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.He knew that the garden would be filled with Tormites very soon.The god opened his eyes."I regret that I cannot help you with your quest to save the Realms," Torm told the cleric."I am needed here.I have a duty to my faithful." The God of Duty put his hand on Adon's scarred cheek and said, "There is something I can help you with, though.You must look inside your heart if you are to banish these dark, guilty thoughts that consume you and make you so bitter.What were you before you joined your order?"The cleric pulled away from the god's touch as if it were fire."I was.nothing," he whispered."I was a burden upon my parents.I had no true friends.""But now friends and lovers grace your life," Torm noted, smiling once more."From what you have told me, the mage and the fighter seem loyal to you.That, above all, is important.You should honor them, in return, with faithful service to them and their causes.You cannot do that if you are consumed by your own sorrows."Torm balled his gauntleted hand into a fist."Don't waste your life in self-pity, Adon of Sune, for you cannot serve your friends.or your god, if your heart is weighed down with grief," the fallen god said.Adon heard voices from inside the temple.People were coming.The scarred cleric leaned close to the God of Duty."Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Lord Torm," Adon whispered."Now let me fulfill my duty to help you.All is not as it seems in your temple or in Tantras.There are forces around you that could tear the city apart.You must look to your clerics and find out what they are doing to serve you.Not all dutiful service is done with justice in mind."The voices grew louder then a dozen high priests entered the garden and fell to their knees before Torm.The lion roared in annoyance as the men babbled an almost endless torrent of problems that required their god's immediate attention.Torm rose, smiled at Adon, and turned to the temple's nearest entrance.The golden lion and the crowd of priests followed the god as he left the garden.Several minutes later, Adon was taken from the garden and locked away in a dark chamber that was devoid of any furnishings.The room reminded the cleric of the cell he had shared with Midnight in the Twisted Tower, but he tried to push those thoughts aside as he waited.It was several hours before a tray of food was brought to him by a silent, surly guard."I'm not hungry," Adon mumbled, his grumbling stomach betraying his lie."Take the food away and tell me why I'm here."The guard left the food then departed.An hour later, Adon had finished the meal, which consisted of slightly stale bread and cheese.Soon afterward, a familiar, platinum-haired man entered the chamber, a large smile hanging artfully upon his lips."Tenwealth!" Adon gasped and stood up."It seems you had quite an adventure today," the priest said.The tone he used would have been suitable for a child.Adon felt insulted."Would you care to talk about it?""What is there to say?" Adon grumbled, a frown pulling at the scar on his cheek, darkening the wound." I had my audience with Torm.Now I'm ready to leave.Why are your guards unwilling to release me?""My guards?" Tenwealth said through the false smile."Why, they are Torm's guards.They serve the God of Duty and are only doing his will.""And have I been kept here under his orders?" Adon asked, taking a step toward the priest."Not exactly," Tenwealth admitted, running a hand across his chin."You're not being 'kept' here at all.There's no lock on your door, no guard outside." The priest paused and opened the door."Of course, there is the danger that you could become lost in Torm's maze before you reach the exit.That would be most unfortunate.Some who have been lost in the diamond corridors have never been heard from again."Adon looked down at the floor."I understand," he said dejectedly, then slumped to a sitting position against the wall,"I thought you might," Tenwealth noted confidently, his perfect smile gleaming in the darkened chamber."Have a good rest.In a few hours, I'll return for you.You have an audience scheduled with the High Council of Torm.That should set your mind at ease
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