Chapter 10

Diya’s first instinct was to craft a pair of boots. He imagined using the Harden, Relax, and Exploding runes to construct a launching mechanism that would help him jump higher or further. Baba had taught him that positioning on the battlefield was everything. Getting to the high ground or forcing foes through a chokepoint could turn the tide. After a few initial sketches, Diya put the idea aside. It would have to wait until he found tempering that strengthened his joints and muscles. He doubted slime skin padding would be enough to protect him from the landings, too.

While the upgrades from Glrrg’s cards were welcome and a significant asset, Diya couldn’t help but feel disappointed at the lack of new runes. Gaia claimed the card had empowered Runeseeker, but Diya failed to find evidence of the upgrade. He poured over the cards in their possession, hoping to find an answer but failed.

The most important gift the dead leviathan had given him was the significantly larger ink stores and cheaper pens and summons. So, Diya focused on the simpler side of things. Of all the tools at his disposal, he used none more than his Ink Vines. In fact, Ensnaring Vines in his deck was no more than a variant of the base spell. Its only major drawback was having to summon the fountain pen before using it. However, with the upgraded gauntlet, Diya hoped to bypass the issue.

Instead of a single inky tentacle, Diya drew a mesh of vines half as thick as his little finger. Next, he added two sets of runes to the card. The first was a forever active set of keywords: Merge With The Shadows and Shadow Touched. He hoped they would help the mesh blend into shadows or camouflage so the summon could serve as a trap when needed. The second set of runes would only activate following Diya’s command. Piercing Cold and Frost Aura would severely chill anyone trapped in the mesh, further disabling them. Finally, Diya hoped to weaponize the new summon using the Exploding rune. Unfortunately, the final symbol pushed the card to tier four, rendering it unusable.

I suppose that’ll have to wait until the next interval.

The Harden, Relax, and Stick commands would still function with the summon, making the summon useful in and out of combat. Finally, Diya focused on the details. When summoned, the mesh would come out as a coil, functioning as a single tentacle. He added bands with the Harden rune that would keep it together unless he commanded them to Relax. Diya made them weak, so the stress would also break the bands. He hoped firing the summon through the gauntlet’s launcher would fulfill the same function.

Proper testing would have to wait until they were far from the settlement. So, Diya changed into a nightshirt and shorts and crawled into bed next to Gwyneth. She wiggled into him and pulled his arm around her. Diya exhaled deeply, considering pulling away since his head still felt like a confusing mess. After some thought, he tightened his hold on Gwyneth and pulled her closer. It didn’t take long for the exhausting day to catch up to him, and Diya found himself drifting off to sleep. Before the last conscious thought left him, Diya resolved to focus on the now. Victoria needed to become a part of his past. That didn’t mean Gwyneth was a permanent fixture in his future, though. Thinking past the current interval didn’t make sense anymore.

Gwyneth woke Diya the following morning while it was still dark outside. She was already dressed and ready to go, and the innkeeper had sent up breakfast too. They packed the recently purchased rations and washed the previous day’s filth off themselves. After some discussion, Gwyneth agreed to wear Diya’s constructed coat in a dull blue. She stuffed her old cloak under the mattress.

“I hate throwing money away,” Gwyneth said.

“Given the rate at which we’re climbing, it won’t be long before money is no longer a concern for us.” Diya hadn’t checked his bank account recently, but he was he had enough money to live comfortably. Thanks to his summons, new equipment wasn’t too much of a concern. However, Diya believed it wouldn’t be long before upgrading his boots and axe became necessary. Preparing for the third and fourth intervals would certainly drain his funds.

The seventh floor’s sun hadn’t yet risen when the pair headed out. Much to Diya’s relief, the innkeeper and his staff didn’t consider their early rising odd. Most people venturing far from the hub started their journeys before the sun could heat the sand and stone. Diya and Gwyneth had just woken up earlier than most, and the matronly Indian woman thought it diligent. Since Diya had paid the innkeeper handsomely—it was the last of his money, she was feeling generous and packed lunches and skins full of a homemade brew.

