Chapter 4

The impact of a dozen lizardmen ramming the doors traveled down Roland's shoulder and into his lower back. Landing on the stone floor didn't feel much better. Thankfully, the others held fast, while he scrapped himself off the floor. Shaking fingers grabbed onto a wooden beam propped against the wall. The drop bar. Heaving it in his arms, he prayed his back would hold as he rushed back to the door, shouting at them to close it.

"Trying to, Roland." Gwyn hissed, her hooves sliding back under another push.

Wallace rubbed his hand together, whispered something into them, and exhaled softly. Fire sparked to life between his fingers. The halfling ducked under Gwyn's shield and blew his fire into the gap between the doors. It wasn't much, but the sudden flame gave the reptiles enough pause for the party to get the doors closed. Roland dropped the beam between the brackets and jumped away as the lizardmen crashed onto the other side. It held. For how long, he didn't know.

"What now?" asked Argos, bloody and leaning heavily on his quarterstaff.

Roland rubbed his back and sheathed his sword. Each step sent a jolt of pain down his leg. If there was more fighting ahead, he'd rely on his rifle, at least until what little ammo he had spent.

"Nothing has changed," he strained, "except our time is out."

Gwyn looked them over. "Where is Atticus?"

"He was right behind me," Roland studied the room, "but I suspect he didn't share the same priorities as the rest of us. Marlow, what do you smell?"

The wolf trotted in front, scenting the floor, then the air, before turning back to him with a series of ruffs and whines. Yellow eyes met his expectantly.

"Sorry, Marlow, but I think the spell has worn off."

The wolf's ears fell, but he gestured ahead. Water from the atrium cut two shallow channels beneath their door. The minuscule rivers crisscrossed the room with looping symmetrical patterns bordered in a jade mosaic inlaid with gold. Two rows of pillars lay flush with the side walls. A burning sconce between each one cast flickering light to the floor's watery mural. Carved into the pillars were jade idols depicting similar images to the one in the shrine. At the foot of each column sat a delicately carved wooden stand. Resting atop hide cushions sat five bone masks adorned with feathers and gold. The masks cast grim stares at one another from hollow sockets, except for the last stand that lay empty.

Boots, hooves, and paws splashed in the shallow streams of the watery art, leading through unlocked doors and into the next room. The doors were hardly open before the roar of lizardmen pushed Gwyn to the front. Two hulking reptiles charged, each wielding a flat wooden sword, rows of jagged obsidian teeth made their blades. Each weapon was nearly as tall as Roland, who staggered back and let Gwyn handle the pair. Glass teeth shattered against her shield. The impact buckled her shoulder but failed to stop her spear from plunging into his chest. Argos rushed the other. His staff splintered under a cleaving blow, but he disarmed his foe with a stout kick. Argos seized the weapon and spun in a wild arc. Wind hummed around the heavy weapon as it cleaved through scale, meat, and vertebra. The guard's head hung to its body by a stubborn strip of flesh before collapsing. Blood mixed with the stream running down the length of the room.

Six disheveled dwarfs shook against the wooden bars of their holding cell, shouting curses at their dead jailers. Argos was the first to their side, chuckling gleefully as he inspected the lock. Roland tossed him the key from the jailer's belt and the dwarf freed his brethren with a hearty laugh.

"Thank you," said one. "How did you make it past the lizardmen?"

Gwyn ripped her spear free of the reptile's chest. "Like that, mostly."

"Thank you, Las. Thank you all. I thought I was going to meet the same fate as..." his eyes moved towards the doors at the other end of the room, "They took Nifwil. Their high priest, the mage, he took Nifwil- We have to-"

"We will." Argos said.

"But the mage?"

"Relax," Argos laughed, "Mages are my specialty."

Roland stepped forward and addressed the dwarfs, "We haven't much time. Do any of you know a way out of here?"

They mumbled among themselves for a bit, "Apart from the door you just came through, no? The next room over, where they took Nifwil, is the sacrificial chamber, but I've only seen glimpses into it. I don't know if there's a way out from there."

A loud crash and the crack of wood echoed from the doors they came through, followed by the war cries of angry lizardmen. The drop bar strained and the brackets holding it loosened under every charging blow.

"Well," said Roland, "let's hope it does." He turned to Gwyn, gesturing towards the door, "Would you mind?"

She rolled her shoulder and readied her spear, nodding to the prisoners. "Stay behind me."

Roland and Wallace hung behind with the dwarfs, while Argos and Marlow stood by her side as she kicked open the doors.

The room opened into a large semicircle shore of uncut stone and stalagmites, surrounded by dark waters. A short land bridge connected it to a round island of green masonry. Pallid moonlight beamed down onto the island, granting the ornate hieroglyphs a ghostly bluish light. The waters surrounding the island caught some of the moonlight, but the pool's depths quickly overcame it. Standing on the island before a great stone table was the high priest. Turning from his ritual, hateful reptilian eyes glared at them from under a cruel bone mask. A dwarf lay bound before him. A sacrifice atop the altar of the drowning god.

Gwyn leveled her spear at the mage and demanded he release the dwarf, her confident stride matching the challenge in his eyes. Another thunderous boom sounded from behind. One hinge failed. The swarm of eager scales flashed through the failing barrier, encouraging the others to follow Gwyn. Roland and Wallace looked for a way to seal the door, but as they entered, the mage butted his staff against the ground and the doors slammed shut. Before Gwyn entered his line of fire, Roland lined his sights on the mage and squeezed the trigger.

