What was a side story now fits nicely into this little saga. I will post the next two parts tomorrow knock on wood. Those are the real fun ones.

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This revolves not around Eba, but Shiva, a sphinx with a love of all things riddle, puzzle, mystery, and secret. She can’t seem to pass up an opportunity to flex those mind-bending muscles… even if it puts her at risk of letting a dangerous thief go free.

Unrelated Thumbnail by  blossonflower

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A lone sphinx sat idly at attention, picking her tooth. A wiry silhouette, she was certainly distinguishable as not Eba, as though her mannerisms hadn’t already given it away. No, as the guardian of the old chaos temple, she could never be anyone other than Shiva. Eccentric of the Almisan sphinxes, she had her own methods of handling defense of their sacred treasures. And so too came her own faults.

She drew a small board in the sand with a claw. Her true passion was games, mind puzzles, and of course, trickery. Whenever she had a moment to herself without a second player, she tended to play with herself. And she was always the victor, in those cases. “The cross goes there…” She mused, enraptured by her little game. “Then the circle goes there…”

Then suddenly, she waggled her haunches, and pounced. She sailed over a rock, teeth bright and glistening, as she found herself face-to-face with a bandit. And not just any bandit. Her crimson scarf denoted who she was, as well as the fact that she had dodged the multiton cat barreling for her in an instant. “And the bandit goes right there,” Shiva sneered, watching the sand settle around her paws.

The bandit gave a bow, and smirked right back. “Very perceptive of you, guardian!” Despite being a fat sand cat, the raider was nimble on her toes, staying just out of reach of those crushing paws or snapping jaws. “I can see why they have you guarding such an important place!”

The sphinx’s eyes flickered playfully, like a cat eyeing a ball of yarn. “You flatter me. A Sunset, huh? You must be Margaret. Eba’s told me a lot about you. Well, I appreciate you stopping by,” she licked her chops. “I was getting hungry, and woof, you have some meat on your bones!”

Margaret grinned ear to ear, stepping closer. “Not so fast,” the bandit raised a finger. “Any other day I would humiliate you into hiding. But no, I don’t want to fight you. I’m demanding… the old rules.” she declared confidently after a dramatic pause.

Such a proposition would see her ignored at best, or actively attacked and ambushed at worst. Indeed, that would be the case for any sphinx that wasn’t Shiva. Her eyes lit up. “Well now, how do you know about those? And more than that, how did you know I preferred such an old and powerful method?”

She stuck out her tongue and waved her finger. “A little kitty has to keep some things secret, oh mighty sphinx.” She seemed cocky, trying to drive Shiva all the harder to accept her challenge. “So? What’ll it be? Go on, speak the line, cat!”

The deity chuckled, before straightening up and clearing her throat. “First you must answer my riddles three. Fail, and you’ll end up inside of me,” the wily beast licked her lips for emphasis. She had accepted the duel. There was no way she could pass up an opportunity like this.

A fact Margaret seemed well aware of, as she grinned ear to ear. “You don’t plan on that old ‘legs’ riddle, do you?” the chubby cat taunted. “Have the mighty sphinxes really not improved at all these centuries?”

The sphinx in kind gave a big smirk. “Please. You don’t know me well enough. I may not be the most elite guard but I am an expert riddlesmith. I’ll tell you the correct answers after I devour you.” she flashed her teeth. “And remember, if you touch me, the bet is off and not only will I eat you, but your soul will be cursed to be tortured in Alshula forever for your cheating,” She dropped the threat so casually, it was almost impossible to believe it as true. “Ready?”

The threat washed over Margaret like water off a duck’s backside. She licked her back paw tauntingly, before slicking her dark hair back. “Do your worst.”

She could barely contain her excitement. Neither, clearly, could Shiva. Her butt wiggled, like she were ready to pounce. True to the arrangement, though, she only offered words, instead of tooth and claw.

“A crystal of little value to a jeweler, would not fit on a ring,
“But is considered in good taste, both to peasant and king.
“What am I?”

