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The professor leaned forward, now eager "Earlier today on the outing you asked about Silk’s excavation What he’s up to Well, I’ll tell you He plans to excavate the castle to its very foundations"

Karigan stilled A prickling ran up her ar the way, but I believe I knohat he is truly after"

"And that is?"

The professor slowly grinned beneath his rin "He seeks objects of an arcane nature, of course, in the very lowest regions of the castle One in particular"

Lowest regions of the castle Karigan’s frown deepened

"It is said," the professor continued, "that there were arcane devices, ical objects, stored in the royal toan kept still Tried to keep her expression neutral "No, not really," she lied She still felt that need, that desire, that obligation to protect that which one did not openly discuss in her own time "One hears the occasional rumor The to’s Weapons don’t want to deal with thieves trying to break in to steal valuables" It sounded like a plausible answer to her, and not that far from the truth She just didn’t admit how much she really knew and that she’d actually been in the to how ood chance the tombs survived the destruction of the castle," he said, "considering how deep beneath the ground they were placed The only entrance we knoas through the royal chapel"

Karigan nodded "That is what I’ve heard" She did not tell hih those doors

"Have you ever heard of there being other entrances?"

Karigan paused, pretending to consider the question, then shook her head, unwilling to divulge such secrets The professor looked disappointed

"What is this arcane object Silk is after?"

The professor did not answer for they both started at a thudding sound echoing fro Cade this evening," the professor said tersely, and he slipped over to his desk and opened a drawer Fro cane to staff length In unspoken assent, they moved stealthily, but swiftly, across the floor to the entrance where they paused and listened Footsteps clanged on the wrought iron steps as their intruder clile" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>