Click

Wide eyes and practiced fingers ripped the faulty cartridge from the chamber and fumbled in his bag for another. Water filled the wax sealed paper where he kept his few remaining cartridges. He muttered a curse and took his chance reloading. Gwyn, followed by Argos and Marlow, was halfway across the land bridge when the priest swung his staff with an arcane shout. A massive wave formed and crashed against them. Gwyn's hoof stumbled off the edge, but she recovered. Marlow ducked and let the water pass over him. Argos surfaced some ten feet away and was already swimming back when Roland spotted it.

A sinister wake formed under the agitated water, cutting a path straight to Argos. Gwyn was pulling him back up when a clawed hand shot from the water and sank its talons into the dwarf's leg.

"Not again!" he screamed, stretched between Gwyn and the monster.

Roland took aim and fired.

Click

The cartridge sizzled, then went off. The slight hesitation combined with the low powder burn threw his shot. The lethargic bullet grazed the hairy tentacle but startled it enough to release Argos. Roland smiled until he saw the wake careening towards him.

"Run-"

Was all he had time to say to the dwarfs before Ahuizotl pounced from the dark pool. The beast pinned him to the ground in one bounding leap. Long yellow fangs chewed into the wood of his rifle and spared his throat a similar fate. Wrestling under its weight and simian claws, Roland's mind raced for a solution while his body strained to keep his rifle fixed between himself and the beast. Throwing his head to the side, he narrowly missed the tail-hand's strike. It thrashed and opened cuts across his face. Blinking away the stinging blood, he kicked franticly, sneering at the featureless moonlight eyes. The sound of charging hooves drew its attention. It was just a moment, but Roland released his rifle, drew his big knife, and stabbed at Ahuizotl's neck. He missed. The fiend reared up to deal with Gwyn. Its superb reflexes saved it from both their deadly blows. It swept aside her spear and hurled itself against her shield. Hooves scrapped against uneven stone as Gwyn flinched under the blow. Her shoulder rolled and her shield arm sagged.

Grabbing the nearest thing, Roland took his rifle by the barrel and swung it into Ahuizotl's back knee. The terrible hybrid of simian and canine features twisted in an equally terrible grimace. Roland drew his sword and attacked. Spear and saber battled against the drowning god. For every missed thrust, claws battered Gwyn's armor. Dents turned into bruises beneath her plate. For every saber cut that only tasted air, the tail-hand left bloody streaks across his body. Despite their number advantage, its speed put Roland on the defensive, and its power even gave Gwyn pause.

Across from them, Marlow shielded Wallace as a swirling blizzard fired out of the priest's staff. Through the frigid wind, and with a little magic, Wallace lit his pipe. Even behind Marlow, the sting of cold bit at his eyes and cut through his clothes. The wolf shivered, half from cold, half from pain. Argos pulled his sandals off of the flash-frozen land bridge, leaving some skin behind. The dwarf's skin was red and cracking, but Wallace planned to warm them. He leapt in front, staggering on the ice before breathing deep of his pipe. He exhaled. His power merged with the embers, taking their nature and multiplying it through his arcane strength. The embers exploded from his pipe, spiraling into a snaking wildfire that lashed out at the priest. The mage stretched forth his hand and grabbed the flames as if they were a tangible thing, choking them until they shrank to a more manageable size. The druid's fire danced around the mage's clawed fingers, a purple glow infecting their orange light. With a wave of his staff, another torrent of water crashed onto them.

Wallace flailed as slick ice beneath his feet carried him into the pool. A pair of jaws around his collar stopped him from following Argos beneath the dark waves. Marlow pulled him ashore, and the druid climbed to his feet. The wet ice threatened his every move. He nodded to Marlow and jumped onto his back. The wolf's claws bit into the hazardous terrain. Fire shot from the priest's hand. Marlow jumped back. Flames licked at their skin. Stretching the flames with his hands, the mage fashioned a whip, twirled it above his head, and brought it down in a deafening crack. Marlow was fast, but the bridge was narrow. The flaming scourge cauterized Marlow's wounds as it made them, but the stench of burning fur fouled the air.

Between dodging, Wallace's frightened eyes darted. Argos hadn't surfaced, and Gwyn and Roland's fight with the beast was going as well as his own. Marlow yelped as another sizzling strike lacerated his chest. Wallace stuck his pipe into the flaming wound and rekindled the wet embers. Whispering magic pleas, the embers offered all they had, and while no fire leapt forth, gray smoke crept out and filled the space between him and the mage. The glowing whip grew wild in its blind swings, and while the smoke screen spared Marlow, it did little more than stalemate their fight. Putting his pipe away, he gripped his staff and called out to the water for assistance. He recoiled. Like his fire had been, dark magic polluted the river. The same evil that darkened and twisted the jungle emanated from this place. Its evil bled into the natural world, subverting and fouling the river's spirit. As he reached out into the abominable river, he felt another presence, and it felt him. From across the pool, he locked eyes with Ahuizotl. It was only for an instant, but he knew, staring into those pale hateful eyes, he'd found the source.

Argos' lungs burned as he swam around the island, hoping he was deep enough not to be spotted. He surfaced, fighting the urge to gasp, and inhaled slowly through his nose as he climbed up the back side of the island, hiding behind the altar. Putting a finger over his mouth, he calmed the bound prisoner. A flaming whip sailed and cracked over head, giving him an idea. Taking a large swig from his gourd, he jumped onto the altar. The mage tuned and raised its flaming weapon in defense. Argos spat his concoction, aiming for the eyes. The whip ignited the alcohol and a plume of fire engulfed the mage's face. It staggered back; the whip evaporated with its focus. Raising its staff, it almost spoke an arcane word, but Argos leapt from the altar and shattered its mask with an elbow.

