. "Someone is looking at me," she commented. He looked at the crowd but could not see the person in question. "You sure?" he asked seriously. She looked at him and pointed - but when she turned around - the person was gone. "Gone - but he was over there," she stated. Just then a bright flash of light blinded them. When the slowly regained their senses - their animals were gone - and they were on the floor of a lavish courtroom. "I bid you welcome to Gemma," a loud voice stated. The two looked over and saw a strange looking creature sitting atop a golden thrown. He bore the head of a regal looking human that wore a golden helmet-like crown and bore the body of a lion. "That thing is talking," Julia muttered. "Yes - I am. I am what you might call - Lord - of this manner," the beast stated with a smirk. Drake scowled and drew his blade. "Then you must be Golden Claw - the Sphinx," he hissed. The beast smiled at the man that seemed to be challenging him. He held up a paw - three four inch serrated claws extended. "Know your place boy. This is my keep - as such - my rules," Golden Claw warned. "Tell that to the keeper of the gates!" Drake hissed as he charged at the calm looking beast. A blinding flash of light filled the room. When it faded - Drake was gone? Or was he. A resounding thud hit the floor behind her. She looked over and saw Drake lying on his back - three cuts that penetrated his armor. "Perhaps - you could give the message in my stead?" Golden Claw retorted. Julia stood between Drake and the beast that hopped down from its thrown. "You - seek to stop me?" it asked comically. "You can't have him," she stated. "And how pray tell - would you stop me?" the beast asked baring its stained fangs. Julia was silent. "Look around you girl - through my power all of this was possible - and if I am capable of such feats - what possible chance could you have in stopping me?" he goaded. Doubt flooded her mind. The beast laughed. Another flash of light filled the room. When it faded - the two were in a dark - dank moldy dungeon. All of the metal bars were completely rusted. Julia looked down at Drake who was breathing thankfully - the wound wasn't as deep as it seemed. She knelt down and moved her hand towards the wound. A hand shot up! Before she knew it she had a knife to her throat. It was then that Drake realized who was before him. He dropped the knife. Pain caused him to fall back to the floor. "Will you be okay?' she timidly asked. "Armor soaked the bulk of it. Look worse than it is," he reassured. He then looked around and noticed that they weren't in the courtroom. "Damn beast is going to be tougher than I thought," he muttered. He forced himself to sit up. "How are we going to deal with him?" she asked timidly. "Direct approach is out," he replied. "He's right. If he has the power to bring this place back to life - what chance do we have?" she asked disheartened. Drake looked over at her. It was as if a moment of clarity had come to him through the fog. "He said that? Those words?" he asked. "Something along those lines," she replied. "Why?" she asked. "Forgot he isn't a beast - he is daemon. Deception and lies are the art they craft without peer. No wonder your wolf wasn't reacting to the crowds," he stated between gasps. Slowly he began to remove his top. "What do you mean?" she asked. "I mean - all of what we saw was probably an illusion," he stated. "Clever boy," a raspy voice hissed. Julia looked over and saw a cat sized spider perched in the corner by the roof. "Golden Claw is most adept in the art of illusion," the spider continued as it scurried down the wall and over to where Julia and Drake were. Julia slowly backed away as it advanced. "Little good the knowledge does now," Drake muttered as he looked over at the spider. "And since when do spiders talk?" he asked seriously. "Had I meant you harm - you would already be dead. My venom is more potent than any poison concocted by an assassin. If you wish to leave this place alive - you must do as I say. Seek out the aid of the scorpion. With his aid - Golden Claw can be defeated," the spider hissed. "And just how are we supposed to find this scorpion? Drake is wounded," she began. Webs shot out from the mouth of the spider - completely binding the wound. "Our goals here are the same. We all want that wretch of a daemon sent back to the ether from which he was spawned. Both of you have your reasons - as do I. Now go - you will find that this prison is not as functional as once it was," the spider muttered as it scurried away and vanished into the surrounding shadows. "I don't know what that was about - but vote we get out of here while the getting is still good," he muttered - slowly putting his damaged armor back on. Once it was secure - he looked over and saw that she didn't look as eager to leave as he was. "He has to be stopped," she replied. "How? You going to believe a talking spider?" he asked in disbelief. "On the walls of this place - some of the glyphs depicted a battle between a giant scorpion and that Golden Claw thing," she stated calmly. "How did they end?" he asked. "I don't know. We ended up in that courtroom before I had the chance to find out," she replied. Drake groaned and shook his head. "That spider could be setting us up - or maybe the spider was Golden Claw in disguise. Did you stop and think that maybe this scorpion might be another demon?" he asked seriously. "Do you think Golden Claw is just going to let us walk out of here?" she asked. "No - I suppose not," he admitted. "Do you have a better idea?" she asked. "No - I suppose not," he answered. He slowly got up to his feet and looked at the rusted iron gate. He placed a hand on his wounded chest. In a blur of motion he lashed out and landed a powerful kick to the gate that knocked it off its hinges. "Wow - that was impressive," Julia stated. Drake forced back the pain he was feeling and smiled at her. "Incredibly stupid too - let's get moving. Wherever this scorpion is - it is probably at the lowest point of this place," he stated as they left the cell. After walking for what felt like hours through a maze of scorched tunnels and corridors. The two found themselves at the only remaining door that they had yet to try. Cautiously Drake opened it and groaned when he saw a stonewall two feet behind it. "This is pointless," he muttered. "No - this is the right way," she commented. