to hack away.
With every stroke acid ichor spouted, so that Tempus’s skin sizzled, blistered,
and peeled.
There was no time to fear for Niko, beside him as if they were once more a
bonded pair.
Jihan was wound in coils, protecting one child who was absolutely silent. The
other, Arton, was curled up moaning, forgotten on the floor except when ichor
struck him and he squealed at the pain.
The snake didn’t flail or shrink from the damage Niko’s sword did, though
Tempus’s deeper cuts could give it pause.
The Riddler realized just in time what must be wrong-just as the snake was
tensing and Jihan, mouth open and eyes bulging as the breath was squeezed from
her, called his name and the viper fixed Niko with a gaze that pushed Stealth
backward and made him drop his sword.
For no snake, not even a Nisibisi snake, should be growing larger and bolder as
it fought and bled.
Tempus looked up and around and saw the source of the snake’s supernatural
power: an eagle perched, bating, in the bolthole of the palace wall.
Beside him, Niko faltered, his face blistered, his ankles entangled in the ever
growing coils of the snake.
Tempus knew he risked Stealth’s life as he stepped out of striking range and
raised his knifehand.
His eyes met the eagle’s and it called softly, a cry like a baby’s, and raised
its head and clacked its beak.
Then the dagger Stealth had loaned him flew through the air and struck the
eagle’s breast.
A screech like a witch burning at the stake resounded, so that Niko lost his
footing, hands clapped to either ear, and fell among the deadly coils.