“Good. Follow me and watch where you step. These stones are ancient and likely to break.”
“Great,” I muttered under my breath.
Katori led the way up the stairway, followed by Maren. I went next and Sion took up the rear. The stones weren’t natural formations. They had been carved, though I couldn’t tell if it had been done by hand or by magic. The climb up started easily enough, but as we continued higher, the stairway slanted sharply and my leg muscles began to burn.
It’s a shame these monks didn’t trust dragons, I told Sion. I’d much rather have flown to the top.
That makes two of us, Sion replied.
After an hour of climbing, Katori stopped and allowed us to take a break. Maren pulled a canteen from her pack and took a drink, then offered it to me. I accepted it and drank deeply. The
