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Chapter 8

Their secrecy was secured by twin rapid taps by Cordenth's paw, their victims being tied up and left behind one of the many alder trees they could find. Vishta tried to work her charm, insisting they shouldn't even risk that they would be found, implying _death_was her way of choice. The dragon would have sided with her if not for the empathetic look from his beloved, with but a word and he made her choice law. The curses that flowed from the kobold's maw were sweeter than honey.

Travel was marked by the passing of the sun; it's judging shadows ever lengthening through their arduous journey. Plant life seemed willing to catch claws or boots, laughing to itself as their time slowly but surely ran out. When they were not hindered by this, they were forced into thick bushes or among reeds, waiting for other siigonis patrols to pass them by. They said little to one another except to keep their spirits up over such travel, and steal glances to one another, complete with little smirks that made the dragon's heart sing.

This proved inconvenient for him only one time, distracting him through Broxl's ordered stop. Carrying through he walked straight into a fallen over trunk, crashing his snout into the water beyond. As he flailed, scattered vines clung to him, aided only by his unruly movements. When he emerged, his true form revealed, covered from snout to tail in these things, everyone greeted him with not empathy or care, but instead a symphony of hissing laughter that lit a great flame within his heart. Only Lyndis' kind words and soothing touch pulled him back from his brink, stopping what would surely have been a literal biting off of heads.

"Try warning me next time." He snapped in Broxl's face before proceeding to renew his siigonis disguise.

"Here I thought dragons had superior instincts? Why would I get in the way of those?" The hunter replied, getting nothing but a growl in response.

By the time they arrived at the stone idol of a great siigonis, they'd practically traversed around the entire marsh. The temple in which they sought, resting but a few miles away, a stone structure without equal. It reached towards the sky, it's stone pillars adorned with layers of creeping, blue moss. White birds with vast wingspans danced around it's pointed top, that crested through the tree's canopy like a lance. There were signs of movement out among the many trees, siigonis hunters or druids, going about their usual routine.

"Thanks for having my back." Cordenth whispered to Lyndis, as Broxl and Vishta procured her map, trying to figure out where their next spot would be. "With the sickness thing, I'm not really sick."

"You think?" She smirked, nudging him playfully. "Cough cough is generally not the best way to lie."

"You would know."

"Yea, but you wouldn't know."

"Course I would." He scoffed, "I remember the entire inspection team back at the fort. Not to mention, you never revealed you were a princess to me!"

"That's right, you were the horse." She muttered, tapping her chin. "And that other one doesn't count."

Chuckling, they pressed against one another, his arm resting comfortably around her waist. When she leaned against him, head tilted to his shoulder, everything else around them seemed less important. He was content. Without thinking he rested his jaw gently upon her head with a sigh.

"Thanks for going with my plan, rather than bursting down the front door. I'm surprised."

"How so?" He chuckled.

"That you were willing to put your own wants behind, listening to the others...Lets just say it's refreshing to not have to fight with a dragon on the subject."

"I think you need to spend time with more agreeable dragons. " He nuzzled against her, rumbling when she pressed against him, unable to hold in her giggle. They continued to lose themselves in one another for a time, finally interrupted by their companions as a consensus had been reached.

"And stop eating each other's faces." Broxl huffed, gesturing them along. "Or I'm leaving you behind."

"Hmmph." Cordenth replied, swelling his chest. "Keep up that attitude and when I fly us out of here, _you_will be left behind!"

Hidden among the weeds was the nest in which they sought, sticking from the marsh like a blighted tumor. It's entrance was wide enough for several people, hacked apart from a waxy like substance that made up it's entirety. Before it was a pair of stone siigonis, their limbs broken apart and laying consumed by moss upon the ground. There was a silence here that lingered, casting chills upon the air. No life moved within, most likely consumed by the hive's dutiful members.

"Well, here we are." Cordenth muttered softly, noting the sun was still quite far from slipping beyond the horizon. "And lucky us, time is ever on our side."

"Then why don't I feel lucky right now?" Lyndis remarked, hands upon her sheathed blades.

Broxl's tongue flicked, "Perhaps it's the death, rot and decay you can smell on the air."

"I can't tase that with my tongue."

