[Firefoot]

Siamak ducked back to relay Zamara’s bidding to the others. He was now wary of leaving the cover of shadows, even though little to no other light lit the open areas. Perhaps it was simply the setting of their meeting, or the purpose, or just Tarkan’s manner (which was irritating him, though not for any tangible reason), but Siamak’s unease had doubled since arriving at this place. This unease was confirmed when the still silence was broken by the raucous shouts of Orcs echoing in the city. Siamak’s skin prickled. What had happened? Surely it was only coincidental that Orc cries should be heard only after they had met up with Tarkan. What if this really was a trap? Taking a few deep breaths, he shrugged off the feeling of fear. If ever there was a time when he needed to think clearly, this was it.

He approached the figures cloaked in the shadow of a nearby building. The corners of his mouth turned upwards in reassurance, though this action relieved the tension not at all. “You are to follow us, but stay out of sight. Neither Zamara nor I trust Tarkan much.” He paused for a moment, listening. The Orcs were drawing slowly nearer; their peril heightened with each passing moment. He shared a brief look with his sister. “Be careful,” he whispered, then he was gone, following after Tarkan and Zamara.

He hurried after the way the two had gone, stepping into the temple proper. Granted, the temple was not whole, but still the temple of Rae seemed somehow unfriendly in contrast to that of the goddess, which had always felt more welcoming despite his misgivings about religion. He felt that this place held secrets – and not pleasant ones, either.

Seeing movement at the far end of the room, Siamak headed in that direction, wondering where they were going. He saw as he drew nearer that Tarkan was taking them back into the hallways and rooms behind the worshipping area. He paused a moment to make sure Gjeelea, Nadda, and Raefin were following all right before continuing. Had it not been for the lack of light, they would have had no problem, what with so many of the walls being partially demolished.

He caught up with Zamara and Tarkan near the top of a stairway that led down into the ground. Under normal circumstances he would have missed it entirely, but then, under normal circumstances he wouldn’t be here at all, he realized wryly. Tarkan had already begun to descend and the Priestess, by her stiff stance, appeared to be bracing herself up to go after.

“All right?” asked Siamak softly. She nodded jerkily and began the downward climb, Siamak a step behind her. The steps leveled off abruptly, leaving them at the start of a tunnel, into which Tarkan was already heading. The tunnel was cool, damp, and unlit and had a death-like quality to it. Perhaps he was being cynical, but Siamak noted that it had all the trappings of a perfect place for an ambush, among them being no other apparent way out. He wished that Tarkan had not chosen such an eerie location.

“What is this place?” he asked Zamara, careful not to let Tarkan overhear.

“I’m not sure,” she answered, but Siamak got the distinct impression that she had at least a suspicion of where they were headed. He was no longer sure that he wanted to know.

The tunnel was not so long as fear and distrust would have it seem, and they soon came to a small room, perceived by the feeling of space rather than the sight of it. Tarkan lit a torch from an unseen source, uncloaking the room of its darkness, though there wasn't a lot to see. Most prominant of the room's features was a table, an altar possibly, at the far wall. Siamak was now certain he did not want to know what was done down here. After lighting the room, Tarkan turned to face them. He did not, however, speak first.

“Now, Tarkan,” Siamak addressed him, deliberately not using the man’s title. Though his tone was polite, his words were to the point. “You have brought us here on very little information, expecting us to take you on faith. You did not tell, nay, refused to tell your purposes for calling this meeting; the only reason you gave us for coming was an apparent threat that you knew somehow where Zamara was hiding. We have come; now, is it too much to ask for some information?”