Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [59]
Why did it not harm him? Was this some inner power, as with the wight?
The fiendish lizard didn't finish the phrase, though, choking off in the middle. It was as though the very words stopped its heart. The creature died with a dry rattle.
"I suppose that solves that problem," was all Davoren said.
Liet ran to Twilight and helped her up. The elf looked at him, uncertain of something. Then her eyes widened. "A sharn," she said. Liet could feel her shiver in his arms.
"Its master, I expect," Davoren said. Leave it to the warlock to know some of the darkest secrets of the Realms. "The madness of demons fits a creature born of chaos."
"Chaos?" Liet asked. "What-?"
"There are certain forces in this world you should not know about," Twilight said. "That no sane mortal would want to know about."
"But you do," Liet argued.
She conceded that with a nod. "A race that was old when the elves were young," said Twilight. "Mighty spellweavers before Corellon's tears conceived the first elves-children of the primal chaos that came before the gods themselves."
Her voice took on a mystical quality, as though she recounted the memories of a pleasant childhood or a beautiful, half-forgotten summer. Liet could almost fall asleep into dark dreams, listening to that lovely, haunting voice.
"Sharn is simply what men call them, though in truth that is only a fantasy. They are an ancient, mighty race, but not one that most would deal with lightly-not even gods." Her eyes darkened, and Liet heard a second meaning. "Which would be wise. A creature born of such disorder cannot be trusted." Liet Sagrin shivered, and not just with fear.
CHAPTER Thirteen
Why do you follow me?" Twilight asked later as she clicked open a lock. "I told you to stay with the others. You have a habit of disobedience."
"Why do we camp at a crossroads?" Liet asked. The heavy door sighed when Twilight pressed on it. She gestured, and Liet helped her push it open. The door growled in protest but opened. The plain chamber within was empty but for refuse-shattered wood chips, broken ceramics, worn statuettes-and ancient dust. Footprints, distinctly those of a lizard's feet, traced a path through the chamber to an open portal across the room, but the prints were old. She wished she were a tracker, and might have known how old.
She pulled a torch from her pack. Liet grinned until she shoved it at him. No reason she had to carry it-she had darksight.
"I asked you first," she said. "I'm sure 'tis the same answer." "Guaranteed escape route?" Twilight asked simply. "I thought you only, ah, appreciated the concept," he said sheepishly. "Of a crossroads, I mean. That's not-you know- the same answer, or anything."
"Well, we all derive our chuckles in some manner," Twilight said. "I enjoy frustrating young lads much, much more."
Liet let that one go. "But your reason doesn't make sense," he said. "Camping at a crossroads, that is. Foes can come from any direction, even from behind."
"Yes, but they would have to be quite organized to come at us from all three," she said. "Something I have a feeling might be beyond the average demon-touched."
"What of hiding?" Liet rubbed at his hidden arms, nervous.
"I've always ascribed to the 'fleeing' school of thought, rather than the 'hiding,' " Twilight said. "If someone's searching as determinedly as I'm used to being searched for, hiding doesn't do any good." She left it at that.
"I see." Liet looked around the dusty chamber, straining his eyes in the flickering torchlight. "Where are we, anyway?"
Though the place was empty of creatures, shelves, books, or anything besides the rubble along the walls, Twilight could detect traces of the magic that must have been used there. She imagined it must have been a library or laboratory, long defaced by lizardfolk, smashed by golems, or worse.
"Wizard's sanctum," said Twilight. "Long abandoned."
"How can you be-?"
"I'm sure," she said. "There's nothing