Subject: Re: The Mountain; Five hours...

Mission stares at Sa'id. The mage dared to accuse him of not watching out for Promise's safety?

Now was not the time to quibble. And the meat of what Sa'id said, that Promise needed to be kept safe, even at Mission's expense, was . . . comforting. Latch to that-- not to the mage's stupid assertions.

But he can't keep the terseness out of his voice, "We're agreed then, Sa'id-- Promise's safety comes first."

After Cadfael had the boy out of the chamber-- then what? Survival laid in one direction-- back the way they came. Mission touches the pane of glass, feels its strength. If Cadfael failed within the chamber, the secret door would be the only way to reach him.

"Show me where the secret door is, Cadfael. If you fail," Mission swallows, "someone will have to go after Promise. I'd rather not have to spend time looking for a doorknob."

Subject: Re: The Mountain; Five hours...

(You'll have to forgive the brevity of my responses the next week or so, since I dislocated a shoulder and am typing one handed... grr..)

"Do we have to exit by the main gate, or can we leave the way we came? If the dark god doesn't know this entrance, he won't know where it spits out of the mountain. These corridors are far more defensible for a retreat than the front entrance. Especially if friend Farron can ask one of the earth creatures to hold one of these doors closed."

"And, if the attack is inside, that should draw the outside forces inward. When we escape out the side door, they may follow, leaving the front unguarded when we exit the mountain and have to run."

Subject: Re: The Mountain; Five hours...

Cadfael's gentle rocking continues, it's eerie, were it not for the lack of another person you would swear he was being cradled in someone's arms.

"Pieces rock and fall; the Mission doesn't end, I have a promise to keep. Promises do not just vanish, they do not die."

His eyes flutter close, and though he fights to keep them open it seems he is drifting off to sleep. "All eyes to the altar," he mumbles, "when you first hold your son do you look to the sky or look to the boy? He who would be will be between stone and child and will see nothing until I hold the sun in my hands. And from there, from there..."

He seems to have nodded off, his head rocking unbidden with his motion. The rocking has not stopped.

Subject: Fwd: Re: The Mountain; Five hours...

OOC: Ty said he didn't get these, so I'm sending them to everybody just in case. Sorry if you got them twice.

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From: Mike

Subject: Re: The Mountain; Five hours...

"Once Cadfael has Promise, we'll almost certainly be discovered. We have to slow down whatever forces come after us so that Promise can be seen to safety."

Garyth thinks over Raja's words. They didn't have much of an exit strategy, not that it mattered; there was only one way out of the mountain for them anyway. If they got extremely lucky, the guards around the main entrance would rush inside once an alarm was raised, but it seems too much to hope.

Possibilities for a retreat start coming to mind as Sa'id speaks again, this time questioning the priest. Garyth finds himself nodding. "And how do you plan to get by those guards when the time comes, not to mention Elise and Anileth?" he adds. "Or will Pelor shield you from their eyes as well?"

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From: Mike

Subject: Re: The Mountain; Five hours...

> Garyth thinks over Raja's words.

OOC: Heh, oops. Oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

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