Fire blossomed and Tal whistled low as the light reflected back at them from a hundred unblinking scarlet eyes. Rubies predominated, ranging from the size of the head of a pin to the size of his fist, glittering in uncut glory from the walls, ceiling, and floor of the place.
Tal hated it.
He nodded grim agreement to the startled 'fuck' that sullied Sah's mouth, but the next words that emerged from the hunter helped ground the courier and shake some of the awe from his eyes. "Stop actin' like you're still Warden, Jester," Tal grumbled back, his own anxiety at the strange cavern putting him on edge but no longer as cowed as he had been at first. "I know my business."
And he did. While Sah chatted with thin air, Tal tiptoed around the cavern until Boreal suddenly snorted and drew his attention to an area near the center. Fires had been set here in a hearth made of garnet. Many fires, if the sooty residue and ashes were any indication, and the courier quickly knelt and scooped a handful of them into a metal box he'd brought for the purpose, before tucking it back into his Bag.
"Don't be callin' down attention we can't deal with," he scowled, looking around again as he straightened and eased back across the cavern to put his back to Sah's so they could each watch the other's six as they sidled towards the exit again. "Are you thinkin' this is a shrine to that new old goddess?" Just to be on the safe side, he didn't name any names.
Tal hated it.
He nodded grim agreement to the startled 'fuck' that sullied Sah's mouth, but the next words that emerged from the hunter helped ground the courier and shake some of the awe from his eyes. "Stop actin' like you're still Warden, Jester," Tal grumbled back, his own anxiety at the strange cavern putting him on edge but no longer as cowed as he had been at first. "I know my business."
And he did. While Sah chatted with thin air, Tal tiptoed around the cavern until Boreal suddenly snorted and drew his attention to an area near the center. Fires had been set here in a hearth made of garnet. Many fires, if the sooty residue and ashes were any indication, and the courier quickly knelt and scooped a handful of them into a metal box he'd brought for the purpose, before tucking it back into his Bag.
"Don't be callin' down attention we can't deal with," he scowled, looking around again as he straightened and eased back across the cavern to put his back to Sah's so they could each watch the other's six as they sidled towards the exit again. "Are you thinkin' this is a shrine to that new old goddess?" Just to be on the safe side, he didn't name any names.
