The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Ajax

Ajax pulled them quickly along, the light of his lantern bouncing along the walls as they hurried through the tunnels. He knew the path well, thanks to Nevina. They were nearly there... And then the blood sacrifice... Ajax's body shuddered at the thought, knowing what was to come.

The light sputtered, the oil nearly burned away. "Shit." Ajax glanced down at the lantern, watching as the light seemed to grow dimmer before his eyes. "We'll have to finish the hike out in the dark, I'm afraid."

"Ajax, where are we going? Is there a way out?" SIlvana's voice was soft and trembling, and her hand clutched his tightly.

"There's a door. It will let us out in the woods to the north of the castle." The ground beneath their feet began to slope slightly upwards, back to the surface. They were getting closer. "Once out, we head east, towards the Knife. Once at the Knife, we follow it south, to the Free Cities." The path steepened, until they were almost climbing. Nearly there.

"We're going to go through the woods without a light?"

It was Hasani that answered Silvana. "Tomorrow's moon will be a full one. There will be plenty of moonlight to see by, don't worry."

They followed the path up, and after a few minutes, the lantern finally went out. Silvana gasped in the sudden darkness, but Hasani comforted her with a few low words. Ajax led them on, stowing the lantern and keeping one hand on the wall for guidance. They continued to climb, until they suddenly reached a dead end. Ajax groped around in the dark, his free hand feeling first the smooth, cold stone of the tunnel wall, then a jagged formation right in front of his nose. He fingered the rough stone, trying to piece together where they might be. Had he made a wrong turn somewhere? Did he get them lost? Ajax's groping hands found a large hole in the structure. His hand slipped in, and he felt his sleeve catch on jagged spikes. He jerked back, his heart pounding. The Dragon Door.

"We're here. We've reached the door."

"Well go on, then, let's open it."

He felt Hasani move to his side, but Ajaxlifted an arm out to stop him. "It's not an ordinary door, Hasani." Ajax paused, feeling his pulse quicken. "To open the door, I have to make a blood sacrifice."

The air was still for a moment, until Silvana broke the silence. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that the door is magic. It will only open after someone offers up their life to it."

"Then I'll make the sacrifice." Hasani stepped closer to the door.

Ajax reached out again and pulled him back. "I can't let you do that."

"Why the hell not, Ajax? You expect me to let you die to save my wife and son? That's my responsibility, not yours." He shoved Ajax's hand away, again moving towards the door.

"I won't die, Hasani!" He called out. "Nevina Saw that much. The Dragon Door won't kill me." Hasani paused in front of the door. "But if you try to open the door, it might kill you." He put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let me do it. And just... Protect my sister, if I can't use my sword any longer." He couldn't be sure, but he thought Hasani might have nodded in the dark.

"Great Ones preserve him," Silvana muttered behind them.

Ajax sighed, turning towards the door. He felt his way around the structure until he found the hole again. He positioned himself, ready to plunge his arm into the gaping maw. "Alright, here goes, I guess." I hope you were right, Nevina. Ajax took a deep breath and thrust his arm in.

The sound of stone grinding on stone filled the air, followed by excruciating pain as the great stone dragon clamped it's jaws down on his arm.

For several seconds, Ajax only knew the agony of the Dragon Door's grip on him. Someone nearby was screaming, a long and terrible sound that seemed to go on for forever.