Our stay in the fine oceanside town didn't last long after we killed off the Cartel goons. That was over a week ago. Honestly, leaving the town turned out to be our biggest challenge. We couldn't pass over the mountains without some serious upgrades to the house. That left heading north again, back east, or south.

That came with another unknown challenge. Namely the ocean. I had no idea how the levitator plates would react to open water so it had to be tested. Thankfully, I still had my test plate and used that to see what would happen. It did work, pushing the water aside like a boat. I figured that was as close to a confirmation as I could get.

My faith was rewarded as we glided over the open water. I did have to push the levitators to the maximum output to keep us above the waves though.

It was odd watching the cavity created in the water below. I flicked a stone from the porch and watched it splash and sink below the dark water. The shoreline was barely in view as we crossed the gulf. I wasn't much of a seaman but the house was rather stable, more so than a boat.

At first, I had been wary of what the jokemies said about being in or near the water. But none had shown themselves and Fiona didn't find anything other than large fish or other deep-sea monsters. Those seemed content to remain in their watery realm.

It was good we had decided not to go over the mountains, they were expansive. I could easily imagine it taking us over a month to cross the range. Our progress over the ocean was much quicker. Each wave slowed our progress but it was still better than I had expected. Seeing as there was nothing in sight, we flew through the day.

It was a surreal experience floating above the water. I reflected back on just how much had changed since the System came into being. Magic was the biggest change overall, not existing in the old world. Being able to see your growth was another major change that I had struggled with. Those were both positive changes.

Now that I had time to reflect, I could see the negative changes. The bloodlust and the rage that had flooded my mind during the early days was now either under control or a distant memory.

I still enjoyed a good fight but it wasn't an overwhelming sensation. I also had people I trusted watching my back. None of them was without their faults but that didn't matter to me. What mattered was we all got along. Their goals may be different from mine and that was fine. For now, we shared a goal of exploring the world of Earth as changed by the System, conquering dungeons, and growing stronger.

Heck, maybe we could even hire ourselves out as bounty hunters. I imagined there was any number of deranged individuals that needed to be dealt with. That was an idea I would have to run past the others. I had learned to listen to other people's ideas and not flat out reject them. That had been a harsh lesson for me to learn. But being forced to follow someone's orders with no say in the matter made it paramount for me to include the ideas from those I trusted and cared for in my decisions.

I also needed to learn more about that shadow group. I didn't forget what they did to me, nor was I going to forgive them. They had my trust and they broke it, as far as I was concerned that made them an enemy. Then there was what Obidiah had said before I ended his life. If it was true that he had family out there, they were likely trying to find me. If he was any indication of their strength I needed to grow quite a bit before I took them on.

I was in the middle of my thoughts when Fiona interrupted. "I found a place along the shore we can land," she gestured to the barely visible shoreline.

I stood from the chair I had been ruminating in and stretched. "Alright, lead us, oh guiding spirit," I said with a chuckle. It earned me a frigid slap on the arm but it was worth it.

I turned the house and pointed us toward the shore. Fiona hadn't seen any signs of life so the small cove, nestled between the mountains, would be an ideal place to stop and rest.

A small beach of dark red sand made way for massive slabs of rock that ran like thin steps. The spot Fiona had located looked like some of the upper layers of rock had been smashed away by age and water, leaving a relatively flat area. I estimated it to be thirty feet above the waterline. It was safe enough to avoid the random waves but probably not ideal if a storm came through.

Seeing as there were only another ten feet of incline before near-vertical cliffs encircled the entire area, it would have to do. The house looked odd sitting amongst the barren ground. It reminded me of pictures of lighthouses, warning travelers of peril ahead. Even the vegetation was sparse, the few clumps of grass clinging tenaciously to the cracks and crevices in the rocky terrain.

The first thing I did after setting the house down was sleep. It had been days since I had a decent sleep. I still didn't fully trust the house, not after what happened with that damn crevasse. I kept waking up every few minutes, expecting the house to be sinking. Even though we were on twelve-hour rotations between Martin and me. Martin either had more faith in my design or he was just that heavy of a sleeper as he never woke up during his downtime.

"I'm going to scout the coast to see when these mountains end and we can come back ashore. I will probably be gone for a few days," Fiona said.

"Ok, you're all healed up, right?"

"Yeah, the last of my damage repaired itself a day or so ago."

"Ok, stay safe, and come back if you find anything interesting or dangerous."

She gave me a jaunty wave as she flew out along the coast.

I went in search of Ska, finding him engrossed in a children's book. "Whatcha, doin?"

"Hmmm, Paul, I am fascinated by how you teach your young. These books convey so much with such simple pictures."

"I guess," I replied, not expecting his answer.

"What brings you out of the control room... have we set down for the day?"

Ska had overcome his terror at flying and even come to enjoy the experience... though he still wouldn't come outside or look out a window while we were flying.

"Yeah, probably for a few days. We all need some good rest and I need to see how the plates are holding up."

"Good, I will look around... the smell in here is stifling."

"Just be careful. Fiona didn't see anything dangerous, so let us know if a storm seems to be heading this way. We may have to ride it out in this location."

"Very well, I leave you to your rest," Ska replied, rising from the floor with his fluid grace.

He zipped past me and down the stairs. I just shook my head and headed up to my room.