The settlement’s guards and Montagu workers were up and about, but Diya didn’t spot many De Lawneys. Either they were still in bed or had already left the hub. They saw more unaffiliated climbers than either party. Looking at the equipment they carried, Diya guessed most of them were hunters or miners. They didn’t pay him much mind, so he did his best not to stare at Core-enhanced pickaxes and moved on.

Much to Diya’s disappointment, one of the guards stopped him at the city’s gate. He stepped in front of Diya, and his colleagues flanked them. Diya’s heart leaped into his chest, and the temptation to call his summons forth became irresistible. Gwyneth’s knuckles turned white as she tightened her hold on the spear. Diya spoke up before she acted hastily.

“How can I help you, lads?” Diya asked, hoping his summoned pale-blue coat would hold up against their weapons. The spears appeared sharp but didn’t seem to have any Cores attached. The squishy bits were perfect for resisting blunt attacks. Perhaps a Stiffen command would sufficiently resist the thrusts.

“A bit early to leave the settlement, don’t you think?” The guard asked, leaning lazily on his staff. Meanwhile, the other two appeared ready to skewer Diya or Gwyneth if they made the wrong move. The leading man looked Gwyneth up and down. “Where are you fine people heading?”

“Just escorting my employer to the closest gate,” Diya said, smiling. “It’s a long way to go, and I was hoping we’d beat the sun.”

“There’s no beating the sun here, mate.” The guard smirked. “You should know that.” He refocused on Gwyneth. “Why don’t you hire a well-equipped party, miss?”

“Why do you care about how many people I hire?” Gwyneth asked, surprising Diya. He didn’t think she’d go on the offensive. “Our business is no one’s but mine.”

The guard raised an eyebrow, looking between her and his colleagues. “We’ve had reports of young women disappearing in the sands after heading out with mysterious males. Considering the drama with the houses, we can’t be too careful. Which is why it’s important we find out—”

“That’s a flimsy excuse. Do you attempt these powerplays with everyone or just Climbers not wearing a house’s crest or colors?” Gwyneth’s eyes shone brilliantly under the hood as she spoke. Diya wasn’t sure how she got them glowing in such a fashion, and it wasn’t the time to ask. “Has the local council hired you to keep the peace or harass people that might be bringing business to it?” Due to the hour, only a handful of people were on the streets, and they had paused to watch the exchange. “Would you prefer we not go out and waste our time filing a report with the guard captain? Perhaps the Montagus will want to know too? Or, is this an attempt at extracting a bribe?”

The guard’s back stiffened. He took a step back, looking past the pair at the many sets of eyes on them.

“For the record, I hired an experienced scout and trapper because I trust him to be my guide more than a ragtag party desperate to make a living,” Gwyneth declared. “I know it's more expensive, but that doesn’t bother my backers and shouldn’t concern you either. If we start now, we can get through the Wild Dunes and reach Krishna’s Oasis before the sandworms are awake and hungry. Should I continue?”

“No, miss,” the man replied, abandoning his confident tone. “There’ve been suspicious people around, is all.” He stepped out of the pair’s way. “You’re free to go.”

Gwyneth marched forward with a confident stride, and Diya followed her, trying his best to maintain an impassive expression. As they walked away from the gate, the temptation to look over his shoulder got stronger. He could feel the guards’ eyes on their backs. Diya was sure he was as shaken by her as they were. After years with the De Lawneys, it was a given that she’d know how to deal with people on power trips. Her focus had been on laying low and avoiding notice. Ever since they entered the sixth floor, though, Gwyneth had started showing her true colors.

