Book 2 Chapter 19

Diya was pleased to wake up in his own bed the following morning. The accommodation only had single beds, and the pair were too tired to put two together. It wasn’t that Gwyneth put him off, but sharing a bed with her was starting to get confusing. He liked her warmth and how she felt next to him, but it also had him stuck in limbo regarding what to do about Victoria. Diya needed space to get his head straight so he could get over the past before he started thinking about the future.

“Good, you’re finally up!” Gwyneth exclaimed, dropping a fresh set of clothes on his cot. They resembled the clothing the FTF’s employees wore. She wore an outfit similar to Heidi’s, and Diya couldn’t help but admire how it cupped her breasts and squeezed them together. “We need to get moving.”

“What’s the rush?” Diya asked, struggling to keep his eyes from drifting down to her chest. Gwyneth was a beautiful woman. The more time he spent with her, the harder it became to deny it. Diya wondered whether his tastes had changed. She and Victoria were nothing alike. Gwyneth lacked his former interest’s air of nobility and poise, but her sharp mind and relaxed body language made her just as desirable. Diya shook his head, pushing the usual morning thoughts out of his head. “After the day we had yesterday, I’d like to relax a while longer.”

“I want to test the lamp’s compatibility with the new card.” Gwyneth paused. Her eyes drifted down to the sheet tent around his abdomen. She smirked before continuing. “The hub should be reasonably safe since the FTF is the majority force, and our outfits will keep us safe.”

“What about Oss? Have you checked on him?”

Gwyneth nodded. “Oss isn’t in fighting form yet, but he’s doing much better. There’s a ton of bruising around his shoulders and rib cage, but he claims the bones are better than ever.”

“That’s a hell of a power he’s got,” Diya commented. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

“He’d need a hell of an imagination to come up with the tale on the spot,” she replied. “I think he’s telling the truth. Considering how he took the tortoise apart, it makes more sense than a traditional soul. I’d like to keep him around and learn more about his powers and the Children of Gaia.” Gwyneth plopped down on her cot opposite Diya. “I’d also like you to tell me about this Explorer character.”

“He’s someone Neer met in the sixth interval, and my soul is named after him.”

Gwyneth watched Diya for a moment thoughtfully. “When you absorbed your first card, you asked me whether I’d seen someone while communing with the upgrade station. Was it because of Explorer?”

“Correct. At first, I didn’t understand the concept of named souls. Then he showed up after I made my decision regarding which path to take with the soul. Finding Explorer and asking him about Neer is one of my long-term goals. I doubt we’ll get to floor thirty any time soon, but there is no harm in trying, right?”

“Not at all—”

Diya’s growling stomach interrupted her. “Give me a couple of minutes to wash up and get dressed. Then we can get moving.”

Heidi was waiting for them outside the hut. She greeted the pair with wooden mugs of hit herbal tea. Diya accepted it despite the pungent smell and was surprised by the gamey taste. It snapped him awake, and his body felt ready to face the day’s challenges. Due to how tired they were, the pair had sped through a light meal of porridge before going to bed. When Diya found a feast of local fruit, boiled eggs, and cured meats waiting for him, he dove in hungrily. Meanwhile, Gwyneth and Heidi sat together, discussing the settlement and the hub on the next floor.

The FTF settlement existed to harvest herbs and flowers, which only grew in their mangrove forest stretch. They all had valuable medicinal effects—including the tea—and were sold for a premium on the mainland. The Boleyns were their primary competitors. Ever since the house allied with the De Lawneys, the FTF were struggling to get their goods out. As a result, the settlement was hunting the local reptiles and selling their skins, too. It wasn’t enough to achieve their initial profits, but it kept the FTF from shutting down the operation. None of them wanted to roll the dice and find out whether the board would make them redundant or assign them to another settlement.

Meanwhile, the ninth floor’s hub was thriving. The FTF had expanded its operations into the hospitality sector. The revenue coming in from the inns and taverns wasn’t just valuable revenue but was winning them the favor of regular Climbers. As a result, the noble houses couldn’t afford to wrestle control from the FTF without causing unrest. Diya thought the tactic brilliant. The noble houses couldn’t just hold onto their power just using riches but relied on the people’s opinion too. It would force parties like the D eLawneys to follow the neutral zone’s rules.

There were still several DeLawney parties combing the interval for Gwyneth. The latest report from the ninth floor claimed a few bearers of the twin-shield crest were frequenting the pubs. As a result, Heidi hoped that Diya and Gwyneth would avoid detection by wearing the FTF’s colors. Oss’s presence would throw them off too. The FTF’s intelligence claimed the De Lawneys were looking for a duo. They knew about the black-ink coat and the lantern but not much else.

