Pellen’s heart pounded as she walked away from Lady Alyx’s party. The danger should be minimal at this stage. Lady Alyx and company had just fought their way through those floors. It should be safe.

  And, she was with the dependable Sir Daidyn and also Lords Kohen and Tiador. They had a contract to bring her safely back to the city. She would be just fine going back down and fighting whatever had crawled back up.

  Pellen took the tiniest peak over her shoulder through one of her corner eyes. It was wrong to wish that she could go with them instead. It was foolish to hope one of them would look back after her.

  Lady Alyx walked with her head held high. There was no indication she was worried for her, as there shouldn’t be. Her eyes were set on her promising future. The lady would be a Dragon Knight. There would be little reason she would concern herself over a competitor like Lord Kohen, much less a little apprentice mage like herself.

  Her guardsman walked to her left, behind her just a step. It probably wasn’t obvious to a casual observer, but he was watching Lord Kohen out of the corner of his eye as he walked. His every sense was focused on his lady’s rival and his party. He watched her with just as much wary concern as he watched Lord Tiador and Sir Daidyn. She existed as nothing but a potential threat to his lady. As was right and reasonable.

  She picked at the skin around her fingernails. They were dried and cracking. They’d bleed if she wasn’t careful.

  Sir Salos, the cat—probably—rode on Miss Cass’s shoulder as he was wont to do. Like Lady Alyx’s guardsman, his senses were doubtlessly watching Lord Kohen and his party for treachery, though Pellen couldn’t have explained the method through which he did so or how she was as sure that he was.

  His tail wrapped around Miss Cass’s neck, almost as if pushing her to look forward. To watch where they were going.

  But she wasn’t. Miss Cass was staring at her.

  Pellen stiffened. Another corner eye darted back to double-check.

  Yes. Miss Cass was watching.

  Watching not Lord Kohen and not Lord Tiador and not Sir Daidyn. Miss Cass was watching her.

  And with concern in her eyes.

  Why?

  “Glad to have you back, Lady Mage,” Sir Daidyn said, slapping her back and shaking her from her thoughts.

  The slap, though probably little more than a gentle and friendly nudge from the perspective of a giant like Sir Daidyn, sent her staggering forward. She kept her feet, but only just.

  “And I’m happy to see you again, sir,” she replied. It was largely true, despite his roughness.

  “Did you and that sorceress really survive down here on your own? You really fought the 32nd Fang? And won?” he asked. His voice was loud and boisterous, the questions coming too fast for her to give answers. All she could do was nod her head.

  “Give the poor woman time to breathe, Daidyn,” Lord Tiador said, ribbing the much larger vargher with his elbow. To Pellen, he continued, “Why don’t you tell us all about your adventures with Lady Alyx and Miss Cass at your own pace as we descend?”

  Pellen nodded and began telling the lords and Sir Daidyn of her tribulations without them, stopping only when they encountered monsters. If they understood exactly how dangerous it had all been for her, they would surely understand why she had joined their rival and would choose not to pursue her punishment with the guild, right?

  Right?

  She kept most of Miss Cass’s skills to herself and largely omitted mentioning Sir Salos. It was an obvious courtesy she owed her protectors.

  She had recapped about all of it by the time they reached the ninth floor. Once again, she stood before the chasms separating the door of the ninth floor from Alacrity’s Altar.

  “Interesting, very interesting,” Lord Tiador said as her story concluded. “Don’t you agree, Ko?”

  Lord Kohen grunted an acknowledgment. The lord had not spoken once except to give orders during combat the entire way down. Even now, he looked more like he wanted to tear something apart than converse.

  Lord Tiador shook his head and sighed. “Well, I thought it was a well-told story. Thank you, Mage Pellen. You have your blessing already, so I don’t see a reason you should have to cross this gap again. What do you say, Ko?”

  “Come or don’t come,” Lord Kohen grunted and jumped out over the chasm to the first beam.

  Lord Tiador shrugged. “Well, you heard the boss. Feel free to rest here for the rest of us, my lady mage.”

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  “Back soon,” Sir Daidyn promised. The two men followed their lord across. They all ran recklessly fast, in her terrified opinion.

  She pulled up her blessing while she watched them.

  Blessing of Alacrity

  [You have proven yourself worthy of She of Stunning Brilliance and Striking Inspiration’s attention. She has granted you the right to bind with her chosen people: the dragons. Additionally, she has granted you the following boons:

  + 9% Ala

  + 3% Dex

  + 3% Wll

  + 3% Per]

  It was a perfectly average blessing—an 18% increase to her stats. More Will and Alacrity were always welcome as a mage, and, as an inscriptionist, it was hard to go wrong with more Dexterity. The added Perception was not… unwelcome, even if she would have preferred Resolve instead.