"Ah...Well, it is there regardless."

Is that what that sweet smell was? Cordenth wiggled his siigonis snout, noting he'd still have to get used to the senses. He was already counting the moments when he'd return to his regal form, casting off such a common one as this. As Broxl and Lyndis were discussing how they should proceed, Vishta was still stuck in utter bewilderment, unable to keep her eyes off the hive.

"Here I thought you'd be excited to see this." He mused.

She gently trembled, reaching for her many pockets. "Yea, know that sensation where you read something plenty of times and think you're prepared? Only to arrive and find yourself realizing its not exactly the same thing?"

"No." He lied calmly.

"Well-" She gulped, pulling out her bottle of spray. "It would be that."

He could only rumble at such a thing, "Front door is looking mighty attractive is it not?"

"No, this is for the best...Always for the best." Vishta shook herself free of her stupor. "And you're ideas are utterly abysmal."

"Why you-"

"I have a way through." Broxl stated, pushing himself off the ground, "These tunnels indeed go through the marsh, directly towards where we seek. We should make it before nightfall or-"

"Gods, we get it." Groaned Lyndis, "Yea, don't have to keep reminding us, we know what they'll do, what will happen. Lets focus on it not happening?"

"Agreed." Cordenth nodded, padding to Lyndis' side, putting his arm around her. "Besides, if things get _too_scary for you two leggers, I can always resume my glorious form and blast away these pesky insects."

"Tunnels get quite narrow. We'd practically be on top of one another."

"Which just means I'll have to be more careful, lest I bath you in toxic gas, I know." Where they doubting his aim now? At least Lyndis would survive of them all, how could they not see that? They should be down on their paws right now, kissing at his scales, grateful that he'd even save them from such a terrible fate.

Eventually their silly fear fueled prattling was at it's end, leaving the dragon to only chuckle in amusement at their silent reservations. So it was they ventured forth into the terrible dark, clinging to the confident dragon like a torch sent from the gods. The air grew warm, ever thick with a cloud of moisture. Even with his lesser nose, he could identify the sickly-sweet scent of death and decay, not informing those around him of what exactly it entailed. Walls that curved around them bore the marks of inhuman hands, marring what must have been a shrine to the gods long ago. They wove themselves through the earth, a maze easy to lose oneself for many years, or until the creators awoke from their slumber. But this proved of little concern, guided by Broxl's ability to sense their vibration through even this bleak atmosphere.

The spaces pressed in at them from every side, hardly fit for a man, one would wonder how a dragon would even manage. But together they worked, squeezing and managing to contort their bodies, the consequence of their delay ever present on their minds. When the cavern grew vast it did so as if to captivate the eye, spreading so wide that Cordenth would feel right at home with his wing's spread wide. Part of him wanted to call out to test the echoing nature of a such a place but hardened looks of those around him warded him away of such an act.

"You're all spoil sports. Here I am, vast carven, and still I am denied."

"I know, silly us." Lyndis gently shoved him, careful to not have him trip. "Us wanting to live, how crazy can you get?"

"Do it later, somewhere else." Broxl grunted, "Know a place, the path of whispers, where your voice will bounce seven times."

"I'll hold you to that promise should we live." He huffed, arms crossed as the others practically dragged him along by a leash. If noy for Lyndis' arm on his shoulder, he'd have transformed and told them off, laced his words with insults most foul, they might even keep their distance from now on.

With his want denied him, the second cavern should have been a announcement from the gods that he should indulge in his wants and needs. Though as he stood, transfixed by the gooey webs above, he doubted it would be better of a time. There were half eaten corpses with rotted flesh still clinging to the bones, the bodies frozen in states of utter agony. Chest cavities were gnawed open, others burst from the inside, it was messy, violent, and the imagery nearly made him vomit.

"Really thought you'd try to shout." Lyndis remarked with a grin, once they'd reached the other side. "Guess you're learning." At his gesture to the corpses, she only grimaced, a hollow look in her eyes. "Oh."

To their relief and prayers, they finally stumbled across something that wasn't bleak, wrapped in chitin, or consumed by the sense that something would leap out at them at any moment. A trio of statues marked their safety, siigonis all motioning their spears together, snouts bowed in silent reverence. Unlike the entrance this place was untouched, most likely from the runes that were carved at it's edge.

