Bob surrounded himself in a persistent effect flight spell before dropping a portal at his feet.

Falling through the portal, he stabilized himself twenty feet above the alley beside the Adventurers Guild.

He didn't expect to see anyone out and about at three am, especially given the snowstorm that still raged, but courtesy prevailed.

He lowered himself through the howling wind and quickly headed into the Guild.

Bob couldn't help but have a bounce in his step. Having four spawn points to work at once had stretched his mana to the limit. Still, he'd managed to keep twelve raptors out with effect over time, keeping an effect over time Eldritch Shield and an effect over time Anima Blast on four of them, all while throwing out Eldritch Blasts.

It had been challenging, but he'd managed to kill over eight thousand Winter Wolves, which had an excellent coalescence ratio, as he'd gained two hundred and sixty-seven mana crystals, and more importantly, an Elemental Water Affinity Crystal.

He was done with the twenty-seventh floor of the Dungeon, and it had only taken him one night.

If he could manage to replicate that feat on the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth floors, he'd be headed back inside of a week.

Bob had already decided to offer the kids he was shepherding a trip to Holmstead to finish their training. It would cost them fewer shards there, even considering the two shards a day they'd need to spend for room and board.

As he headed through the empty tavern, he gave Monroe's ears a good rub.

The floofer hadn't liked the Winter Wolves very much.

Jakob had asked Bob twice if he was sure when Bob asked for a slot on the twenty-eighth floor. Bob had smiled and assured him that he'd learned what he needed from the previous two floors and was eager to see the next.

He'd then handed Bob four more slips of paper, freshers looking for a Shepherd.

Bob had put off that conversation until after his morning delve with Nora, Charn, Orson, and Wayna.

As he settled down to lunch across from Jakob, he took a moment to deposit Monroe in the chair next to him.

"So," Bob started as he caught Sally's eye and nodded, "I'm hoping to be done with Harbordeep and heading back home soon," he began.

Jakob opened his mouth, then closed it as Bob raised a hand and continued, "Nothing against Harbordeep, but I miss my home, and I really have learned quite a bit from the Dungeon here."

"That said," Bob went on, "I've put a lot of time and work into the freshers I've been shepherding, and I'd hate to leave the job half done, so I'd like to take them back with me to finish their training."

Bob leaned forward and lowered his voice, "We don't have a fee to enter the Dungeon in Holmstead, nor do we have a tax on the crystals earned, so they'd come out significantly ahead, from a financial perspective."

He leaned back and watched Jakob as he processed the information.

"There isn't anything in the Shepherding agreement that states you have to finish shepherding a fresher in the same Dungeon, or even at the same branch of the Adventurers Guild where you began the arrangement," Jakob mused.

"I have the Portal spell and Ritual Magic," Bob added, "so moving the kids to Holmstead and back here isn't terribly difficult for me, and to be honest, it will be less expensive for me."

Jakob's face twisted into a grimace before he sighed.

"True," he admitted, "although I suggest you make sure the kids clear it with their parents first."

"I'd intended to," Bob agreed.

The conversation paused as Sally arrived with lunch and chin rubs for Monroe.

Jakob resumed speaking after a few mouthfuls.

"I shouldn't have any trouble scheduling a three or four-hour delve on the twenty-eighth floor for tomorrow night," Jakob said as he dragged his bread through his stew.

"Perfect," Bob replied, "I'll tell the group I'm due to shepherd tonight that they'll need to check with their parents and that I'll be taking tomorrow night off."

"I'll let the morning team know tomorrow morning," he went on, "and if you could let the four who asked for shepherding know, that'll be everyone - consider this my official notice that I'm going home at the end of the week," he finished.

"Are you going to keep shepherding back home?" Jakob asked, "Beyond the kids you've already committed to?"

Bob shook his head, "I've got to take over curator duties, so I won't have time," he said, "but the guys who shepherded me do deserve a break, so maybe after our curator is done with his vacation," Bob grinned.

Jakob finished his stew and pushed back his bowl before speaking, "I tentatively scheduled for another midnight to three am Delve on the twenty-seventh floor," he said ruefully, "would you like me to cancel it?"

