As the atmosphere grew tenser by each passing in the ruins of an unknown ancient city for the team, far away from it towards the northeastern sections of the underground world, a group of figures were walking towards the outer, mostly unguarded regions of Ugburg.
The group, or more precisely the convoy of what seemed like 30 figures of different shapes and sizes crossed in a steady, albeit slow pace towards the modest-looking stone huts. The light grey, patched and badly worn rags each and every person attending to the several carts they were pulling have perfectly covered their frames.
They all seemed to be beggars, refugees that perhaps lost their homes. Maybe a war that broke out between two tribes. A fight that like always, made only the average commoners suffer through greed or whatever sins that drove the respective leaders against each other's throats. Losing their homes, or perhaps fearing for their safety and survival have seemed to have forced these poor wretched souls to tread these roads and try their luck in the nearby settlement, Ugburg.
Yes, without closer and more thorough scrutiny this is exactly what everyone would most likely to think about these harmless-looking ragged travelers. Yet, this is exactly what they wanted everyone to think, to see. This illusion, this subterfuge was merely a smokescreen, hiding the truth just under the prying eyes.
Though a closer inspection would easily reveal the truth, those few distant sights were the ones the group intended to deceive, to make them seem harmless and not worth the attention at all.
"[Reptilian] Papa, this is really fun! I am so happy you allowed me to come to this mission!" A cheery, youthful voice could be heard mixing together with the loud, high-pitched creaks of the wooden wheels of the wagon they were pulling along.
A pair of bright golden eyes sparkled in the dimly lit road as it gazed at a hunched-back elderly-looking robed figure. The man in response to the young one's words reached out from under the robe. A hand, slim and slightly wrinkled appeared from under the long sleeves and gently caressed the top of the smaller figure's hood.
"[Reptilian] I know you are excited dear, but try to stay focused, and be silent. Don't let others notice you, okay?" The man asked with a rough, deep voice. Though he tried to silently mutter, the power of his voice couldn't be easily masked and was heard by everyone attending to the convoy.
Hearing their master's words, a figure with a rather alluring, mature, and feminine shape stepped over. A slender hand clearly belonging to a woman appeared from under the sleeves and like the man before, caressed the little one's head, who was silently enjoying the treatment from both adults.
Whilst keeping her gaze on the road ahead, the woman leaned closer and whispered.
"[Reptilian] My Lord, are you certain, that bringing Tolliah wouldn't make the mission just more… ehrm, difficult?" Asked the woman in her usual alluring tone. The hooded mature lady, Madam Dara looked worried under the cover of her hood as she gently caressed the little child's head.
She, just like the other captains that were all present, still felt conflicted about the mission their leader had suddenly come up with at the meeting several hours before. Although he explained calmly that whilst there is a higher risk because of it, bringing Tolliah was absolutely necessary. Not just because she missed her mother Daliah so much, but also that supposedly she was one of the keys to solving the mystery behind the High Priest's and the Ancient One's mysterious interest in acquiring her.
They all knew that their story and reasoning of 'She is the fated one to be the next mate for their God' was just that, a fake story, a lie they have come up with to cover the truth. Even an idiot would have realized that if that were the case, they could have just found another young female virgin with a high-enough social standing and used her. They could have prepared multiple vessels to carry the Ancient One's seed and give birth to the next heir, the next High Priest. If that would be the reason, Tolliah would have lost her value after their first escape. Investing so much effort, time, and obviously money as well to recapture her wouldn't have made sense otherwise.
Also, there was the mystery behind Daliah's capture. First, it was rather believable that they wanted to use the mother as a means to put pressure on both the father and the child so they would bend to their will. Yet, after their escape or the recent grave battle, it didn't make sense to still keep her alive. However gruesome and morbid the thought was, the wrinkled elder, the leader… Aiden didn't see any logic behind still keeping her alive.
Yet, there was no news about her at all. She was one of the biggest mysteries to date. She was a safely guarded secret of the High Priest's forces, no information about her since her capture have been found. Even as he absorbed the Saurus Monster, General Zokor, Aiden couldn't find any relevant update from combing through his memories.
Even him, the most respected, and feared warmonger in the Temple Guard forces, and one of the most trusted aides to the High Priest, second only to him have known almost nothing about Tolliah's mother current status other than she was still supposedly alive and was kept inside the High Priest's personal chambers at all times. Whatever purpose she served in there, was anyone's guess… Though it did make Aiden clench his fists hard anytime he thought about it. Even though they weren't truly related at all, since he wasn't the Archbishop at all, but ever since taking on his mantle and was accepted by the little girl at his side as her 'Papa', Aiden felt that he was responsible for both of them.
He had to save her, not only because the system itself have given him a side mission for that right at the meeting when he was accepted by the rest of the leaders of the rebels, but also because he couldn't bear to see the sadness in little Tolliah's eyes. Even though she was most of the time cheerful and looking happy just by being with her papa, Aiden's honed senses could spot the hints of sorrow and sadness every now and then…
Clenching his fists, Aiden didn't respond at first to Madam Dara's question, his gaze was fixated on the distance. He was gazing at the expanding cityscape ahead of them when suddenly he felt the light tugs on his sleeves.
As he looked down, he noticed the worried look of the little girl. She asked with a trembling voice.
"[Reptilian] Papa… Will we see mommy again?
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