Stathis let Mavrosa have her head, the horse seemingly glad to be allowed to move at full speed, charging through the woods. Parth soon fell behind, fading into the darkness and the trees, but Semari kept up, bounding between trees.

The medusa was still cold and too-still in Stathis’ arms, although one of her hair-snakes gave a sudden twisting spasm, a tongue flicking out. Stathis had to readjust the woman’s position over the horse to stop her sliding off, her body jolting around as Mavrosa surged to full speed, jolting Stathis around on her back. But the forest sped by, quickly giving way to the open fields, the wall of the town flashing into vision from the darkness.

She rode through the gate, whoever was on watch yelled something, Stathis trying to make a note to get a bell or something up there. ‘Pajaran!’ She looked around, trying to find the cleric, as murmurs of concern and panic started to spread the townsfolk. Stathis slid off Mavrosa, taking the woman into her arms. The snakes were a little more active now, one twining around her arm, a mouth gaping open, fangs sliding against metal.

‘Where’s Pajaran?’ She shouted at one of the townsfolk, who managed to gather themselves enough to point towards the central hall. Stathis thanked them before marching that way, as another snapping line of lightning sparked downwards into the pillar.

Fortunately, someone ran ahead of her to open the doors, saving her having to kick them open, striding into the open hall. Unlike the dark gloominess outside, here everything was lit in bright blue, light-emitting crystals shoved into sconces that should hold torches. One wall was covered with Hakara’s work, diagrams and runic notation scribbled onto scraps of paper or chalked onto the stone walls.

‘Pajaran!’

‘What’s the fire?’ Pajaran stepped out from one of the back rooms, her mace already in hand, before frowning when she saw the situation. ‘What have you been doing now?’

‘There was a fight, I don’t know against who, but then an earth elemental attacked. She took the brunt of it. I’m pretty sure she’s their leader – she’s not dead yet, but she’s pretty beaten up.’

More snake-strands had twined themselves around Stathis’ arm, tightening up, metal clinking as another attempted to bite through her armour without success, making a disgruntled hiss noise.

‘You kidnapped their leader?’

‘I was thinking more if she’s healed, then we can talk some sense into them, and have more allies. Better than fighting!’

Pajaran put her mace away and approached, although not before checking her gauntlets were firmly attached.

‘I’ve heard their poison can be pretty nasty! You been bitten?’

A snake with a particularly wide jaw had spread itself open desperately trying to penetrate the armour, teeth clinking against metal without success, clear liquid oozing from its mouth.

‘No. Parth got some, but I cured her.’

Pajaran touched the woman on the forehead, making the snakes writhe and hiss, most of them still bleary and barely conscious. ‘You’ve healed her wounds as well, haven’t you? Although she’s barely breathing. Bring her through. Fortunately, it’s been a quiet day, without many accidents yet.’

Stathis followed her into the backroom, which had been converted into a small clinic, with several crates and a blanket used as a makeshift bed. She laid the woman down, having to twist and shake her arms to detach the snakes, more drops of venom falling to the floor. Pajaran pushed her aside, then shoved down hard on the woman’s belly, forcing them to exhale. They made a strangled, choking cough, a puff of grit and dust billowing from their mouth. Looking closer, Stathis could see that her mouth was ringed with dry soil, her mouth full of it, her breath laboured. A hood hung back from her neck, a loose curve of heavy cloth.

‘Earth elemental, you say? Figures.’ Pajaran shoved down on their stomach again, expelling another puff of dust. ‘I think it tried to choke her. Let me try something else.’ Steel-grey light flared around her hands, washing over the medusa’s body. Stathis took the chance to grab at the arrows hanging from her waist, careful not to go near the points, just in case she tried to use them as weapons later, stashing them away in a cabinet. The tips had been mottled, stained with something – probably more venom.

When she turned back around, the medusa was being held on the table by Pajaran, her body convulsing in painful, racking coughs, muddy dribble coming from her lips and nose, her heels drumming against the crate. Stathis moved to grab her ankles, holding her down as she turned her head to the side and spewed, a thick paste of brown bile splattering from her mouth and hitting the floor. She gasped in a breath, then spewed again, coughing up dust and dirty. Her snakes were spasming and writhing, heads knocking against Pajaran and the table, the scaled bodies twisting and wriggling. Stathis leaned over, pushing down with her shoulders to make sure they didn’t get away, as they kept hacking and spluttering, before managing to draw in a quavering breath, her snakes sagging.

‘Is she alive?’

Pajaran carefully reached over the woman’s face, trying to push the snakes away, before she nodded. ‘She’s breathing again. Shoo!’ She brushed away a snake that was drowsily wrapping itself around her arm. ‘Any idea who she is? Dressed for combat.’