In one twisting motion, Argos disarmed the priest and swept its legs with its staff. He was on him before he hit the ground. Fists on the end of brawny sinews pummeled the caster before an arcane syllable could escape the mouth full of loosened teeth. Its hand flexed in the symbols of magic, but before it could complete its spell, a twist from Argos snapped its wrist. In its thrashing, it drew a curved dagger from its belt and stabbed. Argos leapt back, a new wound flowing crimson down his forearm. Both combatants climbed to their feet. Enraged, the mage cradled its broken hand and slashed violently. Argos caught the wrist and pinned its hand behind its back. Grabbing the knife, he released the priest and sidestepped, not wanting to be behind the lizardman when the charging wolf struck.

Marlow slammed into the priest with all his hurtling weight, knocking the mage clean off its feet. Its back came to an abrupt stop against the altar before Argos' spinning heel broke its neck over the stone.

He smiled at Wallace. "My specialty."

The halfling let out a sigh of relief, but Marlow pulled his attention away. The wolf ran back across the land bridge, sprinting towards their comrades on the shore, who seemed to be faring far worse. Using the dagger, he freed Nifwil's hands, and handed him the blade before grabbing up the Mage's staff and heading to Roland and Gwyn's aid.

At first, Roland thought it was the fatigue and blood loss that loosened the knife from his hand, but then Gwyn stumbled. A quill, much like the one he removed from his arm a moment ago, stuck out of her unresponsive leg.

"Watch the quills-"

Ahuizotl's tail caught him below the ribs. A sharp pain reminded him of his first fight with the lizardmen as he sprawled out over the rocky ground. The back of his head thudded against his rifle. His sword flew from exhausted fingers. Argos and Marlow joined the fray. The halfling ran to catch up, some distance behind. The drowning god's attention turned from Roland as it turned to face its new opponents. Roland dug into his pouch, spilling the last of his ammo. He loaded a few into his bandoleer, holding one cartridge between clenched teeth as his only working arm struggled to open the rifle's breech. Shaking fingers ejected the dud and dropped the new round in, but before he could close the breech, Gwyn chanted her terrible prayed and sent a blade of celestial fire cleaving into Ahuizotl's shoulder. The beast recoiled, but seeing Roland alone, pounced. He hadn't loaded the rifle when the tail-hand gripped him by the nape and dragged him towards the water.

He writhed as claws sank into his neck, desperately fighting the monstrous grip. Ahuizotl submerged and Roland would have too if not for a pair of jaws sinking into the tail's wrist. Marlow's hackles flared as every taut muscle in the wolf's body fought to keep Roland above water. Ahuizotl slowed, but Marlow was losing ground. The hand that gripped his neck relaxed and the force pulling him to a watery grave disappeared. A downward cleave severed Ahuizotl's tail and left Gwyn's glowing blade half embedded in the stone floor. Marlow spat out the twitching tail-hand.

Ahuizotl exploded from the water. The gods' voice a cacophony of its victim's screams. A whip of its tail flung blood into Gwyn's eyes. She swung reactively, but Ahuizotl dodged the blind strike. Parallel to her, its hackles rose, striped quills towered among the agitated fur. It rammed its back against her. Quills littered her side like broken trees after a tornado. She spun to face her assailant, but it was already upon her. Hooves weakened by venom failed to keep her upright as Ahuizotl tackled her into the pool. Roland grabbed her by her cuirass. Argos caught her sword arm. Wallace summoned vines forth, but they were already half withered, for the soil was rocky and the water bitter. Marlow caught her by her sword belt and together they fought the drowning god for its next victim. In the water, Ahuizotl's strength overcame them, but before Gwyn disappeared, she grabbed at Roland's bandoleer, spoke a word of praise, and pressed something against her sword. The white fire died down to a single point that fell from her hand. Her grip on her sword tightened as she drew in a deep breath. Ahuizotl pulled, and she vanished beneath dark waters.

Argos dove in after her. Marlow whined, his frightened glances bouncing between Roland and Wallace. Roland climbed to his feet, testing his numb arm. His finger twitched. A speck of white fire flickered of a brass casing. Roland grabbed the cartridge as Gwyn dropped. The bullet glowed with the same white fire as her sword. He ran to his gun and loaded the glowing round.

A dark chill ran up Wallace's spine as his foot brushed against the staff Argos dropped. He flinched, feeling the same dark presence as when he'd tried a water spell. Ignoring Marlow's scared questions, he grabbed the staff and listened. Reaching out with his mind, he traced the channels of magic coursing through the staff. It was an arcane focus, unsurprisingly, but there was more than that. A dark splinter of Ahuizotl's power resided in it. Testing, he breathed some magic onto it and felt it open its channels to him. He hushed Marlow and raised the staff, feeding it more of his magic. The turbulent waters stilled in an instant.

"Go help Roland," said Wallace, shooing away the wolf.

The druid sat by the edge and dipped the staff's head into the water, holding it to his ear. The river spoke to him through the staff, telling him of the hopeless fight raging below the surface. He focused, knowing he would only get one chance at this. He felt the ineffective strikes of sword and fist against fur. Whispering through the staff, he spoke his will to the river. The fight below masked his presence from the drowning god. His senses crept through the river's current and he found them. A break in the combat revealed his chance. He sprang to his feet, shouting words of power as he raised the staff. A spiraling torrent followed the staff out of the water, heaving Gwyn and Argos onto the stone floor. A triumphant smile crossed his face for an instant, but through the water, he felt the power of Ahuizotl surge into the staff. A glowing crack ran down its length a moment before it exploded, numbing his hands and lacerating his face with jagged splinters. Deafened and dazed, the pain of landing on his back felt distant as his body refused to do anything but breathe.

