Tell me the truth or tell me lies|Haven, Ilyamen

[aivea]

When Latia and Mirza arrive in Ilyamen, he lowers his hand from her shoulder with a smile.

"Thank you, that was wonderful. I'm going to go to the local temple to pray and I feel a great deal more comfortable doing so alone. So could you please do as you wish for a while and wait for me to find you once I am finished?" he asks, tilting his head in a slightly childish way.

[Northen Light36]

"If that's what you want, then it's my pleasure," Latia replies with a smile. "Would you like to meet anywhere or would you rather just come find me?"

[aivea]

"I'd rather come find you," Mirza replies, still smiling. "I would be much more comfortable that way. Until then?"

He turns and slowly walks away, slowly enough that if Latia wanted to talk more he'd be more than able to hear her.

[Northen Light36]

"I'll see you then, then," laughs Latia and the young woman hurries off to take in the sights of the city. A broad, cheerful smile crosses her face at the thought of the young girl she helpped save. Surely the child will be loving her new, safe life right now.

[aivea]

Mirza strolls toward where he remembers the temple as being and nods in greeting to those of his followers who are waiting on the stairs leading to the sanctuary. He whispers to each one where they are to stand to wait for Damien's arrival and where to tell the Fire leader Mirza is.

Once he finishes, he enters the temple's sanctuary and kneels before the alter with his hands clasped tightly. Mirza looks as though his is locked in prayer and his lips move as if to speak but no sound crosses his lips. However, his thoughts are closer to his own ambitions and what he feels is his mission than the scriptures.

[Northen Light36]

Damien arrives at the city gate and, after bribing the City Guards into not mentioning the Fire Leader's arrival, he makes his way towards the temple. That seems like it'll be the quietest place in the city and he'd rather keep this as low key as possible. With a little luck he might be able to force his niece's captor into either releasing the child or at least letting him see her.

[aivea]

Hearing someone coming, Mirza unclasps his hands and stands slowly. Turning around, he smiles when he sees Damien and glances off to his right to make sure that Rian is close enough to be able to hear everything.

"You found me rather quickly... Was it luck or was it fate?" he asks, almost sounding like all that was planned was an ordinary chat. "Don't worry, I know who you are. Though I am curious whether or not you already know who I am. Do you?"

[Northen Light36]

"I'm going to assume you're Mirza," Damien replies, hatred burning in his eyes. "Where's Ann? If you wanted my attention, you got it. Now let the child go."

[aivea]

"Indeed I am Mirza," the man replies in an almost alarmingly casual tone. "Ann is safe and sound in the care of my comrades as we speak. What happens to her next is up to you..." Mirza pauses for a moment then continues, "I'm afraid I can't do that, Damien. Didn't you read my letter? You can only chose between complying with my request and Ann living or ignoring my requests which would mean you no longer want her to live."

Either Mirza is extremely arrogant or extremely insane to talk that way to Damien, especially when the Fire Leader is already angry.

[Northen Light36]

Damien growls under his breath. "How do I know she's even alive?" he snaps. "I want to see her. Prove to me that Ann's alive, and I'll..." Damien's next words seem to pain the leader as he forces them out. "I'll do what you want."

[aivea]

Mirza's smile broadens as he replies, "Would it be enough to tell you that the last time I saw her, less than an hour ago, there was not a single scratch on her? Not to mention, I have given strict orders that not even a single hair on her head is to be harmed until you give permission to kill her by declining. Do you really want to take that chance? I'm not a fool, I know that the instant you see her you will grab Ann and attempt to escape."

[Northen Light36]

Damien glares, but right now he's helpless. If there's one thing in the world he's not perpared to gamble away, it's the life of his niece. "... What do you want from me?" he growls out at last, not bothering to conceal his hatred for the man in front of him.

[aivea]

Mirza tilts his head childishly and reaches out with one hand to pat Damien's shoulder.

"Nothing taxing enough to warrant such a look... For now, I just want for you to come with me, be remotely civil and to comply with any requests as the need to give them arrives." After a pause, he adds, "I knew you would come to me and help carry out the will of the Forces."

[Northen Light36]

"The will of the Forces?" Damien repeats, disbelievingly. "You are utterly insane if you think the Forces are willing you to kidnap Ann and force me to be your slave."

[aivea]

"Yes, the will of the Forces... I informed that the Forces willed for me to bring you to my side and gave me permission to use whatever means I felt would work." Mirza shakes his head and continues, "You say I am 'insane'... Did ability to hear the words of the Forces and willingness to act on their words become the definition of insanity while I was asleep? If so, no one bothered to inform me of the change."