The first person through the lower entrance was Kesh.
She went without a lamp, letting her eyes adjust to the weak light that came through the clinical opening above. Iven heard her boots on the iron stair, then the small sound of a knife tapping a railing post.
“Clear to the landing,” she called. “Bring the light down slowly.”
Sera took the first lantern. Neri followed with the inner contact piece. Dessa and her fitter carried the clean tray between them, each watching the other’s feet on the narrow stair.
Iven stood aside to let them pass.
His hands had stopped trembling. The effort of the fight remained in his shoulders and the hot pressure beneath his left forearm, but neither prevented him from helping the porter turn the broad instrument case through the entrance.
Vessa met him at the stair head.
“Come here first.”
