Chapter 14: The Noble's Daughter

As Rhea jogged around the far side of the manor, she saw Arras go past the excavation site and slide through a part of old manor that had partially collapsed. Rhea barely fit through herself, and immediately wondered if she did the right thing. Inside, it was dusty, dark and difficult to walk. She bumped her head several times before coming to a set of decrepit stairs.

Slipping down the first few steps, Rhea gasped loudly. She sat for a moment until her eyes became more accustomed to the darkness.

Someone coughed. It was distant and irritated.

“Hello? Arras?” Rhea stood up and squinted, taking one narrow step at a time. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Rhea found herself in a wide, open room with several thick pillars. The darkness took on a deep blue hue, rather than black, and there were cracks everywhere that let in light.

“Arras?” Rhea called again.

“Arras?” a quiet whisper repeated.

Rhea spun around, looking for the source of the voice.