The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Ajax

Ajax rode quietly down the main road to the castle, mind whirling. It had been nearly a full day since Mothlenor had announced Areanath's death and had accused Nevina, but the Matriarch and her troupe of young followers had yet to be found. Ajax had hoped that riding with the party that had searched along the Knife would give him the chance to speak with Nevina again. To figure out why she had done what Mothlenor was accusing her of. Or even if she had done it. He tried to reconcile Mothlenor's accusations with his knowledge of Nevina, but it only left him confused.

Their beloved King was dead, his body missing, and the King's brother attested that Nevina was a witch, capable of summoning the demons that had struck him down.

But Ajax loved Nevina, and couldn't bring himself to label her a murderer. Nevina also cared for Areanath. And Nevina had confessed to him that she and Areanath were trying to conceive an heir together.

And she promised me... She wouldn't have made that promise if she had no intention of returning to the castle. Would she?

But until the Matriarch was found, it was only Mothlenor's word that Ajax had. So he continued the search, even after sending his men away to join the other party still searching for Areanath's body. Conflicted, he argued back and forth with himself. Mothlenor was no doubt cruel, but he was the king's brother, and would have fought to protect Areanath against the arcane ambush. Nevina was loving and kindhearted, but there had been moments when her smiles seemed forced, and her laugh sounded hollow. He suspected she had known something about Areanath's death, even if she had not been the one to send demons after him.

Finally, as the sun began to set again, he made his way back to the castle.

He passed the farm of the little old man that had told him where Nevina had been headed, and continued up the road towards the castle. But he stopped when he heard a far off shout behind him. Turning in the saddle, he saw the farmer rushing across his fields towards him. Ajax jumped down from the saddle and picked his way around rows of tall vegetables to meet the man.

"I'm sorry, Sir, to cause you trouble. I wasn't sure you would come back this way again." The old man was breathing heavily, and sweat stained his face and stick his shirt to his chest.

"It's alright. What do you need of me?"

"Well, we'd heard some rumors. And now my wife is upset, I can't get her to stop crying. Is it true what they're saying, that the King is dead?" His small face was creased with wrinkles, and his dull eyes filled with sorrow.

"I'm afraid the rumors are true. He died while hunting." Ajax couldn't bring himself to mention the circumstances of Areanath's death, holding on to some hope that Nevina was innocent.

The old man grimaced, shaking his head. "The wife certainly won't be happy about this. He was a good King, and very loved. And what of the Matriarch? Have you found her yet?"

Had word of Nevina's involvement circulated too? "No, the Matriarch is still missing."

The old man shook his head again. "Not good at all. My wife and I were lucky enough to be in the market when she came through with her girls to see the King. It was an amazing sight." The old man smiled, his sun weathered face beaming. But his smile quickly faded, replaced with anxiety. "My wife is worried about them. When I told her about the Matriarch and her girls being bound and led away-"

"Wait." Ajax's heart skipped a beat. "Did you say they had been bound?"

The old man stammered, "Y-Yes, they were bound. Big metal cuffs, 'round the wrists of each one." The man lifted both arms, fists balled, for emphasis. "Did I not say so before?"

Ajax cursed. So, they had been taken captive, not escorted away. The old man was apologizing profusely, even falling to his knees to beg forgiveness. Ajax hushed him with a wave of his hand. "Please, no more apologies. Just help me understand. They were bound, taken captive, and led to the Knife?"

The man shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no. Not to the Knife. To the castle."

"To the castle? You said they were headed southeast. The castle gate is to the northwest of here." Ajax was frustrated, angry now that perhaps the man was making a fool of him.

The man shook his head again. "No, no. The main gate to the castle is to the northwest of here." He pointed, right in the direction in which Ajax had been headed a moment before.

"Yes, but you said they were headed southeast, back where I came from. Back to the Knife."

The man sighed, just as frustrated as Ajax was. "Sir, they wouldn't call it the main gate if it was the only one. There are others, dotted along the castle walls. To get to those you got to follow the main road, headed southeast."

Ajax cursed again. The man was right. He turned towards the castle, staring at the walls. The castle sat with its back against the sheer mountain face, with the walls encircling both the castle and the surrounding city. He had only ever used the main gate, which sat along the northwestern section of the wall, because it was closer to both the castle and the tower of the King's Guard. But directly to the north of the old man's farm was another gate, sitting on the southern curve of the wall. Ajax eyed the curve of the castle wall, first southeast, then back up to the northeast, where he knew a third gate could be found. Those gates were seldom used, as they both now opened directly into the housing district. But they were still there. He turned back in the direction he had ridden from. The main road continued southeast, to the Knife, where they had all assumed Nevina had gone. But, sure enough, there was a fork in the road, one that led northeast, to that third gate. He had ridden right past it without giving it a second thought.

"They didn't go to the Knife. They went back into the city." He turned back to the farmer, still kneeling in the dirt. "Have you told anyone else this?"

"No, no Sir."

"And you were not seen by the men that took the Matriarch?"

The old man shook his head quickly. "No. I was here, in my vegetables, harvesting. My own wife can't find me most times, and she knows where to look."

"Good." He helped the man to his feet, then untied a leather pouch from his belt. He pressed it into the man's hands, adding fiercely, "If anyone comes asking, you tell them you saw them heading directly for the Knife. Do you understand me?"

The old man stammered, "Y-Yes Sir." He held the pouch out for Ajax to take again. "We don't need the money, commander..."

"Keep it," Ajax said, thoughts already on his next steps. "Keep it, and remember me, should I need your help again."

"Of course, commander," the old man said quietly. "The name's Martyn." The farmer said, bowing to Ajax. "The wife is Darla, though most around here call her Nana, myself included." He clutched the leather pouch close to his chest. "You call on us if you need anything, commander."

Ajax nodded, already stepping around plants to make his way back to his horse. "Thank you, Martyn. I will."

Ajax could feel Martyn's eyes on him as he climbed into the saddle and took up the reigns again. He could only hope that the old man would keep his word. For now, his thoughts were focused only on finding Nevina, before anyone else did.