After darkness had fallen, they went back outside and quietly made their way out of Tir'la, towad the Temple of Dalan. Fylin and Alexei led the way, with Jason, Charaustra, and Genhyl trailing them. The forest was filled with many odd clicks and scratches. Jason hoped whatever made them was harmless, and no one else appeared bothered by them. He passed the time by talking to Char.
What have you been able to find out? he asked her. Char had a way of sensing things that he could not.
The Temple of Dalan was the first major temple struck. It is the temple of the most powerful god, the god of life. I sense that there may have been smaller conflicts before the ransacking of this temple. It sounds pretty bad.
Finally, the group slowed. Up ahead, Jason could see only blackness.
The temple, Char informed him. Whoever is there is trying to remain hidden.
As they waited, Alexei brought up her hands and clapped a short rhythm. After a few minutes, a single flame appeared in the darkness. It was a torch, carried by a robed and hooded person. In silence, they moved to meet him, then followed him inside a tunnel of black stone. A heavy door was closed behind them by two armed persons in robes. They continued moving in silence. Eventually, the corridor opened into a small room. Here, their guide stopped and bowed to Alexei.
"Greetings, Alexei, Daughter of Night," he said.
"Greetings, Telatu, Servant of Life," she returned with a nod. "I have come to speak with the Children of Life."
"Follow me. Your companions must remain here." He led her out of the room. Jason gave Genhyl a questioning look.
"Only another M'l'kai can speak with the M'l'kai of the temple," he explained. "We can wander the outer rooms and assess the damage. The Azru will stop you from entering the more sacred areas."
Jason nodded and began moving toward a corridor on the left side of the chamber. So, each temple must have M'l'kai, he thought.
And a group of Azru... monks, Char added.
The ones at the door seemed well armed. I hate to think of the firepower needed to force your way into this place.
Char growled softly. Everywhere they looked, they could see evidence of a battle--scorch marks on the stone walls and sections of collapsed stone. They passed an armed Azru, guarding a doorway that had a broken hole in it. He seemed to glare at them from under his heavy hood; they continued, heading around what Jason thought was the perimeter of the inner temple. As they passed a hole in the inside wall, Charaustra stopped. She peered into it, then started to go through.
"Char!" Jason hissed, then winced as the sound echoed. I don't think we're supposed to go in there.
We have to, she said. Someone is calling us.
Jason listened and did not hear anything, but he had no reason to doubt Char. He decided to follow her lead, and together, they stepped through the broken wall and into the narrow corridor behind. Char headed left. After a time of walking, Jason noticed the acoustics of the corridor changing, and soon it opened onto a tall chamber. The top of the sloping ceiling was open to the starry sky beyond. The chamber was unlit and quiet. Then, there was a hissing noise and a sound like sand falling through an hourglass. Charaustra tensed and bared her teeth, stepping protectively in front of Jason.
*We mean you no harm, dragon,* a seething voice projected. In the pale light from the planet's moons, a slithering shape took form, followed by another. Charaustra and Jason remained wary. The creatures stopped a short distance from them. Jason saw they were feather-winged serpents, such as the ones from the pictures they had seen in Tir'la. One was brilliant green, and the other a pure white.
*We are the Azalai,* the white serpent said softly, *and you are the those destined to save our world.*
Background from Absolute Background Textures Archive. Storyline and characters created by and copyright © Rachel "Indyana" Gratis, 2001-2004. Dragon from Veniam Mactare.