“Did you give her the scroll?” The green robed man asked the scribe.

“Yes, sir.” The man said with a smile. “It looks like a spell scroll and I gave her two other real spell scrolls to hide it.”

“So, she doesn't suspect what it is.”

“She didn't even look at them.” The scribe said. “I think the focusing rods distracted her.”

“Good. Good.” The green robed man said and rubbed his throat where Maylia's blade had dimpled the skin. At some unknown time in the future, that 'spell' would be read and that woman will suffer a debilitating curse. He thought in satisfaction. He wasn't sure when it was going to happen, and that was a thrill in and of itself. No one threatens me and gets away with it. He thought and dismissed the scribe, then he went about his normal daily routine as if he had done nothing wrong and his act of revenge was a comfort to his slightly twisted view of how the world was supposed to work.

*

Maylia, Afyne and I followed the tracks for quite some time, and since we were only moving slowly, we had only travelled a few miles outside the town when we found what looked like a mound of dirt and rocks. It didn't stand out from the surrounding landscape, since it was similar to a few mounds we had passed along the way. This one was slightly different because we could clearly see a five foot wide hole between and slightly below two of the large rocks.

Maylia waved us off and we moved back several hundred feet and dismounted from the horses. “I can't tell if that space is completely underground or if it's just below the surface.”

“Or if there is another exit.” I said, and she nodded. “I'll need to get closer to try and detect if the creature is actually there.”

“We need to be very careful.” Maylia said. “If the hole is any indication, this giant snake is going to be just that. Giant.”

“Which means it didn't drag off its victims.” I said. “It swallowed them whole.”

“Is that why some of the tracks were wider than others?” Afyne asked, and Maylia nodded.

“I can't see or feel it anywhere nearby, so this should be a good spot to leave the horses.” I said and knelt down on one knee. “Afyne, you know the horses should detect any danger nearby, so if they start to react, climb on and let them take you away from here, okay?”

“What if you need them?” Afyne asked.

“You can bring them back after waiting for a little while.” I said and gave her a quick hug. “Other than that, don't move from this spot, just in case we do need to make a quick getaway.”

Afyne nodded and I stood up and took Maylia's hand. I activated my Mask Presence and Stealth techniques and let the energy flow over me and shared it with her, and we faded from Afyne's sight. She just stared at us, or where we had been, and Maylia and I moved off quietly. We didn't want to disturb the snake, assuming it was still inside, so we approached the rocky mound carefully.

Once I was close enough, my Detect Mana Presence technique's detection range covered the entire mound and I saw the creature. The damn thing was seventy feet long and was almost five feet wide.

“Maylia, can you see it?” I whispered, barely above a breath.

“It's basking in the heat.” Maylia whispered. “The rocks look like they are in a similar configuration to a campfire.”

“I was worried that the hole went into an underground space and we wouldn't be able to get to it until it woke up and came out.” I breathed. “You're the expert here. What should we do?”

“I doubt it's venomous, because we would have seen or smelled it at any of the abduction sites. So, we need to secure the head and cut it off before it can wrap its tail around us.”

“You think it crushed them first?” I asked.

“I didn't see any blood; but, it could have tenderized them first to make them easier to swallow.”

“That's a pleasant thought.” I whispered. “Okay. We can make large Presence and mana hands to grab the neck and I'll use my mother's Light sword to cut the head off.”

“You need to be careful. If it has a magical attack like the garglemacer, you'll be hurt again.”

I smiled. “Well, we know what to do if that happens.” I whispered and touched the badge on my chest. “Plus, we've got the horses with us this time. We can be back at the town in a few minutes.”

“Or back in the capital in a day.” Maylia nodded. “All right. We should split up to approach from different directions. One of us should be able to catch it and hold it.”

“I'll go over there and we can attack together.” I pointed and she nodded, then I moved off and she waited until I was in position. There was no chance to get in closer without making noises that it was going to hear, so I dropped the Stealth technique and we activated Mana Presence Run at the same time and we ran towards the den that the giant snake had made. It reacted almost instantly and its head jerked as it sensed two threats coming at it from two different directions.

