“But how are we going to depart?” Selima asked. “We’re on top of a high mountain with steep cliffs, and neither of us knows how to fly.”
Her father considered the problem. “That staircase where we entered the castle,” he said after a moment. “Akar said it went down into the heart of the mountain, perhaps all the way to its base. If we can get down there far enough, perhaps we can find a way out.” Neither of them was very hopeful, but Selima admitted they had no other choice.
They opened the door, looked out, and saw the hallway outside their rooms was deserted for the moment. As quietly as they could, father and daughter moved quickly down the stone passageway to the stairs that might lead to their freedom.
They had almost reached it when, without warning, one of the batlike creatures a
