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Next to it is what looks to be a stone scabbard and sticking out of the top is a shiny handle. James comes over to it with the others right behind. He reaches out for the handle and hesitates. Glancing back to the others, he sees Jiron nod his head. Turning back to the handle, he grips it and pulls it out.

It’s a foot long knife, the edge is incredibly sharp. Just as he turns back to show Jiron, he feels the tingle of magic and above the door, glowing letters begin to appear.

‘With the Knife of Maricel you must take the life,

Of the one that fire aged through strife.’

“What does that mean?” Dave asks in puzzlement. He glances to James and sees a look of horror on his face. “What?”

James knows full well what it means. Miko is the one the Fire aged through strife. When Miko had the Fire, every time he went into battle the Fire aged him until at last his youth was gone. He looks to Miko and can see he’s come to the same conclusion. If they are to continue, Miko must die!

James sits against the wall with the Knife of Maricel resting on the ground beside him. He’s been sitting here almost a half hour now as he tries to come up with another meaning to the words glowing above the door than Miko’s death. This can’t be right! Morcyth is a god of good, it’s inconceivable that a human sacrifice would be asked by a god such as he.

Miko and Jiron, as well as everyone else but Dave, congregate over by the outflow of the stream. They talk in hushed tones, occasionally casting quick glances over to where James sits in contemplation. Dave sits near him but remains quiet.

A memory comes to James, one from long ago when he first met Serenna back in Willimet, before becoming the leader of a cult. “I see a long road but you are not alone, another walks with you,” she said to him. “He will be the key, a lock must be opened.”

Is this the lock which must be opened? It has to be. But taking Miko’s life? Even if it means not fulfilling why he’s been brought to this world, it’s something he’s unwilling to do. Coming to his decision, he takes the knife in his hand and stands up.

The others come near when they take notice of him coming to his feet. Miko comes forward and with a haunted look in his eyes says, “James if you must do this…” His voice cracks and he’s unable to finish.

Giving him a smile, James lays his hand upon his shoulder. “I will not kill you Miko,” he assures his friend. “Even if it means my quest ends here and forever remains unfulfilled.”

“But…” Miko says, tears coming to his eyes.

“If Morcyth is such a god as requires the death of a good man, then I want no part of him,” James says then turns toward the door. Walking forward, he takes the Knife of Maricel and places it back into the scabbard.

Suddenly, the tingling sensation he’s felt since the words first appeared above the door spikes. Backing quickly away from the door, he watches as lines form around the perimeter of the door. Then in a flash, the door vanishes and the way is open.

Qyrll suddenly breaks into a laugh which draws the attention of the others. When all eyes are upon him, he says, “Don’t you see? It was a test of morals. Only one who would not take an innocent life would be allowed to pass. Any agent of Dmon-Li who read those words would have killed and killed in an attempt to open that door. Very clever.”

“Thank you,” James hears Miko say next to him. Turning toward him, he sees him wiping a tear from his eye. “I could never kill you,” he assures his friend. Raising the orb he moves to the opened doorway. “Now,” he says glancing back over his shoulder, “let’s see what’s in here.”

He steps through the doorway and into a large circular chamber, the cavernous ceiling disappears into the darkness above. A two foot wide ledge runs around the length of the chamber. Sitting in the center of the chamber is an island of rock surrounded by a fifteen foot wide chasm. The only access to it is a narrow stone bridge which arches its way across.

Sitting in the middle of the island is a small, plain wooden chest.