Oss joined them halfway through breakfast, still looking worse for wear.

“How are you doing, mate?” Diya asked, rushing to support the man when he stumbled.

“Better than yesterday,” Oss replied. “My bones are back to normal, but muscles still need more time.”

“How long do you need before we can continue climbing?” Diya helped him to a nearby chair and put together a plate of fruit for him.

“Another day or two, perhaps.” Oss scanned the plate in front of him but didn’t pick at the offerings. “My bone armor is beyond repair. I’ll need to mold the tortoise’s skull into a replacement. My new weapons need refining too. Will that be a problem?”

“That’s perfect, actually,” Diya commented, looking between him and Gwyneth. “I’d like to take a short break and leave the tower.”

“That’s not a good idea, Diya!” Gwyneth protested. “The D eLawneys know to look out for you, and there is Edgar too—”

“I can change the coat’s color and texture.” Diya’s interruption came out more desperate than he would’ve liked. “Besides, if I stay in populated areas, they won’t try anything. The primary hub is a neutral zone, and no one’s foolish enough to make a move in Climber’s Market or the Noble Circle.”

“Still. It’s pretty foolish, Diya. Why would you take such a risk?”

“I have to check on Baba, Gwyn. I don’t know whether he got my letter. For all I know, Edgar might have his teeth in him already. Kartik might’ve traded the boar’s card too. If we’re lucky, we might enter the next interval armed with another upgrade.”

Gwyn glared at him, Diya. “Fine. Perhaps it's time I report to the city council as well. They’ll want to hear that the De Lawneys are hunting us so they can silence me.”

“I can come with you—”

“No,” Gwyneth said, cutting him off. “We’ll move separately. I’d like to upgrade my soul before heading out.”

“I’ve got a couple of guards who’ve been begging for leave.” Heidi chimed in. “They’ve got family on the ninth floor. What if I have them escort Gwyneth until you lot rendezvous?”

“Are you sure?” Diya asked her. “She’s not an employee, and it’s a huge imposition.”

“Lydia asked me to accommodate you in whatever way we can. You’re climbing at a ridiculous rate, and the board is watching your progress.” Heidi smiled at Gwyneth. “Your companion and I have been talking. Her knowledge can be a great asset to the FTF’s growth, and I’ll be recommending a probationary consultant position for her.”

“That’s pretty generous,” Diya commented, looking between the two women. If the FTF continued to grow in power, having their backing would make Gwyneth’s life a lot easier. “Fine. I’ll go first, use the binding station, and leave the tower straight away. Perhaps wait half an hour before following me?”

“That’s settled then,” Oss said, finally picking up a fleshy mango. “We’ll meet at the binding stone in thirty-six hours.”

The pair agreed and ate a hearty breakfast before preparing to leave. While helping Oss get their goods together, Diya couldn’t help but admire the settlement and its residents. The FTF appeared to have built it around ruins similar to where they found the tortoise. After running out of room on the rocky island’s walled sections, they had expanded into the giant mangrove trees above. He couldn’t tell how they kept local fauna away and doubted the musket-wielding guards were enough. After breakfast, Heidi and the locals had gotten busy with their daily tasks, so he didn’t disturb them.

A young woman approached Diya while he was checking the tortoise skin’s quality. She claimed to deal with the settlement’s reptile hide sales. She expressed interest in taking it off the party’s hands, selling it for them, and adding the profit to Diya’s account through the FTF. When Diya asked for an estimate on the hide’s sale value, she hesitated, looking between Diya and Heidi. Then her shoulders slumped, and she quoted fifty pounds per square foot. The amount was nothing to scoff at, and Diya agreed to the deal. Gwyneth held onto the material she had taken off the tail for her coat.

It was mid-morning when Diya parted with his companions. Gwyneth rejected his offer of getting Kartik to make her armor. She intended to use her father’s former contacts and savings to have something formfitting made. He pleaded for her to be careful before approaching the settlement’s gates. Before passing through it, Diya paused by the gate. While enamored by the vast ink quantities,, he had forgotten about the additional gift that had come with Glrrg’s card..

Diya got his notebook out and drew a quick line sketch of the gate in front of him. Then he went around the frame, meticulously copying down every rune carved into the stone. He didn’t know what their functions were but hoped that they would help him return to the floor until he entered the fourth interval. He didn’t hate Heidi’s settlement and wanted to experiment with the ability when he got the opportunity. Then he hugged Gwyneth goodbye and left.