I lost track of time, drifting in and out of consciousness. A sharp, pulsing pain radiated from my elbows and calves. I must have hurt them in the fall. I forced myself to sit up, my body trembling. I couldn’t die here. There had to be another way out. My hands shook as I inhaled deeply, trying to steady my racing heart. Slowly, my breath began to steady. Whoever had designed this underground chamber wouldn‘t have left only the cellar as the way out.
Teal had told me that Northtown had once been overrun by bandits. Every household had a cellar, not just to store winter vegetables and food but also as a hiding place during raids. If it was meant to be a refuge, it couldn’t be a death trap. Owen was always cautious, and I suspected his underground chamber held more than just darkness—many s
