Page 59 of Caveman Alien's Terror

He gets the four cavemen who’ll escort me. “It may be a long walk if their village is on the other side of the canyon.”

“It may,” I agree. “Please instruct them to not kill the dragon.”

Korr’ax frowns. “May I ask why?”

I put on the sandals. “He could be a great ally for our tribe. He’s not the enemy we thought he was.”

The chief thinks about it. “Dragons are devious. I will instruct them to only attack him if they must, but to keep their swords ready for anything.”

I stand back up and throw the pack onto my back. “Did you see the three outcasts? He calls them his lackeys. One of them is Tarat’ex, the former Krast man.”

Kor’ax stares across the canyon. “The one who tried to kill Alba? Now he’s allied with the Darkness? Somehow I’m not surprised.”

“He may be a worse enemy to Praxigor than we are.” I inch as close to the canyon as I dare and try to find out which way around it would be the right one.

An old, white-striped caveman comes over to Korr’ax. “Chief, the shortest way to the other side is to the left. After a half day’s walk, there is a part where the floor of the canyon comes almost up to the edge. It can be crossed there. Carefully. There are many irox nearby.”

“Warrior, will I find the Ceremat tribe if I go across?” I ask.

“That is their turf, Shaman Astrid,” he says. “My tribesmen never go over there, nor do the Ceremat men come over to our side.”

“What do you know about them?”

The old man puts his hands on his belt. “I’ve never met a Ceremat man. But I know they live on the other side.”

So, I’m getting close. Maybe.

I nod to Korr’ax. “Thank you. We will soon be back.”

“I know you will, Shaman,” he replies and turns to give orders to his army.

Keeping a safe distance to the edge, I turn to the left and start walking. The four cavemen soon take up their formation around me. One walks in front, one behind, and two are somewhere in the jungle to my left.

To my right, there’s only the chasm, so deep and narrow that no sunlight reaches far down.

I scan the jungle on the other side, hoping in vain to see a shimmer of electric blue. I may have inadvertently killed him, sending him on a wild goose chase for gold that doesn’t exist.

AndCora, it occurs to me in a twinge of cold despair. Because she doesn’t actually have any gold. When Praxigor finds her, he might be so angry that he hurts her or kills her. He may also die from a lack of gold, having gambled everything on Cora having some.

That will all be my fault.

“Some rescue,” I fret as I walk faster. “Everyone dies.”

19

- Praxigor-

Tarat’ex the lackey outcast falls into step beside me. “We’re so glad to see you, Chief! We thought we’d have to search the whole jungle for you.”

“I found you as soon as I needed to,” I growl. “Tell me about the Ceremat tribe and the woman.”

“Yes, Chief. They have a woman. She’s similar to the one you… to the one we just left. A little different, maybe, but the same size and shape. And she sounds the same, too. Very alien voice.”

“She lives with the tribe?”

“Yes, Chief. They keep her in a cave.”

“What is she wearing? Does she have gold?”

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