Skales x Pythor: My Loyal Number Two

Chapter 5: A most devious trap

And I'm back with another chapter. Lloyd has been captured, and Pythor is most likely already coming up with a trap. Let's how things unfold.

"So, what are we gonna do with this nosey little fellow?" Mezmo asked Pythor while holding on to the boy's collar, so he wouldn't try and run away. Not that Skales thought it was necessary. The child looked completely terrified, and even then if he would dare to try and run, the Hypnobrai wasn't counting on him making it very far.

Pythor took a quick look around, trying to find a suitable place for their surprise guest. A wicked smile spread across his face when he noticed a cage hanging from the statue of the Great Devourer.

"Yes, that seems rather suitable. Hypbnobrai, how about you show our guest to his 'room', I'm sure he's quite tired after such a long journey." The Anacondrai commanded, his eyes locked firmly on the boy in front of him, who made an effort to avoid his gaze.

"I have a name," Mezmo replied, his tone almost as hard as stone. It took a moment for Pythor to register that the Hypbnobrai wasn't obeying his order. His eyes shifted to the snake, who just stared back at him, both equally unwilling to relent to the other. While Skales normally wouldn't have minded seeing how long their standoff would last, he had just been promoted to a rather lucrative promotion. One that solely relied upon the power and authority of a particular Anacondrai. So it would only be natural for him to defend said snake's authority.

"Mezmo, you have been given an order by your King! I would advise you to obey." Skales stated, his tone just stern enough to indicate that it would be in Mezmo best interest to listen. The Hypnobrai shifted his gaze to Skales, and stood silent for a second, before gesturing a single nod.

"As you say, General. Get moving, pipsqueak!" He gave Lloyd a hard push, before following behind him as the boy reluctantly walked over to his cage.

Skales looked before noticing Pythor staring at him, looking not too pleased.

"I thought you had your people under control!" He hissed at Skales, worried that Mezmo's disobedience was going to be a regular recurrence with the other Hypnobrai as well. A notion Skales was more than happy to dismiss, as he wasn't too keen to find out what Pythor regarded as proper ways to discipline troops.

"And I do. I assure you Pythor, Mezmo isss just old-fashioned. He, and perhapsss along with othersss, need you to prove yourself before they're willing to ssshow you the respect, you apparently so desperately ssseek."

"Respect?! I've already defeated all their Generals, given them the lost city of Ouroboros, and united the Serpentine, what more do they need to see?!" Pythor exclaimed as the two of them made their way over to the statue, his tone seething with bitternes.

"Yesss, you've shown your raw might and intelligence, but you still haven't proven your leadership yet," Skales explained, trying to be helpful, rather than just insulting Pythor. He remembered back to when he decided to do something about Slithraa. It was only once he had destroyed the ninjas' monastery and retaken the staff, that he dared oppose his General. The key part was winning the trust of the others by showing them that he could lead them to victory, before laying his claim as leader of the tribe. A step that Pythor had seemingly decided to ignore, and one that Skales had to remind him of.

"But don't worry, you will have plenty of chancesss to ssshow them that you're a worthy leader. Especially if you have more of these plansss of yoursss." Skales continued with a somewhat praising tone, giving the Anacondrai a reassuring look. Even Pythor seemed to forget his anger upon hearing his second-in-command's praise.

"Oh, I've got plans, my dear number two. Plans that soon will show every Serpentine that I only want what's best for us."

Pythor let out a small chuckle, making Skales eagerly wonder what he was planning on doing next. They then made their way to the cage, where Memzo and Lloyd were standing, apparently waiting for them.