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of explanation were possibly
the most words Betreec had ever heard I'rone speak at one time.
Barring extreme emergencies and sponsors who were radically
unorthodox, Daughters and candidates didn't normally get to
exchange much in the way of idle conversation, but even so, I'rone
socialized less than most. Even the lore time, when Daughters and
candidates were actually allowed to visit for a few minutes before
and after the oral histories, hadn't ever afforded Betreec much
chance to talk to him.
    I'rone had taken over one of the prize spots
on the border of the male and female areas of the cavern at a
fairly young age, but he'd never crowded the invisible line between
the sexes like most of them did. He sat down exactly one foot from
where the boys area ended, and never initiated a conversation with
the half dozen girls who'd vied for a spot within speaking distance
of him.
    Of course he always responded with exquisite
politeness, but he never took any action to keep the discussions
going. Betreec felt a little thrill of excitement as she realized
he'd just done exactly that. With her. For the first time ever.
    "Do you think she's down here, that we might
be the ones to find her?"
    I'rone released her hand and shifted his
walking pole back to his other hand as they cleared the
rubble-strewn section of the corridor.
    "It's very unlikely. Not impossible, but she
would have to have been moving pretty fast to get this far ahead of
the search parties. It's more likely she'd notice how cold it was
getting and turn around instead of continuing on."
    Betreec spared an evil thought for I'rone's
walking pole. He'd finally been holding her hand.
    "Why did they send us all the way down here
then if there isn't much chance of finding her?"
    The words were out of Betreec's mouth before
she realized just how shallow they sounded.
    I'rone's gaze was questioning, like he was
cataloging some new fighting trick, or analyzing a particularly
obscure law.
    "If she were your little girl wouldn't you
want every effort made to find her?"
    Betreec wanted to explain she hadn't meant to
imply the search was a burden, that the question had been nothing
more than idle curiosity, but under the weight of his eyes she
couldn't find the words, and they lapsed back into silence.
    The minutes passed by ever so slowly. I'rone
was the perfect escort, he helped her over all of the obstructions
they encountered, never once complaining at the heavy burden he'd
shouldered. He made sure her needs were met at each rest stop,
usually even before he'd spared a thought for himself.
    It was all done in near silence, as was
typical for him, but Betreec couldn't help but worry she'd just
dropped significantly in his estimation.
    Betreec tried to focus her worry on instead
being as impressive as possible. She extended her othersense
frequently, trying to sense nearby life. Complaints about the
growing weariness in her legs were carefully silenced before they
made it past her lips, and she made sure to bounce forward with an
energy she no longer felt, as soon as I'rone indicated it was time
to resume moving.
    It was hard to tell if her efforts were doing
anything to redeem her in I'rone's eyes as they steadily pressed
forward into the ever-retreating shadows cast by the glow sphere
she was carrying. The tunnel gave the impression of gradually
curving as it descended, but it was so irregular it might have just
been her imagination.
    The Capital must have looked much like this
when the Goddess first led The People up into the mountains. The
newer parts of the city are all man made, carefully bored into the
living rock of the mountain, but the oldest parts looked more than
a little like this twisting passage.
    Of course this particular tunnel was
unusually wet. As the air got colder, Betreec noticed droplets of
moisture condensing on every irregularity on the rock's surface.
Before long they were joined in their journey downward by a thin
rivulet of water that slowly made its way