Genevieve carried him down to the kitchen and found Awhero standing in the door to the lower stairs.

He ignored her salute and walked up the two low stairs.

A man was just coming up to it from the lower stairs.

I hauled her up the two low stairs and toward the front door.

She stepped down from the lowest stair and moved cautiously toward him, scanning his face.

Then he was gone with a clatter down the lower stairs, and presumably out a side door.

Bluebane stood on the lower stair as if waiting for something.

After an interval they heard his feet on the hidden lower stairs, and then he came into view again.

The guards on the low, broad stairs stiffened to attention.

Bounding footsteps came up the lower stairs two at a time.