The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Ajax

Ajax waited until the door to Areanath's rooms closed behind the Matriarch before making his way back down the hall. Her words both troubled and surprised him. Mothlenor, overcome with lust for the Matriarch? To the point of causing her anxiety at the sight of him? Ajax could hardly believe it. Mothlenor had only ever seemed... upset by the presence of a Coven member. Nevina especially seemed to infuriate him, though he surely thought he was good at concealing it. No doubt it was his phobia of other races. Though the Coven were human, they lived outside the rule of the king, bound by their own secret laws and hidden from the rest of the world. To Mothlenor, they probably seemed no different from the elves or dwarves.

Ajax shook his head, quickening his pace. He could at least fulfill his promise to Nevina, and keep a guard posted outside Areanath's rooms to wait for her. It was a small thing, and would ease her mind.

And he would do nearly anything for her.

His footsteps slowed again as he recalled her pleased smirk, and the hint of bright blue from under her veil as she once again rebuffed him. The rebuff didn't bother him, and it never had. Theirs had been a long game, since her first visit to the castle, when she followed behind the Matriarch Nevara. With each visit, his advances became both bolder and sloppier, and he delighted in seeing her smile widen over the years as she came to expect them. After the last several years, he couldn't be sure which of the two of them enjoyed their banter more.

She once confided in him that it was not her choice to make, but the Matriarch's. Even then, he never stopped secretly hoping that she might one day accept.

And now, Nevina is Matriarch.

Ajax blinked, suddenly finding himself outdoors. The sun was high and bright, and Ajax had found his way back to the training grounds without remembering the trip. The yard was empty, the youths he had been working with earlier apparently dismissed for the day.

Ajax shook his head free of thoughts of Nevina's affections and crossed the training grounds to the barracks on the other side. He needed someone he could trust to wait on the Matriarch, and he had just the man in mind.

Ajax found Dars inside, chastising a young recruit in the small room that served as the barracks kitchen. Thin and severe, Dars held a long wooden spoon dripping with juices in one hand, the other hand resting on the pommel of his sword. Ajax felt sorry for the poor bastard that had upset his second in command. Dars was on the older side, but he could still beat a full grown man into submission when it was needed. And his sword skills were second only to Ajax's own.

"Now get yer bony little ass to the garden, and find me a damned onion or two, so I can fix this fuck up ya call a meal," Dars grumbled. The boy nodded hastily and ran out the side door. Dars turned, seeming to sense Ajax's presence behind him. "Little shits these days can' be damned to make a fucking stew." He jabbed the spoon into the simmering pot hanging in the fireplace. "Shit's all burned and tasteless," Dars grumbled again, shaking his head.

Ajax smiled, trying to hold back his laughter. He'd been on the receiving end of a few of Dars' angry rants about cooking before, and could empathize with the terrified soul that just fled the room. "He's just a boy, Dars. He'll learn in time. I did."

"Ya learned because I fucking taught ya, Ajax. A knight's gotta know how to feed himself out in the wild."

"Dars." Ajax chuckled, unable to help himself. "We're not in the wild. He will learn."

"Yer fucking right, he will, so help me." Dars slammed the heavy lid onto the top of the pot, setting the spoon aside. He fell onto a nearby bench, glaring angrily at the offending pot of stew. "By the time I was his age, my da had—"

"Taught you how to catch a fish, and taught you a dozen ways to clean and cook it." Ajax fell heavily onto the bench beside Dars. "I'm aware, Dars. And I'm sure you're passing those same skills onto your son."

Dars grunted. "Ain't no good fishing 'round here. But I do what I can." Dars straightened, turning to look at Ajax. "Speakin' of my son..." Dar's words trailed, and he looked Ajax over hesitantly.

"He's still thinking about recruiting?"

"Aye. Seems convinced to do it this next spring." Dars sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You don't want him to try?"

Dars snorted. "Course I do. I just don't think he's ready yet is all." He huffed, glaring at the pot again. "But I can't make him wait any longer, neither. He'll be too old in another year."

"You've been training him?"

"Aye."

"Then I'm sure he'll be ready, Dars. No need to worry."

Dars sighed, brows pinching. "But if he ain't..." Dars' voice trailed again. If he failed, there would be no second chance. The King's Guard only took the best youths of Etritia and the surrounding towns. They did not accept failures.

"He'll be fine." Ajax insisted, patting Dars on the shoulder.

Dars looked over at Ajax again, looking him up and down once more. "I s'pose you're right. Your da said the same things about you, and look at you now."

Ajax smiled. He'd never known that, but it certainly sounded like something his father might have said.

Dars shook his head. "I only ask that you don' go easy on him. He's got to earn his place, and I won' go asking favors from you, even if I don' think he's ready."

Ajax laughed, nodding. "If anything, I'd be harder on him. If you're training him, he's likely to show the other boys up without any effort."

Dars sniffed, spotting the young recruit returning with two medium onions in his grasp. "My little shit can cook, too," he mumbled under his breath. Dars stood, moving to intercept the boy before he dropped the vegetables whole into the pot.

"Wait, Dars. I have a favor to ask."

Dars barked at the boy to wait, then turned, eyebrow raised. "What's that?"

"After lunch, will you wait outside the King's chambers for the Matriarch? When she's ready to leave the castle, will you bring her to my rooms? I'd wait myself, but I have some work to see to."

Dars' frowned. "Escorting the Matriarch out of the castle? That's uncommon."

"It'll be late. She'll be tired, and she has her followers with her this time. I'm sure she'd like to avoid any harassment, if possible." Ajax lied.

"Sure, sure." Dars' glanced back to the boy, who was struggling to lift the heavy lid with a single hand. "Now, excuse me while I yell at this little fucker a bit." Dars stepped from the bench, then turned back, seeming to remember something. "Ah, Ajax. Will you be joining us for lunch?"

Ajax laughed, shaking his head. "I don't think I will this time, Dars."

Dars grimaced. "Lucky bastard."

Ajax left the kitchen as Dars rounded on the boy once more for not listening to directions. He'd never been more grateful to have a lunch scheduled with his chosen brother.