Viperhand - Douglas Niles [89]
But for the two lovers, this was a night still to look upward toward the heavens. The torches of the city paled to insignificance against the millions of stars that dotted the great blue-black dome of the sky from one horizon to the next. The moon, past the third quarter in brightness, still couldn't overcome the stars.
The night was just chill enough to make their blankets necessary and comfortable. For a long time, they spoke to each other without words. The terrors of the coming days still loomed, but each became a wellspring of strength for the other, making any horror tolerable so long as they could face it together.
Erixitl suddenly looked away from the city as they sat. Hal wrapped his arms around her, felt her trembling, and understood.
"The shadows come even by night now," she said, burying her face against his chest. "The city goes black. I see the torches and fires blink out one by one. Cant you feel the earth shaking?" she moaned.
He said nothing for a while, just holding her until her turmoil slowly faded. "We will find Poshtli," he declared finally. "With his help in the palace, and my steel-"
"And my pluma" Erix added, sitting up again.
"Yes." Hal winced at the thought of Darien, the biggest threat he perceived to their entrance into the palace.
Erixitl's token seemed to offer her, or them, some protection against the wizard's power. How much, they couldn't know, but she had described in intimate detail her experience with the blast of the frost wand.
"Together" Halloran agreed, holding her warm body to his own. There didn't seem to be any other way, and he began to feel grateful for the fact.
They came together then, with abandon, as if they both feared there would be no tomorrow.
From the chronicles of Colon:
A gallery of godhood waits for the contest to begin.
Lolth arises to her full presence and begins to take the measure of the gods, especially Zaltec, who claims the worship of her wayward drow. She studies the others, and she is pleased.
Zaltec feasts, all unknowing of the spider goddess. He is ready for the explosion of the Viperhand across the end,and he Knows (he hearts gained by the victory will grant him unchallenged mastery of the True Wbrld.
Helm observes as the legion gathers its gold. This warrior god from across the sea remains vigilant. He waits, prepared for anything.
And all across Maztica, the shadows lengthen.
POINT OF NO RETURN
The Revered Counselor answered the summons from his captor with all the regal dignity of his office. Naltecona didn't walk to Cordell's audience chamber; he rode through the halls of Axalt's palace on his great feathered litter. His cloak of exquisite plumage floated behind him, and an escort of slaves marched before.
A pair of hairy-faced guards halted the slaves at the door. Naltecona rose and stalked between them, entering the chamber to find Cordell and Darien standing impatiently.
"Why have you summoned me?" asked the Maztican ruler.
"Come this way." Darien translated Cordell's directive as the captain-general left the room by a side door. The elf-mage and Naltecona followed. Cordell walked for a minute in silence, finally coming around a corner and turning to regard the Revered Counselor.
"Do you have more of these rooms hidden around the palaces?" demanded Cordell. He gestured, indicating to the speechless Naltecona the huge array of gold before them.
The Maztican stared at the vast trove and felt a cold numbness seep into his body. He had never seen this magnificent hoard, but he knew of its existence. Never had he expected the strangers to tear open the very walls of the palace in their search for plunder. But so they had.
"This is the trove of my ancestors. It is a fabled cache, reputedly hidden somewhere in my grandfather's palace. I have never seen it before," explained the Revered Counselor quietly. "I