Chapter Four
Admon escorted me from the room. I was numb and compliant. “Razi, are you certain of this?” He bent to look me in the eyes, his hands on my shoulders. “There is still a chance to change your mind.”
I saw my mother’s pleading eyes. “I’m sure,” I managed to whisper. Admon gave me a grim nod of acceptance and led me to the altar.
Sure enough, the room was empty with the exception of the hooded priests. The thick scent of incense filled the air as new censers were lit. The torches on the walls had been extinguished. An array of candles illuminated the altar, making it seem to glow in the flickering shadows. A bronze gong stood nearby.
I realized there was something on the altar itself. I felt my heart skip a beat. It was a knife of black stone. I looked to the statue of the go
