” he muttered.
Together they climbed to the top of the stair, where Never paused to catch his breath and Snow examined the wall for the keyhole. When he found it he placed the triangle into the wall and spoke, “Jev cesas a ysom.” Open, in my name.
Then he stepped back, letting the light fall upon the quartz.
Stone rumbled. The whole keep shook and with a deafening grinding, the mouth creaked open. It soon slid to a halt, leaving just enough space to walk within. Snow entered and Never hurried after, finding himself in a vast, open chamber.
It spread far and wide, the floor empty of all but patterned flagstones and dust, its emptiness reminding him of the Amouni temple beneath the mountain. The patterned floor directed the eye in toward the centre of the room, where a towering tree of s
