The staircase beneath the Blue Rose descended far deeper than Kael expected. The sounds of the tavern disappeared within the first flight, leaving no trace of music, conversation, or glasses striking wooden tables. By the time they rounded the third turn, Kael could only hear his boots against the stone and the measured steps of the guildmaster ahead of him.
"You have several underground levels beneath a tavern?" Kael asked. "How much of the Blue Rose is actually aboveground?"
"The part customers need to see."
"That answers neither question."
"It tells you enough to understand why I brought you down here."
The guildmaster continued without slowing. Kael glanced over his shoulder, but the door leading back to the tavern had already vanished beyond several turns.
