With a single, graceful leap, Itaea sprung onto the tabletop. She too stared upwards, her head cocked. She listened while the room remained hushed, everyone holding their collective breath as they gazed up at the ceiling. The clip-clop of hooves trotted across the tiled surface of the roof, the noise echoing loudly throughout the room. A small scattering of dust fell from the rafters to land on the floorboards below like sprinkles of sugar.

Taylor looked around nervously. Was ...