“Seems like an invitation, don’t you think?”
“Maybe.”
“I mean, I’m sure she knows we’re here. She just took our things.”
“Probably.”
“Should we... knock?”
“I don’t see a door.”
Florian stifled a laugh. “Should I just open it, then?”
Despite his furrowed brows, Kade nodded. “I think so.”
That was probably as certain as they were going to get, so Florian reached for the handle and twisted. It moved just like a regular door knob, and somehow a door appeared in the tree trunk. There was no flash of magic, as if it were summoned, but it simply winked into existence like it had always been there. Florian tugged, and it swung open without resistance, but the doorway was pitch black. No light seemed to penetrate beyond its threshold.
“Hello?” Florian called uncertainly into the darkness.
He jumped as a rasping, female voice answered him.
“Oh, you’ve finally arrived. Come in, come in. I’ll put the kettle on.”
