The white moon, in the identical phase as her smaller blue sister, hung high in the western sky.From their different angles, the moons filled the compluvium with half-shadows of ivory and lapis. Nicodemus—still holding the Index in one hand and Simple John’s hand in the other—led the druids across the wall overlooking the compluvium. “The way to the Fool’s Ladder is just down that stairwell.” He motioned across the wall.Kyran took the lead.Far below them glistened the impluvium. The aquatic gargoyles that operated the reservoir’s valves were still at work despite the hour. Their movement slowly churned the water, transforming its surface into a coruscation of reflected moonlight.Deirdre spoke. “That hawk-headed construct with the four arms, the one we passed to get into this place, if it obeys your commands, why didn’t you have it follow us?”“So it can guard our backs,” Nicodemus replied, giving John’s hand an encouraging squeeze. “There are only two ways into the compluvium.”Together the party hurried down the spiral stairs to the tunnel Shannon had opened.
