“What is this place?” Dax blinked in the shaft of light streaming through the scrollwork of the single window high overhead. His head hurt; for some reason he couldn’t remember how he got here. Wherever here was.
In the narrow fringes of light he could see walls covered with ornately designed panels, gold-leaf scrollwork glinting against the surrounding darkness. Beneath the window he could just make out a door, it’s frame marked by the same gold leaf designs as the rest of the wall. The door itself was a blank hole in the dim light, jarring in its luxurious surroundings. The floor was plain tile, an incongruous grate in the middle of it leading to unknown paths beneath.
Dax rubbed his forehead, then froze. Was that movement just beyond the light? He peered closer, barely distinguishing a black shape in the shapeless darkness. “Who’s there?”
“Choose your path,” a raspy voice said. “Above brings great blessing but great temptation. Below is fraught with danger but brings enlightenment. Choose your path.”
“Path to where?” Exasperation crept into Dax’s voice. “What exactly is it you want from me? I don’t even know how I got here!”
“You have accepted the quest,” the voice continued. “Only one can save the empire. Only one path will bring victory. You must choose now.”
“Forget it!” Dax clenched his fists and stomped over to the door. “This is either a really bad joke or you’re insane. I’m leaving; I’ll ask someone to direct me to nearest embassy. ” He yanked at the door and almost fell backward as it opened easily.
“Your choice is made.” The voice grew distant as his surroundings faded into nothing. “Let the quest begin.”
The Word Worker 