***

I should have kept my mouth shut. A full day had gone by since we landed, I was rested, relaxed, and had replaced some of the deteriorating steelium panels. Then the storm came. I was forced to use Earth Fist and metamagic to bind the house to the rock as wind, rain, and waves slammed against the house.

Fiona was still gone, out scouting. It was probably for the best, we couldn't go anywhere until this storm let up anyway.

The house groaned as another wave slammed into the side. I had learned a trick though. Keeping the pusher plates on the ocean side, charged, blunted much of the force of the waves. Otherwise, I fear the house would have been smashed to pieces by now. I knew there was already damage. It could be seen in the bits of flotsam that drifted away as the wave receded.

With nothing to do but wait, eat, and sleep, I had chosen the latter. So you will forgive my surprise when instead of waking up in a nice comfortable bed, I woke up in a cell.

All of my gear had been taken, even the ring I hid on my... well, let's just say, it wasn't a normal place to stick a ring to and wouldn't have worked if the ring wasn't magical, and resized itself on occasion.

I was left wearing a dirty set of threadbare clothing, that was too short and seemed to be fit for a girthier person. At least they had the decency to give me a thin rope belt to hold the pants up. I looked around the rough-hewn, rock-walled cell. Other than a barred gate on one end, it included a thin straw mat and a bucket.

I tried to stand but was forced to crouch as my head brushed the ceiling. I had to quell the rage inside my heart at being caged again. Quietly I moved to the door and tried to open it. It was securely locked. I quietly chanted my Earth Fist spell, only to have it rebuffed.

"Quiet down in there!" a gruff voice yelled from down the hall.

"Why have you taken me prisoner!" I demanded.

There was no reply, but I felt a jolt run through my body, forcing me to my knees. Frantically I reached up to touch my neck, heaving a sigh of relief that there was no collar there. 'The magic must be built into the cells.'

I tried testing a few more spells, finding out something interesting. It looked like I was still able to cast self targeted spells. I had to smile at this. This gave me access to Area of Denial, Flurry, Seismic Strike, Blink Step, Multicast, Godly Might, Wings of the Falcon, and Eye of the Storm. Although, I thought the latter may not work without a staff. That was fine, if I needed to I could do some serious damage with just those spells. If Martin and Ska were with me, I would have already acted. For now, I decided to wait and see what transpired.

I didn't have to wait long. It sounded like three sets of booted feet were coming down the hallway. There was a rattle of keys in the lock. The door was pushed open and a burly dwarf stepped inside.

"Come with me!"

I obeyed, stepping outside the cell, where two other heavily armed dwarfs stood. The ceiling in the hallway was slightly higher and I was able to stand fully. I followed the first dwarf as he led me down the hall and up a flight of stairs. I was forced to hunch over again as the stairwell ceiling was too low for me.

Eventually, we came to a massive set of double doors, inlaid with pictures of warriors and a great battle. I could feel the magical power that radiated from the doors. Two dwarfs that flanked the doors pulled them open, using the massive gold rings. Honestly, it was a bit ostentatious for my liking but who was I to judge another species.

The room beyond was massive. Tiered seating was on either side of the long walkway. The seats were full of silent judging dwarves. Their eyes followed me as I was led towards a raised platform that had both Ska and Martin chained to it. I had to shove down the anger that threatened to rise at my friends' treatment.

I was chained to the floor along with them. "Hey, guys, how's it going?"

"Silence!" the dwarf guard bellowed.

The other two looked at me but remained quiet. I figure they must have gotten yelled at or worse already. Three dwarfs entered from a side room and sat at the three throne-like chairs a dozen feet from where we were shackled.

As soon as they were seated the center one spoke. "We are here to pass judgment on the crimes of the outsiders," he said, looking at the audience. "Those crimes include trespassing and damage to vital infrastructure. How do you plead?" he asked, finally looking at the three of us.

"Obviously, we are innocent of any crimes. It was your people who brought us here."

The one on the left pressed a button and a holographic image floated between us. "Do you deny that this is your dwelling?"

The image clearly showed our house. "No, I-," I began to speak but was cut off.

"Then how can you deny trespassing?"

The one on the right spoke up. "Was it you that bonded the structure to the stone?"

"Yes but-," again I was cut off.

"Then you admit that you are guilty of both charges. So why do you claim innocence?"

"There seems to be some misunderstanding here," Martin added.

"Do you doubt our competence?" the central dwarf replied.

"No, just that there is some confusion with why we are being charged."

"Let me ask you this then," the one of the left asked, "are you over the age of puberty?"

"Um... yes?" Martin replied in confusion.

"Then as an adult, you are responsible for your actions. Unless you are trying to claim that your mind is enfeebled. I can see that coming from the beastkin," he added, motioning toward Ska, who let out a low angry rumble.

"This is ridiculous!" I growled. "If you wanted people to remain off your land perhaps put up a damn sign."

"Silence!" the council yelled in unison.

There was magic behind the command and I was forced to close my mouth.

"You three will leave our lands in the next day or you will be considered outlaws. As recompense for the damages incurred, we will be keeping your items."

"You're nothing but thieves," I managed to say, despite the magic.

"Enough, we will not bandy words with criminals. Take them to their structure and make sure they leave our lands."

The three men rose and left the room. I tried casting any of the spells I could before and found them locked down by the magic in the chains. I screamed in rage and tried to rip the chains free.