The Icon Unbound

Chapter Sixteen, Part A - The Icon

There is a lot going on here. Like a lot. A lot of questions will be answered and the snowball of decisions are going to tumble us towards the finale. We are more than halfway there, folks. Let me know how you feel in the comments below. A few fixes here for dialog and continuity. Tell me what you think of the Icon's choice in the comments below, and leave me a vote, if you would! --Elizabeth, UPDATED 06/10/2017

It coiled like a snake.

Twenty larvae spears were poised to drive into the drakys if it moved an inch in any direction, but it didn't seem to care a bit. The Icon knew, right to her soul, that if it decided to move, all of them would be tossed aside.

It waited for them. For her.

Saints preserve her, the bloody thing was twice Nadir's size. Instead of silver its scales were green as grass. Red chains circled its neck in great loops on which little silver vessels dangled precariously.

Had this creature brought dark water up the mountain in those?

When a single drop could do so much damage a thin metal container and a cork seemed like precious little protection. But then, this particular drakys did not seem interested in keeping the world safe.

When she walked up, it swiveled its head and opened its mouth. The expression on its face, it was like it recognized her.

The Icon tried to calm herself, but her breath came in shorter and less helpful pants. Everything she had learned, from all the previous Icons, crumbled under the weight of the revelations today.

How else had Sarah mislead her?

She put her hand on Nadir's shoulder, only to discover he trembled too. "Shh, we'll find out what's going on my friend. Shh, I'm frightened enough for both of us."

Scared or not, they had to have answers. Taking out her knife, she made a small cut her finger. Nadir pressed close to her as she brought her bleeding hand to the other drakys mouth and let the dark drops splash on his needle thin teeth. When she was certain enough blood had dripped onto that black tongue for the magic to work she jerked her hand back.

"Who are you, and why have you disturbed the peace of Waterwall?'

He answered her, his voice in her mind. "Hello, little one. I thought all your kind had vanished from under the sun long ago, that this shield was but a relic. How happily I am surprised! A true daughter of our lost kingdom is once again before my old eyes."

"You are mistaken. I am the Icon of waterwall, and you will answer my questions. Why have you come here, carrying the abominable dark water, infecting the peaceful inhabitants of this place. Answer me, and I will plead for a swift death before the Arbiter."

"You would kill me? Such a shame. If all you desire is to spend yourself in slavery, then by all means... do so. Before your strike will you tell me if it was your mother or your father that disappeared? How long did your old Icon wait before snapping you up as an Apprentice? I'll wager she didn't pause a week from the time she first laid eyes on you to when she told you would have the honor of following in her footsteps."

She took a step back. She couldn't help it. Listening to his words was like listening to her own fear. The Icon had the sickening realization that this creature could eat her without ever sinking one fang into her flesh. A moment later she felt Saiph's warm hands on her shoulder and his voice in her ear.