Guild Wars_ Edge of Destiny - J. Robert King [69]
“It’s no good!” Snaff yelled. “Let go!”
“Too late,” Zojja replied.
In the distance, Sandy toppled, dragging Big Zojja after it. They rolled together down the ice-ravaged rock face.
Little Zojja shook with each impact, eyes glazing.
Snaff grasped her. “Separate your mind!”
Down below, Sandy’s head crashed into an outcrop of stone.
Snaff staggered, “Wow! That smarts.”
Out across the ice field rolled Sandy and Big Zojja, clinging together like a giant, dirty snowball. They held each other a moment more before limbs of sand broke away from limbs of steel. A battered and gritty Big Zojja staggered back and toppled to the ground while Sandy shuddered as it reformed itself.
Meanwhile, on the ridge, Snaff released Zojja. “Are you all right?”
“Feel like I got run through a gearbox,” Zojja said.
“Do you need to rest?” Eir asked them.
“Not me,” Zojja replied huffily, “but I’d say the Big me is out of service.”
They all stared down at the tableau, where Big Zojja lay twisted with smoke rising from her joints.
“That’s not good,” Eir said.
“Sandy’s fine,” Snaff put in hopefully, seeming to check his pockets.
The sand golem was meanwhile reshaping itself. It gave a massive wave.
Eir reached down and hoisted Zojja to her shoulders. “Phase One is complete, but we’re down to a single golem. Someone grab Snaff. Let’s move!”
Rytlock picked up Snaff, slung him onto his shoulders, and growled, “Don’t touch the horns.”
The asura sheepishly released them. “Sorry. They look like handlebars.”
“I don’t need to be steered,” Rytlock said.
“Can’t steer a steer,” Snaff quipped.
“Shut up.”
“Right.”
Rytlock ran after Eir, with Logan and Caithe following. Garm brought up the rear, his black head turning from side to side to make sure they weren’t followed.
Moments later, the group reached Big Zojja. She was, indeed, beyond repair. One leg was shattered outright, and the conduits had been ripped from the knee of the other.
Zojja leaped down from Eir’s shoulder. “That’s a wasted night.” She turned to Snaff. “I told you you put too much trust in metal.”
Snaff was too grieved to reply.
Eir scowled at Zojja. “You seem almost gleeful that the golem is wrecked.”
Zojja grinned. “I almost am.”
Eir huffed. “Good luck fighting without it.”
“I’ve been expanding my portfolio of spells for this,” Zojja said with a grin. “Fire spells. You’ll see how magic can trump machine.”
“I hope,” Eir said, watching Zojja march jauntily away.
Snaff stepped up beside Eir. “You must forgive her. She’s a genius in the rough.”
“She won’t follow orders, she won’t listen to others,” Eir muttered.
“You’re both strong-willed,” Caithe broke in. “You’re not followers.”
Eir and Snaff gaped at her.
Caithe was wide-eyed. “Well, look, she’s leading the charge.”
They turned to see that Zojja had broken into a run.
“Let’s go,” Eir said ruefully, turning and charging after her. All the others followed. It took only a few moments for them to catch up to Zojja and pass her.
The group ran to the ice cave. It yawned darkly before them, a thousand icicles hanging overhead.
“Wouldn’t like to get one of those down the back,” Rytlock said.
“Rytlock and Logan, you’ll take the fore,” Eir said. “Garm and I will back you up. Sandy will back us up and give cover for Snaff and Zojja. Caithe, you’re the rear guard. Weapons, everyone.”
The group shifted into position. Sohothin roared from its scabbard, and Logan’s war hammer spun in circles around him. Zojja cracked her knuckles and sent flames leaping into the air, while Sandy remolded one stretched-out leg. Behind them, Caithe scanned the rubble field, her daggers whirling.
Eir nocked three arrows. Their heads sparked with arcane energies prepared by Zojja.
Rytlock eyed the arrows. “More nets?”
“You’ll see.” Eir drew the bow until the string pinged with tension and then let fly. The three shafts whistled away into the cave, diverging from each other. Simultaneously,