Chapter 43: Lord of the snakes
The python moved.
It slithered forward. Slow and deliberate. Its body rippling with muscle as it closed the distance between itself and Jake.
Two ters.
One ter.
Jake’s hand went to where his sword should have been. His sword wasn’t there. He’d left it sowhere. He couldn’t rember where. His mind was completely focused on the snake.
The python stopped directly in front of him.
Its head was at Jake’s chest level. It could strike his throat in less than a second. Could wrap around him and crush every bone in his body before anyone could reach them. Could do a dozen different things that would result in Jake dying very quickly and very unpleasantly.
It didn’t do any of those things.
Instead, it did sothing that made every person watching stop shouting and stare.
The snake moved towards Jake quickly and coiled.
The massive body wrapped around Jake in a perfect circle. There was enough space for Jake to move inside the wrapped portion.
Maybe two ters between its scaled body and where Jake stood. But completely encircling him. Creating a living wall of snake between Jake and everyone else in the camp.
The python’s head rose up.
It lifted three ters into the air directly above Jake. Its body tensed. Its eyes fixed on the Dragon Maidens who had weapons drawn. On the soldiers who were reaching for their own blades. On every person in the camp who was moving toward them.
And it glared.
The glare was unmistakable. Protective and threatening.
The ssage was crystal clear even without words.
Stay back. Don’t co any closer.
The snake thought those people were trying to harm Jake but didn’t think that they were showing killing intent towards the snake and ca there to kill it.
A voice appeared in Jake’s mind.
It wasn’t the system. It was different, older. Like sothing speaking directly into his thoughts without using sound.
(My lord, I will protect you!)
Jake’s eyes widened.
He looked up at the python’s head hovering above him. The snake was still glaring at the people outside its protective circle. Its body was coiled tight and ready. Prepared to strike anyone who ca too close.
"Wait," Jake said out loud, raising his hand towards the maidens and others.
The python’s head tilted down slightly. Looking at him now instead of the others.
Its golden eyes blinked once.
(My lord?)
"They’re not going to hurt ," Jake said quickly.
"They’re my people. They’re protecting
too."
The python’s eyes moved from Jake to the Dragon Maidens and back again. It seed to be processing this information. Evaluating it.
(They drew weapons) the python said in his mind.
(They ran toward you with blades. I thought they ant harm.)
"They thought you ant harm," Jake said calmly, trying to reassure the python.
"That’s why they drew weapons. But we’re all on the sa side here."
The python was silent for a mont. Its head swayed slightly above Jake, considering.
Then slowly, very slowly, its body began to uncoil.
The protective circle opened. The python’s massive form slithered backward, giving space, moving away from Jake but keeping its eyes on him the entire ti. It settled a few ters away in a loose coil with its head at ground level.
(Forgive , my lord) the python said.
(I misunderstood the situation)
Jake took a breath. His heart was pounding. He looked at the snake; its golden eyes were watching him with that strange intelligence.
"Why are you calling
lord?" he asked quietly.
The python’s head dipped slightly.
A gesture that might have been a bow.
(Of course, you are our lord.)
(I recognized the bloodline - the monarch’s blood. It calls to those of us who can sense it. I ca to greet you and offer my service.)
"Monarch’s blood?"
(Raikarndel)
The bloodline of the Serpent Lords. Only beasts of a high level can recognize it. I am old enough and strong enough to feel what you are.
Jake stared at the creature.
While everyone was watching with confusion and bewildernt. They could see Jake was talking to the snake, but they couldn’t hear the snake’s words.
The system had gone quiet during all of this. But now a screen appeared at the edge of his vision.
[ TITLE ACQUIRED: SERPENT KING ]
[ RECOGNIZED BY THE LORD OF SNAKES]
Jake looked at the screen.
Then at Python.
Then back at the screen.
Everything was starting to make a very strange kind of sense.
He looked at the python one more ti.
"Thank you for coming to greet ," he said carefully.
"But I don’t need protection right now. These people are here to help
get ho. You can go back to the forest."
The python’s eyes blinked slowly.
(As my lord commands)
(If you have need of
in the future, call , my lord. I will co.)
"How do I call you?"
(Think of my na. I will hear.)
"What’s your na?"
The python’s head tilted.
(I have had many nas. You may call
what you wish.)
Jake thought about this for a second.
"Vareth," he said.
The na just appeared in his mind and it felt right.
The python’s eyes brightened slightly.
(Vareth, it repeated. I am honored, my lord.)
The snake lord turned then. Its massive body moved through the camp with surprising grace. People scattered out of its way. It slithered back into the forest and disappeared into the undergrowth without a sound.
The campsite was completely silent.
Jake stood where he’d been standing, under the tree. With every single person in the camp staring at him.
Then the Dragon Maidens moved.
All six of them dropped to their knees at once.
Raani was first. The others followed imdiately. They put their hands together in that formal gesture. The one they’d done in the hotel room. The one that ant reverence.
"True born of the Raikarndel Clan," Raani said. Her voice carried across the camp.
"Recognized by the ancient beasts. Bearer of the monarch’s blood."
Reviews
All reviews (0)