The Obelisk

-Chapter 27-

Deep underground, in the Linbjord caves of Fjordur, a dragon waited

His bronze tail flicked back and forth. He listened carefully to the quiet echoes of dripping water off limestone around him. He waited. And waited some more. His eyes blazed like miniature fires as they darted back and forth.

“Looking for someone?”

He jerked up as the familiar slither from years of memory entered his ears. He whirled around.

A dark purple Basilisk snaked towards him, flicking her tongue in and out. Orange scales flickered in the light near her head and tail.

“Peeri,” The Wyvern hissed.

“Well hello, Jeth,” she said softly. “What brings you underground?”

Jethezzar straightened. “You.”

Peeris tail twitched. she tipped her head up. “Brought some friends, I see,” she said without looking at him.

Talons shuffled in the background as several of his soldiers flinched in surprise. “Stop doing that,” he snarled at her.

The Basilisk smiled. “What? Stop seeing the future? Well, you know I can’t do that. Just like you should know that I would see you coming with these allies to kill me. Which would obviously fail.”

“I doubt it,” Jethezzar snapped. “I could kill you whenever I wanted to.”

“Not when I know exactly what move you’re going to make,” Peeri pointed out. “It’s impossible to kill me now, I’m afraid.”

Jeth growled deep in his throat, writhing furiously. “I hate you.”

“The feeling’s mutual sometimes,” Peeri hissed calmly.

“One of your stupid followers tore up my favorite pet,” Jeth said.

“Ripper,” Peeri mused, nodding. “Hm. I see. She’s still alive, right? Still hissing and snapping, I assume?”

“She’s no use to me in her condition,” Jeth barked.

“Needles is a good carnivore,” Peeri said, ignoring him. “He has good futures.”

“Not if I kill him!” Jeth snarled.

Peeri gave him a apologetic look. “Oh Jethezzar,” she said sadly. “Y o u r futures are wavering so much these days. Can’t we just talk, for old times sake?”

“No,” Jethezzar snapped. “In fact, I have a better idea.” He flicked his wings back, standing on his back legs. “There are fifteen Ravagers behind me, and all I have to is flick my tail, and they will attack. Foresee how THAT will end for you.”

Peeri looked up at him. “You’d risk the lives of these soldiers?”

“They don’t mind,” Jeth said, “and neither do I. Besides… it’d be amusing to see a Basilisk try to take on fifteen Ravagers.”

Peeri sighed, looking down to the ground. A strange thrum echoed acrossed the cave, the ground trembling under Jeth talons and tail.

Then Peeri looks back up, her eyes glowing strangely. “I see ripping wings, fire and earth,” she said. “The flames that licked at the paths as they narrowed and narrowed and narrowed to this moment.”

“What are you saying?” Jeth asked. He backed up. Was she seeing the future? His future? Right now?

I will rule Fjordur, if it’s the last thing I do.

“Don’t take this path,” Peeri begged.

“I HAVE TO!” Jeth bellowed.

Peeris face fell sadly. “The fire has started,”she hissed. “it’s coming. For you.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Peeri chuckled sadly. “Your fate,” she began, “is inevitable.”

Jethezzar backed up, flaring his wings. “Take her,” He snapped at the gawking Ravagers behind him. “Take her NOW!”

Ravagers howled in unison as they leapt forward to grab onto Peeri. She hissed loudly and slipped through the battle, biting at the the necks of the soldiers and thwacking them with her body and tail.

Jethezzar jumped forward and grabbed Peeri with his wings, then slammed her into the ground, snarling. “Impossible to kill you, eh?” He asked.

Peeri laughed weakly. “You’re thick, aren’t you?” She panted. “Of course you can kill me!”

There was a pause.

“I just wanted to make sure… I warned you… one last time,” she closed her eyes.

“And you failed,” Jethezzar hissed.

And as Peeri smiled dimly, he took one claw and slit her throat.