Free The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus) by H.B. Bolton

drifted in their direction. Evan and Claire both turned their heads toward the imps.
    “Not us! Not us! Giants!” cried out Barfel.
    “Not good,” Evan said to Claire. “Wanna use some of Barfel’s shells to make a cover for my nose?”
    “Man up, Evan. Stop being such a sissy,” she said.
    Evan raised the boat onto shore, and the crew leapt overboard. Evan had no desire to scoop up this sand, with its dark-greenish color and rank odor of mildew. He dragged his feet through sludge with bits of animal remains. Skull fragments were here and rib bones were there. And the dunes were covered with graying sea oats.
    “Barfel, hurry up!” Claire yelled toward the straggling imp.
    “What’s he doing back there?” Evan asked.
    “It looks like he’s saying something to that fish-spy. That imp better hurry up,” said Claire. “I don’t want to wait around here for too long. The sooner we find food, the sooner we can leave this horrible place.”
    “This island is pretty disgusting,” Evan agreed.
    Beyond the dunes, a patch of lush emerald-green grass sprouted up from the dead ground. Trees burst into life and fruit swelled like balloons on long branches.
    “Perfect!” shouted Evan, quickening his pace.
    “Wait! Things aren’t always what they seem,” yelled Dunkle. But Evan was too fast. He and Claire were halfway up to the plump luscious fruit when wilted and battered vines came to life. They grew fast, intertwining and creating knots that formed into walls of a labyrinth. A tightly woven barricade formed and separated the imps from Evan and Claire.
    “It’s a trap! It’s a trap!” Barfel shouted from somewhere beyond the tall hedges.
    “Don’t move; we’ll find you!” yelled Claire.
    “Argh!” Dunkle’s wail was followed by pounding and shuffling.
    “Dunkle? Barfel?” said Claire in a shaky whisper.
    Nothing, no response.
    “What do you suppose happened?” Evan asked.
    “I don’t know. But we need to find them.”
    “Of course, but I’m starving. I’m going to pass out if I don’t eat soon, and that pear looks delicious.”
    Evan wrapped his hand around a succulent looking pear. It felt soft and ripe. With a gentle tug, he released it from the tree, and Evan claimed his prize. Just as he brought the golden fruit to his mouth it started to harden. It had turned to brass or maybe copper. He tossed the hunk of metal aside and reached for a pear with yellow and orange skin. But it too transformed into metal.
    “I don’t believe it! What kind of sick joke is this?” shouted Evan. “When am I going to eat?”
    “You need to be patient. We’ll find food after we find the imps,” said Claire, reaching for the wall of ivy. When she tugged and pushed at the vines, they too transformed into metal. “Whoa, what’s happening?” she asked and tried to tear through the wall. “Ouch!” She pulled away and stuck her finger in her mouth.
    “Are you bleeding?” Evan asked, not daring to look. Instead, he focused on a patch of ivy still green with life. “So, you touched the wall, and the vines changed into metal?”
    “Yeah. It’s unbelievably sharp; it sliced me pretty good,” mumbled Claire, her finger still inserted in her mouth.
    “So I guess that means we won’t be able to climb over these walls,” said Evan, looking up at all of the surrounding plant life.
    The pounding returned, and the ground shook. Could it possibly be an elephant? Unfortunately, it was not an elephant, but a group of enormous hairy men! Their bodies were covered with clothes made from animal skins. Massive battle armor—clubs with spikes, axes, swords, and knives—rattled at their sides.
    “Run!” Claire screamed, grabbing hold of Evan’s arm. They fled down one of the labyrinth’s long pathways, but after only a few feet were stopped short. Two giants were blocking their way!
    Claire did not touch the wall; instead, she focused her mental powers on the ivy. The vines melted together like wax from a