Dawn of the Ice Bear by Jeff Mariotte

distinguish those who should be here from intruders.” So saying, Kral stepped into the center of the intersection, across Gorian’s corpse. Alanya could tell that he was keeping a close eye on the remaining snake sculptures, but they were still.
    A couple of the mercenaries watched every step he took with increasing terror. “A simple trap I can understand,” Galados said, his voice trembling. “But that . . . that snake—it was not a snake when it hit Gorian.”
    â€œSome kind of dart,” another agreed. His voice was too loud, Alanya thought, his fear trumping caution. “This is sorcery of the worst kind.”
    â€œWe’re in the compound of a fearsome Stygian mage,” Donial pointed out. “What do you expect?”
    â€œIt is exactly what I do expect that I fear,” Galados said. His eyes were wide with horror, and spittle flecked the corners of his mouth. “I fully expect more magical attacks. But now the man who was supposed to pay us is dead.”
    â€œHe hired you on behalf of another,” Kral reminded them. “Or so he said.”
    â€œHe did,” the one named Shulev admitted. “And we could take the crown back to Tarantia, and probably get paid for our troubles. Probably. But Gorian was the one we knew—I know not if we could even find the one he served when we got there.”
    â€œIf you got there,” Kral said. “As I have every intention of taking the crown home with me.”
    Alanya was shocked that Kral would remind the mercenaries of that, at this moment. She fully expected them to charge him with swords drawn, determined to settle the issue before another moment passed.
    But they didn’t. Kral had read them better than she did, apparently. Instead of attacking, they looked almost subdued, beaten before they even tried. “If I knew there would be gold at the end of it, Pict, we would find out right now who the better man is,” the first one said. The others seemed to look to this one for guidance, now that Sullas and Gorian were gone. A couple looked close to blubbering. They were hardened fighting men, but she supposed that Stygian sorcery was a different sort of foe than they had faced before—one not easily bested with mere steel. “But there are no guarantees, and our chances are looking worse, not better. If I walk away with my life, I’ll have more opportunities to seek treasure elsewhere.”
    â€œAye,” Hakon grumbled. “Right you are. Anyway, who knows what trap may be sprung on us next? If the very walls are against us, there’s no winning.”
    â€œI’m with you,” Shelko said, jutting his chin toward Gorian’s corpse. “I’ve no interest in meeting my end like that. Let’s take our leave while we can still walk.”
    Tarawa shushed them. Alanya didn’t miss the fear in the slave girl’s voice as she did. She, of them all, knew best what dangers might await them here under the earth.
    There was more subdued mumbling from the men, but they had reached their conclusion. Even as they turned and headed back the way they had come, they seemed to relax, as if emboldened by their decision to give in to their horror. Alanya watched them go with mixed feelings. It would make things easier when they got the crown, if they didn’t have to battle their own allies. But if getting the crown involved a fight, they might need all the swords they could get.
    â€œLet them go,” Kral said, disgust tinging his voice. “Cowards like those will be no help to us.”
    â€œBut they could still alert the Stygian somehow,” Mikelo pointed out.
    â€œWhy would they?” Donial asked. “What would they gain by it? More likely they would sacrifice their lives.”
    â€œDonial’s right,” Kral said. “Come, let’s continue on our way and never think of those dogs again.”
    As the men disappeared up the dark