"Stay!" shouted Roland.

Marlow whimpered. Yellow eyes stuck on the unmoving halfling.

"It's coming back. Steady Marlow," Roland knelt and rested the rifle on the wolf's back, "Steady."

Argos coughed out water and crawled to Gwyn, unfastening the centaur's helmet. She too coughed out water, but remained unconscious. Another torrent showered them as Ahuizotl sprang from the depths. Teeth and claws gleaming in the moonlight. Argos closed his eyes and threw himself over Gwyn.

Roland squeezed the trigger, the hammer fell, and the cavern echoed with the boom of his rifle. A tracer of pure white slammed through Ahuizotl's chest, tumbling and fragmenting holy shrapnel through its fiendish heart. Ahuizotl fell upon Argos and Gwyn, dead before it landed.

Marlow ran to help Wallace. The golden ringlet around Ahuizotl's arm fell away and rolled towards the druid, striking his foot and falling over on its side.

Argos struggled under the corpse, and his efforts were rewarded as the body shrank. Ahuizotl melted. Its hellish features dripping away like water off an icicle, pooling around them as it receding into something much lighter. Argos laid what was left of the drowning god aside and gently closed its eyes. On the ground next to them lay the corpse of an older dwarf, his long white beard stained crimson from the gunshot wound in his chest.

One dwarf walked out from behind cover. "Professor Whitestone?"

Roland, using his rifle for support, limped over to Gwyn, checked to make sure she was still breathing, then went to see Wallace. The halfling, having seen the whole transformation, lay wide-eyed against Marlow.

"I'm afraid you found your magic ring, Marlow," Roland kicked away the golden shackle and smiled at Wallace, "Told you it would be cursed."

The dwarfs crept out of their hiding places and surrounded the corpse of their leader, shocked murmurs echoing the same confused sentiment. They hadn't mourned long before a loud crash thundered in the hollow pyramid. Dust from the doors plumed under the blow. The sounds of angry lizardmen shattered the sense of victory and made Roland scan the sacrificial chamber for options. There was only one door, but Ahuizotl had to get in somehow. Towards the back of the cave, nearly hidden in the dark, he spotted his answer.

"Wallace, can you heal Gwyn?"

The halfling got to his feet with the help of Marlow. "There's not much I can do in this state."

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"Can you wake her up?"

"Probably."

"Good. If she is awake, she'll make it." Roland turned to Argos. "Help me with her armor."

"What's the plan?" asked Argos, loosening Gwyn's vambraces.

"Were going to swim out the same way Ahuizotl swam in. And then we'll..."

"We just need to make it to the boats."

Roland nodded, ignoring the fact that even with an unlikely head start, they were in no condition to out-pace fresh warriors.

When the last of her armor fell away, Wallace smeared his ointments on her deepest wounds and chanted healing whispers into the medicine. Moss bandages sprouted verdant greed across her, rousing her to a tired stupor.

"Can you stand?" Roland asked.

She blinked several times before trying. Half of her body obeyed, but it wasn't enough to get her hooves under her. She clasped at her chest, wondering where her armor was. Roland and Argos caught her under the arms.

"Forget it," Roland said, "we have to swim."

He turned to the remaining dwarfs. "anyone able needs to come help us with her."

Six dwarfs, even half starved, made her much lighter.

"To the edge of the altar. Go!"

Roland gathered his sword, but paused an agonizing moment, knowing his rifle was too heavy. With a grimace, he cast it into the river and sheathed his sword. Another loud boom from the door spurred him on. He ran past the altar and dove headfirst into the water. The others followed. Together, they hauled Gwyn across the pool and into the cave, feeding into the entrance. Clinging to the wall helped somewhat, but with the limited head space, progress was slow and taxing.

"Marlow," Roland called, "Upfront. Guide us out of here. The wolf paddled ahead, his nose scenting between haggard breaths.

The venom in his arm subsided. His numb hand groped for hold against the cave wall while kicking feet struggled to keep himself and his share of Gwyn's weight afloat. The darkness of the cave opened into the black of night as they slipped out into the same channel he'd entered. Distant torchlight reflected off the rumbling surface of the vast river, flashing orange slivers across the rippling inky canvass. Smooth walls of the pyramid offered no assistance on their swim, but Gwyn slowly overcame the venom and required less help. Whatever lizardmen had been patrolling the temple were likely drawn inside by the excitement. The party swam back towards the shore, wading behind tall reeds until their feet sank into the sandy mud of the bank. Exhaustion tempted him to rest, but that would mean death.

"Argos, help me secure a boat."

The dwarf nodded and trudged towards him. Marlow followed, but Roland stopped him.

"If anything goes wrong, stay here and protect the others."

The wolf's ears fell, but thinking it over, he nodded.

Roland and Argos crept out of the water and used the tall vegetation and shadows to mask their approach. There were no guards, but as Roland grabbed the nearest boat, Argos caught his hand.

"Not any of these," warned the dwarf.

"Why?"

"The halfling cut holes in all of them. All except those two nearest the reeds. Clever little bastard. Figured we might be needing a better means of escape than running."