Stathis looked at the woman’s clothing – sturdy boots and trousers, well-worn, and leather armour, suitable for a skirmisher. It wouldn’t stand up to heavy blows, but could be worn for long periods without strain or maintenance. Although it had seen better days, the stiffened leather having been worn through in places, looking like it had been scraped virtually away by rubbing. Her flesh beneath looked normal – soft and tanned, with callouses on her hands and fingers from the bow.

‘The leader of whoever we were fighting? I heard Parth’s horn and rode out to help. There wasn’t any time for an explanation. Not sure if they were bandits, a cult, or maybe just some other village?’

The woman stirred, snakes rustling.

‘Do we need to put a bag on her head or anything? I guess she needs to be conscious to petrify people.’

‘Shit! I, uh…’

‘You didn’t think of that? Dammit. I might be able to cure you if you get stoned!’

The woman groaned again, snakes hissing at the same time in an eerie echo, her eyelids fluttering. Pajaran covered her eyes with her hands and tried to walk forward, immediately stumbling and tripping, staggering against a wall.

Stathis’ vision went dark, everything swallowed up by blackness. She carefully moved her feet, checking that she was still moving and hadn’t been petrified, before hearing the rustling whisper of silks, Janaxia’s scent wafting through the air.

Hmph, really? What were you thinking? Janaxia sounded weary, light footsteps moving across the floorboards. ‘I must apologise for my colleague’s actions. She is rather rash. Although I trust that you are healthy at least?’

Her voice echoed around the space strangely, Stathis feeling disorientated in the pitch darkness. She put her hand down against the wooden table, glad of having something close by, looking towards where she thought Janaxia was, as a snake hissed.

‘I’m glad to see you up and about.’

‘I thought I should take a more active role in proceedings.’ As you do have a tendency to provoke rather needless incidents. Now, who is this young lady? Snakes slithered and hissed, Stathis starting to feel her way around the table, trying not to grope the barely-conscious medusa.

‘I don’t know! She was leading some men, and then an earth elemental attacked.’

‘Well, I can scarcely be blamed for that.’

‘I wasn’t blaming you! But it seemed a good idea to keep her alive. Might be able to get her on-side, and it’s better than having an armed group wandering around.’

The snakes hissed again, more softly now, Stathis taking small steps, trying not to knock into anything, hearing a creaking floorboard from behind as Pajaran tried to move.

‘Hmmm. That makes some sense, I suppose. Although perhaps you could have taken more care? It would be rather inconvenient if you were to be petrified. You are fortunate that she is young, and her gaze requires focus. Otherwise this might be rather more problematic – you would be a rather large statue, and quite awkward to carry.’

‘I’m flattered you’d at least bother carrying me! Can you talk to her when she recovers, and find out what’s going on, and try to keep her friendly? You’re good at that sort of thing. And you’ve been friends with a medusa before.’

‘Yes, that was rather pleasant.’

Stathis moved again, the scent of Janaxia getting stronger, as she reached out, managing to grab at a silk-clad shoulder as it tried to move away. ‘Try not to be too… intimidating. You can be a little overpowering. And you’re powerful enough you can be a little terrifying, if you’re not careful.’

Hmph. The shoulder tensed under Stathis’ grip, but didn’t move further away. ‘Diplomacy I should be able to manage. Although, of course, you really should vet those you drag back here. It is scarcely the most impressive of places. I do hope you have some plans to further our position in some fashion? This is a rather unappealing place, and I would prefer to be somewhere with nicer facilities, and a better range of food.’

The silks twisted in her grip, fading away, her hand brushing against bare skin for a moment before that slipped away.

‘Semari was saying the same.’

For once, she raises a valid point. ‘This is rather a dismal place, and surely you should be more concerned about wider subjects? Matters do seem rather nigh-apocalyptic, and a little grim.’ Her tone was peevish, her clothing rustling as she moved. ‘But this may prove diverting. And perhaps you could then formulate some method of leaving this place? I would have thought you to have other concerns of a quite pressing nature. Shhh, shhh. Don’t worry, you need your rest.’

Janaxia’s shushing noises were oddly inflected, closer to hisses, but seemed to do something, reducing the snake-sounds.

‘OK! I’ll go and see what I can do, and make sure that this woman’s followers aren’t going to be a problem. Let me know if you find anything out or need any help.’

I’m sure I will be sufficient to the task. Although, yes, if you could check that you haven’t rescued a band of rapacious bandits, that would be appreciated. ‘And if the both of you could maybe learn to move with a little more grace in the darkness? That creaking is rather wearisome!’

