"Yes." he said after some deliberation. "They do no one any good down here."
Hedden nods in understanding.
Best be ready for anything, then. Who's going to grab them? he asks.
Jazzai has one foot on the steps and another on the "floor" of the area they are on as she holds her spear defensibly. "I am ready."
"It is my risk to take." Kane says moving toward the statue.
The snake's head is carved from a dark, soapy stone, which is somewhat slick to the touch. The snake's visage is one of glaring malevolence, made more ominous by the glittering gemstones in its eye sockets. The left one glows with a sickly red light, like a light source shining through wet blood. The right stone has a cleaner red light, more like a stained glass window.
As you study the eye stones, you see some movement reflected in the right one. At first alarming, your heart leaps as you realize you are seeing your parents' images! Almost as if you are looking through the opposite side of a mirror, you are seeing your parents standing exactly where you are. Then, your mother weaves a spell, holding up a crystal to her eye. You get a good look at her as she brings her face up close to the stone, then nods. She takes a step back as your father fills your view. He brings his hands up and clutches the stone.
Then the vision ends, and you can see your reflection in the eye.
Kane stared, intent and shocked. He shook his head and blinked hard, looking again.
Then he reached up angrily to try to pry the stone from the statue's eye socket.
The stone comes out easily, needing only a solid tug and it comes loose into Kane's hands. As soon as it is released, the left eye closes shut, preventing access to that stone.
The water roils and bubbles immediately, and from the churning froth five dragonlike heads rise up upon long, serpentine necks. They hiss menacingly at the beings upon the platform.
Hedden releases his arrow that he had nocked and ready, but the arrow bounces off the serpents' hide.
"Of course." Kane said, mostly to himself.
He pocketed the stone and moved forward to draw the attention of the snake things.
Still from his vantage point above the platform, Adrien focuses on a sleeping spell, hoping to take a few serpents out of the fight momentarily.
Hearing the hissing she silently lets out a curse and turns her spear towards the noise. She would set her weapon in a defensive posture looking to strike back at any that struck her or for everyone to retreat.
"Guys, let us retreat if possible. I hear more than two."