Use the sewers

"Sister Margaret suggested we head back up through the sewers." Adam told Mika and once again Winlay stared at the two in surprise. Did Adam really know Sister Margaret? He and Mika were engaged in a hurried conversation while Winlay waited by the Oracle's side content to hold the filthy man in her arms supporting his unsteady frame. His arms and legs were covered in welts and leisions and dried blood, feces and urine stained the front of the once white robes of office.

In hall at the foot of the stairwell, Adam located a iron grate that was locked with a massive padlock to a ring in the floor. Mika used a much heavier pick to work at this lock, unlike the well oiled locks that held the Oracle, this one was stiff with dirt and rust. It took almost ten nerve-racking minutes before the lock was finally pulled open with a squeal of protest and Adam wasted no time lifting the grate from the floor. Mika hopped into the dark passage beneath and suddenly a white light as bright as any lantern shone from her fingertips.

"Quickly." Urged Adam and Winlay lowered herself into the dark passageway next to Mika. As soon as she was able to stand in the ankle deep black water, Adam lowered the Oracle to her and Mika. The man's body felt fragile in her arms, and she gasped in horror as she saw how his hands had been tortured. Most of the man’s nails had been pulled from his fingertips and at least two of his fingers appeared to be broken. Winlay had to hold the Oracle on her own because Adam was scouting the filthy passageways and Mika was reaching up through the grating to lock the padlock behind them.

"This way." Said Adam pointing to one of the larger passageways with a beam of light identical to Mika's. Winlay could now see the light was shining from the "X" of Xelta symbols that looked identical to the one she wore around her neck. But Winlay had no time to wonder about the vault-tech items this pair carried because Adam moved to the Oracle's side and draped the man's arm across his broad shoulder. When he slipped his hand around the Oracle's waist taking much of the weight from Winlay she sighed in relief. It was reassuring to move with Adam and the Oracle away from the Temple Prison as they followed Mika's guiding light.

As the two of them struggled to drag the Oracle through the narrow tunnels Winlay became aware of the way Adam's hand would brush against the side of her breast. It was unavoidable, just as her hand was pressed firmly between Adams waist and the Oracle's ribs. She knew that the Templar warrior meant nothing by it, but each time his fingers brushed her she felt her nipples tighten in response and waves of heat swept from her right breast to the tips of her ears each time Adam's fingers pressed into her soft mound.

As they struggled through the slippery slime and waste the passageways became narrower and narrower. Eventually there was no longer room for Adam, Winlay and their charge to all move together and Adam took the Oracle in his arms sending Winlay ahead to walk with Mika. She wanted to protest but she knew he was right. Neither she nor Mika had the strength and endurance needed to carry the Oracle on her own, but she wondered how long Adam would be able to carry the Oracle in his arms bent over as he was to keep from bumping his head on the ever lower ceiling of the sewer. She also missed the feeling of the handsome warrior's arm pressing against her side.

After what seemed like forever but what might have been a little over an hour of steady climbing against the flow of the current that swept the filth and waste of Telnon to the sea Mika pointed to sunlight that shown from above.

"I think this is the one." She told Adam and Winlay as they stumbled the final thirty meters to where she was waiting. "It's the fifth one, that's what you said Sister Margaret told you right?" Adam nodded confirmation and even in the dim light that was now radiating from the pair's lights she could see the strain and fatigue in the strong man's face.

"I hope she's there." Adam whispered wearily. Mika smiled cheerfully although she too looked exhausted.

"Let me just check before we climb up there for nothing." And with that she turned off her light and reached for the carved handholds that lead to the afternoon sun light that filtered down from above.