Talon lifted and lowered his head several times.A nod of acceptance.
Grudging respect in that nod.
“Let’s do this.”Ransom set off in determined strides.
They reached the first fallen head, that of a bird with a cruel beak and beady eyes.Up close, it was huge, towering over even Ransom’s head.
Some heads were even more prominent.
“It would’ve taken a lot of effort and planning to position these statues.I got the impression the illness that drove them to take this step happened fast, and they didn’t have time to find a cure,” Scarlett said.
“That’s what I thought.Unless this is a burial chamber where they bring their royal kings and queens.”
Scarlett shrugged.
A quake rippled across the ground, and the statue behind Scarlett rocked.
“Watch out!”Ransom shouted.
He grabbed Scarlett and yanked her out of the way.In the nick of time because the head toppled, crashing down a short incline and kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Thanks,” Scarlett said.
“Anytime.”Ransom caught her close and kissed her hair while ignoring Talon’s hiss of disapproval at the rough handling.
“The temperature is rising.”
The heat didn’t bother Ransom, but beads of sweat had formed on Scarlett’s forehead.“Is your arm troubling you?”
“It’s itchy.”
“Take off your tunic, and I’ll check it.”
Talon snarled disapproval.
“No, Talon is right.We have to get inside the mound and find the prince.Where do we start?”Scarlett craned her neck.“The biggest stones and statue heads have moved since we first saw them.”
“Let’s work out a grid in the area where most of the biggest stones are and do a systematic search for the entrance.”
“Ooh, goodie.A plan.”She patted her chest.“Be still, my heart.”
“Haw-haw-haw.”
Ransom laughed at Scarlett’s roll of eyes.Wee Talon, as she called him, had a slow-blooming personality.
“Right.Let’s spread out and move in this direction.Stay close enough so we can hear each other shout,” Ransom suggested.
Talon clambered down Scarlett and scuttled to a position on Ransom’s left.Okay, then.He’d thought it’d be a search zone of two but three would hasten the process.Ransom waited until Scarlett was in position and wondered about her arm as she shot Talon a glance and gave it a quick scratch.For some reason, Talon wanted her to treat her arm with care, and not for the first time, Ransom wished his universal translator worked for Talon’s language.He’d make sure he and his people added the upgrade if he got out of this alive.
“Ready?”Ransom called with a glance at both Scarlett and Talon.“Keep walking until you come to a head or a base stone.Check each one and move on until you reach the far end of the mound.”
The ground shook in another tremor.Small stones clattered and rolled while the larger statue heads vibrated.The rolling shake continued for long seconds, and Ransom fought to stay on his feet.
A rumble came from the volcano, and a loud crashing thump echoed around them.As Ransom turned to the volcano, an entire side of the conical top disintegrated.A wave of red and orange lava bubbled out and over, the force of it no match for the crater rim.
“We need to go faster,” Scarlett shouted.
Ransom gave a curt nod and strode forward.He clambered up an incline, checked on and around the first plinth he came to, and moved on.Phrull, they’d never find the entrance with all this seismic activity.
