Page 82 of Artemysia
“No, we arenotgoing to see what it is,” I declare, reading her mind.
“I don’t think it’s an earthquake.”
She turns right, her face as determined as ever.
Dammit. I have no choice but to follow as she leads the way lit by our makeshift torch.
Fifty steps deeper, the path funnels us into another dark cavern. We peer in without entering.
Dark stalactites and stalagmites cast long, jagged shadows on the glittering rocks, same as in most other caverns here.
Another low rumble, and a threatening growl.
Definitely a growl. Something enormous.
“There.” Delphine points to a nebulous corner of the cavern where no shimmer exists, and as my eyes adjust, I realize the glittery rocks are blocked by an enormous black-scaled serpent coiled in the corner. Its body is thicker than the barrel of my elk.
Oh, hell.
Two golden eyes with black vertical slits blink once.
“Elkshit on a stick. A Lindwyrm.” For a brief moment, I believe I must be in a deep slumber experiencing an outlandish postcoital dream. But no such luck. I grip Delphine’s arm to pull her back. I don’tlike the overeager look on her face.
“The mythical creature in fairy tales?” she whispers, craning forward.
“Why, what do you see, a fuzzy winter bunny?”
“How can we not know something like a Lindwyrm actually exists?” Delphine asks.
“Makes me wonder what else we don’t know about our world.” The combustible rocks, the Syf and our stolen books, even the other side of the woods—are they all connected? Are we onto something? We have so little knowledge of anything outside South Kingdom.
Why is that?
Delphine grasps my arm, slicing through my thoughts.
“Look, its wing is trapped under a fallen stalactite. It must have entered from the other side of the cavern.” She lifts a finger toward the larger opening.
“Lucky us. Let’s make a run for it before it escapes.”
“We need to free it. I can’t roll that stalactite away by myself. I need your help.”
“No. We aren’t doing this. If the myths are correct, it has a poisoned stinger on its tail. Let’s go.”
“It could be the last of its kind. Maybe it will understand that we are helping it,” she says solemnly.
“Stubborn woman. This is how we die,” I mutter under my breath. “I’m glad I finally had sex before I died.”
Her sigh could not sound more exasperated. “Riev, focus. We’ll be okay.”
“By ‘okay,’ youclearlymean ‘dead as fuck.’”
She ignores my excellent wit. “We’ll approach it from the side. Animals are less likely to spook if you don’t face them directly. If we roll the stalactite toward its stinger, it might help block it, and we’ll run back here once it’s free. It can’t fit through this entrance. I’ll go first. You’re too threatening.” She eyes my drawn sword, which I refuse to lower.
“If this goes sideways, I’m chopping off its head.”
“If you have a Syf side, this would be a good time to use any skill you possess in controlling animals.”
“Why would you bring up my Syf side at a time like this? You knowI’m sensitive about that,” I say, half joking.
