Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [93]
Inside each of these alcoves was a statue, all of the same man, each with a different pose. There was no doubting whom the denizens of this place worshiped and followed. There were reminders wherever the eye traveled. The orange light reflected from the crevices in the chiseled figures, casting Xeries's features in stark relief. The black of the stone mixed with the strange light gave him a very sinister countenance.
Closer to the ground, passages led off from the main chamber in multiple directions, and Xeries's mutated beasts littered the floor. They stared at the newcomers, patiently waiting.
"Guess this is the welcoming party," said Quinn. "Whoa," said Evelyne, finally reaching the top of the bridge behind Quinn and Matiko. "This should be fun."
When all three were inside, the black bridge rose, grinding and complaining as it lifted from the ground, finally pounding into place as it closed.
"What now?" asked Evelyne.
"Step down from your mounts and remove your weapons," said Xeries's echoing, disembodied voice.
All of them climbed off their horses. Three of the black beasts approached and took the reins, leading the mounts away down a dark corridor. They whinnied and whined as they disappeared from view.
Then a second beast-its lithe, dangerous arms outstretched-approached each of the Etlkazarians.
Quinn unbuckled his sword belt, placed it in the creature's waiting palms, then unstrapped his gauntlet and gave it to his host. Mariko and Evelyne handed over their swords and daggers.
The collected army of monstrosities backed away, separating into organized lines, forming a long walkway between them. Their feet made stomping sounds in unison as they moved.
Down the length of the cleared floor, Xeries appeared. He hobbled as he walked-not quite bent over, not quite uptight. His robes trailed behind, slithering across the polished stone, and he stopped several paces from the three friends.
He bowed his grotesque, disfigured head. "I am Xeries, master of this citadel and ruler of all you see."
He approached Mariko, craning his neck to get a good look at her. "You are more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined."
He touched her arm, running his finger along her smooth skin and over her shoulder. The princess flinched away from his touch.
"Don't be frightened," said Xeries, his voice echoing itself. "I will not harm you." He ran his fingers through her dark brown hair.
Mariko shuddered under the touch of such a hideous creature. Glancing to Quinn, she nodded.
"Here we go," Quinn whispered to Evelyne.
Mariko seized Xeries's wrist with both hands, dropping to one knee and pulling him off balance. Taking in a huge gulp of air, she let out an earsplitting shout. The sound grew and grew, filling the chamber and rising quickly to the level of painful noise with the aid of her magic.
The room shook with the reverberating sound. The walls, already vibrating from the natural buzz of power, wobbled under this new force. Three huge cracks formed in the stone floor, radiating out from Mariko and her tremendous scream.
Beasts in front of her dropped to the ground, their hands over their ears. Their spiky claws shattering under the sonic assault. They rolled in agony against the terrible sound.
Xeries, catching the full power of the princess's spell right in the face, tipped himself out of her grasp and stumbled backward. He grabbed his head in his hands, shaking it as if trying to free something lodged inside. He tripped over his robes and fell to the ground, writhing right alongside his black beasts.
Quinn and Evelyne dropped into defensive stances, ready to take on a flood of the citadel's defenders, but none of the beasts moved. Only those in pain showed any reaction. The rest simply stood still, their heads bowed, waiting as they had when their master arrived. They didn't look around. They didn't even sniff the air. It was as if they didn't notice the attack.
Quinn bolted to the creature holding his weapons. Balling his fist, he prepared