We'd only been in the city an hour and chaor was already growing impatient. We'd been walking through the fire region for a full hour without even a word from our guide, Seeryn. As we walked I had watched our leaders face grow hotter and hotter until now when he finally burst out.

"Alright Seeryn, I think we've been walking long enough, it's time you told us what the heck you plan on doing with us in this wasteland of a city.

Seeryn suddenly stopped, he didn't seem particularly bothered by Chaor's demands. But he spoke anyway.

"I'm sorry if the landscape doesn't suit you Chaor, but the underworld isn't anything pretty to look at either."

With that Chaor's eyes lit with rage "You want to see what the underworld is capable of, or do you want to get talking?!"

I realized that even though we had several dozen warriors, there could be any number of citizens of the city here, and they certainly had the home land advantage, I tried my best to calm the tensions

"Perhaps" I began but I was cut off instantly by a glare from Chaor himself Those didn't come lightly so I decided to remain silent.

Our leader turned again to the servant who was still walking towards the large gate that loomed a great distance away.

"What's it gonna be Seeryn?"

The servant chuckled. "I don't think your threats will get you far here chaor, I think you'll be just fine waiting a little longer."

Suddenly chaor arm lashed forward and grabbed the flaming creature by the back of the skull. The crushing grip held him firm. Before he could even struggle a second motion sent his body, still trapped in Chaor's grip, straight into a nearby volcanic rock.

The huge sound of the impact hung in the air along with the debris as we stood and watched.

It was finally time for me to step in. Chaor simply stood over the crumpled form of the servant of fire as I approached.

"Perhaps you could begin with why we're here." I prompted

Seeryn sat up clutching his head in pain he spat fire at my feet, "I hope the emperor of fire burns you all for that, you…" but chaor still stood over him, so he sighed and began to speak.

"You and the other tribes are here to meet for a peace agreement, long ago this city used to be a meeting place for the tribes to gather, we wanted to rekindle that old tradition but maybe not with creatures as violent as YOU."

Chaor snorted and said, "it got you talking didn't it?"

I ignored both the distasteful remarks. "You say long ago, how long exactly has the city been under the lake?"

Seeryn shrugged "hard to say, hundred of years, maybe thousands, we had very limited resources you see, so the history of those times is mostly lost. The only records of the past we do have are the old texts from the time before the city sank and a few books written just after that. beyond that we ran out of paper so who knows."

I wasn't sure if this was a clever dodge to avoid talking about these parts of their past but I didn't see much value in obscuring ancient history so I decided to believe him.

"What about these Elemental Emporers, they are your rulers yes? What are their plans for Perim?"

Seeryn sighed, "they aren't exactly rulers, there more of... protectors, I mean do you think it's easy keeping a whole city alive at the bottom of a lake? Air to breath, heat, harvesting the land, the ever present threats of floods, control over the elements is paramount and the those who use it best are chosen to watch over the city and keep us alive. Now that we've returned to the surface we've chosen them as our representatives, but unlike you, we bow to no one."

Chaor snorted, "we might have to change that."

Seeryn made a move to stand but I raised a hand.

"I'm afraid I have a few more questions. We need to know what kind of things in your city, we might find 'valuable' should some sort of arrangement be reached."

Seeryn spat a hot spray of embers onto the ground.

"We don't have anything a bunch of war hungry brutes would want."

"I think you'll find we can be quite refined," I said calmly.

Seeryn chuckled "whatever you say Underworlder but we don't have anything for your type either."

I glanced at chaor, he shrugged "we'll see".

I turned back to ask another question when suddenly a resounding chime filled the air and a beacon of white light shot up piercing the sky just beyond this section of the city. We all stood staring at it for a few moments before it faded.

When we turned back Seeryn was standing quite far off. For a moment I almost thought I saw another form moving in the distance but the intense heat shot blurry waves across the horizon making it impossible to tell.

Chaor had already grabbed one of Seeryn's flaming wing the grip wasn't damaging but it held the servant in place none the less.

But Seeryn's expression had changed, no longer was it the disgusted defiance I had seen before but now a look of terror stared directly at chaor.

"Please" he begged "I have to go, that light… please…"

Chaor frowned but I noticed him glancing towards the sky, a small speck was moving overhead towards the section the light had been in. Another creature surely, but what had the light been for.

Suddenly chaor released Seeryn who stared back at him in thanks

"GO!" shouted chaor and his eyes glowed again with the heat of anger.

Seryeen wasted no more time and took off.

I looked at chaor who was walking back toward the bulk of our forces, who had been waiting a safe distance away during the commotion.

"What are going to do now chaor?"

"Walk."

"To where?"

"The gate"