The first step creaked above us.
Nyx pulled a hanging length of rope across the bottom of the stair and shoved its loose end into my hand.
"Around the post."
I trapped Nihil beneath my left arm long enough to loop the rope. The knot I wanted needed two hands. I made something uglier and pulled until it held.
Nyx cut the hanging end, ducked beneath it and pushed me forward.
The man coming down saw the rope. He stopped instead of tripping over it.
That still bought us time.
The rope tightened against the post as he tested it with his boot. He could step over it if nobody disturbed him. Getting his sword and the rest of his body down while watching Nyx was slower.
I took Nihil back into my hand. The hilt had slipped against my coat while I worked, and I had to settle my fingers around it before I moved. Nyx was already watching the next stretch of passage.
I followed. We hadn't stopped anyone. We had made the first man check where he put his feet.
