Chapter 22: Black Dagger
Charon held his blade up while he scanned the cave’s interior.
Long shadows hugged the walls, and the constant ringing of the weapons made it impossible for him to hear anything.
Something tapped him on the arm, and he spun with terror, swinging his blade at the source.
It was parried, his blade veering off the side as Emerius grabbed his arm.
His clothes were soaked, but his hair and skin were fine, untouched by the waterfall. His eyes took in the skeleton, knives, and weapons instantly, a frown tugging at his lips.
Walking to the closest weapon, a battleaxe, Emerius flicked his sword and cut it down. He did the same with the rest, ridding them of the noise.
Charon, shaken by the candles, kept his guard up, unwilling to be surprised again.
He hissed at Emerius, hoping to clue him into the danger.
"The candles! They are still alive! The killer must be close!"
Emerius looked from Charon to the purple candles, then to the skeleton. He cocked a single eyebrow before chuckling.
"You needn’t worry. These are Everflame Candles. They burn for centuries without going dark. Our friend here could’ve been placed on that chair long before we even made first contact with the Elves."
The revelation was incredible.