The ladder– which was simply rungs of old oak tied together with thick rope– hung adjacent to the platform. It would not be the easiest climb that the had ever made, but neither was it an impossible feat. James climbed up first,looked around, then called down to the others.
“It’s clear,” he told them.
As Nashtra began to climb up as well, Cerys could see the light above flicker and change, as though James was moving the burning arrows. She held the ropes still for homeroom to climb up, and then followed her. The others were not long behind, but it took them long enough that she could take in the area where she now found herself.
It was a large enough platform, but it seemed to end after a few yards.
“So the rest of the hallway does not go on like this,” she breathed.

She had been talking to herself, but James must have heard her, because he said, “No, it doesn’t. The architects of his passageway called it a wall, wide though it is, but it does serve as a wall to keep the wild things from getting too far. ”
Cerys blinked at first, looking at him in surprise that he had said anything at all. “Are there a lot of these?” she finally asked.
James though a moment before replying. “Traps, yes, though they are all different kinds”
“Have you been through this passage before?” Cars asked. She looked behind her as she heard wood clattering against wood, and saw Carter pulling up up the rope ladder.

“Once or twice,” he said with a shrug. “It’s not too bad of a walk, if that’s what you’re worried about. Long, but not terrible. “