"No," Bob said slowly, "it was still profitable, so I might as well take advantage of it."

"Alright," Jakob stood up, "I'll let the new group of freshers know that they need to talk to their parents about being shipped out to the hinterlands for shepherding," he winced and then pointed a finger at Bob, "I expect that you're going to need to speak to the parents directly, so let's pencil in a plan to have you do exactly that, say, six days from now."

Bob nodded and started attending to his stew, having noticed that Monroe was done with fresh cod and was giving the aforementioned stew a look that could only be described as "covetous."

Bob was struggling not to yawn the following morning as he addressed his freshers.

The six last night had taken the news that he wanted to move their training to his hometown fairly calmly, although two of them had pleaded with him to convince their parents to let them go with him.

His Winter Wolf slaughter had proceeded apace, and he'd gained another three hundred and eighteen mana crystals, as well as two Elemental Water Affinity Crystals.

Now he was facing his original batch of freshers, having descended the stairs to the landing and bringing up his privacy screen of Controlled Air.

"Big news," Bob said, "things have been moving quickly for me here in Harbordeep, and I'm going to be heading back to my hometown soon."

Nora looked stricken, as did Charn, while Wayna and Orson frowned.

"But," he raised his hand, "you aren't ready to be turned loose on a Dungeon yet, so I'm going to take you with me and finish up your training in Holmstead," he continued, "once you're done, I can bring you back."

"Leave Harbordeep?" Orson asked.

"There are several reasons you should come with me," Bob said loudly, as Charn and Wayna had started whispering to each other.

"First, you aren't ready to delve on your own," he glared at them.

"Second," Bob bellowed, "Harbordeep is a massive drain on resources!"

"In Holmstead, you'll pay two crystals a day for room and board and tip the healer on duty four crystals, and that's it!" Bob shouted.

"You don't have to pay to delve the Dungeon, which means I won't need you to pay me, and there are no taxes!" Bob yelled over the kids who had started to whisper again.

"Finally, equipment is less expensive! An unenchanted suit of armor can be had for twenty-one crystals!" Bob roared.

"Frankly," he finished, "staying in Harbordeep is damn near a violation of the rules."

"I'll give you a few minutes to talk it over," Bob said, "but then we have to get moving."

The twenty-eighth floor of the Dungeon in Harbordeep was one massive cavern, illuminated only by the lights created or carried by the Adventuring groups that were delving it. The ceiling rose a hundred feet into the air, and stalagmites rose from the floor. Presumably, stalactites decorated the ceiling, but that was currently supposition.

Bob had read through the chapter on this floor and knew that he'd be facing Acid Shamblers, which camouflaged themselves to appear as stalagmites. They were supposed to be large, which fit with the ten to twenty-foot tall stalagmites he saw, and slow but powerful.

He mentally projected the pattern for Mana-Sight, wrapping it in an effect over time.

Thick cables of ethereal silver mana covered the cavern floor in winding streams, a tapestry of light.

Bob saw four mana flows twisting together under a stalagmite and surmised that this was an Acid Shambler. He noticed that the flows were thicker here than on the previous two floors and evidenced fewer instances where they'd been pounded and pulled apart.

He brought out a pack of effect over time UtahRaptors and spent a few seconds buffing them with effect over time Eldritch Shields and Resist Acid before turning them loose on the concealed Acid Shambler.

The pack darted forward, the lead raptor reaching the Acid Shambler first as the other two arced to the side to flank the monster.

Before they could attack, the Acid Shambler revealed itself, the slender peak lowering to become a vicious beak, the base raising on four legs as the monster angled forward to intercept the lead raptor.

With a roar, the monster unleashed a powerful stream of acid that caught the lead raptor despite its attempt to dodge to the side.

Bob's foresight proved its value as the Acid dug a trench in the raptor's flank, its power drastically decreased by the Eldritch Shield and further reduced by the Acid Resistance.

The lead raptor corrected course and launched itself at the Acid Shambler's neck, while the other two dashed in from the sides, slamming their claws into the monster's rocky hide.

