Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 112 of 619

After breakfast Ajax cleared a flat rock by the fire and set the three items on it. The spiral ring. The black candle stub. The folded gray cloth. Chalam sat cross-legged across from him with his staff laid flat and his satchel open at his hip. The other five slept on or moved quietly through camp. Grayson stood a few paces off, arms crossed, watching. "Ring first," Ajax said. Chalam uncorked the first vial and tipped a drop onto his thumb. He pressed the thumb to the ring and closed his eyes. The ring hummed once, low, like a fly against glass. Chalam opened his eyes. "It speaks to collars. I had that. Now I have the rest. Put it on and think a name of a collared man, the ring finds him. Not his place. His mind. He hears the wearer as if the wearer wore the collar too." He set the ring down. "Useful. Dangerous. The Keeper made it to talk to his own leash." "Can he hear back through it?" "Yes. If you speak, he listens." "Then we don't wear it." Ajax wrapped it in cloth and set it aside. "Candle." Chalam took the stub. Second vial. He shaved a curl of wax with his thumbnail and touched the vial to it. The wax on the stone hissed and the shaving turned white. "A woman's name," Chalam said. "Not one I know. Light the wick and she comes to the flame if she is alive. She was alive when the candle was made. I cannot tell now." "Sixth name," Grayson said. "One we never found." "Maybe," Chalam said. "Maybe a seventh. I will not light it without your word." "Don't light it," Ajax said. "Wrap it. We hold it." Chalam wrapped the stub in chalk paper and put it in the satchel. He unfolded the cloth on the stone. Third vial. He wet a finger and drew a line across the weave. The line stayed dark and did not spread. "Healing," he said. "Same working as Elara's kerchief but stronger. Two wounds, maybe three, before it goes plain. Not hostile. Not tied to the Keeper." "Ours, then." Ajax folded the cloth and slid it into his own belt. Chalam corked the used vials and set all five back on the stone with their stoppers loose. "They will fill again tonight if I sleep clean." "Sleep clean," Ajax said. He looked at the three items ranked on the rock. One weapon he would not use. One call he would not make. One bandage he could carry to the coast. He stood. "Break camp. Coast by tomorrow dusk." Grayson turned to the horses. Chalam settled by the vials to rest through the ride, satchel closed over the candle and the ring. Ajax touched the folded cloth at his belt and walked to his horse.