Roland nodded, gathered oars, and launched the crafts. Silently, they paddled their way back to the others and loaded everyone aboard. Roland took Gwyn and three dwarfs, their weight putting the edge of the hide canoe just inches above the water. Argos took the rest. The heavy-laden crafts floated down the river. Roland looked back to see torchlights scurrying around the village.

He smiled until he heard a faint whistle overhead and the telltale plop of something small splashing behind them. Another arrow sailed by; this time followed with the bellowing howl of a lizardman.

"To the other side of the river!" shouted Roland.

Oars thrashed in the water, no longer restrained by the pretense of stealth. The canoes turned inward, drifting closed to the center of the river. More arrows rained down around them, but the cloudy night did well to obscure them and soon, the arrows grew faint, more fall in front of them than behind as they pulled away. Upstream from them, torches glided across the water towards them, but soon the torches grew lower and lower. The angry cries of sinking lizardmen filled his muscles with strength and his belly with laughter. With the river on their side for once, the shrieking cries of the lizardmen sank into the distance until all that could be heard was the peaceful sounds of a freed jungle. Into the night they plunged, each weary but spurring on one another well past their limits.

Atticus woke to a stabbing pain in his head. His limbs creaked, sore from the venom that left him paralyzed on a bed of shimmering crimson gold. Attempting to sit up sent burning pain through his head. Blinking, he tested his left with a tentative hand. More pain fired through his head. Wet and swollen, the pulpy hollow where his eye should have been continued to bleed. He shook as he backed up to the nearest wall, scanning the lair while he cut a strip of cloth for a bandage. Holding a scream behind gritted teeth, he fixed the bandage around his head and climbed to shaky feet, careful not to slip in the unsteady treasure beneath. Lethargic movements carried him close to the stairs, but the distant sound of footsteps echoing from the hall above pushed his reduced vision to any other exit. Only the way he'd entered offered any escape, but that meant getting back into the water.

He shuddered, fingering the cold diamond in his pocket. Slinging his treasure filled bag over his shoulder, he stumbled to the shore and slipped into the pool. Weakened muscles strained to keep his wounded head above water, but through will fueled by greed and terror, he disappeared into the black cave. Stiff fingers catching at rocky holds in the cave walls pulled him forward inch by agonized inch. His pack slipped off shaking shoulders and dragged his arm below. Stinging water splashed against the bandage and reflexes lost the gold laden sack to the unknown depths of the tunnel. Mumbling curses, he continued forward in total darkness. His exhausted body propelled now only by fear of whatever else lurked in the unseen void that suspended him.

He lost all sense of time in the darkness, focusing only on his next handhold. Pale light cast a haunting glow into the tunnel's mouth. Creeping towards it, he muttered a curse. This wasn't the way he'd come in. In the darkness, he must've taken the other route. Exhaustion persuaded him to continue. The tunnel opened into a massive pool covered by massive stone walls that opened at the ceiling, letting a generous amount of moonlight paint the waters below. The pyramid was hollow. His one eye took in the silent majesty of ancient architecture in awed frustration. Wondrous as it was, he was still trapped. With the last of his energy, he swam to a stone altar in the center of the pool. Leaning against its back, he rested. The pain in his head was the only thing that kept him awake. After a short break, he stood, leaning against the stone for support. A pair of sightless yellow eyes stared up at him from atop a twisted neck. Atticus grimaced and stepped over the lizardman.

The moon's waning light, combined with his failing depth perception, cautioned his steps across the narrow path that lead to the cliff-like shore. Once ornate doors lay at the foot of the entrance, shattered into green splinters. He looked down the halls, weighing his options between another swim or sneaking through lizard haunted halls. A glint of gold caught his eye as he turned to the water. Not far from a dead dwarf was a golden bracer. Stooping to pick it up, he inspected the intricate carvings in the moonlight and shrugged. It didn't weigh much, and wouldn't hinder his swimming. He'd already lost the bulk of his treasure except for the coins and gems he'd had the sense to shove into his pockets, and hoped this bracer might fetch a high price. He slipped it over his wrist and prepared for the next leg of his journey.

The water didn't look so threatening anymore, and its coolness covered him in relief as he climbed in. The pain from his bandage started to fade, and by the time he made it to the cave, he undid it and let the cleansing water lap at his wound. It stung at first, but soon he'd submerged himself fully, letting the healing liquid work its magic. Reemerging in the blackness of the cave brought no alarm. Blind or not, he knew the way out, the river itself seemed to guide him. His confidence rewarded by the tunnel ending, opening up into the vast river slashed white by glimmering moonlight. Kicking his shoes off, he swam. Concealed by the black waters, he passed furious lizardmen mending their canoes, but he didn't bother trying to steal one, his strength returned and he was sure he could swim much further before ever having to continue on foot.

While his missing eye stopped hurting, his lack of vision still annoyed him. A warmth filled his pocket. He reached after it and found the eye of Ahuizotl burning in his hand. Despite treading water in the middle of the river, the gem's warning didn't scare him, instead it seemed like an invitation. Slowly, as if possessed, he placed the diamond over his wound and pressed in into place. Its heat fused it to the flesh inside his head, and after a moment's discomfort, his vision returned. Not only returned, but now it was far better. The moonlight seemed bright, and the details of the jungle lay bare to his new eye. Even his vision underwater was clear. Amazed as he was, a sense of indignation sprouted inside him, spurring him on. He swam faster, pursuing something he knew he had to destroy.