A particularly loud noise came from Pajaran as she walked into a wall with a clatter, Stathis wincing.

‘We can’t see in the dark!’ There was another clatter as Pajaran knocked something off a shelf. ‘Dammit, where’s the door.’

‘Several steps to your right. Really, Stathis, I don’t know why you put up with her.’

‘Hey!’

‘Pajaran’s a damn good fighter, and it’s useful to have a healer. There’s no need to be bitchy.’ Stathis fumbled forward, trying to find Janaxia in the darkness again, but without success. ‘I’ll be back soon, and I’ll bring you some food. I know you haven’t been eating much lately.’

‘That would be appreciated. Although if you could try and find something without potatoes? That would be pleasant.’

‘I can’t promise that!’ Stathis heard a door open, and tried to orientate herself on that sound, slowly making her way across the room. ‘There’s not really much else here. Try not to get bitten either.’

‘Oh, most of them are perfectly friendly, as long as you stroke them correctly. And, of course, avoid directly looking at them. It may be best to requisition some blindfolds. And perhaps a “Keep Out” sign? It would be inconvenient for the locals to be afflicted, and cause problematic rumours.’

‘Good idea. Thanks, Janaxia. I’ll come back soon.’

She made her way across the room, slowly and carefully, managing not to stumble over the uneven flooring, glad when her hands found the wall and she could fully it along. She had to follow it along until she found the doorway, stepping through.

The darkness cut away suddenly as she stepped out of the area of effect. Behind her was the smooth curve of the spell. When she pushed the door shut, the darkness peeled backwards with it, a small bubble appearing where the door didn’t meet the frame.

‘Well, at least she’s up and around, rather than sulking in her room, so I suppose that’s an improvement. Although I don’t think she likes me much.’

‘I don’t think she likes anyone much at the moment. But if that medusa gives her something to do, then I’m all for it. Having her brooding all the time isn’t doing anyone any good!’

They moved back outside of the hall, where some of the medusa’s followers had run in, sinking to the ground in exhaustion, their breath coming in ragged pants. A small group of townsfolk had formed up, mostly armed, or at least carrying heavier equipment than seemed necessary.

Stathis walked between them, heading towards the exhausted men. ‘She’s being seen to, but should be fine with some rest. Now, before things get messy, why don’t you tell me what’s going on? I’d rather not have anything unpleasant happen.’ She glanced at the townsfolk - they weren’t being violent, but didn’t look too happy. Semari swaggered over, cracking her knuckles.

‘Want me to get some answers from them?’

‘Let’s just ask first!’ Stathis focused, conjuring up a spell, a brief flare of golden light appearing on the brows of each of the men. ‘So, what’s going on? Are you here to attack this place?’

The eyes of one of them bulged, his lips twitching before he managed to speak. ‘I, we… We were looking for Sevric! He went missing!’

‘Right. And that takes all of you?’

‘There’s all sorts of creatures and monsters in the woods! Lady Ophalissia wanted the rest of us to be safe. And you saw what happened! The ground came alive and swallowed her up!’

‘OK. So, what is your relationship with this place?’

‘Here?’ He looked around, his eyes resting on the crowd before quickly looking away. ‘Well, I’ve not been back since, um…’

When Stathis looked closer, she could see a distinct family resemblance between the man and some of the crowd. ‘This is an extended family thing, isn’t it? You grew up here, then moved to another village, and that doesn’t go down well? Fine. What about the medusa? I guess she’s in charge?’

‘She runs the village, yes! And helps defeat the monsters that emerge from the pits.’

‘Well, that’s good. And she doesn’t eat people?’

The man blushed a deep crimson. Stathis rolled her eyes.

‘Right. In terms of killing them, I mean! What else she puts in her mouth is her business! Has she killed anyone?’

He tried to speak, but his tongue twisted in his mouth, producing meaningless noises before he could control himself. ‘Yes! But Fischler was a killer and deserved it!’

A murmur ran through the crowd, although it didn’t seem to be angry, their hands relaxing a little on their tools and weapons.

‘If I let you stay here, will you cause any problems or attack anyone?’

‘Not if they don’t attack us first!’

‘Good.’ Stathis turned back around to the group. ‘I don’t want any trouble – if there’s any history I need to know, tell me now. Otherwise, they’re free to stay, at least until their leader is safe and then we can sort something out. Any disagreements?’’ She swept her gaze over the crowd, who looked away, not meeting her eyes. ‘Good. Now get back to work, there’s still a lot to do if you want this place to be defensible!’ They started to disperse, breaking apart and heading back to their tasks.