Altair waited for another second and burst forward with explosive speed. His cover now blown, he knew he'd have to act fast to secure the victory before he lost his advantage. Plowing into the figure from behind, he tackled him to the floor and put his knife up to their throat.
He heard a whimper that gave him pause.
"Please! I don't know who you are but I'm an Acolyte here. I can't see anything but I don't want to die, please don't kill me!" Cried a decidedly feminine voice.
Altair was torn. He wasn't a cold blooded murderer and he quickly lost the will to take her life with her pleading cries. He stood up, helping the figure stand as well, but keeping his hand on her back so he knew where she was at all times. "I won't turn my back to this one" thought Altair as he opened his mouth to speak.
"I'm an Acolyte here as well and I'm not a murderer. Tell me where you came from and if there's a way out back your way" said Altair, his knife still against her back.
"I came through an open door, and it slammed close. There's no way out back the way I came." She replied.
"Unfortunate" thought Altair as he stood there in thought. So far the trials were about taking life and translation of an ancient language. Surely there was more to this place than killing.
"Place your hand on the opposite wall and go back the way you came" We will see if there's a hallway or door you missed on your way here" Said Altair to the female disciple.
She placed her hand on the opposite wall and started moving forward at a faster pace now that she had nothing to lose.
They walked for 5 minutes until she came across a break in the wall. "You were right, there is a break in the wall here" She said, relief in her voice now that she had hope one of them didn't have to die to get out of here.
They followed the new side path until they could see the glimmers of light at the literal end of the tunnel. Upon entering the light they noticed a small room with a pedestal in the middle of it. The pedestal was in the middle of a circle, that upon further inspection resembled an ancient spoked wheel. The circle and spokes had been carved into the basalt slab it sat upon with the spokes leading all the way into or under the pedestal.
Altair and the female Acolyte walked forward with Altair trying to grab the book. His hand was repelled by some sort of barrier before he could reach it though.
"Any ideas?" asked Altair to the other Acolyte.
"Yes, unfortunately" She replied. "I think this is a trial of blood. In order to grab the book, the circle needs blood. The spokes feed the pillar, and presumably once the pillar has enough blood, the barrier gets lifted."
"Straightforward killing" said Altair has he continued to look at the pillar and contemplate what to do. He wasn't a murderer, but what if this was the only way? He struggled with the dilemma.
"How good are you with the language?" asked Altair to the Acolyte. "I was a linguist and interpreter by trade. This particular language syntax and characters are very similar to a few languages I know" She replied.
"Start translating what's on that pillar. We need to figure out if it really is blood we need or something else. I won't take a life callously" said Altair as he stepped back and let the Acolyte get to work.
The two Acolytes worked on translations for what seemed like hours. Their growing suspicions were soon confirmed when they found the idea the inscriptions were trying to convey. It was indeed a blood "wheel", that once full would allow the barrier on the book to phase out for a small amount of time.
"Well, that's it then" said Altair as he sighed. He wasn't a killer and still had remorse from the two people he had been forced to kill since he had come to this place. He didn't know how he would go through with this one. But he knew that it was her or him, and he wasn't about to give up his life for a stranger.
"Maybe there's another way" said the acolyte with a dejected look on her face. She knew she was going to die here as she could not match the strength of Altair not to mention the weapon he carried on him.
"There is no other way" said Altair as he took a couple of hesitant steps towards the other acolyte. With his knife out, he was trying to steel himself for the murder he would have to commit.
"I know you don't owe me anything, but we don't know how much blood this wheel requires...what if we both give some to the wheel?" She said, with a pleading look in her eyes. "I'll give blood first, let me try...If it's not enough, and we don't think you could provide the additional to make up the difference for both of us to survive, then just let me bleed out here. I don't want to die, but I'd rather I make the decision than have you kill me...I'd like to ask a favor though."
"While I fill the wheel will you listen to the reason I'm here? And if you make it out of here alive, if I sacrifice myself to let you continue on, will you get my revenge in my stead?" I will cross over easier knowing that someone will carry on my will."
"I don't know if I can make that promise, but I will listen. If it's within my power, I will see it done. It's the least I can do for your life. I'm not a killer, I take no joy in this" said Altair as he made a deep cut on her wrist and she sat down and watched the blood drain into the wheel.