Bembry leads them through a large stout wooden door - the type of door that looks like it’s been deliberately designed to withstand a large number of people bashing on it for a long time. On the other side: a long stone corridor lit by flickering torches. Taking a torch from its bracket, Bembry leads Hood and Madeleine to a stone archway with steps that descend down beneath a low arched ceiling.

“Mind your heads,” he says, as they pass beneath the archway and begin their descent.

Hood counts the steps - a habit he got into at Arkanthor - and gets to about thirty two or three - he’s never too sure whether the first or last ones count - before they end in a small cell like room seemingly lacking any features except what looks like a large drain cover centred in the floor to which Bembry goes, and pressing some part of it, causes it to lift up to reveal the top of a ladder.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Bembry stands, watching Madeleine and Hood expectantly. Hood points at the ladder, Bembry nods. “I’ll leave you here,” he says, beckoning for them to climb down, “Please, the Countess is waiting.”

Hood looks at Madeleine, Madeleine looks at Hood. Hood takes the initiative and places his foot on the top rung of the ladder and climbs carefully down, feeling each rung below the previous with his feet and making sure to hold on with both hands. For some reason he can’t help feeling slightly nervous.

The metal of the ladder seems cold and clammy, and as Hood descends, he is surprised at what awaits.