Clattering Bones (1)

--Gatix--

The silences in our conversation stretched longer as our destination came closer. The tower resembled little more than a heap of dirt, albeit close to a hundred meters long with a dragonian skeleton matching in length twisted around it.

“The Skeleton of Horot,” Ms. Queen remarked. “One of the great beasts who aided us in the battle against the Dread Knights. The conflict would be its ending.”

“We call them dragons, but they're limited to fantasy.”

“It might as well be the case here. Eons can pass without one revealing itself. Even a calamity as great as the Dread Knights could only make one rise from its lair.”

“There are more of these?”

“No one knows, and those gifted enough to look are too scared of doing so.”

“I see.”

“Come.” Ms. Queen waved me over. “The tail marks the beginning.”

Standing in front of the stairs, I had my doubts whether the aged skeleton could bear my weight. These were shelved after the first ten steps passed without a crack or creak. Dax would give his left nut for one of these, I thought as I tried to break off a piece, but the bone's durability rivaled that of my armor. Hmm…

Ms. Queen chuckled from up front. “All of us have tried.”

“Tried what?”

“To take a sample. The bones are too strong.”

“Maybe I can shoot one off.” The climb took us once around the tower, the landscape staying the same in all directions - brownish ground with patches of gray bathed in a reddish light, with innumerable bone piles dotting the area. Made me wonder how anybody could live here, I would become depressed within hours.

A dome of vicious teeth signaled our arrival at the top. “Here we are,” Ms. Queen whispered when we stopped, ensuring I was behind her before raising her hand toward the solitary wooden door.

“Commme... innn...” Opening the door revealed a darkened room with nary a window for light. A series of candles along the curved walls provided an eerie orange glow. Papers and oddities covered all the desks with two cupboards pushed to the left wall. A door at the back probably led to personal quarters. “Ssssssalak greetsss you... O Queen, assss do I.”

“Salak greets you, o Seer, as do I.” She lowered her head in a slight bow before stepping inside.

Following after her raised the tension significantly. Resembling a Dread Knight would make any introduction stiff, I suppose, but my appearance was not solely to blame. Of all the animals on God's green Earth, the one I couldn't tolerate was a snake. The creature standing before me was the spitting image of a giant king cobra, with six claw-like arms growing from its back.

The ensuring silence almost made me want to terminate our host via some high-velocity lead.

“What-t-t... do you bring... withhh you?”

“A body guard,” answered Ms. Queen.

“Yet so closssssely... resssemblesss the Dread-Knightssss of yore.” The Seer leaned forward. “But... diffffferent. I sssense... no magic-c-c. What-t-t... are you?”

“Highly unimpressed.” I clenched my jaw. “Ms. Queen and I have some questions.”

“I seeee...” He straightened himself, returning his attention to the one with more authority. “Asssssk... and I ssshall asssissst-t... if in my... power...”

“Agent.” My visor showed a tiny blue light when Nev spoke. Private mode. “I detect more signatures close by.”

“Don't tell me there are more of these?” I turned around and lowered my head a little bit. Considering they don't have cellphones, I doubted the gesture existed here, which would explain why Ms. Queen shot me a questioning look.

“No, the other signatures are smaller.”

“What are they?”

“Unknown.”

“I'm hearing that a lot from you these days.”

“I'm sorry. It is a new world, after all.”

“We'll take it as it comes.” Glancing over my shoulder showed the Seer and Ms. Queen in the middle of their discussions. “Nev, I'm going to look around a little bit. Keep an ear on Ms. Queen. Let me know if they say something interesting. Keep privacy mode on until I'm called for.”

“Yes, Agent.” I turned toward the closest desk. Papers and little jars littered the tabletop, all covered in illegible writing. Moving the papers revealed nothing helpful, so I categorized the desk as “useless” and moved to the next. My persistence was rewarded: a single piece of paper lay on the desk, but the picture could be understood by anybody.

“Nev, scan this.”

“Map scan completed. Full topographical information of this world obtained.”

“Swell.”

“Attention: I am detecting trisortium in the imminent vicinity.”

“Where?”

“If my reading is correct, inside the cupboard to your left.”

“Think the Seer will mind if we take a look?”

“Not if you show him the size of your weapon.”

“I like the way you think.” I reached for the cupboard's handle, but a hiss made me pause.

“Pleasssse... do not touchhhh the contentsssss... of that...”

I turned a bit, but didn't let go of the handle. “Something you're hiding in here?”

“It isss... impolite... to rummage through other peoplessss'... property... without permissssion.”

“O' Seer, this man has traveled a great distance in the search of a rare mineral,” Ms. Queen interjected. “He has joined me on this journey in search of his, believing you would be able to help him.”

It would help if I could stop looking at this thing.

“The contt-tentssss... of thosse ccupboardsssss.... can be dangeroussss... I would hat-t-te for your bodyguard.... to ssss-ufffer harmmm...”

“I believe his armor will be sufficient protection.”

“Hmmm... what-t-t mineral are you looking for?”

“White-yellow powder,” I answered.

“I do not-t-t have ssssuch a mineral... in my p-posssession...”

“It's hidden in rocks. Only I am capable of finding it.”

“O' Seer, I'm sure it would be quite fortuitous if he were to find the mineral in your possession.”

