The next morning they left to the mountains. Merryn stumbled some, even after Han healing the poisons damage it didn't do much for the overall weakness. It couldn't be helped—have to keep moving, have to bring it home.

The path shrank again, making each step difficult as pebbles moved under her feet falling off the ledge on the right, she gripped a loose root jutting from the cliff until the wobbling quit. A snowstorm started only minutes up the path. So much for the goddess's blessing. A wry smile came and left.

Through the white—all that was visible ahead was Parcival's blue cloak flapping in the wind. The strong gust pushed her back. Can lift boulders back home, yet poison does this?

He turned came over, took hold of her hand, then turned to continue to plow ahead.

Huh? Trying to shake his hand away didn't work.

"Let go!"

Turning again he stopped then shrugged and released his hold.

A scraping sound, and some truly barbaric swearing from behind. Oh.

Han slid back keeling as another gust pushed on him.

It must be hard in this wind being so light. She extended her hand to him, pulling him upright.

Han took it mouthing: 'Thanks.'

She nodded.

An awful evil wind screamed as it twisted and tossed sharp snow off the path into her face.

"Urrg." He bowed his head and continue up the path.

She let him pass and followed behind. Besides, it was easier this way everything still felt numb and fat.

A punishment from Olenus? The blizzard seemed to confirm this by blowing harder and visibility was only a few feet now.

Gripping Han's shoulder she pointed to the left at a large fissure on the mountainside.

Han tugged on Parcival's jerkin.

Soon everyone squeezed into the opening.

She exhaled and shivered.

"I want to ask you something," Parcival said.

"What is it?" She gingerly laid back on the stone.

He faced to the side quiet for a moment.

"You died. I saw it, your aura had disappeared when you were in the container."

Merryn fiddled with a loose threadbare tie on her boot.

"I really don't know." She clenched her jaw. Not hating Maxwell was hard. She breathed in and whispered a quick prayer. Goddess forgive me and make me strong. The hate that had started went down and a comforting sensation came and went.

His brows deepened giving an air of seriousness to him.

"I want you to come with me. This infection is causing something, it's damaging more than just your body."

Infection? You could be called that.

He will die first.

Is the truth too bitter?

Things will be bitter alright.

A city full of humans... "I doubt they will treat me with the same kindness as you have."

"It'll be alright, you'll see."

It was nice not to have to fight to move for a while, maybe tomorrow would be better. Leaning back, she fell asleep as soon as her eyes closed.

When the storm stopped it was nighttime.

They exited the crack.

Finally. Further up the path it widened dipping into a small cavern opening.

The storm moaned one last time as if in lament to its end. A few feet later the opening widened, outside she smacked off the thick dust from her armor.

"Wow, look at the size of this place." Parcival leaned over and whistled. "Deep too."

Two large wooden pegs were in front where the path ended, a rope ladder hung off the ends of them down into the lightness depths.

Hmm. Going to need a bright one, that's for sure. Instead of just waving her hands, she traced a rune on her palm with a bit of charcoal in a pouch. Blood was best for this, but this will do. She pressed both palms together and envisioned the light globe.

"Luminous!"

The runes warmed on her palms before fading away, spent.

"If we go this path we should be out of these caves by nightfall," Parcival said.

"I do so enjoy caves." She shook heavily as they entered, and Parcival once again held her hand. A warmth spread on her cheeks. At least they can't see it. It's bad enough getting this way.

They made their way through a passageway on the right that winded down further.

A low and deep growling sound about mid-bridge. Her ears stood straight up.

Not good.

The beast smiled. Saliva dripped from its canines.

Really sharp fangs. Mouth dry she rolled her tongue around.

It took up most of the cavern, its tail curled to its paws.

"Backup. Back up now. No! Don't freeze up, Han move!"

The beast sighed. It stretched its limb over to Han. With surprising agility, it hooked its claw under Han's belt dangling him over the bridge.

