Chapter 24 - The Dragon's Tooth
Garnthalisbain's disappeared with a snap, the wind dying in a rush. Tasha spun a full circle to get a better idea of her surroundings.
All four of them were standing on a steep, rocky plateau. And judging by the clouds to the sides and even below them in some cases, all evidence pointed to them being near the peak of the mountain.
Ambori's face was as white as a sheet, his eyes trying to bulge out of his head. Skarlett laid a supporting hand on the distraught bard's shoulder and spoke soothingly, trying to keep him calm. The wemic seemed to be having no problems with what had happened, simply accepting that everything had worked out the way Garn had said it would.
Hal was sitting on a large rock outcropping with his large, half-moon bladed axe out and at the ready. His hair was slowly becoming loose from the thong he had tying it back and was fluttering about in the stiff, icy breeze. The expression on his face was one of calm patience.
And me? Tasha had wrapped both of her arms about her slender frame, hugging herself protectively and trying to keep her teeth from chattering. That she was alarmed by the suddenness of arriving at their destination would be an immense understatement.
Gods, I'm terrified.
"Is everybody all right?" she asked.
Hal nodded once, slowly. Skarlett waved one hand absently. Ambori however looked like a frightened animal. "I think so," he said quietly. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with me... but I feel as if... I don't know how I feel."
Tasha stood next to him, quelling the quivering in her belly with a firm, clenched jaw. "Do you need time to settle down before we go?" Ambori started, glancing at her in surprise. She shrugged. "We're here. Let's just go and get it over with."
Put on the spot in front of the others, Ambori took a moment, breathing deeply. Then he shook off Skarlett's hand and straightened his back. Then he closed his eyes and shook his head lightly. Bravely, Ambori opened his eyes and forced himself to look down at the clouds and beyond them to the earth so far below. His face started to look a little green around the gills again as he forced his gaze away. "I just wish we weren't so high up," he mumbled.
Skarlett chuckled softly behind him. "That's why it's called a mountain, Ambori. Because they're mountainous."
The bard frowned. "I think you've got the origin of your term backwards."
"Quite possibly. I'm only an historian after all."
Ambori shook his head again and sighed.
Tasha marveled at the hand-carved path of stairs that stood before them. Each stair was at least three feet long and a foot wide making the half-hour climb up the mountain's peak very easy. Although given the altitude and cold winds, also very dizzying. There were no handholds and nothing to grab onto in the event of a fall.
Hal walked up next to her and added his gaze up the staircase as well. His battleaxe was replaced in his belt loop but it's leather safety sheathe was nowhere to be seen. Tasha frowned up at him. "What do you think?" she asked the big man.
Hal blinked once before slowly looking down at her slim frame. "I beg your pardon, milady?"
"What do you think?" she repeated.
He blinked again. "That's what I was afraid you said," he mumbled. Scratching at the back of his head, Hal peered back up the staircase and squinted. Then, after a few silent moments of that he turned towards Tasha once again. "About what?" he asked.
"What?"
"Exactly."
Tasha just barely kept herself from continuing that line of the conversation. Running a hand over her eyes and taking a deep breath, she started over. "What do you think about our current situation?" she clarified.
Hal's eyes seemed to light up as he caught on to what she was referring to. "Oh!" he began brightly. "Well, I think it's pretty... uhm, inter... uhm... different from what I thought. I mean, I was figurin' we'd have to at least climb the mountain but... " He was abruptly cut off as Tasha reached up and cupped her hand over his mouth.
She frowned at him almost angrily. "I'm going to make this very simple, Hal. I know that you are not that stupid." He started to say something but she swung up her other hand in an abrupt silencing motion. "I know it. Now, in case you hadn't noticed, this is hardly the time or the place for messing around. So, if you don't mind, I'd like you to answer my questions as seriously as possible. Okay?" Hal nodded. She lowered both hands and took a deep breath. "Good. Now, you heard what Garn said about there being people up here waiting for us, right? Good. So, what do you think we should be expecting?"
Hal shrugged. "Just about anything, milady."
"I don't understand."
The big man frowned at the thought of trying to explain one of his ideas. "We don't know what might or might not be up there, waitin' for us. So we gotta assume the worst."
"How so?"
"For starters, we gotta believe that there's someone around every corner. In every shadow. For all we know there's a legion of guys up there in plate mail with a whole fleet o'wizards with 'em. You see, if we expect something along those lines... "
"We'll be ready for just about anything. I get it. Thanks, Hal." She looked over to Skarlett and Ambori. They were just taking one last accounting of their gear and making sure that everything was still strapped in place. Skarlett unconsciously continued to swish his tail back and forth as they waited while Ambori rubbed at his arms fiercely, trying to keep out the chill wind. Tasha found herself mimicking the bard, wrapping her arms about herself, trying to quell the sick feeling in her stomach.
Do not throw up, Tasha. Do not!
"Milady?" Hal said, comfortingly laying one of his large hands on her shoulder. She looked back at him and was forced to blink. The rising sun had just reached it's mid-morning level and was directly behind Hal, silhouetting him in an almost ethereal way. Strangely, it gave Tasha the courage to say what she had to say next.
"Gentlemen?" Skarlett and Ambori looked up expectantly. "It's time."