Mika finds her

Winlay got closer to the crowded courtyard outside the dininghall walking through one of the top gardens alongside a row of lettuce plants when a small clump of dirt struck her and dropped to the ground. She looked around in confusion until she saw Mika's face framed in the golden tangle of hair hidden behind a small wagon. Even before she could chastise her friend for her childish behavior Winlay realized that there was something terribly wrong. Her normally cheerful friend's face was drawn tight with a deadly seriousness that Winlay had never seen before. Winlay moved swiftly and silently to her side until she too was crouched between two hand wagons next to Mika.

“Mika!” Exclaimed Winlay in an urgent whisper “What happened to you?” She looked terrible, her hands and arms were scrapped and bruised and her gray robes were covered in filth nearly to her hips.

“I need your help Winlay.” Mika started “Do you think you could get three sets of clean clothes for me somehow?” Winlay didn't even know what to think as Mika continued “Two can be about my size but the third has to be big enough to fit a large man, and a first responder's medical box if you can find one.” Winlay shook her head slowly, she really liked Mika, and wanted to help her; Winlay knew that whatever trouble Mika had gotten into, she'd be better off in the long run if she turned herself in and came clean.

“Mika, I can't do that. Come on, We'll get you cleaned up and I go with you to see whoever we have to get this cleared up.” Mika sat quietly next to Winlay thinking over her options and then with a sigh turned to Winlay.

“I had hoped to avoid this, but I don't see any other way.” She paused closing her eyes in concentration or prayer before she continued. “Winlay, come with me, there is something important I have to show you.” Mika led Winlay past the pile of rich composted soil that Winlay had been shown by Margaret during the afternoon to a large round pool of foul smelling sludge. Climbing a narrow walkway the girls made their way to the mouth of a large concrete pipe that emptied the convent's waste into the sludge below.

“I know this stinks, but I can't explain yet, you need to see with your own eyes why we can't ask for help in the convent.” With that Mika swung open the thick iron gate which barred the entrance and helped Winlay climb into the pipe itself. Winlay followed Mika deeper and deeper into the tunnel and as it became too dark to see suddenly a fan of light flickered from Mika's hand lighting their path.

“How did you...” Winlay started to ask but Mika stopped her question before she could even finish it.

“I'll explain what I can later, this is what you had to see.” Rounding a smooth bend in the tunnel Winlay saw a muscular man leaning against the rounded wall of the passageway with a motionless body clasped in his arms.

“Mika! What have you done?” He exclaimed as he saw Winlay following her friend. The man was large and wore the armor and weapons of a warrior, he was clean-shaven but had loose hair that flowed to his shoulders. Most importantly, he was clearly displeased at seeing Winlay.

“Adam, this is my friend Winlay. Winlay this is Adam, and this” Mika said as she raised her light to illuminate body in Adam's arms “is His Holiness the Oracle of Xelta.” Winlay looked at the figure in shock. She could see now that he was an old man dressed in the robes of a high ranking priest.

“It can't be Mika.” Winlay protested, “The Oracle is on his way to Cryn for the peace talks.” Even as she spoke Winlay could feel her doubts grow, she had never seen the Oracle in person, but she had seen his image on the bulletins that the church published and sent out from the Holy See, this man did look eerily similar to those pictures. Still her mind refused to accept that the highest leader in the Church of Xelta could be found **** in these sewers.

“That's what Beldan wants everyone to think Winlay.” Mika explained. “Adam and I found him chained in the Templar's prison, I wasn't planning to get him this soon, but I ran into some trouble with a couple of the 'Guardians of the Church' and it was now or never.” The sarcasm in Mika's voice when she mentioned the Templar's moniker was biting, and she turned to Adam immediately after and added. “I'm sorry Adam, I know many of the Templars are truly good men, but after finding his Holiness in your cells my patience is a little worn.”

“I don't understand.” Winlay said simply in a low voice, “but I think I know what we need to do.” She added with more confidence as her mind came to grips with the implications of finding the Oracle in this most unexpected place.

“We need to ask Sister Margaret for help.” Before Winlay could explain why, Adam interrupted her.

“No! We can't involve any more people.” He had a nice voice, Winlay noticed even though he wasn't thinking clearly. She waited until she was sure he had finished and then turned to face him placing her hand on his bicep as as she spoke.

“Look at yourselves Adam.” Even through the chain hauberk he wore Winlay noticed the strength in his arm, she wondered how far he had carried the Oracle through these tunnels. “Look at him.” She added pointing to the old man slumped in Adam's arms. “How far do you think you will get walking through the streets of Telnon carrying an **** man covered in sewage before you attract attention.” She saw the truth of her words sink into his dark intelligent eyes and before he could protest again Winlay added her final argument. “Sister Margaret is a healer as well as a good woman, and she has no love for High Priest Beldan. You need her help if you want to get the Oracle out of this alive.”

For three full breaths the two stared into each other’s eyes, Winlay knew she was right and refused to bow to his rank, experience or even the way he made her knees tremble as he gazed into her eyes seemingly measuring her worth and her judgment.

“All right.” He conceded. Winlay wasn't sure but she thought Mika gave a small gasp of surprise at Adam's words. “We'll talk to this Sister Margaret of yours.”