Something shimmered on the far bank. At first, Noble thought the lake had overflowed its boundaries. Perhaps it had rained while they were gone, and the beautiful lake had flooded.
But Noble was quickly disabused of that idea. The movement was not rhythmic like the rippling of water. It was frantic and wild, full of intent.
Noble expanded her second sight, confirming what she had already feared. As she drew closer, the eerie sight became clearer.
Along the far shore of the lake, hundreds upon hundreds of spiders climbed over each other in a feverish hunt.
Their gaunt bodies, as long as a man's arm, bent at odd angles as they pushed against one another. Their chitin glistened with a sheen like oil, causing their bodies to shimmer like the water beside them. Two pale lanterns were sunk deep in their hollow skulls. The eyes were too large for the monsters' heads, looking like they belonged to different faces than the one they inhabited.
What were they so anxious to find? The answer was immediately obvious. They sought the freshly transported souls of the humans that Syrce had brought with her.
'That looks like the hoard of Nightmare Creatures that the scout described.' Noble frowned.
Of course, they had been heading this way when the cohort traveled to the false Bastion. While they were gone, the creatures from the gate must have reached their destination. Had they somehow known to lie in wait until this very moment?
If that was the case, then they were very foolish. Because there was no way that they could…
Noble bit her tongue before she could finish the thought.
Just then, the first of the group, having climbed to the top of the heap, leapt from the pile and into the lake.
'Can spiders swim?'
The spindly legs of the spider touched the water, ready to plunge through. But they didn't.
Taking advantage of the surface tension, they landed en pointe like ballerina's slippers on a floor of glass. The horrific eight-legged dancer tiptoed across the water, not even causing a ripple on the lake.
'Walking on water? That's Aether's trick!'
Noble had no time to muse on the arachnid's capabilities. She needed to stop it. Summoning her bow and an arrow, Noble positioned herself above the monster. Her arrow flew into the narrow body, scratching the chitin, but not digging into the soft parts beneath.
The arrow deflected, splashing into the water like a stone.
Noble was not upset. While ending the creature would have been nice, there were many more behind him who would follow his trek soon enough. Her goal was to alert the abominations below.
The water rippled in response to her jab. It took a moment, but the disturbed water brought forth a large tentacle rising from the deep. It took hold of the large spider as if it were a tiny ant and dragged it below the surface for a snack.
Seeing the fate of the pioneer, the rest of the spiders hesitated in their pursuit.
Noble knew that the deadly deep dweller would only be a momentary setback, but that was better than nothing.
The spiders would eventually cross en masse. Some would make it through the perilous water, but Noble couldn't wait around until they did.
She could feel the dragon shift, stirring from his slumber.
Where could she put the soldiers? The spiders had not completely surrounded the lake, but Noble knew that no matter where she put them, the monsters would chase them down for a fight.
Yes, the ones under Syrce's commander were hardened warriors, but pitting them against creatures that could attack from any side with no chance to take cover was not ideal. It was even less ideal to leave them with the Dragon Prince. At least against the spiders, the soldiers had a shot. With the dragon, even the bravest of them would be turned to molten ash almost immediately.
Was there another option?
Noble watched the next spider try to cross the watery expanse, but now the creatures of the deep were aware of the presence. The water began to boil before the arachnid could get all eight legs onto the surface.
Twenty twisting arms broke from the depths and lashed out. The intrepid traveler was plunged into the depths, and a dozen of his brethren on the shore were dragged down with him.
The spiders seemed to realize the danger at last, for they backed up. They would find another place to cross.
Noble sighed. She had all the information that she needed.
She dove to find her cohort. Among the rubble, Noble found her companions deep in discussion.
"This is the spot, the ground on either side feels natural enough, even down deep. But here I can only sense down to the same spot as where the entrance was." Helie insisted. "We just need the Prince to get in the right spot after I clear the rubble, and I think we might have a way in."
"Are you proposing that the dragon will melt the stone to make an entrance for us?" Roan rubbed his head.
Aether studied the ground.
"I do not think the dragon would be amenable to that development."
"We cannot control the Remnant," Syrce agreed, "But maybe we can trick him. If it doesn't work, we will have to kill him as quickly as we can and find another source of heat."
"My lightning didn't work before, so I doubt that's a viable alternative."
Helie glanced at Roan. "I don't suppose you have an enchanted blowtorch lying around?"
Syrce furrowed her brow. "Why would one blow on a torch? Wouldn't that extinguish it?"
Noble came down among the group, halting any answer to Syrce's inquiry.
"We have a problem…"
"Just one?" Roan smiled lazily.
"A new one," Noble shrugged. "The Nightmare Creatures from that gate that the scout found have arrived here."
"Does that mean we cannot evacuate my soldiers?" Syrce chewed her lip, standing on her tiptoes to peek at the lake.
"Seems so." Noble pushed back her braid. "But that's not all. The creatures can walk on water."
"Perhaps we could…excuse me, what?" Helie's mouth dropped open.
"They are like eight-legged versions of Aether," Noble repeated. "I used the abominations in the water to keep them at bay for now, but they will need to be dealt with sooner than later."
"You think we need to take them on before the dragon?" Syrce was answered by a nod from her friend.
"If you want a safe place for your soldiers, we have to clear them out." Noble checked to make sure none of the warriors were currently in danger. For now, their luck seemed to be holding.
Syrce agreed, and when none of the rest of her cohort objected, Noble pointed up.
Under Noble's control, the group lifted in the air and glided silently down the hillside. They landed just shy of where the soldiers were gathering.
Seeing their commander, the men knelt before her.
"What is happening, My Lady?" A woman asked earnestly.
Syrce raised her hands to quiet the coming questions. Her expression was grim.
"I have been deceived. The people I brought through the mirror were only reflections—creatures made to look like those we loved. I am working to return them to their Realm. But before that, we need to defeat the Remnant and kill the monsters that are trying to cross the lake. I want all of you to…"
Just then, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night.