Aladdin Relighted by J.R. Rain & Piers Anthony

Author:J.R. Rain & Piers Anthony [Rain, J.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BA
Published: 2011-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

We contemplated the tunnel. At least we were back on dry land, which was a relief, though we were able to handle the water. “The ogre must be a land-lubber,” I said.

“I don’t have much experience with ogres,” Jewel said. “I’m afraid that if I tried to seduce it to get close enough for a killing thrust, it would eat me first.”

“And it might be too big and tough to kill with a pinprick stab,” I agreed. “But you might try flashing it from a safe distance to distract it while I try to get close enough.”

“Why would an ogre have any romantic interest in my body?”

“If it’s humanoid and male,” I said gallantly, “it will have an interest, however unrealistic.”

She glanced sidelong at me as if aware that I was speaking for myself as much as for the ogre. “You don’t even have your scimitar.”

She had a point. When I got naked with the queen, then floated to the ground, I lost most of my hardware. “I’ll scout around for a weapon.”

“As if they’re going to be lying on the ground waiting for you,” she said sourly.

“The prior folk the ogre has eaten—what did he do with their weaponry?”

She reconsidered. “Could be lying on the ground.”

We started walking down the tunnel. Moss or lichen coated the walls, glowing faintly, which helped. In fact it was rather pretty. I reached out to touch a red flowerlike clump.

And wrenched back my stinging fingers. “Hoo!” I wailed.

Jewel had the grace not to mock my pain. “Let me see.” She took my hurting hand. “Yes, that looks like an acid burn. Those flowers are not meant to be picked. At least not by the likes of us. Better rinse it off.”

“And if the ogre throws us against the wall, we’ll feel more than the impact,” I said ruefully as I ran back to plunge my hand into the water. It helped, though I still had a burn.

We resumed walking down the tunnel. I was glad that the moss on the floor of it was not similarly acidic. Maybe that was so that victims could navigate it and reach the ogre. No point in letting him go hungry.

The tunnel opened out into a vast cave. On the far side there looked to be a gated portal. That would be our access to the mortal realm. It was about halfway up the cliff-like side, with a ramp leading to it. Not bedrock; we would have to traverse it diffused. That meant we would be ogre bait.

“Where is the ogre?” Jewel whispered.

“I suspect all we have to do to find him is venture into that cave. He’s probably sleeping between meals.”

“I think we need to plan our strategy before rousing him. What’s your plan?”

What, indeed! Her knife was the only weapon we had, and it was surely insufficient. But she expected me to know what to do.

I cudgeled my weary brain again. It surprised me by coming up with an idea. “That acid flower—that’s how the plant protects itself from being eaten by the ogre.

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