Chapter 674: Unhappy Miriam

I tore open the veil and addressed my grandmother. "Okay, Ahbi," I said. "Where can you put us inside the palace that won't land us in the middle of a battle?"

She hummed and hawed a moment and, I swear, was actually enjoying herself. Piers's frown told me he was more than a little confused, but he held his silence, bless him.

When the flickering image settled, we were looking at what seemed to be a kitchen. Empty. At least, for now.

"Perfect." I pulled Piers through the veil before he could think to speak up after all and stepped out again on the other side into the quiet room. The veil sealed shut behind us, Ahbi's power ghosting over Piers and me before she hugged me and was gone.

"That was..." Piers's whisper tickled my ear as he bent to speak.

"My grandmother," I whispered back. "Yeah, she's dead. Don't ask." I shrugged. "Let's go."

The door at the far end of the dark kitchen opened into an equally dark hallway.

"Any idea where we are?" Piers looked left and right. The elab