Fliara did not remind him of her presence again. Scurn could be ignorant, but he was not stupid. However, Kaz also knew that by allowing his rival to think that he, Scurn, controlled some bit of the situation, the scarred minotaur was more likely to go along with their demands. Kaz was familiar with the way minotaurs such as Scurn thought. The captain would be working on the assumption that he would betray his captors at some point. He would, if things went as planned, agree to help them.
"You're our guide," Ganth informed the prisoner. "We are all going to see His Holiness."
"You expect me to take you into the temple?" Scurn started to laugh, then remembered Fliara's sword. "You might as well surrender to me now. At least you'll have a chance of dying honorably in the circus."
"Nobody needs to die, Scurn, not if we do this the way I ask. That includes you."
"So you say, but I'm more likely to get run through from behind when you don't need me anymore, aren't I?"
Kaz stepped closer, matching gazes with the other. "I don't want that to happen. Do you?"
Scum was the first to look away. "No, like you, I want to see the axe coming!"
"Your choice, Scurn. Your life and freedom. All you have to do is lead us inside and past the acolytes. What we do after that is up to us."
The captain straightened. "All right. Not that I've got much choice. You'll be walking to your deaths, though. The high priest is not as kind as I'd be."
"Aye," Ganth interjected, "you're kindness incarnate. Now turn around."
Scurn obeyed. Ganth reached into a pouch and from it removed badges identical to the ones Fliara and Scurn already wore. Despite himself, the prisoner could not help but grunt in surprise.
"Amazing how these things can be found lying around," Ganth commented. Members of the guard faced serious reprimand for lost badges, so they generally took care of them.
"Where did you get those?"
"No time for questions now," Kaz reminded him. Even he did not know where Ganth had found the old badges. The mariner had asked his son not to ask, and Kaz respected that wish.
"Are we leaving now?" asked Hecar.
"Yes, we're ready to leave." Kaz faced his companions. "We need to be in and out of there. You all know your tasks. Anyone who doesn't want to commit suicide with me can leave now."
"You gave that speech before, Brother," Fliara piped up. "None of us paid it any mind then, and none of us does now." She tapped Scurn on the back. "Except maybe this one here."
"Let's get going, Son," Ganth commented. "I've got a pair of new grandchildren I'm looking forward to meeting."
"Let's move, then."
The party started toward the temple. Scurn walked in front, with Ganth on one side and Fliara on the other. Kaz followed, with Hecar close behind. Everyone now had their weapons drawn except for Kaz, who had a role to play, and, of course, Scurn.
Nethosak never truly slept, especially these days, but few minotaurs roamed the streets at this hour. A few passed by the group, but other than a furtive glance, most looked quickly away. It was not healthy to bring oneself to the attention of the guard.
They neared the temple much too soon. Torches lit the entrance, and two sentries clad in the colors of the priesthood stood at attention. Kaz glanced at the windows of the edifice and saw that most of them were dark. By now, the high priest would have retired, along with most of his staff. There would be some guards on duty, and a few acolytes.
"You don't think this'll work, do you?" Scurn whispered.
"It'll work, or the last thing you'll feel is this blade running through your stomach," Fliara commented matter-of-factly.
"Amusing," replied Scurn. "But not as amusing as this little plan of yours."
They marched up with Scurn looking as if he were in full command of the situation. The guards looked poised to block their path, but Scurn showed his badge of rank and informed them, "I've got a prisoner that the high priest wants to question." He indicated Kaz. "A companion of the chief fugitive being hunted tonight. Let us pass."
The pair looked at one another, then the larger of the two nodded, at which point they stepped aside.
Expression set, Scurn led the.group past. The doorway opened from within. Another pair of guards waited, but they were the only ones Kaz could see.
An acolyte met them when the doors were closed behind them. He looked slightly irritated, as if they had just disturbed him from his catnap. It was interesting, Kaz noted, but the higher the rank of a cleric in the temple of Sargas, the less devout they seemed to be. Oh, they performed all the same ceremonies, but their smug attitudes made them almost interchangeable with the staffs of the eight members of the Supreme Circle.
"What is it you want, Captain? His Holiness has retired for the evening."
"I've got a prisoner he'll want to see first thing in the morning," Scurn replied without prompting. "A companion of the chief fugitive, Kaz. He knows the kender, too."
The acolyte nodded approval, looking past Scurn. His mouth twisted in distaste. "Such betrayal to the cause is ever shameful. You are sure he is one of the traitors?"
"He's traveled with Kaziganthi for years. Knows him better than anyone. As I said, he is also acquainted with the kender."
"A kender. Can you believe it? A minotaur who travels with a kender. This Kaziganthi has fallen low."
"Captain," Hecar interjected. "Maybe we should get this honorless one in a cell before he slips free again." That there were cells in the temple was common knowledge. In the course of their duties, the clerics of Sargas were forced, so the high priests always insisted, to treat heretics as criminals. No emperor, however popular, had ever had the courage to question the existence of this private dungeon.
"A cell?" blurted the robed minotaur. "He should be thrown into the arena! Take him there."
Fliara casually tapped her sword against Scum's side. He quickly spoke up. "I'd rather he were kept here, Brother. And the high priest would surely agree. He is too valuable to waste in the arena-not yet at least."
The acolyte weighed this seriously. "I am not accustomed to making such decisions. That was the duty of Brother Merriq."
"Then get him."
"Brother Merriq," the other said frostily, "is no more. He perished bravely, capturing… capturing the other prisoner. A fire of some sort, I understand."
Kaz could barely refrain from smiling. So Delbin had not been captured without a good fight. Kaz had no pity for Merriq. He had been the epitome of what was wrong with the minotaur homeland.
The robed figure was taking much too long to consider the matter. Hecar spoke again. "Captain, can't we just put the prisoner in the cell ourselves and take responsibility?"
Scurn frowned, but Hecar's words made the acolyte brighten. "Of course, if you want to take responsibility for the prisoner, you may go ahead. I cannot say how His Holiness will react, but as long as it is your responsibility…"
Even Scurn seemed disgusted with the robed minotaur's attitude. The acolyte was one of those middle-level subordinates who would do anything as long as it didn't threaten his own well-being. It was the type who never rose very high in the ranks, but seemed to last forever.
"We'll take responsibility for any taint he leaves in the holy temple," the scarred minotaur answered somewhat sarcastically. "Just tell us where the cells are and we'll take him there. You won't have to worry about a thing."
"I'll have to have someone lead you there."