Chapter Thirty-Eight #2
Marcella, being every bit the skilled tracker she claimed to be, found deep, winding tracks in the ground that led us farther south. From there, we began spotting broken rocks and trails of waste filled with bones and half-digested animal prey.
I didn’t look to see if the bones were human.
We know we’re getting close when the air shifts from damp soil and rich woody notes to slithering decay. Even the birds disappear, taking their pleasant tunes with them.
It’s as if this part of the woodlands is…frozen, almost.
Marcella and Gray lead while Griff takes up the rear.
We reach a trickling stream where the line of trees thins and gives way to a rocky path leading to a cave opening.
Marcella halts, crouching down and placing her palms flat against the soil.
Small roots sprout and twist from the soil, zipping quietly across the ground and into the cave.
After a few seconds, the roots recede back into the dirt, and Marcella rises.
“The Blue-Horned Adder is in there. Presently, it sleeps.”
“That…” Griff starts, his chin between his fingers. “Was really cool.”
I arch a brow at him before looking back to Marcella. “That’s good, right? We can catch it off guard. Attack it while it sleeps.”
Marcella and Gray exchange wary glances.
“What do you remember learning about the Blue-Horned Adder?” Gray’s question comes out bleak, and it causes a knot to form in my stomach .
“Only that their venom causes hallucinations, and that they abhor Mugwort.” And as the words tumble from my mouth, all I can think is: Great. More venom.
Marcella slides her eyes to Gray, who nods with some silent confirmation.
She blows out a breath. “Blue-Horn Adders have extremely keeled dorsal scales that make their skin as impenetrable as Arellian steel. They are cunning, vile, ruthless creatures that relish in trapping their prey. It’s been ages since one has been spotted, and frankly, I’m shocked they sent examinees to dispose of it instead of actual Jurafen.
” She pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.
“Then again, I’m not surprised at all considering they assigned us .
I’m sure Finlay is hoping the creature wipes us all out. ”
Gray watches her, understanding resting within his eyes.
“Trying to kill it in its own territory would be a suicide mission,” he elaborates.
“It knows the cave better than any of us, can see within the darkness, and we’d risk trapping ourselves between the Adder and a wall.
” He pauses, thinking. “We need multiple, open routes to escape its teeth, horn, and tail.”
“Painfully excellent odds,” I mutter.
Nuri’s brows are pinched with thought. “Its horn is its weakness, correct?”
“It is,” Gray confirms. “But it is incredibly difficult to access the horn. The Adder is very aware of its weakness, and it does all that it can to protect itself against it.”
“Be that as it may,” Nuri begins. “Perhaps it would be best to form a plan that works to exploit its weakness. There are four of us, and the three of you have rather rare magics. If we use that to our advantage, I think we stand a good chance of winning.”
I resist the urge to slump, deciding it’s best not to sprinkle more pessimism onto an already bleak situation by telling Nuri I still barely know how to use my magic. That I’m only now learning how to fight.
“We do need a plan,” Marcella agrees. “And we need one fast. Blue-Horned Adders are nocturnal, but we can’t be sure whether or not it’ll leave its cave to hunt when the moon rises. We don’t have the luxury of time to sit around and find out, so…”
“We need to lure it out,” I finish.
She nods. “As soon as the moon peaks, we need to lure that Adder from the cave. Then, we strike before it can realize what’s happening.”
“Agreed,” Gray says. “We just need to figure out a plausible way to do that.”
Everyone grows quiet as they float deep into their minds, attempting to find a solution. Griff watches us all silently, sitting a few feet away from us on a large, flat rock.
I begin pacing, determined to find a solution.
I know I won’t be much help when it comes to taking the creature’s head, so I’ll be damned if I don’t help them at least come up with a way to lure the creature out.
But what would entice a Blue-Horned Adder?
What would guarantee that it leaves its shelter?
A stray sunbeam hits me in the eye, and I wince, blinking at the golden horizon. It’s hard to believe sunset is already approaching. The days are growing shorter, I realize.
Which means we’re losing time.
But then that realization smacks me in the face with another one.
I whirl around to face everyone, excited. “The Autumnal Equinox is approaching.”
Marcella’s features pinch together with confusion. Gray’s brows furrow. And Nuri watches me closely with sharp eyes.
“And that matters because…?” Marcella drawls.
My eyes slide to Gray. “Do you remember helping your mother the morning after you told me you were leaving for Bathara? More specifically, what you were making?”
Gray’s brows wrinkle with thought as he visibly rakes through his memory—until his eyes round with realization.
“The Autumnal Equinox is approaching,” I repeat again, my grin wide and unflinching. “And I have a plan.”