“I sssssee...” The Seer's eyes darted between me and the cupboard. “Very well... I look fffforward... to bartering. But-t-t... do not open the otherr-r-r. The mat-t-terialsssss inside... will not-t be... your concccceern...”

“Thanks.” I returned my gaze to the cupboard, finding its contents underwhelming. Jars of various shapes, sizes, and colors filled the shelves. Some contained liquid, some powder, and objects I didn't want to ponder.

“Third jar from the right, top shelf.”

“You sure?” I removed the indicated jar from the shelf, inspecting it but growing none the wiser.

“I am ninety-five point seven percent sure the rocks contain trisortium. Analysis indicates between fifty and seventy-five grams.”

Five to seven percent of what we need. I sighed. “You really want me to barter with the snake?”

“Ms. Queen wouldn't take kindly to killing the Seer. You may wish to keep your positive relationship with her.”

I tapped my middle finger twice against the jar as I turned my gaze to the last cupboard. “That is... if the snake is truly helping.”

“What do you mean?”

“You see how anxious he was?”

“I assumed it was normal to object to having one's belongings inspected without permission.”

“True, but he did not like Ms. Queen's suggestion. He was weighing the odds.” I heard Ms. Queen and the snake discussing something over the map. Not noteworthy, except their backs were turned toward me. Now or never. I ran the tips of my fingers across a row of bottles, creating the illusion I was inspecting the bottles. With nobody reacting to the noise, it was time to make my move, which I did by taking a step sideways and opening the door.

My persistence was rewarded. “Oh boy...”

“It would seem you are wise to listen to your hunch.”

“Are they the same?”

“Ninety-eight point three percent accuracy.”

“Thought so. Turn off private mode.” I closed the door as silently as possible before doing the same to the first cupboard, much harder. The clap lured the attention of both Ms. Queen and the Seer. “Sorry, got what I came for.” I pointed at the jar. “You guys finished?”

“Just about. Seems I need to go on a little journey.”

“Where to?”

“The town of Alakafor. Two months travel from here.”

“A `skin-walker' city, I would assume?”

“Correct.”

“I see.” I turned towards the snake, giving the jar a shake. “Mind telling me where you found this?”

“That-t-t?” The snake tilted its head. “It wassss given to me... as a gift-t-t.”

“By who?”

“The count-t-t... of Shiriki. Do you wissssh to barter? I'm affffraid... such an object will reachhhh... a high price... conssssidering its hisssstory...”

“Sure. Hold this for me, Ms. Queen.” I threw her the jar before she could respond, unclipping Scythe in the same motion and pointing it at the snake's head. “I'll start. How does your life sound?”

“Gatix?” Ms. Queen's eyes grew significantly.

The snake only seemed bemused. “Interesssting start... the Dread Knightssss were well known... for their violencccce... however, I decline. Your magic-c-c... isss ussselesss... here.”

“I don't use magic.”

“Gatix, please lower your weapon.” Ms. Queen stepped closer, putting a hand on my left shoulder. “I don't know how negotiations take place in your country, but this is more hostile than what we're used to. It will only hinder your position.”

“Feeling pretty confident.”

“Agent Gatix, the signatures I detected prior are moving closer.”

“Signatures?” Ms. Queen narrowed her eyes.

“You said he helped you in the past?”

“More or less. He always pointed me in a direction.”

“Let me guess, the direction was usually fraught with danger?”

“Isn't there always an element of danger involved on a quest?”

“Last question: before I met you, a creature charged past me to aid you. What was that?” The snake's eyes seemed to open a bit wider.

“Garlaka, one of my royal behemoths.”

“Not as common in your forces, I would wager?”

“No, their numbers stood at five at most.”

“And I'm guessing that's down to one or two now?”

“Azzzzal...”

“Shut it!” The snake recoiled at my outburst. “Ms. Queen?”

“Only one remains. Why do you ask?”

I nodded at the snake. “Who do you work for?”

“What?”

“Who?!”

“I... don't-t-t know what-t-t... you are referring... to...”

“Ms. Queen, please open the cupboard behind me.”

“Do... not open that.”

“Why?” Ms. Queen fired the question.

“The cupboard... it is cursssed... opening it... will kill you. Sssafety... conccccern.”

“He's lying. I opened it a minute ago.”

“He'ssss... the one... lying... O' Queen.”

Giving the snake a last glance, she let go of my shoulder and walked behind me.

“LEAVE TH-”

BANG

I lowered the smoking weapon, finding the Queen three steps behind me significantly paler than before. “What have you done?!”

“We had a disagreement.” I stepped aside to reveal the now-headless snake stretched lying on the ground. Its right arm almost made it to my foot.

“I hope you realize you killed a valuable ally.”

“I'm not so sure.” I nodded at the cupboard. Her gasp upon opening the doors was expected. Four jars featured inside, each with a decaying head of a royal behemoth inside. “I don't think the Seer was as trusted as you might think.”

“Which mea-”

“The so-called quest he sent you on might have led to one less monarch in this world.”

“Agent, the signatures are closing in. Ten seconds.”

“And I suspect he stored a surprise here for us as well.”

“I'm powerless.” Ms. Queen cast an anxious glance at the exit.

“Then hold onto that jar for me.” I flicked a switch on Scythe to put it in short-range mode.