"Warding spell." Lyndis muttered as they approached with as much haste as they could manage. "Thank the stars these people got that right."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Broxl growled.

"Come off it, with guard dogs like these, I was half expecting them to keep the blighters as pets." She motioned to the passageway that led beyond, "Now instead of gabbing at me, we can get to moving."

"But now we have all the time." Cordenth mused, running a claw over the ancient stone, admiring the carved figures of siigonis working the land, hunting its creatures, praying to a great siigonis that walked among them. Even he, unliked the vast encyclopedia of knowledge that was his brother, could appreciate something this old. "We walk in the workings of ages past. We shouldn't sprint through their halls like a group of unruly hogs. Who knows what curses or traps we could spring."

"When those that built it can guarantee my safety I might consider it." Vishta replied, tapping at her holstered energy crossbow, "Until then, I'll run as quickly as I please."

To Cordenth's rumbling pleasure, Broxl slid over, plucking the weapon, and stashing it into his pack.

"Don't give me that look, you're supposed to be a captive or recruit, they wouldn't have such weapons."

"And what am I going to do to defend myself? Rely on my knife?" She was up and arms when he confiscated that as well. "What do you expect? The dragon to save me?"

"Now we're catching on." Cordenth quipped, pretending to inspect his claws. "How were you not on that page?" Her groan was ever sweeter than was to be believed, even as she pleaded for something he could only wiggle his tail in utter delight.

"And we won't be needing it." He stated rather bluntly as Lyndis clutched tight her golden clasp and vanished from view. "If everyone lets me do the talking."

"Why do you look at me when you say that?" Cordenth replied, placing a claw to his chest.

"Because you complain and don't know how to act as my people do."

"How hard could it-" He scoffed at the narrowed look the siigonis gave him. "Fine, fine, but if this fails, I reserve the right to laugh and bring it up at every future social activity."

"Do whatever you wish, just shut you're yapping maw."

He couldn't help but dramatically gasp at such an insult, "Lyndis, did you hear how little gravity he paid me?"

"I did, now both of you work together. I don't care if you're tap dancing, just move it and let him do his focken job. Alright?" She kissed him on the cheek, blunting the sharpness of her tongue.

Yet still he seethed below the surface, grinding his teeth as he followed. It soured the artwork they passed, of carvings of siigonis worshipping dragons of long ago, their scales made of beautiful gemstones that glittered in the torchlight. It persisted as the others put on their casual faces, trying to blend in with the first group of siigonis they came across. Not a word was said, no look of suspicion shared, they were just another face in the crowd.

Guided by Lyndis' intel, they traversed their way through the packed temple, searching their way for the bottom most floor in which the book was supposed to be kept. Mirrors adorned every hall, reflecting light from the surface, ensuring their journey was not one filled with darkness. The air was thick with the stench of lizard, mixed with the dozens of herbs they used in their potions and incense. Once or twice they stuck their heads into two different shrines to the gods, one to Nutambar, the god of the forest, opening wide to the marsh beyond, the floor here resembled the forest floor, where a rings of mushrooms lay, waiting for the clerics to kneel and offer their morning prayers. The other was to Parunga, the god of fertility, am idol that resembling a gryphon sitting proudly, a ring of blue flowers around their head.

Within the temples halls and beyond, nothing seemed to be out of place. Siigonis went about their daily routines, cleaning hides, crafting garments, or practicing their craft in either weapons or magic. But with every breath, Cordenth couldn't help but see a darker spirit to all these mundane tasks, tainted by the knowledge who dwelled here. At any moment he expected to see swaths of blood, scores of bodies, a masterpiece of cruelty. When the sun had started to slip beyond the horizon they decided to follow a series of flying snakes through the temple walls, Vishta suggesting they were messengers that the druids used to communicate with one another.

