The Queen of Stone_ Thorn of Breland - Keith Baker [67]
Droaam
Eyre 19, 998 YK
Even though she was shielded behind the petrified body of the ogre, Thorn let her gaze fall to the floor.
“Our thanks for your hospitality, noble Sheshka,” she said as she stepped out from behind the statue. She stressed the last word, making sure Beren and Toli heard her. Both hastily lowered their eyes.
As soon as she recognized Sheshka’s voice, Thorn had entertained the wild hope that the statue of Harryn Stormblade might be in the chamber. But these weren’t Sheshka’s living quarters, and the unfortunate ogre was the only effigy in the room. This was simply a smaller conference room, apparently chosen for its distance from the main halls.
The chamber was as barren within as the hall without. A single cold fire torch spilled dim light across the small room, and a few sturdy wooden stools were spread before a round table sculpted from granite. Thorn could hear the medusa’s snakes hissing softly, and she easily pinpointed the creature’s location on the opposite side of the table. The other sound—the chewing—came from beneath the table.
“Sit,” Sheshka said.
Toli’s job was to secure the area, and he took charge. He pushed Thorn aside with a little more force than she’d expected, and she stumbled on a piece of debris lying on the floor. As Toli examined the surface of the table and pulled out a stool, Thorn glanced down at the object that had almost caused her to fall. It was oblong, crescent-shaped, and a little longer than the palm of her hand. Curious patterning covered it; bending down, Thorn realized that these were the lines and wrinkles found on skin.
A stone finger. Likely torn from the hand of an ogre.
Thorn was still processing this discovery when Toli leaped backward, swearing and drawing his sword. The ghostly shield expanded from his ring, shimmering into existence around his right fist. Thorn glanced over to see what had caused his reaction—and found herself staring into the eyes of a basilisk.
It was small for its kind, not much larger than a wolfhound, and it was curled under the table, contentedly chewing on a chunk of ogre. Its scaled hide was emerald green, and it was flexing the claws on all six of its legs. Its eyes were milky white, with no pupils. And, according to the legends, its gaze was as deadly as that of the medusa. Thorn snapped her eyes shut, knowing it was too late; she’d met the creature’s gaze dead on. But nothing happened. She felt no loss of sensation, no chill of her limbs turning to stone.
“Sheathe your weapon!” Sheshka’s voice was fierce. Her serpents hissed violently, but Thorn still heard another blade being drawn—a sword in Sheshka’s hand. “Lord Beren, if this guard of yours hurts my Szaj, I will have his head!”
“Toli, stand down!” Beren commanded, and fury blazed in his voice. “What is going on?”
“Dorn’s teeth, sir!” Toli swore. “There’s a thrice-damned basilisk down there!”
“Szaj will not harm you!” Sheshka snapped. “If he frightens you, look away. Raise your eyes and let us speak face to face.”
Anger infused her voice, but she’d dealt honestly with them at the feast. “Let me,” Thorn said. She looked up and opened her eyes.
As Thorn expected, Sheshka had closed her eyes. The medusa queen projected quite a different image at this meeting. She still wore the silver collar with the smoldering Khyber shard. But in place of her gown of white silk, Sheshka wore a light shirt of fine chain mail, along with vambraces protecting her forearms and long shin guards. She held a curved sword in one hand, and her mane of serpents writhed around her head, hissing her fury.
“Now lay your weapon down,” she said.
“Toli—” Beren said.
“No, sir!” Toli snapped. “I’m not letting you put your life in her hands. I want this lizard out of here, and a blindfold on this bit—”
“Enough!” Sheshka roared.
Thorn saw the medusa’s eyelids opening, and turned away in time. Caught up in his rage, Toli wasn’t so lucky. Thorn saw his eyes widen and his muscles go rigid. Black threads spread across his skin, growing and intertwining, spreading from skin to cloth to sword