Chapter 10.7
They ran, easily out distancing the chaotic form but ever conscious of its relentless pursuit they did not slacken their pace. They travelled for some time, though it really was hard to tell how far they had come. The walls grew smoother and took on a finished look. Skilled hands had worked this stone. Scenes in relief had been worked into the walls. They were highly detailed works of art and both of them wanted to take time to study them, but the sound behind them seemed not to have receded but to have grown louder if anything. It was catching up. They came to a branch in the passage and they both stopped.
There was nothing to offer either path. They were the same size, had the same amazing stone work, and the same lighting. They looked at each other, Katashi speaking first. “We should have gone up into the tower. I felt it, you had to have too.” It was a strange thing to say at this moment as they had no time for discussion of anything but the path to their safety.
Jaala looked at him and shook his head back and forth slightly. “Truth brother, but sometimes the most direct path to a destination is not the quickest. There are many things here that seek our life.” He left the rest unsaid because they both sensed the urgency of the moment. The sounds of pursuit were loud enough to let them know they were in imminent danger. Jaala nodded towards the two paths ahead and looked questioningly at Katashi.
Katashi glanced towards them and spoke quickly, “There is a slight breeze coming from the one on the left, let’s go.”
The dashed towards it. Turning a corner the light grew stronger, brighter and they ground to a halt at the entrance of a room. It was a good ten yards across and was circular in shape. The carvings on the walls shimmered and seemed to move slowly, fluidly. They blinked, not sure if it was an illusion or not. Katashi noticed in the moment the figures in the stone were warriors locked in an endless eternal battle. They quickly surveyed the room and saw they were neatly trapped. They had come in the only entrance. Katashi drew his blade and turned to face the entrance. If this was where he met his end he would die in battle, perhaps like those on the wall. Besides, he and Jaala had faced much worse hadn’t they?
It therefore surprised him to see that Jaala had not done the same. Not only had he not drawn his sword he was laughing. Katashi was about to speak when Jaala cut him off. “This is not the time for making a last stand brother. There is no time to explain. Follow me and all will become clear.”
As Jaala finished his speech the form began to enter the room and Katashi found he was now quite motivated to do as Jaala suggested. He leapt to follow him. There was a raised platform in the center. It was black, like obsidian and had the same intricate carving as the rest of the room. As they both stepped onto the platform time slowed. The figure stopped, and grew still, pursuing them no more. What happened next surprised Katashi greatly. Fog enveloped them, growing more dense until they could see nothing. He felt suddenly light and then the feeling left. The fog began to clear and a different scene unfolded to their view.