Her intuition proved correct, the serpents slithering through the air lead them right to a handful of guards, blocking off the steps down from the rest of the facility. They were muscular, brutish in nature, their snouts twisted into cruel forms. Twin horns seemed to sprout from their heads, blackened and jagged like a demon. They wore little, showing off their beautiful scales, none of them matching what a siigonis _should_have had. Instead of the dull greens they were metallic, seeming to shift in the limited light. As the group sat in silence, observing this new obstacle, a pair slammed into one another, wrestling each other to the ground in a flurry of forceful blows. The others simply watched on, hissing with delight.

"Since when did your people have such resplendent scale?" Cordenth mused as the others discussed a plan to sneak on past.

"That's what you think of?" Broxl replied, tilting his head. "Of all the other things."

"I mean, you're acting as though the usual plan won't work. Why did we even stop?"

"Their choice in eyewear." Vishta whispered, gesturing to the rolling guards. Sure enough they each had a pair of goggles on their snouts, runes lining the crystal lenses. "Goggles of sight, can see right through invisibility." Her arms crossed, her brow furrowed. "How people like this got them is beyond me."

"Better question, why do they have draconic features?" Lyndis asked, leaning on Cordenth. "Who knows what kind of enhancements they've received. For all we know, they could be as strong as a giant, and as durable as a dragon."

"Abominations to be sure." Broxl hissed, eyes narrowed. "Foul magic from a sorcerer or something worse must be at work."

"Sure, just because they have dragon features, that makes them abominations." Cordenth growled, "And what I'm hearing is we can't just sneak passed them with invisibility. Second thought, I can conjure a fog, why not that?"

"Still will alert them. Defeats the entire purpose."

"Fine." He clenched his claw, "Then if sneaking is out of the question, lets find out how these enhancements stack against a dragon." He went to shift back his form, but Lyndis emerged, holding his arm back.

"Hold up, lets try and keep the murdering to a minimum, I have a plan."

"But is it needed?" Broxl asked, "I'm in agreement with the dragon. If they were going against our people, death is what they deserve."

He was in agreement? Cordenth almost offered the siigonis a compliment, but settled on merely a rumble and a nod.

"No, no murder." Lyndis stabbed her finger into both of their snouts. "I don't know why you two seem to have a boner for it."

"I don't have a boner for...That." Cordenth whisked her hand away. "But if it needs to be done, I'm going to at least enjoy it."

"No murder!" She took a deep breath to compose herself, checking if the guards had yet spotted them, they hadn't. "They can see through invisibility right?"

"Yes, that is what we were discussing." Vishta groaned, "Good to know you were paying attention."

"But those goggles do nothing against say...Illusions." Lyndis smirked, twirling her hand. "I could make myself a siigonis disguise, piled right on top of me. Broxl does the talking, they won't be the wiser."

"Didn't you just say their senses might be heightened? What if they can see through it?" Asked Cordenth.

"How many people have seen through my illusions?" She scoffed, gesturing to the now bleeding siigonis. "Besides, add on the descriptor of big dumb guard to that and it's none. I'm willing to roll the dice, are you?"

"We're already in this far." Vishta grumbled, "And if it's the only way..."

As the others sorted out their plan, he was only briefly listening, staring past these brutish guards and towards the stairs beyond. His eyes dilated as he drifted off, the sound around him growing muffled and dull. Soon all that remained was the pounding of his heart in his ear, and the overpowering sense that his mother was somewhere in these halls. But how could that be? Why would that be? He'd discount it if not for her ability to surprise him. She had wanted him to stay in Tetragon, was this her way of getting her claws into him once more?

"You alright?" Lyndis asked, gently shaking him to his senses. "Not actually sick are you?"

"No." He shook his head, "Just...I have this strangest sense that mother is here...I know, call it crazy-"

"You would be." Vishta shot back, "Why on the stars would she be here?"

"I'd say that bout anyone else, but not this ness." Lyndis said, "Radiant Star, are you certain she's here? She's the last thing we need."

How he wished he was, instead he was forced to scratch his chin, hiding his worry with a rumble down his throat. "Just means we best be more careful."

"Wonderful Idea that. Like we weren't going to." Mused Vishta, rolling her eyes.

"When your mother is a megalomaniac that controls everyone and everything, then you can judge my concern. Until then, shut your blithering maw." He snarled. Unfortunately for them all, the outburst had the unintended consequence of drawing the guard's attention, even now they were approaching with hardened stares. Evidently, they didn't look as though they belonged.

