The underground vaults beneath the Thousand Treasures Pavilion smelled of ancient limestone dust, sealing wax, and the clear, bitter tang of chemical solvents.
Lin Tao stepped down from the iron spiral stair. His heavy iron-shod boots splashed softly in the shallow water drops puddles on the dark rock floor. In his left hand, he held the three-sided white jade Master Transit Key, its micro-circuitry pulsing with a warm amber light that held the vault’s self-running defensive wards in a state of suspended pacification.
Beside him, Tie Shan stood guard with his twelve-pound iron pry-bar resting horizontally across his shoulders. The giant’s dark eyes swept across the vast underground hall, cataloging the iron-banded cedar chests, the stacks of parchment scrolls. The six-foot bronze security gates stamped with the Golden-Sable crest.
Behind them cowered Senior Appraiser Feng.
The portly appraiser was shivering despite the warm air. His hands clutching a was heavy bundle of brass keys against his marten-fur robe, his eyes darting wildly toward the dark ceiling vents.
“Honored Clerk...” Feng whimpered, his voice trembling like a dry leaf. “The Guild Master hasn’t authorized a check of the reserve vaults. If the Elders’ Board learns that I opened the inner seals—”
