Rhen anxiously awaited the end of the town hall. He felt the overwhelming need to escape as quickly as possible, but knew he had to stay.

What was she doing there?

The question the burned through his skull over and over again as sweat gathered in his palms and moistened his nice shirt. He swallowed and took a deep breath. Rhen was surrounded by people he trusted—and an Orbeye live broadcasting the town hall. Zeichen wouldn’t do anything too brazen here. He hoped.

“Now, let’s have some cake! Fennica, please unveil your creations!” Joseph said, pulling Rhen back to the present.

The crowd jumped to their feet, cheering madly. Rhen was so distracted, it took him a second to realize the town hall was over and join in the reverie. He felt a little bad for completely missing the rest of it, but he knew Joseph would give him the highlights at the next dungeon committee meeting.

The crowd filed out of their benches and toward the tables where Fennica had ten, beautiful cakes waiting. The top of each cake had a letter, and when viewed at a distance it spelled out “Yu & Zephitz.”

Rhen bypassed the line and headed around the other side of the table to Fennica. “May I help serve?”

Fennica grinned. “Well, who’s this? Not the smelly rude delver who walked into my shop not five months ago?”

“The very same. Look how my manners have improved.” Rhen smiled wolfishly.

“Your clothes, too. You look like a proper dungeon owner now. And yes, you may help. Get yourself a knife and a serving spatula from under the tablecloth.”

Rhen rummaged around until he found the box full of shiny utensils. There was a little apron under the table as well, and he put that on too. They served cake and that bought Rhen a few good minutes of avoiding Zeichen while he wracked his brain for what to say to her, or what she might say to him.

“You still looking for more delvers?” A fluffy Taalite asked, approaching the table for a slice of “T”.

Rhen smoothed the creases in his forehead and smiled. “Yes, always. We’re especially interested in bruisers and mages at the moment, but we’ll take everyone and find work for them.”

The Taalite grabbed her slice of cake with a grunt and turned away.

A few more people swooped in with words of thanks, or quick queries, none of them wanting to take too long getting their slice. It wasn’t enough time for any meaningful conversations, but he was able to gauge the public’s opinion of him. It was somewhere between adoration and revere, which felt a little nice, honestly. He’d eventually correct them all and make sure they knew Rhen was just a dude, like them, but it was okay to soak up a little bit of praise for all his hard work.

Rhen was down to the last slice of the “I” and Fennica was much faster than he’d been. He’d have to leave the cake table soon, and Zeichen was lingering near the exit, eyeballing him. Actually, he wasn’t certain which woman was Zeichen. The “D” in their combs branded them as Desedra elite, and the pure anima power wafting off them could only come from the most powerful person in the realms.

One of them was staring at Rhen intently, mumbling so slightly Rhen could barely tell she was talking. The other woman wasn’t speaking, wasn’t even looking his way, but her hands were fidgety. Rhen felt about the same nervous energy in him right now, times one-thousand.

He pulled off his apron and grabbed two slices of cake from the table. With a deep breath, he headed toward his doom. Rhen plastered a big, hopefully not terrified, smile to his face and held the plates out to the women. “I see you’re cakeless. I’m Rhen Zephitz.”

The woman who had been speaking refused the cake, but the fidgety one accepted with a bow.

Rhen bowed back. “May I ask your names?”

The cake refuser spoke first. “I am Shevine Dra-Cohen, Zeichen’s personal guard.”

Shevine was a little shorter than he was, and her hair was dark brown. She wore a thin layer of chainmail under her dress, and Rhen noticed that her wide, dark sleeves hid weapons.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Rhen said and dipped his head, not wanting to reach out to shake her hand without prompting from her. When he came back up, he looked to the quiet woman. She was taking her first bite of the berry and sweet cream white cake. She chewed thoughtfully and bobbed with a slight smile.

“This is Zeichen Desedra,” Shevine gestured to the smiling cake-eater.

Zeichen had midnight black hair and stark blue eyes that were so light, they were almost silver. All her features were petite, and she looked to be in her early thirties, but her impeccable makeup could’ve been hiding some years. Her black silk gown was hemmed with red, and small pink flowers blossomed in a creative pattern.

Zeichen set the plate on the bench beside her, and her fingers resumed their nervous twitching. Or… no… her fingers were making specific gestures.

“I will,” Shevine said with a nod.

