Room15b
Jora reaches for the black mirror and once more they rush through the freezing mirror dimension into an alternate of the room. The mirrors have disappeared but the pedestal now holds a thick codex. The book is as thick as Jora’s hand is wide and the wooden covers are bound with leather. On the face of the codex is a metal sword emblem. The detail of the sword is worthy of an expert artisan. The blade is lined with tiny runes and the pommel is so finely detailed that the metal looks like intricate wire wrap.
“I wonder if this is real gold?” Conrad touches the sword tentatively.
“You’re really worried about gold?” Jora is incensed. “I can think of a couple more important things. Maybe something, I don’t know, like escaping?”
“No need to be sarcastic. Who wants to open the book?”
“I will,” Lamia says.
She walks up to the pedestal and grasps the edge of the cover.
“Maybe everyone should step back, just in case.”
The remaining trio back away to the edges of the room as Lamia opens the book.
Golden light erupts from within the codex as the pages are revealed. Lamia, eyes wide in awe, leans forward attempting to read the pages revealed.
A glowing sword, a full-size duplicate of the tiny emblem on the cover, emerges from the light thrusting upward from the codex, spearing Lamia in the throat.
Blood sprays across the pedestal and book and Lamia collapses with a gurgle.
The sword floats free of the girl’s body and hovers in the air over the book. It dips and turns from side to side like a snake questing for something to strike. The tip centers on Jora and the golden blade streaks forward like a flash of lightning, impaling him.
While the two survivors stare in shock, the sword rips free of Jora’s body and then turns toward them.
Conrad draws his sword while Safir runs. The blade is not dissuaded by either tactic. Both adventurers fall in rapid order before the mystical blade.