The Vaulted Passage

The brass arch bookend was more than a handhold—it looked just like the ancient citadel gates we studied on the map. I unhitched my golden katanas and set down my pack to inspect the carved metal. The span was wide enough for our squad to advance two by two, but a heavy glass paperweight shaped like a cut crystal sphere blocked the far threshold. I called Cole to anchor his boots against the wooden shelf while Kai and I drove our shoulders into the smooth glass. It rolled back an inch with a low rumble, resting securely against a row of hardcovers. The path ahead is clear.