Rain couldn't go any further down the tunnel. Dehydration was now contributing to her enervation, and the increasing temperature as she descended was not helping matters. She resolved to wait for the chanters behind her to catch up – if they attacked her she would have to do something, but she could do nothing at the moment. Exhausted, she collapsed with her back against the wall and sat with her head hung between her drawn-up knees, waiting for the chanters to approach.
She didn't have to wait long; the had been gaining on her steadily for a good hour now. Why would someone make an hour-long journey underground? Obviously she was doing just that, but she had a good reason. Why were these others doing it?
Her first indication that they had seen her was the change in the tone of the chanting. It lost consistency as those at the head of the line failed in maintaining the gentle up-down rhythm of the chant. Rain looked up. Two old bald men approached her, in saffron-red robes, gold rings dangling from their ears. Each had a blackened-glass box affixed to his neck, bulbs sticking out the sides. Their faces were pained and Rain realised that these men were younger than they appeared, their bodies afflicted with some suffering which did not affect the men inside those shells.
“We see you, glowing one.” They spoke in unison. Neither voice on its own would have been sufficient for her to understand,but together their tones melded so beautifully that her heart sung with joy. Disturbed – her heart singing with joy was not a normal state for Rain Berillian – she steeled herself for whatever would come next.
“You were sent here to free out god, Tera, The Eternal Screamer.” Obviously these people wanted to free their god. Then it would be free to run rampant over the world. Assuming it even existed, though with what she had discovered recently, she would not be surprised to find that it was true. Or that she was insane. Both? There was always that. But didn't Avan also want this God in Chains freed?
“What will happen when your god is freed?”
“Our suffering will end.”
Rain had always been sceptical of prophecy, and this had always been a favourite of hers. She had always wondered if these prophecy-obsessed people had considered that their suffering would be ended if their lives were also ended. Still, it seemed they expected her to do something, and she could use this to avoid their suspicion.
“I am not strong enough to do this task. I need to eat. Get some water. I need to rest.”
“Of course. We have quarters further within the temple. They are usually reserved for the holiest of our priests, but you may use one if it is spare. We will harvest living flesh for you. Its pain and fear will give you strength.”
Rain didn't like the sound of eating raw meat this but felt she was trapped. She nodded. “I would appreciate that.”
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