"I wonder what you taste like. Sweet or salty?" It paused to lick the drool that dripped off its lip before it sniffed Han.

Han kicked at its nose, missed, and spun around, his shirt twisting.

"I taste awful very rotten. Like Jupern Berries."

"Merry, why don't you do that running spell of yours?" Parcival tried to edge closer but the beast flicked its tail at his face. He jerked back quickly.

"I can't my energy is almost depleted, doing so now would cause injury or worse."

Ah! Maybe if—Think, damn it.

The beast licked Han's side.

"You don't taste like them." Tilting its head and opening its jaws wide, it dangled Han over its gaping maw.

Merryn gripped the bridge's sides and went closer. No time to mull over this. Just act.

"Surely, you don't want such a puny, hairy, man thing as that in your mouth, do you?" Standing tall she struck a flippant pose.

"Don't eat me!" Han said. He shook violently, tears in his eyes. "I don't get paid enough for this!"

The beast narrowed its eyes at her. "You are in no position to decide, snippet!"

"A suggestion, nothing more." She shrugged. Masking the pain from her face as her body complained. Less numb than yesterday should be able to do it.

It brought Hans's feet inside his mouth. Han covered his eyes and shuddered, his tail proofed out, quivering.

"By no means, would I dare to tell one as great as you what to do with a meal. It's just that—oh, never mind."

Her fingers icy cold she forced them to unfurl before turning aside. Hope its curiosity is as great as its pride.

Parcival's eyebrows raised high at this, then he nodded at the beast.

"I've heard his kind gives such terrible heartburn, not that you'd have to worry about that."

The Behemoth closed its mouth while scratching behind a furry ear. It sat there with a stony glare.

"You remind me of another annoying forest elfin. In fact, you look exactly like her." It swished its tail.

She shrugged. "A meal will help, I never think well on an empty stomach."

It brought Han nearer to its face, then bounced him on its talon. "Heartburn doesn't bother me."

"You are mistaken, oh great one. For this is our first meeting." She shrugged. "You deserve far better than a stringy cat-man." You overgrown rat.

Its eyes were slits as thin as a razor's edge. "My hunger dulls my mind, unlike your flattery, that is clear. You sound and act much like her. Do not insult my intelligence."

Think, hurry up. She held her hands out, palms faced up. She smiled and tried to look honest.

"It is no flattery! You are truly grand, I've never seen the like. Now you insult mine honor."

The cavern filled with deep guttering rumbles of its laughter. The creatures grinned, showing its umpteen double rows of pointed teeth. "You know, he does look as if he'd be stringy."

She tilted forward. "Well, if you'd like I could find you something more appetizing." While smiling sweetly at it. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck.

Its eyes gleamed. Without a word, it placed Han down on the ledge. In an instant, it hooked her under the band of her leather armor dangling her over the bridge.

"You're so very right. Why eat that, when another that's so plump and meaty is so close?"It poked a claw at her breast and her legs. The stench of its breath was vile.

She tried to slow her breaths and stay calm. "Y-o-ou misunderstood me. What of the fleshy Graluv's that graze outside, in the valley below?"

It huffed, her wetting cheeks with snot. "Hoo-Hoo! What? And let three easy meals go?" She shuttered. Bad, bad, bad. How about? No. No. Gods.

It poked at the wall next to it with a claw easily. It swung her over to the hole, and with its other paw jammed the tip of her shoulder armor into the hole, locking her in place. The creature reached for Parcival and turned its head.

She twisted, kicked, and pushed on the stone. Arrg!

Han stood up, his knees together. He pulled out his saber from his belt loop running up to the beast, jumped, and slashed out with his saber. A direct hit cut its nose wide open. Blood squirted out and ran down.

"Get him, Han!" she said.

Han winked and made an exaggerated bowing motion complete with a hand roll. "I was an actor not long ago." He sniffed. "A good one too."

"You cocky little snot, I'll bite your head off!" The creature roared.

