Ambush

The whereabouts of the basilisk were entirely unknown, yet the villagers assured us it found any who wandered too close to the mountains. We traveled at a pace Soltair and Trithe felt cautious and slow, but as the terrain turned rugged, I found myself flagging behind. Large monolithic towers of rock broke the dense forests, gradually building toward the shattered peaks looming high above. As the sun reached its zenith we successfully penetrated the foothills and began our climb up the jagged mountain roots, sticking to the winding canyons and valleys. The game trail we followed was thin and wild, occasionally vanishing into the underbrush for some time before suddenly reappearing. I stumbled several times, clinging to my staff for balance as much as the reassuring comfort of my hand on its familiar glassy shaft.

At some point, Soltair stopped and raised his hand, scanning the rising terrain on either side of the valley. "We're no longer alone."