"Send another shadow up," Naima suggests. "Let's see what we're working with."
"And one down," I add. "To see what's beneath us."
Kage scoffs. "Sure, why don't I just drain my entire gift before we even get inside?"
"What's taking so long?" Margot hisses from below.
"The stairs aren't stable."
Her eyes widen as the structure sways. "Goddess."
Draven appears beside her. "How did you miss that, Yosh?"
"Excellent question," I mutter, glaring at Kage.
He has the decency to look uncomfortable.
"This is the only way in," Draven repeats.
I press a hand to my forehead. "Oh my gods. We know that, Professor."
Draven snorts.
"Kage." Malachi's voice is calm. Commanding. "Can you wrap a shadow around each of us?"
"I can. But you know what that could mean inside."
"Do it. Or we never make it up."
Kage summons his shadows. I watch one coil around Naima's torso like a dark serpent. Another wraps around me. I gasp at the coldness of it.
"Naima." Malachi's voice is low, steady. "Slow steps. Distribute your weight evenly."
She nods. Looks up. Looks back at us. "Ready?"
"Go."
The stairs shift the moment she moves. I bite my lip. Hold my breath.
They sway harder when Kage follows.
"How do we get out?" I whisper over my shoulder.
"Side door," Draven calls up. "Every temple has one. We'll meet you there or across the street, depending on how crowded it is out there.”
A hand presses against my lower back. "Your turn."
I take a breath. Look up at the darkness waiting above. I climb. Hands on the steps ahead, weight distributed like Naima did. Without a lantern to manage, I move faster, but the darkness pressing in from all sides does nothing to calm my nerves.
The stairs groan. Sway. I squeeze my eyes shut. Force myself to breathe. Then keep climbing. When I finally reach the top, I sag into Naima's arms.
I turn to watch Malachi climb. He doesn't have a shadow around him. Nor is he distributing his weight or placing his hands on the steps. Of course he isn't.
My heart stops as the stairs sway beneath him. He keeps moving as if it's nothing. As if gravity is a suggestion he's chosento ignore. When he reaches us, he opens his mouth and shuts it when the staircase groans louder.
I grab his cloak without thinking. We watch in horror as the entire structure swings from one side to the other. If any of us had still been on those steps, we would have fallen.
"What the ..." Kage breathes.