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "Golden Claw is a master of illusion right?" she asked. "Right," he replied. Before he could react she ran at the wall - he was going to say something when she vanished like a ghost through it. Seconds later the illusion fell - revealing a sloping corridor. "That was very dangerous," he muttered - walking over to where she was. "What about this place isn't?" she rebutted. "Point taken. He drew a dagger and led the way down. As they walked - Julia took notice of the glyphs on the walls - more scorpions - thousands of them. "What we seek is this way," she said quietly as she noticed a glyph of a woman wielding a dagger. "But I am not sure what it is," she replied. Drake stopped and looked over at what she was staring at. "We'll find out soon enough," he replied. Julia nodded and looked at the number of dead men that were at the woman's feet. The two slowly made their way through the hall - avoiding the numerous hidden traps that were marked by the corpses of less fortunate treasure seekers. And what felt like mere minutes later - the two were at a set of golden doors. All over them were glyphs of scorpions. "Any idea how to get in?" he asked. Julia walked over and looked at one hand-sized carving of a sun. She pressed her hand against it. The doors slowly opened inwards. He was going to comment when a glowing light from within the room got his attention. Within the center of the room was a scale solid gold model of a woman wielding a serrated bone-like dagger. At the feet of the statue were the bones of hundreds of men. "Let me guess - the girl in the picture," he remarked. "The dagger is the key," she commented. "Then let's get it," he replied. Her hand shot out and grabbed his arm. "No! It will kill you," she stated seriously. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "The picture showed dead men at her feet. If a man tries to take it - he dies," she replied. "The statue will attack me?" he asked - looking at the glistening statue. "No - I think the statue and weapon are poisoned," she said as she walked towards the statue as she did - the statue began to move as though it was alive and held the dagger out atop of its open palms. "Are you sure about this?" Drake asked - dagger ready in case something went wrong. Julia closed her eyes. Her hand slowly gripped the cold ivory dagger - and lifted it from the hands. She opened her eyes - the statue was in its original pose. "I'm sure," she replied as she looked at the glyphs that were carved on the blade. "Come - I think we should have us a little chat with Golden Claw," she suggested. At that moment back in the courtroom - the daemon Golden Claw was admiring his kingdom from his window. Just then the doors slammed open. He looked over and saw the two he had dispatched earlier. "Returned so soon?" the daemon mocked. "Your power is an illusion. As phony as the world you are living in," she stated confidently. Golden Claw growled at her. A bright flash of light filled the room - but when it faded - the two were still there. "Impossible," it muttered. "No - quite the opposite," she replied as she slowly held the dagger up as the girl in the picture was. The eyes of the daemon widened. "No - the poison - that venom should have killed you," it muttered as the sounds of an insect horde began to fill the room. Just then a crack in the floor beside golden claw opened up. From it - thousands of fire red scorpions poured out. Golden Claw screamed out as the scorpions attacked him. Julia - as if in a trance slowly walked over to where the writing daemon. Golden Claw looked up at her and saw the empty look that was gazing back. "Of ether born," she began. The dagger went up. "Of ether - return," she concluded. The dagger stabbed into chest of the daemon. An unholy howl resounded throughout the room and beyond. The walls shook. A flash of light rippled out from the daemon, when the light faded � the two were alone in a ravaged ruin. "How exactly did you do that?" Drake asked. "I � I don't know," she began as she looked at the ground where the daemon once was. The dagger was now stuck into the ground � around it a small circle. The seal was intact once again. "We should leave this place," she stated. "Won't get any argument from me," he replied. The two walked out of the ruined building and saw their animals asleep in the street. "So where too from here? Because I doubt that what you sought was here," he asked. "There is a kingdom north of here - atop a cliff," she mentioned. A serious look crossed his face. "You seek to walk in the path of the demon host," he stated. "There a reason?" he asked. "I believe that my family were somewhere amidst the chaos either during the fall of the kingdoms before or after. If it is too much trouble I will understand if you want to leave," she began as she started to walk towards her wolf. His hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm. "I'm sorry. It is just that all of this is hitting a little close to home. So Torann is our next stop?" he asked sincerely. "You aren't mad at me?" she asked hesitantly. "I - I don't think I could be," he answered. She smiled. "Torann it is," she replied. The two got on their mounts and slowly rode out of the ruins and headed off in the direction of the kingdom of Torann. To Be Continued... |