With a low roar, the Acid Shambler shook its head, trying to throw the raptor off its neck, before squatting back and unleashing a mist of acid from its body. While lacking the force of the acid stream, this attack had the virtue of being one that couldn't be dodged, short of moving out of the area entirely, and thus ceasing to attack the monster.

Bob's UtahRaptors screeched but continued their assault, their Eldritch Shields absorbing part of the damage, and their Acid Resistance helping to mitigate the damage as well. The results weren't pretty, the raptors' feathers were singed off, and the underlying hide was pockmarked and weeping blood.

The Acid Shambler gave up on the UtahRaptor that was clamped on its neck while racking it with wicked talons and twisted its head to drive its beak into the raptor, attacking its left flank.

This was an attack that Jake could dodge, and he did so, although the beak did score a vicious wound on its back, causing even more blood to sheet down its flanks.

Spewing more Acidic Mist, the Shambler fought for another two seconds before succumbing to the vicious wounds wrought by the raptor pack.

Bob checked his raptors and winced. The acid beam had been worth twenty percent of a raptor's health, the mist had been worth seven, and the beak had done sixteen.

This wasn't going to be as easy as the Winter Wolves or Lava Bears had been.

He brought his Mana-Sight back up and scanned the cavern ahead, looking for a suitable place where he could engage a couple of spawns at once.

Bob approached Annisa with a smile on his face. While the speed with which he eliminated the Acid Shamblers was less than the Lava Bears, to say nothing of the Winter Wolves, they coalesced at a fantastic rate. He'd done for just over five thousand of them and received not only two hundred and one mana crystals but also two Elemental Earth Affinity Crystals.

"Good evening Annisa," he said pleasantly as he shuffled out forty-one mana crystals for the king, ten for the Church, and three for her.

"I had a profitable delve," he went on, "two-hundred and one crystals in total."

"Thank you," she replied, "I was wondering if you had a moment."

"Of course," Bob replied as he reached up to bury his hand in Monroe's ruff, causing the big cat to lean into his hand and start purring.

"I heard that you were going to be leaving us soon," Annisa said, "and that you were going to finish training those you've chosen back in Holmstead."

"Word gets around," Bob grumbled, "it's true though, I've learned quite a bit about how to design a Dungeon by delving here, and honestly, I miss my home."

"Isn't it safer to shepherd them here?" Annisa asked, her voice laced with concern.

Bob shrugged and replied, "based on what I've experienced back home, and here, they won't face any additional danger, and they'll have the advantage of lower taxes, which will allow them to equip themselves more quickly, which will, in turn, keep them safer."

"How much longer do you expect to be here in Harbordeep?" Annisa asked.

"I'd say five more days, perhaps a little longer," Bob said thoughtfully, "I do need to talk to the parents of the kids I'm shepherding and reassure them," he grinned, "and I'd like to do a little more delving on the twenty-eighth floor, as well as investigate the twenty-ninth before I go."

Annisa shook her head, "It's a shame you have to leave so soon, but I can understand missing your home," she said compassionately, "I ask because we have an Acolyte from Holmstead by the name of Erick who finished his Novitiate and frankly could use a ride home."

"Oh," Bob said in surprise, a smile spreading across his face, "I know his fiance, and she'll be pleased to have him back; I'll be more than happy to bring him home."

"Great," Annisa replied, "we would normally have paid for him to travel through a trade portal, but there isn't one scheduled for Holmstead for nearly a month."

"We will, of course, reimburse you for his travel," Annisa added.

Bob waved his hand, "No need, Bailli is a friend, and I'll be happy to reunite her with him."

"Send him over to the Adventurers Guild for lunch today, say half an hour after twelve," Bob suggested, "we will catch up, and I'll arrange to keep him in the loop as far as when I'm going to depart."

Annisa's smile was brilliant as Bob turned to go, and she called after him, "May Vi'Radia illuminate your path," for which she received a smile over his shoulder and a wave as he walked off, the sounds of Monroe's rumbling purr fading as he went.

Bob was attempting to scold Monroe for stealing a bite of his steak when a handsome young man approached his table, cleared his through and hesitantly said, "Bob?"

Bob looked up from attempting to man-handle his feline of mass consumption back over to his serving bowl, which was still half full of fresh cod, and away from the steak he'd just finished cutting up.

