[Orual]

"Let's start, then," Arethin said quietly to Jadae. "You're the boss, so which hallway do we take?"

Jadae thought for a little while, and Arethin took the moment to dig through his pack while keeping his eyes politely on Jadae. Yes, the candles, there they were, some food, a blanket. There were the rest of his belongings, yes, it was all there. He turned his concentration back to Jadae just as she said "left."

"I think it leads down," Jadae added as they began to go down. Arethin was staring around intently, terrified that at any moment they would trip something that would either send the ceiling crashing in atop them, or that they would suddenly find that there was nothing to stand on, and fall hurtling through space.

"Do you think this is safe?" he said in a somewhat weak voice that sounded fairly comical coming out of his strong, muscular body. At least, he thought, he made no excuses about his fear. He had some dignity left.

But to his disappointment Jadae shrugged. "In all probability, no, it isn't safe," she answered. "But for the moment, it seems all right."

In the end Arethin's fears were unrealized. The ceiling didn't fall and the ground didn't disappear, but the chute he fell down was rather a nasty shock.