Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 262 of 619

The first room was empty by the time the sun would have set outside, its gold loaded and carried back through the tunnel. Ajax stood at the second doorway with his father's blade ready. Rowan lifted the light. It spilled inside, and the room glowed. This room held no gold of gold in stacks. It held rows of ornate glass vials set in wooden racks along the wall. Some held liquid that caught the light. Others held powder, or nothing Ajax could name. Beside them sat clay pots sealed with wax. And against the back wall, plain and heavy, lay fifteen bars of gold. Kael counted the bars aloud. Then he reached for the nearest vial. "Don't," Chalam said. Chalam knelt at the racks. He is the wizard who has ridden with Ajax since the coast. He speaks plainly and never softens a fact. He held his staff near the glass. The wood hummed, then stilled. "Most of these are potions," he said. "Healing. Sleep. One that slows a bleeding wound." He lifted a vial with green liquid and turned it. "This one I do not know. I will not open it here." Ajax watched his hands. "Are any of them a danger to hold?" "Held, no. Broken, maybe." Chalam set the green vial apart from the rest. "Wrap them in cloth. If one cracks in a saddlebag, I want it to be a bad smell and not a dead man. Identify the green liquid in the vial when we’re home.” Ajax nodded and told Kael to fetch the padded sacks from the horses. While the young man went, Chalam worked down the racks, naming each vial he knew and setting the strange ones aside. He never rushed. The gold was fifteen bars. The potions would keep his men on their feet through a hard winter and a hard fight. Kael returned with the sacks. Ajax made his choice. "Pack the potions. Load the gold. The green vial rides with Chalam, apart from the rest.“ Two rooms cleared held treasure. Ajax turned to the third dark doorway and lifted the blade.