Hump tried his best to sound innocent, though the more he spoke, the more difficult he realised that was. He told Countess Daston of his… predicament, starting with when he and his master had been ambushed on their way through Bleakwood Forest. And, somewhat surprisingly, she actually seemed to care, listening as if he weren’t just some random kid that had shown up on her doorstop. He skipped over anything related to the Book of Infinite Pages, or the idea that someone in the Wizard’s Society might have been behind the attack after all, focusing on the fact that he was innocent. When he finished speaking, she stood there pondering.

“You’ve come a long way in a short time, haven’t you young wizard?” Though she was smiling, Hump couldn’t figure out her meaning behind the statement.

“I don’t think my master would believe it if he was still around,” Hump said.

“No, I suspect he wouldn’t. A wizard that slayed a dragon. A boy that killed a prince. And now you return from a realm beyond our own, hunted by fellow wizards. What am I to make of you?”

It suddenly occurred to Hump that Countess Daston may very well be the most powerful person he’d ever spoken to. Not just in terms of political strength, but she was a sixth circle Chosen. It was perfectly feasible that she could draw her sword and behead him before any one of them could do a thing to stop her. And likely the most serious consequence of her doing so would be smearing her well maintained garden with blood.

Hump’s heart pounded in his chest like beating drums. She knew too much. He licked his lips, trying to think of something to say, but what did one answer to that? He’d hardly mentioned the dungeon to her, let alone the details of what happened inside. He glanced at Bud, for a moment suspicious the knight had somehow gone behind his back, but his face was equally confused.

“Are you not said wizard?” she pressed. “I know of Robert’s involvement in Bledsbury, so unless he found himself a new wizard…” she trailed off. Waiting. Face unreadable.

“Prince Kassius died valiantly in battle so that the rest of us might live,” Hump said. “My role was only a small one. As for the other realm.” Hump shrugged. “I got lucky.” After a second’s thought, he added. “Very lucky.”

“Is that so,” she said. “I have ears in high places, and word of Kassius’ fall has gone far.”

Gods, how he hoped that word hadn’t included mention of him… The last thing he needed was a rumour like that making its way around the upper echelons of society. It didn’t matter whether Kassius was good or evil. Royalty was royalty. If word got out that he was involved… well, that alone might be enough for the Wizard’s Society to arrest him, even without fabricated proof of his master’s murder.

“Countess, how many people know of this?” Vivienne asked, seemingly following his line of thought.

“A few amongst the nobility and other organisations,” she said. “The official report only details the involvement of a young wizard. I only worked out it was Humphrey here by piecing it together during Robert’s previous visit. As far as I’m aware, I’m the only one to have done so.” She looked back at Hump, addressing him specifically. “You have nothing to fear from me. You’ve done the kingdom a service.”

Hump frowned. Bud had mentioned her knowledge of Kassius’ death before, but he hadn’t been prepared for this. It caught him off guard, and now he wasn’t sure how to get the conversation back on track. She knew too much for him to feel comfortable. At the same time, if after all that she still wanted to help him, maybe she would make as strong an ally as Bud seemed to think.

There was just one problem. Nothing was ever free in this world. The question now was why a sixth circle Chosen was interested enough in him to see him like this. The only thing that came to mind was his time in the Remnant Realm.

“He has,” Bud said. “Really, Hump’s nothing like the wizards I’ve heard of before. He’s courageous, often first into the fight, and always willing to put his life on the line to help people. I didn’t bring him here just because he needs help. I brought him here because he deserves it.”

Hump was a little taken aback. He’d never had such high praise from anyone, not even his master. To hear it right in front of him… he wasn’t sure how to respond. If it were anyone else saying this, Hump might think they were kidding.

“It sounds like you have found your path after all,” she said to him. “I think your mother would be proud.”

Bud smiled faintly as she turned back to Hump.

“I’ll admit, I was a little curious of you, wizard. Even three months ago, after news of Bledsbury reached me. That has only grown. To think, a mere iron ranker escaped a gorger of the Remnant Realm. You’ve become quite the topic in the city. Randall Ferrand sings your praises, which may well be the first good word I’ve heard from him about anyone.”

Well that wasn’t good. His name was out there.

“You don’t look pleased,” she said.

Hump sighed. “It’s going to make it easy for the Wizard’s Society to find me when they arrive. They’re already here to investigate Vivi. It’ll hardly take a genius to connect the dots.”

“No it won’t,” she said, staring at him thoughtfully. The corner of her lips dropped up into a frown. “I cannot stand against the Wizard Society at this time. Not to protect an unaffiliated wizard.”

Hump’s stomach dropped.

“Justine—” Bud started to protest.

She held up a hand and gave Bud an annoyed look. “What I absolutely can do is support one of my students.”

Hump gawked at her. “You want me to join the Sheercliff Academy?”