Instead of attacking one of us like I thought it would, it remained still and convulsed slightly. Both Maylia and I managed to create and use our Presence and Mana Hands to grab onto its neck. Unfortunately, as I drew my mother's light sword to strike, the giant snake chose that moment to act. Or finish its act, to be more precise. It convulsed again and opened its massive jaws, then a horrible retching sound cut through the silence and it regurgitated its last meal. An eight foot long mass of... something... came out, and the stench was immediately apparent and pervasive. It was also accompanied by something like an acid fog as well, so we had to jump away from it and dismiss the Presence and Mana Hands holding it.

Before we could do anything else, it took the opportunity to make its escape and slithered out through the acid fog, almost as fast as a horse could run, and it disappeared through another hole in the rocks. I ran around the rocky mound and made another Presence Hand filled with mana and tried to grab it by the tail. The snake slid right out of it as if it didn't feel it at all and I couldn't get a solid grip on it. It was out of my detection range a moment later, in the opposite direction of Afyne and the horses, so I dismissed the hand and ran around to check on Maylia.

“Are you all right?” I asked. “Did the fog touch you?”

“I'm fine.” Maylia said, anger in her voice. “It got away.”

“Quite easily, too. I couldn't grab it with a Presence Hand.” I said. “You were right. We can only grab it safely behind the head.”

“We need to track it.” Maylia said and started to walk around the mound, then we heard a soft moan. We both froze at the sound, because the only thing even remotely close to us was the regurgitated mass covered in snake vomit and what I assumed was stomach acid. The acid fog had just dissipated and we both slowly turned towards the sound and I automatically used Detect Presence to look inside the mass... and I immediately regretted it.

I turned Maylia away from it so she wouldn't see. “Good god, don't look at it.” I said, sadness in my voice. “I'll... take care of it.”

Maylia nodded and I stepped away from her, then I formed a Presence Hand filled with mana and picked up a very large rock. I dropped it down onto the poor man that was somehow still alive after being more than half digested. The rock crushed what was left of his head and put an end to his suffering. I absorbed the Presence Hand this time, since it hadn't been anywhere near the snake, and hugged Maylia from behind.

“Let's get Afyne and the horses.” I said and gave her a squeeze. “We need to chase this thing down.”

“We really do.” Maylia said and shivered. “That was...”

“Shh.” I said and kissed her cheek. “Let's make sure that no one else suffers that fate.”

We walked over to where Afyne was with the horses and told her most of what had happened. We left out the man still being alive, though. She didn't need that image in her head. We mounted the horses and rode them past the rocky mound and chased after the snake.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

*

Allirynn and Imiryl were quite happy to have the carriage to themselves, especially after spending over a week practically crammed into it with five other people. They sat side by side, almost in a huddle, because neither of them wanted to be far away from the other and they weren't ready to give each other space. The trip was going to take two days, and now that they were halfway through it and had stopped for the night, they were a little worried about the urgent message that they were bringing.

“Do you think Hunter can wait this long to get it?” Imiryl asked.

“I wouldn't know.” Allirynn said and reluctantly let her hand go as he picked up the folding cot that would fit in the middle of the carriage seats and it would create one large surface for them to lay on. “The queen obviously didn't trust the emissaries to deliver it.”

“I noticed that, too.” Imiryl said and lifted her feet and legs so that Allirynn could put the cot into place. Neither of them took off their new clothes and moved onto what was now a large bed and laid down. Imiryl didn't have to ask him for a shoulder to rest her head on, and he didn't have to ask if she wanted his arm wrapped around her to hold her. They both needed the comfort, for the same reasons, and Imiryl tried to hold the tears back.

Allirynn held his other hand up for her and she took it and intertwined their fingers. He hugged her hand to his chest and that gave her tears permission to flow. She quietly cried and Allirynn held her, and let her tears be his. Unlike her, his anger over what had happened wouldn't let him shed tears for his betrayed and lost friends. He sincerely hoped that Siada would meet a fitting end before he saw her again, because if she didn't, he promised himself that she would get that end by his own hand.

*

“Why are you in there with her?” Kara asked Steven through the small opening in the door, because he was currently sitting inside a cell in the dungeon of the castle with the lamia, Siada. Kara and the other emissaries had gathered together to pray and ask for guidance, and they couldn't find him to start the ritual. When they asked around, it didn't take long before they found out where he was. Evangeline and Aimee had left to check with the head acolyte to see if there was anything she could do.

