Everyone's attention snapped to the subtle sound, and there, they found a door that was barely distinguishable amongst the floorboards.
"A cellar or basement…" Tyke blurted out, surprised and enlightened.
"This was a waste of my time."
He sent James, Terrence and Benjamin a pointed look, motioning to the door with his chin. They all nodded and started taking careful, heavy steps across the room.
"On three," he murmured and began to count, locking eyes with each of them.
The three were almost to the door, hands at their swords. Tyke steeled himself for a fight, anticipating a rush of men in red to fly from the cellar like bats out of a cave. The floorboards creaked again as he crouched before the door, his fingers finding the small, brass ring and tugging upward in one, heaving motion.
"Three!"
