Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [78]
The cleric moved a step closer to the newcomer and addressed it, "We have no quarrel with you. Let us pass."
The monstrosity responded. "I disagree. I think you do have a quarrel with me, though you may not possess acumen enough to know it. You're traveling with one of the queen's children. I presume you are on the errand she has set them on so many previous occasions."
"What's that to you, creature?"
"If you are foolish enough to address me, mortal," said the creature, "You will address me by my proper title, or I'll sew your skin to my trophy tapestry out of turn. I am called Eschar."
Marrec repeated, "Why do you care if we travelers do the bidding of the Queen Abiding, Eschar?"
"Because," growled Eschar, "it is my task to guard the approach to the Sighing Vault. This tunnel that you transgress has only one destination. I'll grant you one guess where that is."
Marrec could guess easily, but he tried to stretch out the conversation further. "Your task? You mean, you're bound here, same as the Queen Abiding, by some long-dead Nar sorcerer's magic?"
Eschar said nothing, but the luminosity of his crown of horns doubled. Marrec had to squint to look at the creature.
Even had he an unfettered connection with Lurue, Marrec doubted he would have had strength enough to pray for a spell to banish demons directly out of the world, but he was familiar with the task. That possibility was out of the question. He knew that simply slaying the creature would accomplish the same task, if he could but manage it, but Marrec tried one more tack.
Marrec said, "Surely you have had time enough since your binding to find a way to subvert the intent of your original task. Let us through Perhaps this last lapse will break the age-long binding that holds you here."
The demon laughed then said, "You are full of assumptions, human. As a matter of fact, I quite like it here. I am not bound quite so tightly as most of my brethren, and may even walk freely for a time in the world above. That is how I gained the Queen Abiding's token of control when the newcomer above at Dun Tharos's center foolishly lost it.
"And," added the creature, shining with red delight, "It's been far too long since I've been able to slake my thirst. I think I'll rather enjoy sucking the meat of each of your bones. I'll mount your skins in the Vault with the others."
Gunggari, freshly healed, was following the conversation closely. When the crowned demon lunged forward as he screeched the last portion of his speech, Gunggari was ready with his dizheri. The Oslander sounded a great, reverberating tone from his instrument of combat. The sound crashed forth, almost visible in the red-lit tunnel, its racing wave-front impacting the charging demon before the creature moved more than ten feet. Marrec had seen that same trick lay out lesser creatures for full minutes. It was sufficient to cause Eschar to pause, growling.
"Gunny, Elowen, Ususi, take him out!" yelled Marrec.
He would have continued with more explicit directions, but the demon was suddenly next to him, somehow standing over the cleric without having moved physically through the intervening distance. Eschar tried to bite him, but Marrec blocked just in time with Justlance.
Another bite, two feints, and a head-butt nested with cruel horns-the cleric fell back with each attack, keeping Justlance between himself and the demon. He couldn't afford to return an attack. The creature was too powerful, too strong. If Marrec opened up his defenses with an attack of his own, he didn't doubt Eschar would instantly expose Marrec's innards in a way sure to upset his friends. A few more seconds, and Ususi was sure to blast the creature…
A foot, dagger-clawed, streaked past his spinning spear. The kick lifted him and sent him rolling back tens of feet. The hard ground cudgeled him as he tumbled along the tunnel, his hands momentarily empty of the comforting haft of Justlance. Shadows narrowed his vision as his momentum was finally absorbed by the floor.