"What's all this then?" One guard remarked with a brassy voice marching over as Lyndis ducked behind a pillar. His scales seemed to flow like liquid platinum before their eyes, crackling with golden light. Before they could reply, his predatory eyes found Vishta, a grin overtaking his snout. "Ah, fresh meat. Didn't know we were getting another one, especially not one this runty."

"Runty ones are always fun to watch." Another chuckled menacingly, "I wager this one won't even last the first minute before being torn limb from limb."

"But that's what its for." First guard stood, glaring down at them. "To weed out the weak, make us strong." He thudded his chest, motioning for Vishta to do the same. "Finger crossed that you grow big and strong like us, otherwise you torn apart." He motioned to the others recounting their awakening, grinning with sharpened teeth or butting their scaled heads against one another.

"Right, strong, that's what I'm here for." Vishta grinned.

"We'll take her down below to be processed." Grunted Broxl, motioning them forward as if they belonged. Before her could take a step, the lead guard laid a hand upon the hunter's chest. The claws took up nearly the entirety of it, one could only ponder what his claws could do to flesh.

"Hold up. Where is druid?" Dozens of eyes traveled over them all, pondering, questioning, a murmuring rose around them. Something was wrong. "They always come with a druid."

Of course it was going to be something like that! Cordenth's eyes widened as Broxl floundered, excuses falling out of his maw that these guards were not buying. Dumb, Lyndis may have thought they were, but stupid they were not. Though he should have been terrified over the prospect of these larger beasts, alerting others of their entry, he instead found himself cool, collected, claws twitching and ready to strike.

"Something smells funny about this." The larger siigonis guard growled, reaching for his weapon at his side. "And we know what we do to funny."

Just as combat as about to be had, blood to be shed, this path was averted by the alluring image of a siigonis woman slinking out of Lyndis' hiding spot. Clearly it was the illusion by the way she sauntered over, a domineering attitude exuding from every step. Tail swishing the transformed woman approached, immediately taking control of the situation.

"There you got off to. I said to not get far ahead! Did you expect to leave me behind?" Her amber eyes flicked to Broxl, who was still putting two and two together.

"Course they wouldn't'" Vishta elbowed him, "They just lost track of you."

"Yes, lost." Broxl grunted, "This place is like a maze."

"I can get that!" One of the siigonis guards joked, slapping another on the back. "Too many rooms and halls."

"Yes." He ground his teeth, clearly not appreciating losing anything.

Lyndis swooped around Cordenth, batting her eyes, even in this illusion she was stunning to behold. The dragon found himself without words, no fear, no worry of how this was going to work, he only blushed and watched her talk circles around those before her. She had them eating out of her hand in no time, even getting them to apologize for holding them up.

"Very good lads, now I won't have to go telling the boss about this hold up."

"Always obey the boss." The guards responded in a monotone fashion, sending a shiver down Cordenth's spine. It was very similar in fashion to how his power worked.

Was his mother here? He found himself checking the corners, looking for any sign of her presence. Any misplaced stone, images of her face, even a flickering of the light. Was she watching now? Waiting to leap onto them, spring a trap they hadn't thought of? How he wished to have his true form, then he might be able to ascertain her scent. Instead, he was left wondering, nerves wracked by the prospect. He had to be shaken by Broxl to proceed as the guards bowed and let them pass into the depths of the temple.

"Don't sweat it, told you it would work." Lyndis chuckled deep in her throat.

"That was some fantastic improv." Vishta beamed, "If not for you being queen, I'd ask if you'd want to join k.i.n."

"And you know, not being a bleeding kolbold."

"Well, theres always magic for that."

Broxl stopped dead in his tracks, arm raised in alarm.

"Come now, is it time for funny arm motions?" Cordenth said.

"I smell a dragon." The siigonis uttered softly, lowering himself to the ground.

"Well of course you do, I'm standing right here. I must still smell of-" He snapped his maw shut. There were dragons here? Dread coiled within him like a pack of wolves, gnawing at his senses. There was a familiar feeling within, one he only had when around...His mother. She was here. "Fine, if she wishes to interfere with us let her try, we'll best her like all of the other times."