Working at the stone around her shoulder. She dug a dagger into a crack. The stone wouldn't budge. Sawing on the leather while watching the beast.

The blow not powerful enough to do any real damage, but it had to hurt.

The creature turned to roar again in Han's face.

Her ears rang.

Han cupped his ears.

Parcival?

The beast's eyes smoldered. It smashed the top of the exit to the right with its paw.

The cave wall broke into chunks and blocked the exit. It flipped its tail, sending Han over the side into the depths.

"Han!"

She pulled, on the stuck armor. Break already! The Behemoth laid its paw on top of her and snorted.

"Ah, so you do care for the ocelot one."

She sniffed indulgently. "Ha! Of course not. Would a dog care for a flea?" Name, name name, what was its name again, infuriating? No. Gah! Infernum? A lump in her throat choked, she gulped hard. Slippery sweat greased her palms she rubbed them on her leggings.

Parcival began to pad to the other end of the bridge, his eyes bolt white for a breath. He came out from the shadows of a jutting ledge along the right side of the wall behind the creature.

Infernum's short whiskers twitched. He snaked around shoving his face into Parcival's. His breath fogged up Parcival's thick circlet.

Damn!

"Not so quiet as you imagined you were human."

He grabbed at him with a gigantic paw. It tossed him against the wall Parcival smashed into it, sliding down, stunned.

She hacked at the armor, it split and cracked, one last tug.

"Your honor is but a sham!"

"What do you know of honor? I the mighty Infernum am honorable! It is you who has none entering my home without permission!"

"While true eating us doesn't fix your problem O' great one. With no one to warn others away, more will come."

Infernum blinked. "I don't care right now. You all woke me up. Get out or be lunch."

She tugged, dropping down.

Infernum wrapped its tail around Parcival's torso, hanging him upside down. Parcival's sword slipped free of its scabbard and ricocheted off the edge of the ledge.

Parcival gripped Infernum's tail tightly. "Merrlyn!"

"Let him down. Or you will rue this day." Her voice lowered an octave, she punctuated each word slowly. The old speak came more easily, it's been what a hundred years?

Interesting. How about a little push?

No.

A force of will alone won't hold me back forever.

Stop distracting me.

Take care of it then.

She pulled her daggers out of their sheaths.

"I don't bargain. Tell me now, or watch him die like the other." Infernum said.

"I'm done being nice. Pucker formally and pucker the blow to you!"

She raced over to him, bounding over, jumped on his hindquarters, and landed on his back. Then yanked his furry ear.

Her dagger split its ear in half, black blood gushed from the wound running down her arm and dripping off the elbow.

Infernum roared.

"You little brat!"

She scrabbled forward leaning over the top of its head pointing a dagger between his eyes.

"Then how 'bout this, let us see how far I can plunge this into your brain. Does that suit you better?"

Infernum's eyes crossed. "I'll give you twenty-four hours to leave my cavern."

"Perhaps now is not the time to argue with him," Parcival said.

He arched his arms behind him, in an attempt to keep the cape from wrapping around his face.

"I'll make you a deal. Interested?" I beg you Olenus, help us.

"A deal with my lunch? Now you insult me!"

He swung Parcival like a pendulum.

She turned her head. "Well then, Infernum we have nothing to discuss, finish it."

"Ah, the little assassin remembers. This pleases me, that you choose the truth." Infernum set Parcival down on the ledge next to her. He rolled his eyes and snorted.

"How dare you I'm no assassin."

"Merryn right now isn't the time to argue with him."

"What could you possibly have to interest me?" She resisted turning to talk to him about that 'dear.' "I was thinking that very thing. I was thinking how vulnerable you must feel when sleeping."

"Is that a threat?" He growled, blowing hot breath from his muzzle.

"Oh, no, it's you know just—them."

"Them? Who is them?"

He pinched her shoulder with the points of two claws. She winced.

"Didn't you hear? You must have by now!"

"little Elvin tell me or..." He let Parcival slip before tightening his tail.