“Playalong, squire.”
Isaacsighed.“I’ll raise five citrine.”
“Oh,what?The piss-yellow?”
“Thepiss yellow, yes.”
Sheblew a raspberry.“Worthless.I’d rather you piss yourself.”
“Iwill, if you take any longer.”
Sheswung the rope again.This time, the loop hit the underside of the sliveredbone.It bounced away, spilling flaccidly to the floor.Zaria quickly bundledthe rope.
“It’snot going to work,” Isaac said.
Sheswung once more.Instead of hitting the thin sliver of their target, the ropemanaged to rest on the jagged suture of a nearby parietal plate, which stuckfrom the rim of a shattered cranium.When Zaria tugged, the stone came loose,and a massive bony slab came spilling from the rock, spraying sand and rock.The hyena had to throw herself away.When both of them had finished coughingfrom the dust, Zaria clambered back over to her original position, swinging thelasso in rhythm with her tail.
“It’snot going to work,” Isaac said, sweeping the area with his slinged arm.“Weshould go back.There was a hillside—”
“That’sall scree, over yonder.It’s too loose.”
Shethrew the rope, missing again.
Isaacpointed to their left.“We could try to climb along the columns—”
“Ain’tsturdy.”
Hepointed to the right.“That boulder—”
“Needstwo hands, which neither of us got.”She swung, missed, and growled.“Why am Islingin’ the knot?You’re the one that’s got two bloody eyes.”
“Oh,but my knight is strong and gallant.Surely, she desires the lead.”
Shelevelled a glare.
“Can Ishine your leather?”Isaac offered.
Zariaflashed her teeth, twirling the rope until it blurred.With a great bodilyheave, she hurled the loop towards the promontory.It missed.The ruins of thenecropolis echoed with a loud “fuck!”
“It’snot going to work,” Isaac said.
Shegrowled as she retied the rope.She flung it hastily.It sailed far off-target.
“Can wetake a rest now?”
Shewhirled around.“Cork it, squire!I’m sick of hearin’ you!Xotra’s cunt, you’rebleating like a babe without a teat!”
Isaacadjusted his seat on the broken house.“Is there any way I can help?”
Shelooked at him with a curling muzzle.After a moment, she straightened herself,sported an obviously fake grin, and sauntered over, her digitigrade feet nimbleon the jagged ground.“Aye.There’s something.”
Isaacscooted back, suddenly nervous.
Zariastood over him, fondling one of her breasts through the cloth.Her tatteredclothing kept her bosom concealed, but only just.“Give us a kiss.For luck,we’ll say.”
“Pardon?”
“Youheard me.If you’ll whine like a babe, I’ll treat you as such.”She cupped thebreast, pulling it from her chest.“Kiss my tit.”