"Hello," Bob said cheerfully, "I'm Bob and this," he jerked his chin down towards Monroe, who was looking terribly put upon, "is my feline overlord, Monroe."

Pouring the Maine-Coone back into his chair and curling his arm protectively around his plate, Bob gestured to the seat across the table.

"You must be Erick," Bob said, "I'm pleased to finally meet you, have a seat, order a meal, just be aware that Monroe has decided that he wants something other than fish today, and no plate is safe."

Erick sat down carefully, eyeing the big cat who was sullenly eating his fish.

"I heard that you're heading back to Holmstead and that you were willing to bring me along?" Erick asked.

"True," Bob admitted cheerfully, "although to be fair," he leaned forward and lowered is his voice, "I do have an ulterior motive."

Erick stiffened slightly but relaxed as Bob finished, "Bailli would hit me if I had a chance to bring you back and didn't take it."

"My current plan, which isn't chiseled in stone, is to leave in four or five days," Bob said before popping a bite of steak into his mouth and chewing happily.

"Keep in mind," he went on, "that my portal spell isn't fully leveled, so it'll take a couple of jumps to get there," he smiled sheepishly, "and by a couple, I mean ten, which is why my departure date is a little flexible," he admitted, "I need to make sure I have enough crystals to get us back."

Bob speared another piece of steak and chewed thoughtfully. He should level his portal spell on the twenty-eighth floor. Dropping his raptor packs on top of the Acid Shamblers would help them avoid the initial beam attack, and his portal spell was low level enough that even a few short delves could see it gain a few levels. At least when he was delving five levels down and gaining thirty-two experience for each shambler he killed.

Spotting movement to his left, Bob cradled his arm closer to his plate and leaned over it, just in time to stop an inquisitive paw that was creeping towards his steak.

"Buddy," Bob said reprovingly, "I'll get you steak chunks for dinner, but I need to eat too."

Erick watched the interaction with a look of pure confusion before firming his expression and asking, "So, you know Bailli well?"

"I've inserted an agent into a group of freshers that Bob has agreed to Shepherd," Voren said quietly to Annisa.

She nodded with a light sigh.

She wanted to trust Bob, as he seemed to have a good heart, and the way he spoke of his missing home was certainly genuine.

But the Watchers needed to know more, and they needed to know for sure.

Both she and Voren had scoured the records, unobtrusively, for information on Holmstead and had come up with little.

Disturbingly little.

The town had been extant for centuries, which meant there should have been records going back that far, reports from the Church there.

But there weren't. The occasional report of an Acolyte finishing their Novitiate training and going back home was all they found, and only that because they'd become desperate enough to search the rolls of the Clergy for members who came from Holmstead.

She'd finally found a record of Austan, the clergyman Bob spoke so highly of, and upon reviewing the records of his Novitiate, she wasn't surprised to see glowing recommendations from all of his instructors. According to the Bishop who'd overseen his class, the Church in Harbordeep was losing a rising star, but Austan was likely to rise to preeminence at his local Church, and having such a devout clergyman in place on the far reaches of the Kingdom would help to ensure that the faithful had guidance.

She'd also found Erick and had taken the time to interview him briefly.

She couldn't focus her questions on Holmstead directly, but she'd steered their conversation around to the topic as often as she could.

Erick loved his home and was proud of the fact that Thidwell Orstang was the designer and Curator of their local Dungeon.

That piece of information was new.

Orstang was a name that had once been celebrated but was now fading from recent memory. The use of Gateways to move from one level of the Dungeon to another had been pioneered by Gadwell Orstang.

It had become obvious that someone, possibly Dhaokes, the Curator who had taken over after Gadwell had been killed, had done their best to remove him from the public consciousness.

It seemed that the tampering had likely been done either by or at the behest of the Nobility, possibly even the Royal Family.

Still, they couldn't be certain.

Cultists thrived in the shadows, and there was no doubt that Holmstead had been cast into the shadows. The only question was who had done it and towards what end.

She hoped it was simply the Nobles playing their petty games of rank and power.

The Gods of Darkness must not be allowed a foothold in the Kingdom.