  Across the way, Lord Kohen touched the orb. He held his hand against it for a long time. Much longer than Miss Cass had. Probably much longer than she had. When he finally took his hand from the orb, he was finally grinning.

  Lord Tiador touched it next, barely brushing up against it before stepping out of the way for Sir Daidyn.

  And like that, the three men had their blessings. They ran back across the chasm in a few minutes, avoiding all the lighting and death. She shivered, thinking about her crossing again.

  “How does my sister’s blessing compare?” Lord Kohen asked without prompting, sharing a system window with her before she could answer.

  Blessing of Alacrity

  [… Additionally, she has granted you the following boons:

  + 18% Ala

  + 6% Str

  + 6% Wll

  + 6% Per]

  Pellen’s eyes boggled at the blessing he received. That was way stronger than the one she got.

  She could only shake her head. “I don’t—I didn’t—Lady Alyx didn’t show me her blessing, my lord. I couldn’t tell you how your own compares to hers.”

  His eyes narrowed as she spoke. His eyes were hungry. Dangerous.

  Pellen forced herself to stand still. To hold eye contact with her primary eyes even while the rest spun around the room looking for some way out. Lord Tiador sighed and shook his head. Sir Daidyn just shrugged. There was nothing they could do about their lord, either.

  “You have something,” Lord Kohen said. The pupils of his eyes widened as he spoke.

  “I’m sorry?” Pellen’s feet shuffled back.

  “You must have gotten all manner of treasures after abandoning me,” Lord Kohen said. His voice was suddenly soft. Sweat. Hurt?

  Pellen bit her lip. She hadn’t meant to break her contract—to leave his party so early in the dive. He must know that. That was why she’d rejoined him when she was able. It was only right.

  “Ko, what’s this about?” Lord Tiador interrupted.

  Lord Kohen waved him off, his eyes never leaving Pellen.

  Lord Tiador made a show of rolling his eyes.

  Lord Kohen continued speaking, his words pulling her in like a whirlpool. “Don’t you think you should compensate me with some of that treasure, given you would not have gotten any of it had you not abandoned me?”

  No.

  But, maybe.

  Was this right?

  It was true she would have none of it if he had not hired her and if she had not then abandoned him. She was supposed to render a service for him. She had not yet done so.

  “Show me the treasures you’ve collected,” Lord Kohen said. It was a simple command. A simple means of making up for the ways she was lacking.

  “Yes, my lord,” Pellen said, nodding dumbly. Her hands riffled through her clothes. She stacked her books on the floor. Lord Kohen looked unimpressed by the tomes. The crystallized skill experience gems came out next. They sparkled like pearls in the purple light of the catacombs. Lord Kohen didn’t so much as flinch at the sight of them.

  Last, she presented the Keeper’s Core. It was a crimson marble about three times the size of the skill gems, yet far heavier. She hadn’t thought much of it when Lady Alyx had given it to her. She’d just been happy to have been included in loot distribution.

  But now, there was something pretty about it.

  Keeper’s Core

  [The crystallized fragment of a soul used to power and control the Storehouse Crystal Keeper. Primarily Vamphelish in composition.]

  Had it said that before? She wasn’t sure. Had she even looked?

  “That,” Lord Kohen said, plucking the core from her hand before she had a chance to set it down. “I will take this and consider your dereliction of contract forgiven.”

  Pellen blinked at him. She wanted to argue. She did not want to give him that. It was hers. She hadn’t meant to be separated from his party. It wasn’t her fault she was. She shouldn’t need to give him anything.

  “Be glad I am leaving you everything else,” Lord Kohen added, his voice a ringing warning. “And that I still intend to uphold my end of the contract.”

  Pellen shivered. He could abandon her here if he wanted. Lord Tiador would only roll his eyes. Sir Daidyn would be unable to refuse the order if he wanted to remain in Vaisom.

  She squashed her complaints. They would be unproductive, and the lord was right. If he were more willful, he might have taken everything instead.

  Better he satisfy himself with a strange curio rather than the things whose value she knew.

  “Now, I believe we agreed on Obsidian Golems?” Lord Kohen said. The tension in his voice was gone. Almost like the entire conversation had not happened.

  “That was the contract,” Lord Tiador agreed. “Seventh floor, right? There has to be more in one of the side rooms.”

  “W-what?” Pellen asked as she hurriedly shoved her treasures back in her pockets.

  Lord Kohen shot her a tired look. “I just said I intend to uphold my end of the contract. What do you think that means?”

  Pellen blinked. That hadn’t been a threat that he would leave her behind? That was a reminder that he would still pay her in Concept Gems?

  “R-right! Yes, my lord. Obsidian Golems, seventh floor.”

  “Let’s get a move on!” He strutted toward the stairs. Lord Tiador rolled his eyes again but followed him.

  “Come on, Lady Mage,” Sir Daidyn said, holding a hand out to her. “We don’t want to get left behind.”