He shed his leather harness when it grew too tight and restrictive. His pants soon followed. The anger building filled him with a new strength and distracted him from the changes. Naked now, he grew faster, the focus of his hate coming into focus. His arms eventually fell at his side and he let strokes of his powerful tail propel him down the river. His ancient will commanded the water to carry him, and it obeyed as the final quill sprouted from his back, his mind, seeing clearly the object of its newfound hatred, the party that killed it. Ahuizotl returned, unwilling to let its slayers escape.

Just as the moonlight hid behind black clouds, the orange flicker of torchlights led their path to safety. Heavy eyelids and tired muscles found a second wind as they paddled towards their escape. Roland was the last aboard the galley, hoisted on deck by the captain's meaty hand. He collapsed next to Gwyn, who lay prone in the middle of the deck, still recovering. She growled, but was too tired to protest any further. Argos joined him. Marlow's heavy head sank into Roland's lap, and Wallace rested against the wolf, the same way Roland rested against Gwyn.

Tabitha and the captain tended to the remaining dwarfs. Rations were handed out to them before they were ushered below deck by Tabitha for some much-needed rest. The captain stood over the collapsed party; eyebrow raised.

"Only six?"

Roland nodded, "That's all that's left. How quickly can you get this ship underway?"

"It's hard to steer in the dark. At first light we can-"

"Inaction would only assist our pursuers. I'm afraid we haven't the time. Argos will be your helmsman. Dwarf eyes pierce darkness quite well."

"How many pursue?"

"The whole tribe, likely. Too many to fight."

The captain nodded at Argos, who took a swig from his gourd and stretched his arms.

"Perhaps Tabitha could take first watch? It's been a long night and-"

Gwyn planted her hoof on his rear and kicked him to his feet.

"On second thought," he straightened, "a little night air might do me good."

With Argos at the helm, the captain put them underway. With the river on their side, the light oar strokes propelled them at a cautious speed down the black river. After a short rest, Roland climbed to his feet and patrolled the deck, keeping a good distance from the rail. His keen eyes stared out into the darkness, listening to the rhythmic fall of slicing oars. Marlow lay asleep by Wallace, curled nose to tail, while the halfling tended to Gwyn's wounds. Eventually, weariness overcame him and, taking a seat by the captain, he nodded off into an unsteady sleep.

A wet slapping sound jarred him awake. The morning sun stabbed at his eyes while the thud that woke him continued at his feet. A fish lay floundering on the deck. He placed a curious boot over its slick, writhing body, amazed it had jumped so far out of the water. Bulging eyes stared off into nothing as gills flexed hungrily for water. Marlow looked on, the same curiosity gleaming in his yellow eyes.

Roland smiled and kicked the fish towards the wolf. "Hungry?"

Yellow eyes changed from curiosity to annoyance. As if ashamed, the wolf stooped and caught the fish in his jaws before trotting to the other side of the boat.

"He doesn't like to eat in front of people," Wallace said.

Roland frowned. He hadn't meant to tease the boy.

Another thud drew Roland's attention. The following splash told him of another fish's failed attempt to make it aboard. From the other side, another fish leapt and crashed into the side of the boat. Thud. Thud. Thud. More and more fish sprang from the water, striking the boat from all sides. While most bounced harmlessly off the tall hull, enough made it over the sides to catch pull everyone's attention. Gwyn got to her hooves, grimacing in agony at the sudden movement, and reached for a sword that wasn't there. Grabbing the nearest boat hook, she tried batting back the scaled projectiles. Argos sat at the helm unbothered, casually ducking the fish as if this were a normal occurrence. Marlow's breakfast was interrupted by several thrashing fish landing a top him, spooking the wolf and sending him trotting after Wallace. The captain cursed as a fish struck against the back of his head. The surrounding water erupted into a thunderous cacophony of splashes of hundreds of fish leaping from the river, colliding with the galley or one another in their desperate vaultings. soon, a layer of writhing fish slime and blood covered the deck. And where there weren't fish, there was slime and blood from the suicidal assailants. Roland raised his arm in defense. Bony heads and razor fins pelted his exposed arms.

"Below deck!" the captain shouted.

No sooner than the order was given did the thudding stop. The ripples settled, and the waters grew still. The only sound to be heard were struggling fish slapping against the deck. All around them, the river stilled with a foreboding silence. Exchanging looks with each other; none offered a guess to the cause of the phenomenon. Not even the captain, who'd fished this river his whole life, dared to answer the silent question. Argos' braided beard whipped with the dwarf's double-take over the port side.

"Brace! Stonehead-"

A terrible impact jarred the galley with such force Roland lost his balance on the slime covered deck. His injured rib crashed into the starboard railing, knocking the wind out of him and sending him tumbling over the side. For an instant, he was upside down, staring into the river when he saw it. A clawed hand on the end of a snake-like tail reached for him. A biting pain shot through Roland's leg and stopped his descent, mere inches out of Ahuizotl's reach. The wolf tightened his grip on the boot and hoisted Roland back on deck. Pain seized his rib and refused to let his lungs expand. He tried speaking regardless.

"Ahui-Ahu-" he wheezed, desperate to warn the others.

It was too late. A torrent of water showered him and Marlow as Ahuizotl hurled itself onto the deck. Rolling out of the way, Roland's head narrowly missed being crushed under the webbed claw. Blinking water out of his eyes, he spotted the gold ringlet around the beast's wrist, then locked eyes with the monster. A familiar scar cut across the snarling snout and one eye looked to be a gemstone, crudely pressed into a meaty socket. Marlow pulled him away just as its other claw came down. Gwyn hurled her boat hook into its shoulder, sparring Roland from its lunging fangs.

