Fading into Ferelden Chapter 77

    “These people are all morons. Only a fool would be willing to die for such a superstition”.
   
    “Some of us consider such beliefs to be more than superstition”.
   
    “If you do you are as much a fool as they are”.
   
    “Morrigan, Leliana, both of you stop your bickering. We have already had to fight enough of the cultists as is, we don’t want to alert every living thing in the temple that we are getting close!”
   
    “Well it is very nice to see that you two are getting along so well”, I say with a barely suppressed grin.
   
    Morrigan turns from Leliana to glare at me. That look she gives always feels like it is freezing me to the bone. Though at the moment I might be feeling that because it is so cold in this temple.
   
    “I did not ask for your input, Dylan. So stay quiet”. Yeah, definitely cold enough to rival the ice in the temple.
   
    The temple itself is as I expected since we have gotten further in. After we dealt with the cultists in the main room of the temple, the door we need to go through to continue on was locked. I should have remembered that.
   
    So we have gone down another hall to the side to search for any other entrances, or possibly a key. Thankfully we have not met any other cultists, though I can’t shake the feeling that we are going to run into something soon.
   
    “I think it is best if you leave them to it young man”.
   
    Turning to my side, I see the familiar grandmotherly face of Wynne looking towards me. Since I have healed from our encounter with Flemeth we haven’t really spoken a lot.
   
    “I suppose. I can’t help it at times though. It can be amusing”, I say to her with a smile.
   
    Grinning slightly, Wynne says, “Oh I can understand that. Regardless I feel it is best you stay out of it. Morrigan, as you know, is not one you should anger”.
   
    “True enough. She certainly does at times have a bad temper, doesn’t she?”
   
    Wynne’s lips open to say something, though before she has the chance to do so she is cut off as down a nearby hall, a loud crashing sound echoes throughout, followed by a roar and thunderous footsteps that make the ice on the stone ceilings of the hall fall to the ground.
   
    “Um, two questions. What made that sound, and how far away is it?”
   
    Aniise speaks up, saying, “I’m not sure, but it could possibly be a”-
   
    Before Aniise has a chance to say anything else, the creature charges down the hall. It is huge, with multiple horns upon its head, and with a quite thick hide that is also dotted with different spikes and horns. The head seems slightly similar to a rhinoceros, as does its body. Though far heavier.
   
    And it is charging right down the hall towards our group.
   
    Three of Shelari’s arrows quickly fly through the air straight towards the creature, embedding themselves in its hide. But the creature does not seem to even feel it as it gets closer, and closer.
   
    Morrigan sets up wall after wall of ice to try and block it, and it seems to work well enough as I hear the creature collide with the ice.
   
    “What the hell is that thing supposed to be?”, I say as I look at the block of ice, just able to see the outline of the creature behind it, still pushing against the ice as hard as it can.
   
    “A bronto. They were domesticated by dwarves. Normally they are quite docile creatures. Something must have egged that one on for it to act so aggressive”, Aniise says as she nears the block of ice, placing her hand upon it. “Morrigan, the ice is stable and strong, correct?”
   
    “Yes. Not even a bronto would be able to get through it. Not without taking much time doing so”, Morrigan says dissmisively. “You would only get through that ice by burning it. And unless they have a dragon with them, it would take them quite some time to burn through it”.
   
    As if on cue, suddenly from behind the ice another roar emanates from down the hall. This one louder than even the one uttered by the bronto. Following that the ground shakes more and soon from behind the ice a large, orange and reddish glow comes forth from down the hall.
   
    “Please tell me that isn’t what I think it is”. The moment the words leave my lips the ice quickly starts melting into water that pools on the ground. And it is melting very, very fast. Far too fast for it to be mage fire.
   
    “Yes it is and we should run, now!”, I hear Aniise shout before each and every one of us does the same thing as the ice continues to melt.
   
    We all run.