I got up in a crouch, picked up my cane lying next to me and twisted out my short sword.

Above us, the stairs creaked as Dugan appeared with his axe in hand, once again dressed in his worn leather armour.

He passed a look to Castille, who slid her long sword out of the scabbard and walked up to the curtained windows.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Who's there?" Castille asked.

"Eric! We met at the daycare."

"Come in. Just you—no one else."

Castille kicked out the crossbeam across the door, readying her sword for a downward swing at the first person to cross the threshold.

Eric burst through the doors. He paused and gaped at Castille on his left.

"Well, come in," Castille said.

He nodded, running past the woman to hand Arwen a scrap of paper he pulled from his pocket.

Castille closed the doors. Dugan walked down the fleet of stairs to help Castille put the crossbeam back in place.

"Dugan, how's Thor?"

Dugan shook his head as he walked to the bar with Castille.

So, he was still sleeping. His trick with Dugan had downsides.

Isla and I walked to the bar while Arwen read the message. He stared at the countertop, scratching his chin.

"Good news?" Castille asked.

"Bout as good as expected. The Lagos brothers have been quiet…"

"They assumed we handed you to the Inquisitor," I said.

Arwen nodded.

"A fate I'm happy to avoid. Anyway, the Council is on board. There's a covered wagon out back. It'll take us right to the Mountains."

"Good. Then we should go. Everyone, take a pack," Castille said.

I rolled up my bedroll, slinging the rope I bought from Elmer over my shoulder. Isla ran upstairs to pull her staff from Thor's saddlebags; the time for deception was over. We each took a pack that Castille prepared, crowding around the Pit's back door while we waited for our leader.

Castille held Cassandra for a long moment, whispering something out of our earshot.

Cassandra laughed.

"If this place isn't burned down by the time you return," she said.

"Cass, I'm sorry."

"If you're sorry, make it back in one piece."

They kissed.

I turned away.

Love… Another distraction.

We snuck out the back door and loaded ourselves into the covered wagon, with Arwen and Eric taking the lead. The wagon's driver snapped on the reins, urging its team of horses forward.

At night, the Service Quarter came to life. The taverns overflowed with miners and workers, spending the gold they risked their lives to attain. Others wandered at the sides of the streets, picking fights with each other or being pulled into brothels by ladies of the night.

The wagon slowed down the further we went along the street.

Stolen story; please report.

"Crowd ahead, boss," the driver said.

"Then go around, Grayson."

A cheer erupted from the writhing mass of bodies blocking our path.

We looked through the opening of the covered wagon.

A makeshift scarecrow was burning. It hung from a noose over the jeering Steeltowners. Scraps of wood were pinned to the sides of its head, giving it pointed ears.

Isla rested a hand on my forearm. I flashed her a bitter smile.

"That'll be me next."

Castille grunted.

"Not if we all do our jobs tonight… and don't make any mistakes."

The wagon banked to the left as the driver turned.

I fell back against its side, my eyes on the canopy.

Was she still angry about that?

Arwen sat across from me. His right eye was bruised purple from where I punched him.

"I'm sorry."

He blinked at me in surprise.

Castille and Dugan gave me curious looks.

"What? It's not the first time I've apologized."

"It's the first time I didn't believe you," Castille said.

I crossed my arms.

"I guess it's because I grew up in an orphanage..."

Arwen frowned.

"State-run?"

"Yeah."

"I heard they were so bad the King shut 'em down. You think I run the daycare like that?"

"No, and that's the problem. They're not your kids. No one's paying you to take care of them. And they're an easy target if your enemies want to hurt you. I don't get it. I don't know why you do what you do…"

Arwen raised his eyebrows.

"Eric? Why do we do what we do?"

The young man shrugged.

"Because it's right."

Arwen nodded.

"Well, you heard the man."

Because it's right?

I frowned.

What does that mean?

# # #

The wagon lurched to a stop at the foot of the mountains. We unloaded out of the back, forming a loose group around Arwen. He lit his lantern, raising it over his head. Other lanterns flashed in the distance.

"Those are our spotters. We shouldn't get disturbed," Arwen said.

We walked to the entrance of the mine, a perfect rectangle cut into the face of the mountain. In front, two men in rough spun clothes greeted Arwen. The short, hunting bows slung over their shoulders looked moments away from falling apart.

"Phil. Greg. How's it looking tonight?" Arwen asked.

"Quiet, Arwen. Real quiet. The attack on the Lagos brothers got everyone jumpy."

The other guard stepped forward and pushed up his wide-brimmed hat.

"We didn't see any stragglers. Everyone's rushing home to fill their plates… while they still can."

He glanced at me, hawking a glob of phlegm on the ground.

"Easy, Phil."

Arwen looked over the guard's shoulders into the dark depths ahead of us.

"If the spotters start signalling, run down and find me or Eric. We should be near the dunk."

"Yes, boss."

Arwen patted Phil on the shoulder, gesturing us to follow as we began our slow trek down the tunnel's gradual slope. Greg handed his lantern to Eric, who covered us from the rear.

We walked the first few feet in silence, our shadows dancing on the tunnel's smooth-cut stone.

"Did the Steeltowners carve this tunnel?" I asked.

"No, this was here before the town, just like the ruins beneath the Mountains. The mining came after."

"How does the mining operation work?" Isla asked.

"It's a free-for-all for the most part. Both cartels are made up of twenty or more mining crews. The mining crews dig tunnels to search for veins of ore. The tunnels are cartel territory, and anything they find belongs to either us or the Lagos brothers."

"That sounds chaotic. How do you keep track of which tunnel is which?"

"The miners know. Even after the Lagos brothers shook everything up, we were able to divide the new territory. Besides, there's always been enough to go around."

The wide tunnel opened into a wider room.

In the darkness, our footsteps echoed off unseen walls.

"We're here. Welcome to the ruins."

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