The sphinx grinned cockily. She had been going through lots of riddles in her head, and each and every one was all so clever. Margaret picked her nails, eyeing them carefully as she thought on the words. “Don’t go easy now, beast. It’s salt.” she smirked, not even looking up.

Shiva chuffed, shaking her head. “Bah. I guess the joke is on me. I was way too proud of that one. It’s hard to make fun rhymes. And no one wants a boring riddle, do they?” She grinned.

“A fun riddle beats a boring fight, but a fun fight beats a boring riddle,” she retorted. “Shame the only battle here is of words.”

The guardian grinned. “Oh? Bored already, you ruffian? I could pull out the king and pawn board and fight to the death in that instead. I’ll need to find an extra fat queen piece for you though.”

Margaret mrowed, amused. “Just drop the next riddle. Unless you’re giving up already. I thought this was your trademark, Shiva.” she taunted her.

“Very well then,” she retorted. “I can’t wait to eat you after this one.” Taking in a deep breath, she spoke.

“To utter its name is to break it.
“To lull one to sleep may demand it.
“To commit a faux pas might create it.
“To suffer it drives many to cease it.
“What am I?”

“Oh ho ho!” Margaret wagged a finger. “Here we go, finally, some kind of challenge!” She pondered it, again, showing surprising tact and restraint for one of the most brutal bandits in all of the lands. “The answer is… Silence!” she declared with confidence.

Shiva looked back and forth, before leaning in. “Say, you don’t have any sphinx friends, do you?” Then her eyes narrowed. “Or perhaps you’ve been spying on me?”

“I would hardly throw a stone in a house made of glass, Shiva,” she stuck out her tongue. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re the gossip of the entire realm.”

“And you would know that, how?” she huffed. “If you’re cheating, remember, you’re getting soulbound to the buttocks of the demon of pain.”

She grinned wider. “I have my ways. And you have yours. Surely we’d be butt buddies if we were ever to be truly judged.”

The guardian wriggled her lip a bit, grumbling. “Well fine then. It doesn’t matter. You’re not getting through this last one though. And arrogance is the best marinade.” Closing her eyes, and pondering a good one, a riddle that would surely trick everyone who ever heard it, she let it fly.

“I’m a spontaneous storm on a windless night.
“I’m a roaring hunger at all times of day.
“I’m a gem of the desert, though not too bright.
“I turn air to cloud and breath to dismay.
“What am I?”

Margaret pondered it for a moment. “You’re a sly one. And I’ve never heard this one before.” She tapped her chin, resting on one of the loose bricks. “Hmm… Well, you might feast on fat kitty yet,” she admitted, giggling.

“Take your time,” Shiva grinned. “The longer you take, the closer my shift gets to ending. And the hungrier I get for you,” she licked her lips forebodingly. “Mmm… fresh bandit butt…”

The bandit remained unintimidated, lost in thought. Then, a knowing smiled crossed her face, “It’s Eba, isn’t it?”

Shiva’s own smile faded. “You’re smart for a bandit. I must say, I’m very impressed. Well then. I’ve been defeated.” the massive cat stood up, and moved away from the entrance. “You’re fine with me, but that’s not to say Gara isn’t going to get those treasures back and turn you into cat fat on the morrow.”

Margaret nodded, stepping into the temple. “That bullheaded housecat won’t notice anything is missing. Besides, I could beat him. I could beat all of you,” she snickered. “Until next time, Shiva.”

“Next time, I will be serving you up a devious one. And then, you’ll be serving me yourself,” she grinned wider. “That is a promise.”

The Sunset said nothing further, walking into the temple and taking her sweet time. Surprised then was Shiva when she reemerged with scant plunder, only a few bits of jewelry and a couple macabre tokens. She wasn’t sure what purpose they served; they’d been in there for centuries, ling before her time. But if the victorious bandit really wanted a bunch of old trash from a disused temple, it was none of Shiva’s business.

Now… where was she? She looked back at her game, thinking on it. “How would a five by five grid play…”

She was immediately interrupted by a loud stomping. “Hello, Gara,” she greeted him, not bothering to look up. She always knew when the irritable androsphinx was coming.