The seventh floor’s hub sat amidst a dense oasis. According to the FTF’s guidebook, the local council kept threatening beasts out of it and discouraged unapproved parties from harvesting its resources. The only sources of fresh water and produce came from the oasis. They couldn’t afford to let travelers strip the oasis of its riches. Diya admired the tall trees and the critters flitting about them. He understood why someone would want to set up a settlement in such a place. Diya hoped to do the same someday.

Once they were far enough from the gates, Gwyneth burst out laughing. She clutched Diya’s shoulder, leaning against him. “That felt good,” she said. “You have no idea how difficult it is keeping shut in those kinds of situations.”

“You should take the lead more often,” Diya said. “You have no idea how much I hate talking to people and keeping up the façade of niceness. That was Alexander’s game. I always preferred sitting on the sidelines.”

“Yeah, right.” Gwyneth laughed. “You know how to talk to people and get things done.”

“That’s not me, though. Lord Graham wanted his heir to learn the family’s dealings and dragged his spawn along. Alexander hated every second along, so I followed as his faithful companion. When you hear me smooth-talking and greasing palms, that’s me channeling the Boleyns.” Diya sighed, thinking back to the times Lord Graham would shout at them to keep silent and pay attention. “I’m just pretending.”

“Wear an identity long enough. You’ll eventually stop pretending.”

“That’s almost intelligent,” Diya said. “Who said that?”

Gwyneth looked at him with her brow all scrunched up. “I just did.”

The pair looked over their shoulders. They spotted a couple of other groups heading through the oasis’s trees. Diya spotted a couple of pickaxes in one group, followed by a wide-set fellow carrying a giant bone club. He guessed they were prospectors accompanied by a bodyguard. Several Climbers made their living by seeking out valuable minerals and gems. The sandworms and reptiles made their trade risky, but the rewards were significant. The second group wore white and yellow and made a beeline for the dunes, heading away from Diya towards the rising sun. It hadn’t appeared yet, but the first rays had already illuminated the sky.

“Which way?” Gwyneth asked. “We’re not heading towards any Salt Flats, are we?”

Diya shook his head. “No.” He got the FTF’s compass and guidebook out. Unlike on the previous floors, the arrow didn’t point at the closest gate but towards the jagged, red rocks to the north, beyond the dunes. He tallied the information with the guidebook’s map, locating the two closest gates. They both sat in two FTF mining operations. “We’ll decide which of the two to target once here,” he said, tapping a circle marked with D. “There appears to be a De Lawney installation on the way. Once we’ve figured out what the hell they’re up to, we’ll decide which way to go.”

“Why don’t we go for this one?” Gwyneth asked, pointing at another FTF camp closer to their position.

“I’d rather risk the rocks and the lizards than the worms,” Diya answered, tracing a line between their current location and Gwyneth’s finger. “It’s all sand. We’ll be trekking up and down unstable dunes, and all the dangers are either below or above us. Besides, constant exposure to the sun will dehydrate and tire us out quicker.” He tapped on the crags. “It’s a longer route, and we might have to weave between the rocks, but it’ll be safer. The lizard creatures will have to fight us at close range, and the bats won’t bother us until nightfall.”

“I suppose it’s not a much longer journey, as the crow flies. Are you sure about this?” She read aloud from the guidebook. “The uneven terrain and frequent landslides makes Red Rock dangerous and difficult to traverse. The local reptiles and arachnids are incredibly territorial and will hunt their prey relentlessly. Traveling along the marked routes is recommended.” Gwyneth’s shoulders drooped. “I don’t like the sound of this.”

“I went through the floor guide, cover to cover. The marked path weaves through supposed safe spots in the worm territories, but it’s going to be full of other Climbers. We’ll have to avoid it anyway.” Diya sighed. “I, of course, can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I believe it’s our best bet. My Ink Vines will make traversing the terrain a breeze. Besides, rarely explored regions tend to yield the best cards.”

“Fine.” Gwyneth sighed. The pair picked up the pace and stepped off the oasis’s firm ground onto the sand. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Diya had high hopes. After all, they had allies on the floor.