The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Hasani

Hasani found Ajax right where he expected to. He stood alone, off to one side at the bottom of the front steps, watching the formation of the new Peace Guard. There were roughly twenty members of the King's Guard, standing in a long row in the market square. Hasani watched for a moment as they removed helms, chest plates, and even weapons, dropping them at their feet to be collected by a half dozen or so boys. Just yesterday, this morning even, those boys had been recruits, and Ajax had been Commander. Now they were Knights, and Ajax would be taking orders from them instead.

Hasani descended the last of the steps, standing beside his brother. "I'm sorry, Ajax. I would have tried to stop it, but I only just found out."

"It doesn't matter," Ajax muttered. He held a black surcoat in his hands, the sigil of Etritia carefully stitched into the cloth, a pair of crossed blades over a single tower standing in contrast on the dark fabric. "This is the dawn of a new age, Hasani."

Hasani was quiet for a moment, watching as a thin Knight in King's Guard regalia read aloud a public notice to the assembled onlookers. "Have you heard about the Matriarch?"

Ajax nodded once, eyes never leaving the row of former Knights below him. "She was captured in the housing district, and has confessed her crimes."

"I'm sorry," Hasani repeated. "I know you cared for her."

"Don't be sorry about that, either." Ajax turned and gave Hasani a hard look. "I'm not sure I believe it. Nevina would never kill Areanath."

Hasani frowned. "Ajax..."

Ajax shook his head, turning back to the activity below. "I know it sounds mad, but I knew her better. I know she wouldn't have killed him."

Hasani said nothing. Perhaps this was Ajax's way of grieving for his king, and for the woman he loved. In time, he'll come to realize that maybe he didn't know her very well at all.

At the sight of Ajax and Hasani, one member of the newly formed Peace Guards broke from the cluster of black clad former knights and climbed the steps to meet them. Hasani recognized him immediately, though he looked different without his King's Guard regalia. "Commander. Hasani." He dipped his head. "Care to tell an old fool just what the fuck is going on here?"

"Dars..." Ajax groaned. "They pulled you, too?"

"Yeah, they did." Dars spat a wad of phlegm onto the steps to the castle. He sighed, adjusting the front of his surcoat. "Told me the Commander had seen fit to relieve me of my duties. Knew then that there was trouble afoot. You'd never let me leave the Guard, Ajax." Dars sighed, turning to watch the continuing dismantling of the King's Guard. "I always thought I'd be on my deathbed and still yelling at little shits trying to be Knights."

"Has anyone met this new Commander?" Ajax asked. "What's his name?"

"It's Ferrand," a rich voice called from behind them. The three of them turned as one, catching sight of a tall and broad shouldered man descending the steps to meet them. "You had better remember that, Ajax."

"You," Dars growled. "You're that slimy bastard that tried to slip into the King's chambers while he was meeting with the Matriarch."

Ferrand smirked, "And you were the First Knight of the King's Guard. And now you are just another errand boy." Ferrand's attention shifted to Ajax. "I'm here to relieve you of your helm."

Ajax obediently passed the plumed helm from the crook of his arm to Ferrand.

"And your armor."

Ajax scowled, but undid the belt holding his sword, which he handed to Hasani, then unbuckled the sides of his chest plate and pulled it off, tossing it at Ferrand's feet. Hasani had seen Ajax with his chest plate off more often than with it on, but for some reason, Ajax looked particularly small and defenseless in that moment.

Ajax had just started tying his sword belt back around his waist when Ferrand eyed it. "Your sword, too, Ajax."

"This is my personal weapon, not property of the King's Guard," Ajax objected.

Ferrand smirked again, eyes glinting. "Peace Guardians go unarmed, commander. You must surrender your weapon."

Ajax opened his mouth to object again, but Hasani stepped in. "Peace Guardians may go unarmed, but there is nothing to say that the King's own adviser must also. I will take the sword, Ferrand."

Ajax looked to Hasani, his expression almost grateful, and silently handed the weapon back to him. Ferrand scowled, his dark eyes flicking between the pair of them. "Very well." He nodded to Hasani, sneered at Ajax, then turned and walked away, ignoring Dars completely.

Hasani watched Ferrand leave, waiting for him to walk out of earshot. "I'll bring the sword by your quarters later, Ajax."

Ajax sighed. "Don't worry, Hasani, it is yours now."

Hasani was troubled by his friend's complacency but said nothing.

Ajax's eyes narrowed, his gaze far off and unfocused. "I overheard him talking with Mothlenor in the Old Tower.

"So you've met already?" Hasani asked.

Ajax's head tilted. "Ferrand wasn't in the room. Mothlenor was talking to him using magic, I think."

"Sounds convenient. That would have been a handy trick to have with Areanath." Hasani considered for a moment, remembering the night Areanath had slipped into his rooms without Hasani noticing. "Perhaps not, on second thought," he added quietly. Thinking of Areanath hurt.

"I think they were talking about Nevina." Ajax may as well not have heard him at all.

"The Matriarch?" Dars asked. "What about her?"

Ajaxs turned to look at them, "Mothlenor was upset by something Ferrand did to her." He turned away again. "I think he might have raped her."

Hasani and Dars exchanged a brief look. Dars looked as unsettled as he felt.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the three of them, but Hasani wasn't sure Ajax noticed the effect his words had.

Together they stood, watching the commotion before them.

"You do realize which men they have picked to become Peace Guardians, do you not?" Ajax asked. At the question, Dars snorted and nodded once.

Hasani looked around. He recognized several of the faces, and could even put names to a few of them. But he could find no discernible pattern among the men. "I have no idea. Why these men?"

Ajax turned towards him, and it was only then that Hasani could see the sadness and despair in his eyes. "These men were the most loyal to me, and they trusted me as their commander. These are the men that would question the motives behind an order, instead of blindly following it. They are not just fighters, blindly running into combat just for the sake of the fight. They are free thinkers, and men of valor and honor, and courage. And Mothlenor has reduced them to little more than commoners, here only to break up fights in taverns and take complaints." His voice had a hint of bitterness to it.

Dars snorted again. "These were the best fucking knights we had."

"It is because he fears them, Ajax." Hasani put an arm across his brother's shoulder. "And you, too. Men like you would question and argue with Mothlenor, and you have these men to follow in your stead. He fears that power. And so he has tried to strip you of any chance you might have to use it."

Ajax sighed. He was silent for a moment, looking out over the gathered crowd of newly appointed Peace Guards as they donned their black surcoats. His voice was soft when he finally spoke, "I fear for what this new age may bring."