A concealed stone slab pivoted open in the shadowed corner behind the mahogany bookshelf at noon on Day 36.
A slender figure in a hooded gray outer cloak crawled out of the narrow maintenance duct on her hands and knees.
Fourth-Tower Vice-Mistress Linnea pushed back the gray hood and brushed spiderwebs from her dark blue alchemist sleeves.
Her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird.
For the past twenty-four hours, the entire Seven Spire Valley had been gripped by tense, dangerous hysteria.
Chief Enforcer Grau had vanished without a trace after entering the Seventh Spire.
Volkov’s upper command solar and the Second Spire were in an absolute fury. Grandmaster Volkov had sealed the outer valley gates, mobilized his private security squads, and threatened to petition the Grand Conclave to search every cellar in the valley.
Linnea had spent the whole afternoon listening to rumors in the medicinal herb market.