She charged.

Kneeling while clutching his rib, Roland drew his saber, and tossed it. As if practiced, her iron grip locked around the airborne weapon, and brought it down in vengeful arcs. Without her armor, she lacked her usual recklessness confidence, but made up for it with speed and power. Staying aggressive while not trading blows or over committing.

Hackles flared and teeth bared, Marlow hurled himself into the fray. Ripping fangs helped create openings for Gwyn's brutal slashes.

The captain, holding his bow and several arrows in one hand, hoisted Roland to his feet, shoving him away from danger before shouting orders. Argos ran from the bow to the fight.

"The bracelet!" Roland huffed, "sever its..."

Argos passed them, too distracted to hear Roland's breathy words. Alarmed crewmen poured up from the hold, brandishing boat hooks and hand axes. Roland took a boat hook, turned to the fray but didn't lunge. He stalked, waiting for his opportunity.

Wallace smashed a lantern on deck, gathered up the fire in his hand, and hurled it at the monster. The short-lived wall of flames allowed Gwyn to recover after a particularly nasty hit. Ahuizotl answered with a volley of venomous darts. The halfling tried to dive out of the way, but as he did so, the stonehead collided with their boat a second time. Two of the piercing nettles found the druid as he struggled to keep balance. The venom worked fast in his small body and he fell forward, landing face-first on the blood and slime covered deck with several other crewmembers.

Gwyn stumbled at the impact, and Ahuizotl struck. The swipe from his tail knocked her against the railing. The saber fell at her hooves as she collapsed, shaking her head while blood poured freely from her mouth. Ahuizotl lashed out, but before his claws could slash her throat, Argos' foot crashed into the side of its head. The webbed claws missed. Argos ducked its counter and answered with a jaw rattling uppercut. As it recoiled, its tail snuck behind Argos and grabbed him by the ankle. With one smooth spin, the dwarf was pulled off his feet, flung upside down into the rails, and sent cartwheeling into the river. The drowning god turned its crystal eyes back upon Gwyn.

Roland took his opening and slipped his boat hook under its golden bracer, again stopping its claw inches away from Gwyn. It tugged and nearly pulled Roland off his feet. He ducked the thrashing hand-tail once, but it raked its claws across his arm on the backswing. Hot crimson wetness flowed over his arm. The talons cut deep. The tail-hand swiped again, but a red-feathered arrow sailed between its palm. The captain notched another arrow and sent it into Ahuizotl's back. It snarled at the portly archer when Roland pulled once again. Its arm stretched out and Marlow ducked under, sinking his fangs into the river god's neck.

Teeth at his throat, Ahuizotl began to truly resist. For an instant Roland fought the savage flailing, but a stabbing pain shot down his spine and collapsed his legs. He still held the boat hook, dragging Ahuizotl's arm even as it wrestled with the unyielding wolf. Gwyn picked up the saber with a pale, shaking hand.

"The bracelet!" Roland shouted.

He gaze was vacant, but it floated to the outstretched arm. Red teeth clenched as she raised the sword and more collapsed than swung at the arm. She missed the elbow, and the weapon sank deep into the arm. But the thin blade caught bone and stopped before it could sever the foul appendage. Ahuizotl roared, ripping Marlow from his throat and slamming the wolf's head into the deck. He whimpered as he struggled under the river god's claws. The diamond eye turned its hateful attention to the centaur. Roland winced, half from pain and half from anticipation. Ahuizotl raised its free claw to strike. Bloody lips parted, whispering a plea to the strange god of the horsefolk.

The saber ignited in a flash of brilliant light, and Gwyn leaned all her weight behind it. Roland pulled the arm taught, and the burning blade melted through the rest of the fiend's arm. Ahuizotl's claws raked her back, but the strike was stilted with pain. Black blood soiled the deck as the bestial arm fell with the heavy sound of the gold bracer striking wood. Ahuizotl froze, staring at its bleeding nub. Already its form shifted. Dark blood turned to water as the essence of the river god left its host. Ahuizotl melted into water, leaving a one-eyed Atticus staring dumbfounded at his missing arm, his free hand trying to staunch the blood oozing from his neck. He opened his mouth to speak, but his last words drowned in the gurgle of his own blood. He collapsed, the last victim of the drowning god.

"A little help, please!" Argos hammered his fist against the ship's hull.

Roland tried to stand, but by the time he got to his feet, the captain and Marlow were busy lowering a rope to the dwarf. Argos laughed as he took the rope and started up. A churning wake caught Roland's attention. His eyes widened as he spotted the stonehead heading straight for Argos. He limped as fast as he could, nearly tripping over Ahuizotl's shackle, kicking the thing towards the railing. He grabbed the rope. Together, the captain, Marlow, and himself heaved the dwarf out of the water.

Wood fractured under the stonehead's charge. The deck shook, causing all but Marlow to lose his footing. The shock of it traveled through the boat and into Roland's spine. He staggered, then collapsed with a sharp curse.

The stonehead reared its massive jaws out of the water, its powerful tail thrusting it up the side of the hull. Bony mouth plates snapped together, effortlessly cleaving through the rope hanging just below Argos. The dwarf dove for the railing, catching it in one hand while the other slipped on fish guts. The galley leaned under the stonehead's weight. Argos kicked off the chomping jaws and pulled himself higher. His free hand grabbing anything in reach to hurl at his opponent. A dead Fish, a hand axe, and a bucket bounced off the fish's bony head. Flailing, Argos grabbed the golden shackle and hurled it at the predator. The treasure disappeared down the fish's dark gullet before a pair of gentle fangs hooked the back of his shirt and pulled him back on deck. The stonehead broke off, thrashing angrily away.

