The Once and Future Nerd.

Book 1, Princes of Jordan.

Chapter 1, The Prince of Jordan After the young humans were allowed to sleep for much longer than they had in three days, and on mattresses, no less,

Brennan led his party to the part of the city unofficially reserved for people whose fathers had very little gold indeed.

Several such personages watched the party furtively from the shadows and alleys.

General.

Nia peeked out from behind a corner with a hooded cloak and a walking staff and joined the group.

Soon they came to a small guardhouse, in which a single guard snored loudly. The party easily hopped over the turnpike in his charge,

and descended a flight of stone steps. The stairs led down to the canals of Armstrong Guard,

which were lined by brick walls and stone walkways. What are we looking for?

I'm not sure yet.

Nia looked at the end of her staff, and a faint blue glow radiated from it.

When she touched the staff to the walls, the bricks around it glowed as well.

Nia dragged her staff across the wall for a hundred or so paces until they came across a

brick that did not glow.

A hollow brick. Makes sense. A thief's hands would recognize it.

She pushed on the brick with her staff and quickly backed away. By some unseen mechanism,

a previously invisible doorway opened in the wall.

The door led to a tangle of tunnels and subterranean shanties, interweaving as though it were a city unto itself.

Echoing along from further down the tunnels, a raucous crowd was audible.

I'm guessing that's a good place to start investigating.

As they headed towards the source of the noise,

...