Cautiously, Nick walked down the unlit hall, footsteps echoing despite his best efforts. Macial regarded his attempt to be quiet with some amusement, but said nothing, equally concerned about the multitude of dangers that could be lurking in the dark. Behind them, a faint glow spread along the wall, providing a small amount of visible light. Nick still regarded it with discomfiture, not really sure if it was a helpful lighting system or the devilishly clever trap of some horrible monster. Still, he went on, hoping to find rooms, or perhaps inhabitants, preferably loaded with piles of food. He could use some food, real food. Maybe a burger to start off, and a nice order of...

Nick swore softly as he almost ran into the hard stone wall. Stopping short, he stared around in confusion. The hall came to an abrupt end, stopping short with a simple stone wall. They had been walking along for long enough that he was sure they were deep under the mountain, but who would simply construct a long hallway? Confused, he stared around, and noticed that the small light had finished traveling the length of the hall, filling the other's faces with a soft glow, and illuminating the end of the passage. At chest height in the center of the stone wall, a simple indentation lay, about the size of his fist. Something about it felt... familiar...

Nick realized with a start that it was the same feeling as the barrier near the front of the building. And since that had required a touch to activate... "Oh, what the hall," he muttered softly, and stuck his hand into the socket. The same tingling feeling burst into his wrist, but lasted only an instant. Nothing seemed to happen, until, reluctantly withdrawing his hand, he noticed that the lights were slowly brightening. After a moment, the darkness was banished from the old hallway. He stared. Did I find a light switch? Then, with a groan, a thin outline near the end of the hall appeared as if melting out of the stone itself, shaped like a tall rectangle.

Slowly, Tahara approached the shape. Reaching out, she felt the edges, and with a start realized they were actually deep indents in the stone. Running her fingers through the cracks, she bent down to waist level, trying to figure out what it was. Suddenly, her finger met a cold metal square, set into the crack. Suddenly, she knew what it was. Sure enough, when she ran her fingers down farther, she felt a second hinge. Smiling she stepped back and turned to the group, looking on in confusion. "It's just a door."

Nick blinked. "But how do we open it?" he asked. Macial stepped over.

"I'll try the same thing I did with the outside entrance," he offered. Nick nodded. Stepping forward, Macial took a deep breath. He raised his arms, closing his eyes, and... nothing happened. His eyes snapped open again. "I couldn't do it. Sorry. Maybe I can learn to control it someday, but not now," he finished defensively. Nick nodded. "It's alright. We can figure out some other way."

“Let me,” Tahara offered. “Let’s see. The ones that made the door must have had some way to open it. And since we passed the barrier, and Nick touched that switch, then we’re probably past the main traps and protections.” She spoke with the practiced ease of one who had spent a lifetime breaking into buildings. She hadn’t always known how to make drunksalt, after all.

“Since the door appeared, they’re not trying to hide anything, which means the handle is someplace that would be obvious to the builders. And since we can’t see it, it must have to do with power, the type we have, I mean. So. maybe if we try to use power on it...”

“But I did,” interrupted Macial. “Nothing happened.”

“But you tried to use power on it,” Aharas spoke up for the first time. “Maybe if you channel power into it, it will open.” The other’s stared at her.

“I never thought of that.” Macial admitted. Then he realized who he was speaking to and turned away. Nick and Tahara sighed at the same time, sharing a annoyed glance. Those two needed to... well, do something.

“Well, how do we channel into door?” Macial asked, determined to poke a hole in Aharas’s idea.

“Well,” she started, “Probably the same way we channeled into the sigilas.

In an instant, everyone was talking over each other. “No!” “Don’t you remember how much that hurt?!” “There’s no way under the sun that I’ll try that again!” Disgusted, Aharas turned towards them. “I think that the pain was the sigilas trying to steal our power and with it, our life,” she explained. “Channeling into a door, which is most likely the only way to open it, shouldn’t hurt.”

Tahara shook her head. “Forgive me, but I don’t think I’m going to risk my life on an ‘I think’ and a ‘shouldn’t’.”

“Fine, said Aharas. “I’ll do it.” Only a faint tremor in her voice betrayed any nervousness. Facing the door, she closed both eyes, concentrating hard, and this time, a low groaning sound came from deep inside. Nick pulled her back just in time before the heavy door swung open, swinging through where she had been standing a moment before.

“My thanks,” she said, as if surprised he had helped. “It looks like I was right.” Macial looked at the open door.

“Yes, I suppose you were.” Tahara knew it was as closed to an apology as Aharas would get.

One by one, they entered the dark hole.

After a moment, the light from the hall spread to the room they were now standing in. As they stood, watching, the light crept up the walls and across what was revealed as a large domed ceiling fifteen feet up. In only a few seconds, the room they were in was comletely illuminated.

The chamber was perhaps twenty feet across, and completely unfurnished, made of bare stone walls now glowing with an inner light. Around the outside of the room, five or six open doors led of into what looked like smaller rooms. Another pair were closed, and a large stone portal of the same type as the one they had just come through hung open, leading down a long hallway. Have we finally found rooms?

Quickly, they headed towards the open doors. Looking inside, Tahara smiled in relief. In the small room, a comfortable looking, if simple, bed lay on one side, a simple chair and wooden dresser on the other. Glancing around, she saw her companions had found the same thing. She knew they should probably explore more, but right know, all she wanted to do was rest her legs, still tired from the long walk. Waving, she stepped inside and closed the door. Quickly undressing, she slipped into the bed and fell slowly asleep.

Master, there has been a large energy surge from one of the planes.

Explain.

A minute ago, we felt a large amount of power being tapped on Tamiara. It could only be one thing. The children have found and entered the vault.

But we know where they are!

Yes, Master.

How long until we have them?

I am assembling the Solari as we speak. We are also bringing along a pair of Silmordin, with your permission.

Which?

The first will allow us to find and shut down any lagreths they attempt to use.

And the second?

The second will be able to reroute the lagreth destinations and transport them back here. If we have the sigilas waiting, then there should be no delay of the ceremony.

You have done well. I am pleased.

My thanks, Master.