"But today's mission is more important and dangerous than all that came before it. I must not lose. I do not h

"But today's mission is more important and dangerous than all that came before it. I must not lose. I do not have the right to lose. The stairway ends at an arch without a door. I look for traces of protective spells, and frown when I find none. I step across the threshold. Moonlight fills the room. Wrought iron grills on the windows cast criss-crossing patterns on the floor. Small, blossoming trees sway in their pots. Where are the protections? I take another careful step."