Guild Wars_ Edge of Destiny - J. Robert King [32]
Before anyone could answer, the chute dumped them out in a deep place, so deep that the glacial ice above no longer glowed with sunlight. They skidded across the floor of that cavern and spun to a stop, leaving chaotic score marks.
Eir rose, followed by Garm, Big Snaff, and Big Zojja.
“Well, here we are,” Eir said.
It was preternaturally cold—bone-shattering. Spell conduits hardened and hydraulic humors thickened. Webs of frost formed on steel skins.
“Bigs, what do you see?” Eir asked.
“The ceiling is a mass of icicles, gigantic icicles,” Zojja said. “Thirty feet long, some of them.”
Eir asked, “What other threats?”
“The floor is clear,” reported Snaff. “No defenders. No wolves. No icebrood. Nothing.”
“Let’s march,” Eir said. As she and Garm led the charge, the Bigs marched behind.
Big Snaff stiffened. “There’s something approaching, dead ahead.”
“Halt,” Eir said.
They did, staring into the murk.
Out of the depthless dark, something emerged.
Its body was fashioned of living ice. It had a long head like a cattle skull, and its eyes glowed with eerie blue flame. The rest of it seemed skeletal as well, with an arching spine draped in white robes. A blue-gray vapor circulated among its icy ribs, forming the body of the creature. Gaunt arms lifted clawed fingers, and gaunt legs spread talons on the ice. The creature reached to its sword belt and drew out a blade that was so cold it roiled with frost.
“The Dragonspawn,” Eir said.
“He’s not a man at all,” Zojja murmured.
“A tibia of ice. A fibula of frost.” Snaff spoke in a hushed voice. “Skull of a minotaur. Tail of a drake.”
“Sounds like a spell,” Zojja said.
“That’s what he is,” Snaff said. “He’s just like the Bigs—a marionette moved by a hidden mind!”
“He’s just like me . . . ,” Zojja replied in a dreamy voice.
Eir looked at her. A faint blue glow pulsed in Big Zojja’s eyes, matching the eyes of the Dragonspawn. “Look away!” Eir shouted, averting her gaze. “Don’t look at it. Don’t lock eyes with it. It’s trying to freeze you.”
With an effort of will, Big Zojja turned away from the glowing visage. The blue pulse faded from her eyes, and she shook herself. “How can we fight something we can’t look at?”
The Dragonspawn’s elongated head turned toward his foes. Eyes glowed bright blue. The beams splashed across Eir, Garm, Snaff, and Zojja. They shielded their eyes, but the monster was seeping into their minds.
“Look away!” Eir called. She turned, seeing that Big Snaff and Big Zojja already stood motionless. “No!”
MAGMA MONSTERS
Three destroyers advanced across the meadow, searing plants with every step.
“I’m not afraid to play with fire,” Rytlock snarled, hoisting Sohothin. He shot a glance at Caithe. “Careful, twig. You might get yourself singed.”
Each destroyer strode steadily toward one of the comrades.
Rytlock lunged at the nearest destroyer, thrusting Sohothin. The blade burned through the creature’s stony skin and plunged into its heart.
The destroyer halted, arms shuddering and head falling back as Sohothin transfixed it. The creature’s molten joints flared, and its chest expanded with spinning energy. Fiery light intensified in its amorphous face.
“Damn,” noted Rytlock.
The destroyer brought its pincers swinging together to crush Rytlock’s head. Stone knuckles crashed—
But the charr rolled away beneath them. He scrambled up and stared accusingly at his sword. “What’d you do?”
“You’re feeding it,” Logan said while backing away from the destroyer that stalked him. “You might as well attack a Krytan with a baguette. Move back.”
Rytlock growled, “Retreating is a good strategy. Very human. Use your hammer, for blood’s sake! Break some stones!”
“All in good time,” Logan said, leaping back over a patch of long grass. His hand painted a blue aura in the air, a slim band meant to trip up