“Yes. It would mostly be for appearances, though feel free to use our training facilities. I believe each of you are more than qualified to graduate already, so that isn’t the issue.”

“Then what is the purpose?” Hump asked.

“You presume I need an ulterior motive?” she asked.

“I—erm, no, I didn’t mean.”

Daston snorted. “It is nothing sinister. We are desperately short on adventurers. I’m sure you have already heard the rumours of dungeons in the region. They are true. We have located three dungeons, the furthest of which is less than forty miles from Sheercliff. Expedition leaders will be announced in the coming days, and I want your party on my side.”

“Gods above,” Bud said.

“Have they been charted yet?” Vivienne asked.

“Not officially, but estimates place them at least at Tier 3.”

That was already as strong as the Bledsbury dungeon, even after they’d realised a dragon guarded its core. And there were three of them…

Countess Daston paused. “Wizard Vivienne, I must admit, I’m rather surprised to find you here then. Randall was rather emphatic regarding interest in the old temple discovered in the lake.”

“Yes, well I didn’t see much choice,” she said. “The Wizard’s Society have sent a representative to interrogate me on recent events. I decided I would rather get ahead of the situation.”

“Is there reason to be concerned?”

Vivienne frowned, hesitating. “No. But there is a keen interest in old magics and otherworldly powers. They will seek my research.”

Countess Daston seemed to perk up at that. “We must speak more on the matter some other time, Vivienne. I’m keen to know more of what you might have found. I fear it may be more relevant to our monster threat than we first realised. It is too much of a coincidence for three dungeons to open just as a gateway appeared in Fishers Lake. There is a connection, I can feel it to my core.”

Hump remembered the many other rifts he’d seen in the sky across the Remnant Realm. There was every chance that these dungeons might just be the same. Other gorger’s peering through the veil, or perhaps even more powerful monsters.

Vivienne nodded. “I would be more than happy to speak with you, but I’ll need access to the information you have if you truly want my help.”

“I still don’t understand,” Bud said. “We’re only iron rank. What difference could we make?”

“Call it an investment,” Daston said. “I have high hopes for your future, both in service of Sheercliff and the rest of the kingdom.”

Bud frowned. “That’s all well and good, but surely you’d be better off going to the Pantheon for support.”

Daston gave a bitter laugh. “Believe me, I am pursuing every possible avenue. There is more. Essence stone mines were found near each of the dungeons. It’s caused a… conflict of interest.”

“By which you mean every faction in the city is staking their claim and refusing to work together,” Vivienne said.

“To put it bluntly, yes. They are blinded by their greed. As it stands, I fear the dungeon mouths will be at our gates before we produce a coherent force.

“That can’t be,” Bud said. “Let me speak with the priests. Let Vivienne. I’m sure we can convince them of what we saw, and the need for action.”

Daston shook her head. “The matter is well in hand, Robert. Right now, the Pantheon have their hands full. They are stirred up like a hive of hornets with bodies drained of their souls on the streets. The matter at hand is Wizard Humphrey. Will you join my academy?” She turned to Vivienne. “I hope I am not overstepping.”

“Humphrey isn’t my apprentice,” Vivienne said, shaking her head. “He may do as he sees fit.”

“But I am,” Dylan said. “And I intend to remain that way. If I don’t misunderstand, you want to recruit us as a party. I won’t take a new master.”

“I admire your loyalty,” she said. “And I wouldn’t expect you to. You would all of course be free to use our facilities, so long as you follow the rules, and tutelage would be available if it is called for.”

“Then what’s the catch?” Celaine asked. “No offense, but this sounds a whole lot better for us than it does for you, whether you call it an investment or not.”

“Celaine…” Bud snapped, pressing his lips together.

“No offense taken. There is…” she trailed off, looking Celaine over. “You are not of our Pantheon, are you?”

Celaine raised her chin and shook her head. “No. I am a Huntress of Owalyn.”

Daston nodded in recognition. “The Mother of the Great Tree, I know of her. You are most welcome here. And there is no catch. Robert is the son of a once dear friend of mine, and you are a party of three Chosen and a wizard of impressive achievement. You would have a place at my academy regardless of the necessity. It is a small matter for me to step in if the Wizard’s Society press.”

“Once this is over, is there anything that will hold us to you?” Hump said. “I don’t mean that we’ll leave without reason. We’re here to work, and if your academy is willing to pay us, we’ll take the job. But once it’s over, we have our own things to do.”

“I only ask you to follow the standard Adventurers’ Guild practice,” she said. “If you accept a quest, either complete it, or return the token unfinished.”

Hump nodded. He looked at his party and shrugged. “Anyone disagree?” Nobody did. Which meant only one thing. “Then we accept.”

Countess Daston smiled, and this time it seemed real. “Wonderful. Then why don’t we start with a tour of the facilities. I’ll have my daughter, Marcella, show you around.”