Chapter 16
Three guards entered the basement cell where the chained Saracen was sitting. From being in complete darkness for so long, Nazir felt a sharp pain in his eyes from the light of the torches they had brought with them. There was no daylight in the place where he was kept, and Nazir could not tell exactly how long he had been here. Restricted movement, lack of light and scanty food had weakened his body, and he rose to his feet with great difficulty, but he did not think of giving up. Without outwardly showing anything of his state of mind, he stood calmly and waited for the soldiers to remove the heavy chain from him. They put a gag in his mouth and a canvas bag over his head. It didn't keep him from walking. From under the sacking he could see the road and where he was being led. But as he realized, someone didn't want his face to be seen and recognized. Nazir wasted no energy on the unraveling of the black wizard's evil plans; it would do him little good. He walked and listened intently to what went on around him, seeming almost relaxed but ready to act decisively and at lightning speed if necessary. It was a skill he had learnt long ago.
Once a warrior for the baron, he had no fear of his master, even though he had seen how everyone groveled before the black mage. Nazir has always felt himself a free man. Without his trusty swords, Nazir felt vulnerable, and mentally told himself that it was for the time being.
Through the gaps in the burlap, Nazir could see how the guards were armed. Their leisurely march ended when he was led into a humming room. Judging by the rustling and soft voices, there were people there. He was brought to the center of the hall, where the stone altar was, and stopped.
The guard placed Nazir with his back against the stone slab of the altar and pushed his hand into his chest to begin binding him by the iron rings attached to the edges of the stone slab. Losing his balance from the blow to his chest Nazir felt himself falling backwards, and taking advantage of the situation he grabbed the guard by the chest with his bound hands, dragging him into a fall. The baron's soldier had no time to orientate himself and did not realise that he was already flying upside down. There was confusion at the altar, the other two tried to pile on top, but Nazir dodged like an eel and rolled to the other side of the altar, trying to pull the sack off his head that was restricting his view. He failed to do it the first time, and then the Saracen bent down to the fallen guard to retrieve his sword. He was prevented from doing so by a blow to the head, everything in front of him spun and faded as he fell to the stone floor.
The guards who had come to their senses grabbed him by his arms and legs and began to hastily tie him to the altar, glancing furtively at the black magician who was watching the whole scene in cold blood.
Nazir did not see or hear how John was brought and laid on the altar immediately after him, but his friend did not resist, for Lilith had added a sleeping potion to his drink, and he was simply dragged here like a sack.
The preparations for the ritual were complete, the protagonist was missing.