Isaac moved the sorcerers one by one into the hidden basement, guiding them with quiet urgency. To reach it, they had to pass through a small, weathered hut near the stable, a structure so unremarkable that most would overlook it entirely. Beneath a loose wooden panel in the floor lay a concealed door, its handle worn smooth by years of secrecy. When pulled open, it revealed a narrow passage leading deep underground, into a reinforced basement designed precisely for moments like this.
One after another, the people slipped inside, clutching their cloaks, children, and whispered prayers, disappearing into the darkness below. It was cramped, but safe. Safer than anywhere near the castle tonight.
Once the last of them had entered the hut, Isaac stepped back and let the door fall shut. But he lingered, not entering at once.
