Book Five: Chapter 61

Sofia shook her head, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “If you want somewhere specific, I’m sure they have a method. But it’s something Reggie delegates.” Her voice was calm, almost instructional, yet there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

Eulalie crouched lower, adjusting the tiny rodents at her feet. “Well, we can’t have them taking us just anywhere, can we?” She ran her fingers along the edge of the wall, her touch careful and deliberate. It took almost an hour, but by the time she was done, the rats were busily gnawing on a thin patch of exposed plaster. The sound was subtle at first, almost inaudible, but it grew steadily as the rodents synchronized their efforts. It didn’t take them long—Eulalie had only needed a hole just wide enough to slip her hand through.

“Well?” Sofia’s voice called out, bright with anticipation as she returned with a small tray of food. She