The Snake Stone

115

The sou naziry blinked. He stooped and touched the ball of wax with his finger.

The wax broke away easily from the stone. The sou naziry picked it up and felt the tug of the thread between his fingers.

He put out his tongue and moistened his lips.

He had thought, until this moment, that the job was done.

The sou naziry picked up his lantern and loosened the dagger in his belt. The dagger had a jeweled hilt and its blade was curved.

The sou naziry picked up the line of thread and entered the tunnel.