He used his arms and legs to slow his descent. Earth crumbled beneath his fingertips and boots, falling down into that distant white light, which grew brighter and brighter with each passing moment. Then, finally, he fell through. He landed on his feet much harder than anticipated. He stumbled to one side, letting out a hoarse gasp, and caught himself against the sunstone wall. The impact jarred his bones. Pain coursed through his cracked sternum. He struggled for a moment to regain his breath. When he finally looked around, he saw the earthen walls of a narrow tunnel. Chunks of sunstone lay embedded in the rock, placed at uneven intervals. To his right, the sunstone became more and more dense, leading him into the Matriarch’s sleeping chamber. He felt the stone’s vibration like a soft pressure against his skin, raising the small hairs on his arms and neck. So far, no demon in sight. To his left, brown clay walls led to an earthen staircase that climbed back toward the surface. He guessed the main entrance lay at the top of the stairs, most likely sealed at the other end.
