Of Snakes & Lies
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 88302
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"What!?" snorted Belboz, taking a step back and regarding the young
princess with more than a little ire in his dark, seething eyes. Gregor, likewise, seemed quite taken back. "Poppycock!" he exclaimed. Lord Fred, though not as personally affected by the revelation, was just as mortified as the other two. "Yaivaine!" was all he could manage at the moment, his mind a tempest of misgivings and unanswered questions."Oh, come off it!" the princess retaliated. She turned to Fred with a pleading look in her eyes. "Look, I know I have a lot of explaining to do. But you have no idea what I've been through these last three years. It's all very complicated!" This girl was too much, mused Fred. Her lies were built upon a cornerstone of even more lies. And for what? What were her motivations? She seemed more and more a snake in the grass with each word that left her forked tongue. She also seemed to be playing them all like a fiddle, on that note. And there was something much larger going on here, as petty as it all may seem at first glance..."Your lies are dangerous. Take that back, Yaivaine," Belboz said in a level voice, having composed himself. "Right!" Gregor agreed. "Take that back. I refuse to believe you could have willingly gave yourself over to this...snake." He glared at Belboz.Belboz returned the look. "Oh, snake, is it?" he said with an unnerving smile. "I've been called worse. You're simply jealous of my prowess. You're a rank amateur, Gregor, and I'm sick of your meddling. Let's have it out. Right here, right now. You and me. No more slinking about the caves, spying on one another and all of that rubbish. I may be a snake, but at least I have backbone and cunning. You are a worm, slimy, spineless, and mindless." That remark struck a chord with Gregor. "Very well," he said simply, raising his staff. "We shall handle this."Pride is the downfall of many a mage. Fred braced himself and Yaivaine took her post behind the knight, clutching his arm for safety.Gregor took his staff and, in a worthy show of skill, swung it at Belboz's head. It was a forceful attack, and striking in it's swiftness, but Belboz dodged it somehow. Fred thought he saw a multi-hued sheen of iridescence to the shape-shifter's robes that he hadn't noticed before. Belboz paused and focused his energy, eyes shut - leaving himself vulnerable. This allowed Gregor another opportunity, which he seized, swinging low this time. His staff found it's mark. With a sharp cry Belboz was toppled, his legs giving way. Once down, he seemed to melt into the very ground. The ankle-high grass swayed and gave way on a course toward Gregor, whose blue eyes widened in terror. A split second later an enormous, dark viper emerged and struck him in the leg. His cries of anguish echoed through the looming forest as the fangs sunk deep into his flesh.He reached down and tore the snake from his leg, flinging it away in the same motion. Without hesitation, he was upon the serpent and, with his staff, crushed it's head. "It is done," he muttered, and then collapsed. "Come, Fred!" urged the princess, yanking at the knight's arm. "We must leave at once!"Fred was torn. He needed answers. He still felt Gregor was a man who could provide him with these. The princess had fallen completely out of his favor, but was still his King's daughter. Danger still hung thick in the air, and it would not be dishonorable to beat a hasty retreat with her in tow. Without some hesitation...
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12/25/2009 10:56:28 AM
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