Earlier… Ryleth lowered herself back down to the floor of the tomb. Everyone was staring at the yawning mouth of the tunnel that led down, down, down into the earth. No light showed beyond ten feet from the entrance. The darkness was inky black and acted as if it was resisting the light. Even her ability to see in the dark was thwarted by it.

Ryleth’s feet touched the floor. She opened her mouth to call one of the guards to tell Finrael and Rohan about her find, but then she saw Thomas. He had taken the lantern from her table and was over by the entrance to the tunnel. He was holding the lantern out before him, peering inside.