The marbled inner chamber was opulence beyond what he had been expecting. Even the finest refectory at the temple of Apollo might have been considered plain and ordinary in comparison to this cooly illuminated chamber buried beneath the earth. For a time Aestos let his eyes adjust to take in the activity of the room. As usual that left Diconix to artfully maintain the conversation, another one of his gifts. From their place of honor in the room Aestos gathered that these two priestesses held no small share of reverence in the eyes of the temple. It was curious to him, that ones who appeared so young had such influence.<br/><br/>He appreciatively took the proffered goblet of wine from Ariana and sipped at it. The acrid taste of fresh wine running over his parched lips lured him into drinking even more deeply of the divine potion. When his companion drew him at last into the conversation the reserved priest felt unusually at ease.  "I would agree with you Diconix. Only once before have I been so near a priestess of Nyx, and now I see that memory as an ugly thing made bland by fresh experience." He nodded his head in a respectful motion to both women.<br/><br/>"As to the matter before us," Aestos gave a cough and a meaningful glance over at his far too relaxed friend "we come seeking guidance on how Thrace might be spared. For, through our Gods own intervention, we have been given forewarning of an approaching crisis. However, our oracles revealed that the nature of the disaster would only be made known by sending emissaries here to the Temple of Nyx. That is why we are here and seek your goddess's aid." Aestos tried his best to maintain his concentration on the first priestess who had greeted them, Cyrene, but was finding it harder with the drink to stay focused. His eyes drifted over to wonder what other sights beside this room the temple held.<br/>