Copyright J.B. Norman
Chasing the Kraken Special Squad through a chamber in the Crystal Labyrinth filled with pillars of ice holding up who knows how many tons of ice and snow, Kathryn decides to holster her stun pistol.
The mercenaries haven’t taken many shots lately, either. They also seem to understand that they’re in one of the worst places in the galaxy for a fire fight right now.
Occasionally, they’ll peer around the ice pillars to confirm that Kathryn, Amarantha, and Dunstella are still there, or Kathryn will peer around her pillar to do the same.
Each of the two opposing sides is waiting for the other to make the next move, or at least still trying to figure out what move to actually make next.
“I have a plan,” Kathryn tells Amarantha as they take cover behind one of the ice pillars.
“Yes, Captain?” Amarantha asks.
“Shooting them is a bad idea,” Kathryn notes.
“Yes, I can see that,” Amarantha answers
She doesn’t want to be the one to collapse one of the natural wonders of the galaxy. Especially not when she’s still inside it.
“So,” Kathryn continues. “I’m going to try to sneak around them and get the jump on them from behind. Could you use your magic—”
“Sorcery,” Amarantha corrects, indignantly wiggling her nose.
“—Sorcery,” Kathryn says. “To whip up a snowstorm, or something so they can’t see me coming?”
“I could. But how are you going to be able to get to them in the middle of a snowstorm? You wouldn’t be able to see, either.”
“I know!” Dunstella exclaims. holding up two more pairs of snow goggles.
“Well,” Kathryn mutters. “That’s lucky.”
“I got you each a pair, too!” Dunstella says. “Do you want the pink ones or the yellow ones?”
“Pink,” Kathryn answers.
She notices Amarantha staring at her.
“What?” she asks defensively as she straps on the goggles. “Pink is my favourite colour!”
“Excuse me, Captain,” Amarantha mutters. “It’s just that I never expected you to indulge in something so, well, girly. It’s actually quite refreshing to see this side of you.”
“What is that supposed to— Ugh. We can talk about this later,” she mutters. “You can hit them with your magic anytime now, Princess.”
“Sorcery,” Amarantha says again.
The Alvaraean princess starts to chant in the same strange, otherworldly language that made Kathryn taste colours and hear shapes back on the Ring. And, once again, the magical auras swirling around Amarantha make Kathryn’s senses the same weird things they did then.
Soon, the ice and snow packed onto the floor of the Crystal Labyrinth is being kicked up by the invisible currents Amarantha is weaving into a blowing storm.
“We’ve lost contact!” one of the Krakens calls. “I can’t seem them! Fireteam Two, report in.”
The other members of the fireteam all confirm that they’ve lost sight of their targets as well.
Thanks to the goggles she’s wearing, Kathryn isn’t completely blind, through the blowing snow, she’s able to see the pillars of ice and the Krakens as vague shapes in a sea of white, so she starts to creep forward.
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