From his back, Argos looked into the wolf's eyes. Both panted heavily. He smiled, affectionately patting the wolf's neck. "Good boy."

"It's coming back." Roland pointed to the sloped ocher fin churning green water as it circled.

"Get those oars heaving!" the captain shouted.

A crewman answered from below deck, "Were taking on water.".

"Then hold your breath as you row, dogs! Full speed ahead!"

Dropping his bow and arrows, he sprinted to the helm and steered the ship wide, trying to put the red stone obelisk between them and the hellish fish. Even with the current helping them, they were no match for the stonehead's speed. It collided further back, near the stern, kicking the vessel's bow off course.

"Oars in!" the captain heaved on the helm, but it was too late.

Two oars snapped as the ship grinded against the side of the stone marker, throwing everyone forward. One impact leading into another. The boat lurched dangerously to one side now. Marlow caught a paralyzed Wallace from sliding through the rails, but failed to stop Atticus' corpse from falling into the emerald depths below. The ship lurched past the obelisk. The graven image of Ahuizotl glared with hollow eyes.

Roland grabbed the bow, notched the arrow, and hobbled to the back of the ship. Again, the stonehead circled, building speed as it came in line with the galley's stern. With an effort made nigh impossible by his wounded rib, Roland pulled the heavy bow back and timed the fishes' swaying glide. No arrow could pierce that bone plated head, but the eyes, beady as they were, made for a more valuable target. With a sharp breath, he loosed the arrow, sending it bouncing harmlessly off the thick skull, a mere inch above its intended target. Roland braced for impact, but the stonehead came to an unnatural stop as it paralleled the obelisk. Thrashing and twisting in rolls of shuddering pain that forced it back. Once more, it hurled itself at them, but couldn't pass the marker, as if restrained by some invisible leash. Writhing in pain, it finally turned away and disappeared back into the green murk.

Roland flinched as Argos' footsteps ended with a heavy hand slapping his back.

"Damn good shot, Roland."

Roland didn't correct him. "Go help Gwyn. And Wallace too."

The bow slipped from his fingers, rattling on the deck as he limped to the hold, confirmed with the captain that the fish wasn't pursuing them anymore, as he investigated the damages. Dark water pooled at the oarsmen's ankles and continued its to climb. Tabitha and the dwarfs did what little they could to find and plug holes, but their effort's effectiveness would be measured in seconds, if at all.

"How long can we take on water like this?"

"Not very. But we're going to have to keep going until we can find a beach to careen her on, then pray we brought enough tar."

A low whimper pulled their attention back up the stairs. Marlow stood, concerned eyes beckoning to Roland. The hunter grabbed what little medical supplies they had stashed away. Following the wolf back on deck, he knelt by Gwyn and started with her deepest cuts. His work grew easier when the venom finally faded from Wallace. The druid's magic had Gwyn cogent before long. Doing better but opting not to stand, she sat where she'd fallen. Roland didn't think that was such a bad idea and joined her, letting the halfling made short work of the bleeding in his stiff arm. It didn't feel any better, but he would live. When the druid finished with him, Marlow joined them. Wallace thanked the wolf, then quickly reprimanded him for his recklessness, all the while tending to the wolf's wounds. Dried blood matted the Wolf's thick coat. What had protected him from spears and claws now concealed its failures.

"I disagree," Roland interjected, cutting off the halfling's reprimands. "He saved my life twice-"

"And was far more useful by my side than you ever were," Gwyn added, smiling.

"Pulled me out of a tight spot too," Argos plopped down next to Gwyn, took a swig from his gourd, and passed it down.

Gwyn drank deeply before offering it to Wallace. The druid's features twisted as the foul drink burned its way down his throat. Marlow huffed, and Wallace raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? This is foul stuff... Alright."

Wallace splashed a little on the wolf's tongue. Marlow flinched and immediately began coughing, much to their amusement. They shared a laugh at Marlow's expense.

Roland patted him on the back and whispered, "You're a fine young man, Marlow"

Even with his tongue out, panting, a canine smile shone on the wolf's face.

"Roland," Gwyn said. "I seem to recall you throwing my armor into the river. Even with Atticus' share split among ourselves, this job will hardly pay for a new set. How do you plan on rectifying that mistake?"

Roland smiled and took the gourd from Wallace. "Relax, my dear. You know I'm good for it."

He pressed the gourd to his lips, only to find it empty. They shared another round of laughter as the sinking galley pressed on down the emerald river.

They would lose a few days repairing the ship, but for now they sat, enjoying the pain of life. The captain heaved on the helm, following the river's snaking trail, and Ahuizotl's stone marker disappeared around the bend. When it was out of sight, each felt a wave of relief wash over their tired bones, but something else less pleasant crept in too. Marlow caught himself expectantly looking around for Kopa while Roland tried not to ponder the cursed ring that turned man into beast-god. Wallace breathed easier, now parted from that dreadful place where the river bled animosity. Each breath Gwyn drew reminded her of the burning she'd felt pinned in the silt by Ahuizotl. She shuddered, thinking how close she'd come to a death blasphemous to her kind. Argos sat staring. The torture his brethren endured at the hands of the lizardmen sobered him terribly and filled him with the guilt of their late arrival. Somber reflections silenced them, and though they didn't speak it, none could shake the horrors brought by the altar of the drowning god.