“First of all, what the hells are you doing?” He snarled, kicking dust over her simple little game layout. “You’re here to guard, not dawdle.” Ignoring Shiva’s ornery expression, he bore his teeth. “Margaret of the Sunset Sellswords was seen around here. You wouldn’t happen to have seen her in between your play pretend…” he growled. “Did you?”

“I did,” he affirmed, rolling her eyes. “I tried to stop her, but she was just too good for me. She got into the temple.”

The larger cat was fuming. “What did she want with this old pile of rubble? Did you see anything? Why didn’t you call for help?” His claws sank into the sand.

“She just took a bunch of old rusty trash. I doubt anything dangerous was lost,” she shrugged. “Maybe she should’ve given me a riddle about her intentions instead-”

She suddenly yowled, leaping back as Gara batted for her. “You absolute degenerated debauched excuse for a guardian. Do not tell me… you asked her gods-forsaken riddles?”

Shiva panted, forcing a smile. “Well, you know. The old rules-”

Gara pounced her, pinning her down in a frenzy, causing Shiva to yowl in distress. “There are no old rules, you incompetent animal! You made that up as an excuse to play around instead of doing your job! I should kill you right now,” he snarled, his hot breath condensating on her neck fur.

“Hey!” Another voice spoke up. Gara turned his head, only to be shoved off by the thinner cat, who quickly righted herself. Another fair sphinx had joined them, a look of clear concern across her face. “What are you two doing?”

“I’m killing a traitor,” Gara huffed, glaring daggers at Shiva.

Shiva, in turn, glared back. “He’s just mad his riddles suck.”

“Please, I don’t really care right now,” Ina shot them both down. “Have either of you seen Eba anywhere?” A worry was evident on her face. “I’ve been looking all over for her. I haven’t seen her since her first shift this morning.”

Gara waved his paw dismissively. “Oh, spare me. She’s probably crawled under some palm trees to take a nap and overslept again. Or she’s still snoring and breaking wind in her quarters. We have more important things at hand.” He looked back to Shiva.

The wiry sphinx shrugged. “Haven’t seen her. Haven’t been back in the kingdom proper all day so, no real input from me.”

“Well maybe we should check?” Ina insisted. “What if she’s in trouble?” Her tail flicked pensively. “What if she’s lost, or hurt? Ohh… Eba…” she bit her lip.

Gara scoffed, tilting his head up. “Typical Ina. Windbag will turn up. She always does.”

Though, as though the entire squad was assembling at once, a fourth sphinx entered. “Hey, guys?” Ket, the other male sphinx, stepped in. “Did any of you skip your meal ticket?”

The trio looked at each other. “I ate mine, of course,” Gara informed him. A few murmurs of agreement came from the other two. “And you, Ket?”

He nodded. “So then, uh, whose is this?” he presented one. “The cooks were confused. They had a lot of food left over and one ticket had never been claimed. Think it’s Eba’s?” Ina immediately stiffened up. And, to her surprise, so did Gara. “Speaking of, has anyone seen her?”

“By the gods!” Gara caterwauled. “Eba would never skip a meal!” He blasted past Ina and Shiva. “Start searching. She’s probably already dead!” He turned to the panicking Ina. “Hurry!”

“Eba!” Ina cried out, dashing out after him in an immediate frenzy, in search of her dear friend. “Hold on, Eba, we’re coming!” She ran past, demolishing a small sandstone bench in the process.

Silence fell. Ket stood awkwardly, his ears folding. “Um… what was that?”

“Beats me,” Shiva shrugged. “I don’t know how you can lose a sphinx somewhere. We’re huge.” Then, a grin crossed her face. “But while I have you here, Ket…” She drew a long line in the sand with her claw. “I have been meaning to rematch you.”

The androsphinx took a step back. “I uh… I think I’m gonna go help Ina and Gara.” He nodded, looking away. “You should do the same. Uh. Nice seeing you, Shiva,” he added awkwardly, before scurrying off.

The remaining guardian rolled her eyes. “Everyone is so lame around here…” she let out a deep sigh, and then unenthusiastically wandered on. With all four of them on the trail, it would seem the hunt for Eba had begun.