Grimm looked down at a dark, unfathomable, rectangular opening, and he felt a frisson of disquiet. Was he expected to plunge into this murky unknown, with no idea what might lie on the other side?

"I'll go first,” Drex muttered. “Wait until I give you the all-clear."

Before Grimm could protest, his lover flung herself feet-first into the dark chute. Guy stepped forward, but Grimm put an admonitory hand on the older man's chest. “You heard Drex, Guy. We'll wait here."

Grimm could almost hear the upsurge of the other Questor's emotions at this affront, but he hardly cared; all he cared about was that his lover was safe.

"It's all right!"

Hearing Drex's welcome voice from inside the bowels of the Priory, Grimm felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"There's nobody here, Grimm; come on in. The dirt won't hurt you, Guy, I promise."

Even in the dim light, Grimm saw Guy's brows lowering at this slight, and he smiled.

"You aren't scared, are you, Great Flame?"

"Not on your life, Dragonblaster. There's still time for you to back out, you know."

"Not on your life, Brother Mage. I'm going first."

Grimm squatted and launched himself down the chute, clutching Redeemer to his chest. The darkness and the brief sensation of falling awoke a primordial fear in him, and he felt relieved when he came to a sudden halt. He stood and stepped away from the chute, and his eyes could just discern Drex's shadowy figure, black against deeper black.

A faint bump greeted Guy's arrival, and Grimm, his eyes becoming accustomed to the darkness, ran to his lover, embracing her. Drex seemed a little awkward in her response to his enthusiastic embrace, but he guessed she was nervous to be back in the Priory so soon after her escape, so he released her.