“Siada is under my protection.” Steven said, full of confidence.

“That's not really an answer.” Josh said. “We need your help to ask for guidance.”

“You can do it without me.” Steven said.

“You should ask for guidance, too.” Jessica said. “Especially after...”

“I know what I'm doing.” Steven said.

“What you're doing is sitting in jail for no reason.” Kara said. “You can easily keep watch on her from outside of the cell. You don't have to sit in there with her.”

“I gave her my word.” Steven said. “Even if she did do what the queen said, we all know there were extenuating circumstances.”

“Oh, geez.” Josh rubbed his face in frustration.

“Steven, this isn't a world like ours.” Jessica said. “The laws here are...”

“Yes, I know this is a harsh world.” Steven cut her off. “I'm sure the judge will listen to...”

“We don't know if there is a judge!” Josh exclaimed. “We don't know if they even have a legal system!”

Steven wasn't sure what to say to that, because he hadn't thought about that possibility.

“Look, you're not under arrest.” Jessica said. “Just come out of there and I'm sure that we can figure something out.”

“I'm sorry; but, I'm staying right here. I can't abandon her.” Steven said.

“You need to start thinking with the head on your shoulders and not with the one between your legs!” Josh pleaded.

“Says the guy that's been with a hot woman since the day we came here.” Steven said.

“It's not like that.” Josh said. “I love her and we're getting married.”

Kara and Jessica caught their breath and stared at him.

“I proposed to her last night.” Josh said. “I didn't get a chance to tell you until now.”

“Congratulations.” Steven said with a chuckle. “Is she pregnant?”

“Don't be an ass.” Jessica said and glanced at Josh and whispered. “Is she?”

“No, of course not.” Josh said. “I've been careful.”

“So, you're getting married and we've only been here for just over two weeks.” Steven said. “I'd say that you're going too fast; but, everything seems to be going fast, doesn't it? I've been in here since lunchtime with Siada and it's night already.” He laughed. “Where does the time go?”

“Steven, be reasonable.” Jessica said. “You can't just decide to stay in jail.”

“Well, I did and here I am.” Steven said. “So, you can all go back to your rooms and I'll see you in the morning.”

“Steven, can't you at least...” Josh started to talk, then stopped and sighed. “No, I suppose you can't.”

“Josh is getting it.” Steven said. “What kind of paladin would I be if I ignored her plight after promising to protect her?”

“You can't protect her from her crimes, no matter how much you may want to.” Kara said.

“The voice of experience.” Steven said. “Didn't you tell us that you were going to stand by Hunter and face his crimes together, once you brought him in?”

“That's different.” Kara said. “Hunter is my responsibility.”

“Well, Siada is mine.” Steven said. “I accepted it when I volunteered to watch and protect her.”

Kara looked into his eyes and hadn't felt the Presence waver, so she nodded. “See you in the morning.”

“You can't be serious.” Jessica said to her. “We need his help.”

“He's busy.” Kara said and walked over to the door of the dungeon and knocked. “We can chant without him for now and ask the Goddess for help.”

“But...”

“We're not getting anything done by debating this further.” Kara said and the guard opened the door. “Let's go.” She said and left the dungeon. With no convincing argument and nothing else to do, Jessica and Josh followed her. If they were lucky, they could complete the chant when Evangeline and Aimee came back from meeting with the head acolyte, and maybe she had some advice for them, too.

*

“I can't believe we lost it.” I said, slightly disgusted. “It's a giant snake! How could it get away?”

“I'm sorry. It's getting too dark to follow the tracks.” Maylia said as she climbed back onto her horse and I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

“It's not your fault.” I said, placatingly. “It's the world's fault for not having bright sunlight during the night.”

“It wouldn't be night then!” Afyne giggled. “It would still be daytime!”

“You see? Afyne understands.” I said and gave her a one arm hug while holding the reins of the horse with my other hand. “We better get back to the town and warn them that the snake is still on the loose.”

“It's also hungry after...” Maylia couldn't finish that sentence.

“Yeah.” I said and flicked the reins. “I'm hungry, too.”

“Can we eat out again?” Afyne asked.

“Sure.” I said with a smile. “We should try the cheap restaurant this time.”

