114

Orphic laid his hand on the statue of the bear and slowly turned the corner, taking care to duck underneath make-shift bridge of cloth he had erected all those years ago. It was dark but there was still just enough light for Orphic to see. He wasn't sure if he should be shocked or not, but everything was still there. The candles, the toy figures, blanket and pillow, all covered in a think layer of dust

Orphic sank to his knees and picked up one of the wooden figures. A toy warrior with a sword and shield. Orphic well remembered Ajax, and the battles they had fought together. Orphic brushed the dust from the warriors rough face and lovingly placed the warrior back on the floor. He squeezed his eye tightly shut as his emotions began to overwhelm him.

Orphic's mind struggled to asses what had happened to him on this day that brought him. He struggled to control his racing heart and mind. Orphic desperatly wanted to find the woman that had spoken to him, but he knew that he couldn't risk leaving his hiding spot now. Salus came to his mind, and Orphic tried to banish thoughts of him. His mentor, his caregiver, what had happened and why? Abelia would be alright, she always managed to keep going in one way or another. Aye, she'll keep going right up until she doesn't.

Orphic sat stairing out into the darkness for a moment, his breath stilling. The silence was nice, he felt safe here, he always had. Then he heard something, it was a low regular sound. A bell. Another sound started up, this one just off the original and slightly louder. Then the bell of the Sakpatian temple began to sound. The sound was muffled three levels below the ground, but loud enough to erase all doubts. The cities bells are ringing?