The Glutton

At the queen's command, the serpent-women attendants around the throne unsheathed their toxic claws, launching a volley of venomous talons at Grayson and Morven.

With a flick of his wrist, Grayson sent his silver sword spinning through the air, slashing through several talons and impaling a serpent-woman against the staircase leading to the throne.

Having thrown his silver sword, Grayson shoved Morven to the right and rolled to the left, narrowly dodging incoming talons. He quickly drew two silver pistols Katheren had left behind and, with the thunderous report of gunfire, two serpent-women fell, each with a neat bullet hole in the forehead.

"Seize them, tear them apart!" The serpent queen's furious roar echoed through the cavern as the remaining seven maidens split into two groups, with five lunging at Grayson and two attacking Morven.

Morven leapt aside from the talons, hurling his scimitar, which traced a perfect arc through the air and sliced neatly across a maiden's throat, spilling her lifeblood in a crimson cascade. The scimitar continued its deadly flight, circling around to catch another serpent-woman by the neck before returning to its master.

As Morven caught his returning blade, the metal spike at the end of his scabbard had already punctured the chest of another serpent-woman. He withdrew the spike and kicked the lifeless body aside.

Looking towards Grayson, Morven heard the final gunshot and saw the last maiden fall, revealing Grayson's smoking pistols.

"Hey, brother, stealing kills isn't very sportsmanlike!" Grayson holstered his pistols and turned his gaze to the queen's livid face. "Your Majesty, might it be time to settle some personal scores?"

"Don't think you've seen all I have to offer!" the queen shrieked. "Come forth, my children!"

Her raspy cry summoned a writhing mass of venomous snakes from the cavern's crevices. Red tongues flickered and venomous fangs bared as they slithered towards Grayson and Morven in a vivid wave.

"We've got real trouble now," Grayson frowned, firing two silver bullets at the queen. She shielded herself with her claws, blocking the shots, giving Grayson the chance to dash forward.

The queen unleashed a barrage of talons at Grayson, who tumbled forward, talons grazing his scalp. He steadied himself and fired again, forcing the queen to retreat under a hail of bullets.

As Grayson sped past the queen, he shot her in the abdomen, but the impacts did nothing against her hardened scales. Seizing the moment, Grayson sheathed his pistols and drew his sword from the skewered serpent-woman, retreating next to Morven.

"Brother, we've got our hands full this time!" Grayson fired once more, keeping the queen at bay while addressing Morven. "See that? That old lady's got endless talons and a brood to match. As the saying goes, never corner a mother with her cubs!"

"Maybe I can help, but you owe me one for this," Morven pulled a small goatskin water bag from his belt, splashing its contents towards the encroaching snakes. "If you don't mind wasting a bullet, now would be a good time!"

Without hesitation, Grayson fired at the wet ground, igniting a blaze from the sparks of the silver bullet. Flames engulfed the nearest snakes, scaring the others into retreat.

"No wonder you never shared your water with me," Grayson shot Morven a glance. The adventurer smirked. "Perhaps I should have let you drink. You might've become a fire-breathing dragon!"

Their banter was cut short as talons whizzed overhead. Grayson pushed Morven's head down and ducked himself. Rising, he counterattacked the queen and advised, "It's not enough to just fend off the swarm; we need to take out the matriarch!"

"Over to you, sharpshooter!" Morven cried, tossing the goatskin bag at the queen.

She shredded the bag with a flurry of talons, dousing herself in the flammable liquid. "Now!" Morven's cry signaled Grayson, who, with dual pistols drawn, shot at the queen's paws. Sparks flew, setting the queen ablaze, transforming her into a fiery serpent.

The queen's agonized screams filled the cavern as she rolled desperately, her tail swiping futilely at the flames that refused to be extinguished. Her thrashing inadvertently spread the fire to other snakes, engulfing them as well.

"Let's make this quick," Grayson said, unsentimentally stepping over the flames to drive a final sword thrust into the queen's body. She twitched and then lay still, the flames still consuming her.

"May you find peace in hell," he muttered, sheathing his weapon and striding out of the cavern. Morven followed, impressed by Grayson's ease in navigating the caves as they swiftly located Seraphine's prison.

After freeing Seraphine, who clutched her merfolk staff with nervous haste, she asked, "What of Katheren? And Elyra?"

"We're on our way to find Katheren. Where's Elyra? With her?" Grayson inquired.

Elyra's fate brought a pained shake of Seraphine's head. "They threw her into a pit, to be fed to the queen's offspring. There must be something dreadful down there."

"I'll get Elyra," Grayson said after getting directions, heading back to where the queen met her fiery end.

Approaching the pit's entrance, the scent of roasting flesh wafted to him, followed by the sound of voracious eating. Peering inside, he spotted the little girl in a black feathered dress, surrounded by battered snake carcasses. She roasted a snake over the flames, enjoying her feast.

"I should've known, there's nothing more dangerous than this little glutton!" Grayson chuckled quietly.

Unexpectedly, Elyra turned, eyes wide. Discarding the snake, she masked her terror with an innocent, tearful pout, gazing up at Grayson.

Suppressing his laughter, Grayson stepped forward, lifting Elyra from the ground and wiping her tears and the grease from her mouth before breaking into open laughter.

"You're mean! I was scared, and you laugh!" Elyra clung to Grayson's neck, nuzzling his shoulder and sneakily licking the snake oil from her lips, feigning sobs.

Before Grayson could respond, a woman's scream echoed from outside the cavern.