Kaz snorted. "Now what good would that do? Your master would never grant it, and we both know that."
"True, but you could try anyway." Merriq squatted, the better to stare Kaz in the eye. "Things could be made easier for you and your friends if you would change your mind. His Holiness has offered you such as most warriors only dream of achieving. Only a fool or a lunatic would reject such glories."
"I can only give you the same answer I'd give your master again. I'm no one's puppet. It would go against my honor… which might be something you'd never understand, Brother Merriq."
The cleric glared, but did not respond to the slight. "It would also be wise to tell us where the kender is. He will only come to worse if he is not placed safely in custody."
"Hopefully, he's far from Nethosak and far from your reach."
"He is still in the city," Merriq returned. "We are certain of that. You would do him a great favor by telling us where to find him. There are many ways to die."
"I think the man must be deaf, Kaz." Ganth shook his head. "He asks a question, gets an answer, then asks the question again."
Kaz grunted. To his inquisitor he said, "As if your master cares about a kender's safety."
"The high priest cares about all the children of Sargas, even those of the lesser races."
The high priest wanted Delbin alive… alive to use as a threat against Kaz. More and more, Kaz wondered what sort of game Jopfer was playing. Even the emperor and the Supreme Circle might not know Jopfer's agenda.
"I can see there is nothing to be gained in trying to talk sense to you," Merriq remarked. "Very well. Then, by the will of Sargas, I pray you fight well tomorrow and, by doing so, redeem your lost honor in the eyes of your fellows. Fight well and your memory may still be honored."
Merriq departed without a second glance. The warrior who had let him in gave Kaz and the others an almost sympathetic glance before quickly following.
"We must search down this hallway again. If the kender shows up, he will have to make use of one of these exits," Merriq said to someone. His voice dwindled as he moved off. However, guards still continued to move through the corridor and Kaz could make out the horns of a sentry on duty across from his cell door. He suspected it was one of the temple soldiers and not one of the State Guard's men.
"That's it, then, Lads. It's the arena for certain now."
"What can we do?" asked Hecar. "Kaz goes first. You heard that robed serpent. They want him first so he's out of the way as swiftly as possible. Why don't they just kill us in here?"
"Now that wouldn't be sporting, Hecar! Must keep up illusions, our high priest. Besides, I think you, Kaz, are supposed to live. Hecar and I, we are more likely to be the object lessons. Still, I could be wrong. I'm certain that more than a few will remember my son and the last time he was out there. Maybe this is also an attempt to prove that no one can defy the emperor and the others." Ganth shook his head. "I don't know what to think."
"The emperor? No real need to defy him." Hecar grunted. "Polik's the high priest's puppet. That's obvious."
"Worse than that," Kaz responded, finally stirring from his thoughts. "Jopfer's got the Supreme Circle in the palm of his hand, too, I'd say. Which doesn't matter for the moment, I suppose. What matters is us getting out." He forced a smile that he hoped looked cunning. "You two be prepared to act tomorrow. Watch me. As soon as I move, you've got to head down a certain tunnel across the field that I'll point out. It's the quickest and easiest way out. They keep the animals they use in the circus in that area. There'll be fewer sentries on duty there. In a situation of great chaos, it won't be that hard for you to slip free."
"What about you, Lad?"
"I'm the great chaos," he said. "And I'll be right behind you," he added, lying.
Hecar's brow was furrowed. "What sort of situation could cause enough chaos to make them ignore us?"
"You'll be better off not knowing. Just trust me. It'll work." He had his doubts, but did not voice them.
"What about Delbin, though, Kaz? He said he had something in mind. What happens if he puts whatever mad idea he has to work just as you're about to put your own plan into play?"
Kaz did not want to consider that particular problem. Hopefully, Delbin would follow his wishes and leave Nethosak. If not…
"Pray Paladine and Kiri-Jolith can use some good warriors at their side, because if they don't, old Sargas is going to have the last laugh in the afterlife."
Delbin returned to his hiding place with little more than two hours of darkness left.
"Well, I found them," he said to himself, speaking quietly but firmly in order to keep his thoughts organized the way he thought Kaz would in his position. "They're in a place under the circus, but it's not a very nice-looking place, and it's got rats in some places, which seems strange, since everything aboveground is so clean. They're locked up, and I would've gotten them out except some minotaurs in funny black-and-red robes who I heard worship Sargas, who is a peculiar god to worship since he's not very nice, came in and started looking for me. I had a good talk with Kaz and told him I'd be back because while I was there I got a great idea for a really big diversion that'll keep everyone there busy while they escape." He smiled in the dark, pleased with his personal rundown of events. Kaz would have been proud of him, Delbin was certain, even if the minotaur had declared he ought to leave the kingdom.
The kender set to work on his master plan. Everything was falling into place.
The high priest did not sleep as others slept. Sometimes he thought and plotted; other times he simply paced. Soon he could reveal the glorious truth to his children. Until then, however…
This dark morning, dark because there was at least an hour before sunrise, he had to visit his guest. She had grown unsettled of late, something which in turn unsettled the high priest. In the short time since she had become his guest, a decision not of her making, she had been, for the most part, quiet and frightened. The high priest preferred that. He encouraged those emotions, while at the same time being careful that she did not come to harm. Her good health was vital to everything. She had to be kept secured, but otherwise he made certain she did not hunger much or grow unduly ill.
Deep below the main part of the temple, in the special cells in which declared heretics were once placed, she awaited. The cleric walked unescorted past empty cells, turning corner after corner until at last he found the only one presently occupied.
Something scurried away from the door of the cell, a short, dumpy little figure whose presence disgusted him. "What are you doing there? Get away from that door!"
"Sorry, Great One! Sorry! Galump mean nothing!"
"Get away from here! Go back to your garbage! If I see you here again…" He let the threat trail off as the gully dwarf scurried away. If the little creature had not been trained to perform certain acts of spying for the priesthood, the high priest would have dealt with him there and then.
A slight clink from within the cell informed him that his guest was awake. Had she been talking to the foul little creature? The only other ones she saw were the guards that watched the corridors. But they were strictly forbidden to speak to her. No one was allowed to speak to her but him.
Moving to the door, he peered into darkness. "You are awake, my little one, so do not pretend otherwise."
From the darkness of the cell there came the sound of chains clanking. A moment later, the prisoner appeared out of the darkness.