Page 19 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“I have to know. I need to know.”

He looked at her face and then nodded. He pulled out the dagger in his boot and tried to hand it to her, but she pulled out her own from inside her bodice.

“That's my princess,” he said approvingly. “Be careful.”

She nodded and crawled farther inside the cave. Instantly, the smell of death and decay hit her nostrils, and she knew she was in the right place. Ahead of her there was a tiny pinprick of light, and she inched towards it, the cave walls nearly flattening her completely. She crawled for several more minutes, the light getting brighter. She could tell that the tunnel opened up to a bigger space, and that knowledge was the only thing that kept her from hyperventilating in the enclosed tunnel. Every few feet she encountered more and more pools of mossy green sludge, which she was starting to suspect was blood.

Selenia finally reached the innermost part of the cave. It wasn't a large area, but she could tell that it had been occupied for a long time. Woven baskets made from grasses rested above stacks of stones, placed with as much care as fine China in an ornamental cabinet. Several bundles were lined along the wall, wrapped in animal hide and tied together with plant material. In the farthest corner, there was a large pile of furs, and when Selenia looked closer, her stomach lurched.

There, drawn up into herself and laying limply on the bed of furs, was the Murcurial. She was on her side, unmoving. There was a large puddle of sticky green blood underneath her, and Selenia could see an open wound on her stomach. The Murcurial's leg was torn down to the muscle, and it took everything in Selenia's power to fight the urge to empty her stomach and vomit on the floor of the cave.

Selenia said a silent prayer to the Gods, and turned to leave, but then she saw the slightest movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned back towards the creature and saw that she had moved one of her fingers. Selenia crouched beside the Murcurial, pushing her carefully onto her back as if she were a newborn babe. The prankster looked up at Selenia, her eyes fluttering. A raspy cough came from her throat, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

“Selenia...Snowden,” she gasped, her voice thin and breathy. “I—I didn't know...we would meet...again. I...blocked out...all...circumstances...surrounding my own death. Too much—”

“Rest, and don't trouble yourself further,” Selenia whispered, kneeling by her face.

“One shouldn't...know too much about their own...future...”

“What happened to you?”

The Murcurial coughed again, and more blood came forth. “Dragon.”

Ah yes. Selenia looked at the gashes and torn flesh. Certainly, the work of dragons. Another shudder hit her, as she thought of how close she and Sion were to the same fate.

“Can I—help in any way?”

A whimper came from the creature, and a loud intake of breath.

“Pain it is, to die. That knife you carry...I can see you ending it for me.”

Selenia gulped, knowing what she was asking for.

“It would be...merciful...” the Murcurial continued.

Selenia nodded, wiping a tear from her eye. She didn't exactly feel friendly towards the creature, but she had seen enough suffering in this world to know that if she had the chance to end some of it, she should. She pulled the knife out of her dress and said another prayer.

“Wait—”

Selenia stopped, and the creature reached out with boney fingers. Selenia gripped them, disgust gripping her stomach at the slimy feeling of her hand. But she held on, burying her own discomfort.

“You...can...fix...the magic.”

“Me?” Selenia asked, disbelief in her tone.

“Not just you—but—the others too. It...requires a...payment. Prove…yourself…worthy. All must go.”

Selenia nodded. “Do you know anything else?”

She coughed again. “When...you are at the end...you are just beginning.”

“Thank you,” Selenia said.

“Now...you owe me a...debt. Aim...true...Selenia...Snowden...”

Selenia continued to hold the Murcurial's hand, and with her free arm, she brought her knife down where she thought the creature's heart would be. The Murcurial's eyes widened, and she clasped Selenia's fingers harder for a few seconds, but then her grip became limp.

Selenia let out a gasp, rocking on her heels. She sat there unmoving for several minutes, her mind somewhat blank as she stared. Finally, with silent tears running down her throat, Selenia crossed the Murcurial's arms over her body.

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