“Can... can we get dressed up, too?”

“I don't see why not.” I said. “We're only a little dusty after searching, so cleaning up shouldn't take us too long.”

We rode the horses back to town and stopped at the guard house and told them to watch out for the giant snake. They had confused looks on their faces, until I said it was the creature that no one wanted to admit existed and was eating people. They understood after that and promised to keep a look out for it, so we went to the mayor's office next. We were lucky and caught him just as he was going to supper. We told him and used the same explanation we had used for the guards, and he nodded wordlessly.

“Don't worry! We'll get it!” Afyne assured him, to his surprise.

We dropped the horses off at the stable and the worker Afyne had given the two copper coins to that morning quickly tended to both horses. Afyne didn't have to instruct him at all, so we left the stable and went back to the inn to get a room. The innkeeper was very relieved to see us and very happy that we were unharmed. He wasn't as happy about the creature still being out there, though.

“We warned the guards and the mayor, so as long as everyone stays indoors tonight, no one should go missing.” I reassured him and asked for a room. He gave us the same one we had before, so we quickly went upstairs and changed into our fancy dress clothes and went back down to the counter. Once again, whispers and stares met us and I ignored them. “Can you tell us where the cheapest meals are served?” I asked the innkeeper and held up a copper coin.

“Of course.” The innkeeper chuckled and took the coin, then told us where to go to get the cheapest meals we've ever had. I held Maylia's and Afyne's hands as we followed his instructions and went to what looked like a barn that had seen better days.

“This can't be it.” Maylia said as we approached the door, then it opened and a man stepped out. He burped loudly, thankfully in a different direction and away from us, then he walked down the street.

“Despite the evidence?” I asked, and Afyne giggled.

We went inside and saw that there were no tables or chairs. There were barrels instead and they had rectangular bales of hay on either side of them for sitting on. Small lanterns were hung on strings above the barrels and they swung slightly. The place was pretty full, too.

“Welcome!” A woman said and walked over to us. “Yes, you're in the right place. We really do serve food here.”

That made me smile. “We had expensive food yesterday, so now we're here to try the other end.”

“Then this is definitely the right place for you.” She said with a laugh. “I think we can push two of the bales together and give the three of you enough room to sit at the same barrel.”

“Thank you.” I said.

A man came over to the closest barrel and shoved another hay bale beside it.

“Can we see a menu?” I asked, and she laughed again.

“There ain't no menus here, hun.” The woman said and waved for us to sit. “You get whatever comes on the plate.” She said and looked at Afyne. “I will make sure that there's not too much on one plate and a bit more on yours, though.”

“Thanks. I think.” I said. “I'll reserve judgment on that until I taste it.”

She laughed as she walked away.

“It's definitely a better atmosphere than the other place.” I said and looked around.

“This is fun!” Afyne said and swung her feet out and kicked the barrel with her toes, then kicked the hay bale she sat on with her heels. The barrel didn't move at all and she couldn't hurt the hay, so I didn't tell her to stop.

The woman came back with three bowl-like plates and a basket hung on her elbow. “Here we go.” She said and put the bowls down, and I saw it was full of a thick stew. The one in front of me had more meat and vegetable chunks in it and Afyne's was only about three-quarters full. “How many buns do you want?”

“May I?” I asked and held a hand out for one. She gave me one and it was still warm. I held it in both hands and put my thumbs into it and pulled. The bread was soft and pliable, was cooked just the right amount, and smelled great.

“So, how many do you want?” The woman asked and held out another bun.

“Just leave the basket.” I said with a grin.

The woman laughed and turned towards the other people. “You hear that, everyone! He likes my buns!”

“I like your buns, too!” A man's voice hollered from across the restaurant. “Bring them over here so I can squeeze them!”

“No one asked you, Kirsan!” The woman said as she blushed.

“He's not giving you trouble, is he?” I asked, and she looked down at me.

“I... no, he's just a little drunk.” The woman said.

“Let me know if that changes.” I said. “He'll be out of here in a second.”

The woman put the basket down on the barrel and put a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you.”

“There's another way to quiet him.” Maylia said with a smile. “This is a formal meal, after all.”

I barked a laugh and held my hands out to her and Afyne. They both smiled back at me and I started to pray.