[Child of the 7th Age]

"Alright, alright! I'll come up with something. Just let's get into the cellar. Hold your tongue for a minute so I can think."

By this point, they had reached the old wooden door. Beneath it was a series of steps that led downward into the basement of the Inn. Tom leaned over and grabbed the handle of the trap door, bracing his feet and tugging in an attempt to get it to budge. For a long moment nothing happened. The children stood wide eyed, saying nothing as they imagined the terrible moment when Kuric would come storming up and catch them out in the open with his Ring.

"Come help me now," Tom called out to Daisy who quickly stepped forward and latched onto the other side of the long bar.

"One-two-three," he panted, "then we'll both tug at the same time."

With one long and determined pull, the hinges creeked in protest, and the door slowly gave way. Tom peered into the stairwell. It was black as night. The steps diappeared into what looked like a large empty hole.

"All right. Everyone be careful. Go slowly and hold each other's hands" Tom closed the trap door behind them and then pushed to the front of the line. The others filed along in back of him. The lad desperately wished he had brought a torch with him. But there was no torch and not the faintest glimmer of light. The children slowly made their way forward in the darkness.