The Obelisk

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The Obelisk

-Chapter 63-

The Megalosaurus shuddered awake with a quiet gasp, his pupils contracted to slits in fear. Just a nightmare. The same one he had last night. the feeling of his claws sinking into another’s scales.

He shook it off. He was an assassin, for crying out loud! he needed to be stronger than this.

There was a cough from the hallway. The Megalosaur looked up.

A greenish brown Terror bird leaned against the bars of the cell, his head twisted around to give the Megalosaurus a slightly bored stare. The Terror bird waggled his eyebrows. “Howdy,” he said.

The Megalosaurus exhaled, closing his eyes and turning his head away. “What do you want?”

“Nothing,” Said the Terror bird. “just thought we’d have a little chat.”

The assassin groaned quietly. He did not have time for this Terror bird. He just wanted to go back to sleep.

“I’ll start.” The Terror bird said. “My name is Quake.”

“Ahhhhh,” The Megalosaur hissed, lifting his head to glare at the Terror bird. “Thought I recognized you. You’re the Terror bird who bullied my cousin.” He spat the last sentence out like a rotten kill.

“Is that so,” Quake said. “his name was… Umber, right?”

“yes,” answered the Megalosaur.

“Alright. Your turn.” Quake sat himself down as if getting ready for a thrilling bedtime story. “How did you get in here?”

The Megalosaur growled deep in his throat and turned his head away.

“Don’t like to talk about it, do you?” Quake asked with an arrogant smile. “well, that won’t be a problem. I’ll just check your prisoner files,” He held up a small scroll.

The assassin perked his head up. “how did you get that?”

“Snuck it from the General,” answered the Terror bird. “No big deal. Now, let’s take a looksee, shall we?” he held it up and unrolled it carefully with his claws. He began to read. “‘Midnight.’ Ooooo, charming name. ‘Assassin. Arrested for attempting to murder his own Cousin. ’” He snickered. The Megalosaur winced, looking away.

Quake continued reading. “‘to be held for three moons in the prisons before judgment by the.’ Tsk, tsk. You’ve only been in here for, what, a moon now? You’re gonna be here for a long time. Unless… you got out.”

“What are you saying?” The Megalosaur asked.

“One more question for you, Midnight,” Quake hissed. “Why did you try to kill your cousin?”

“I didn’t,” he said.

“what do you mean?” Quake asked.

“It was an accident.”

“What kind of accident? What could possibly happen that would have you attacking your cousin?”

“it was an accident!” Midnight roared. “he—he jumped in the way.” His head hung low with guilt. “he jumped in the way of the target.”

Quake looked delighted. “Who was your target?”

Midnight hesitated. “Go ahead,” Quake hissed.

The assassin lifted his chin and said, “the Emperor.”

A slow, grim smile spread acrossed Quakes face as he snickered lightly. “The Emperor…”

There was a moment of silence in the prisons. Midnight watched the Terror bird soldier sit there, his eyes gleaming in a malevolent leer that made him look creepy and maybe a little bit insane. At last Quake said, “you still up to it?”

“What?” Midnight demanded.

“We’re not so different, you and I,” Quake said to him. He lifted his gaze to Midnight, and they locked eyes for a second too long. Midnight blinked at the eye contact.

“You’re tired of Avalanche,” Quake said, “I’m tired of Avalanche. You want a new Emperor, I want a new a Emperor. And we’re both willing to kill for our kind.” His voice was lower than a whisper now. “I ask again: Are you still up to it?”

Midnight thought for a moment. “what’s in it for me?”

“Eh, not much,” Quake said with a shrug. “just your freedom. Along with a new Emperor of the Terror birds. Plus, you can go crawl back to your little cave world, and not have to ever deal with us again. We’ll stay outta your business.”

“So, Midnight,” Quake said again, “Wanna kill Emperor Avalanche?”

For Umber. “Heck yes I do.”

The cell door creaked open. “You’re hired,” Quake said with a smile.

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