Rhen cocked his head, and too late, realized he was scowling. He wiped away the gesture and brought back a soft smile.

Shevine understood the expression on his face before he could smooth it. “She asked me to thank Fennica for the delicious cake. As for you, Mr. Zephitz, Ms. Desedra would like to commend you on your successful Orbeye broadcast. Adelus has adopted a similar practice in his dungeon, Desedra I, though from what we understand, it’s not performing nearly as well as yours.” She added the last bit with a smirk that bordered on sacrilegious.

For a Desedra to speak ill of another Desedra to someone outside their family was rare. Rarer still, to a rival dungeon owner. Rhen hadn’t had the years of the Desedra dynasty to build up the clout and presence, but he had to remind himself that he was now socially on their level, given his status as a Nexus owner.

Rhen looked around. The orbeye was wandering near the cake, giving Fennica a little interview, and no one else dared get too close to Rhen and Zeichen. Still, better to be overly nice than incur her wrath with a careless comment.

“My apologies for your family’s bad luck, surely that’s all it is.” Rhen said.

Zeichen clicked her tongue and Shevine looked to her immediately. Zeichen’s hand formed complex signs and gestures that were getting more animated.

Shevine chuckled. “Don’t be so coy. Your content is superior for many reasons, the first being who you are.”

“How do you mean?” Rhen asked, looking at Zeichen as he spoke.

Shevine continued to translate. “From rags to riches. The everyman who treats all his delvers with kindness and respect. Your dungeon is like a dream come true, a paradise for those of the serfdom made possibly by those who are not like you.”

Rhen’s heart hammered at the use of the word that no Desedra admitted. In their eyes, everyone else was just some level of scum compared to those in the Desedra family. But for one of them—Zeichen IV no less!—to admit in not so few words that they were the cause of said serfdom… Blasphemy.

Her hands flew and Rhen watched intently, trying to pick up on what Zeichen might be saying.

“I’ve caught you by surprise with my brazen speech, ah, and she has sarcastically emphasized speech. A little joke,” Shevine added as a sidebar.

“You have,” Rhen said looking between Shevine and Zeichen. He couldn’t tell if this was a trap, but it sure felt like one. What had he gotten himself into?

Zeichen pulled a red, single card letter with gold text from the interior pocket at her breast. Rhen realized then how low-cut her neckline was, and looked away.

“You missed the meeting, so there will be another one tomorrow. The Nexus Protectorates are deeply offended, and they are not a group to offend. They hold grudges for centuries.”

Zeichen held out the card and Rhen accepted. “My deepest apologies. I completely forgot, and with the Town Hall here in Yu—”

Zeichen clicked her tongue and Rhen looked up at her. She was smiling, and her hands formed a quick gesture across her chin, then down to her heart.

“I’m not offended, you don’t have to apologize to me. I have been watching your broadcast with great interest. I never thought this would happen.” Shevine stuttered, “Are you sure, ma’am?”

Zeichen nodded.

“She would like to invite you to her dungeon, Desedra VII, after the meeting tomorrow.”

Rhen knew an invitation from Zeichen was not a request. Rhen reminded himself again that he could refuse her, but she would likely bring hell down upon him like he’d never seen. Plus, he was actually interested in seeing this trap through to just before it snapped shut on him. Perhaps he could learn something interesting, or earn a cool syntial in her dungeon.

“I would be happy to join you.”

“Don’t bring the Orbeye.”

Zeichen bowed, and so did Rhen. Then, they left.

After a good fifteen seconds, Rhen finally sighed and loosened his stiff posture. Yeesh. Her anima aura dwarfed his. Not that he was feeling uncomfortable about her huge aura, but it did strike the fear of death in him. It was obvious she could kill him before he even knew what was happening.

But why didn’t she speak? Perhaps she had some passive syntial that amplified her voice and would deafen anyone not strong enough to withstand it. Or maybe her voice caused hallucinations? He could guess at it for hours, but it was time to get back to the party.

He never fully shook off their conversation, and his hand wandered to his pocket to check on the new invitation several times. When the last few party-goers finally departed, and they finished cleaning up, Tsu’me packed up her gear and met Rhen and Joseph at the exit.

“Not too bad, Deo,” Joseph said, slapping him on the back.

“You spoke to Zeichen Desedra, right Rhen?” Matilda asked with excitement. “What was she here for? Funding an establishment?”

Rhen shook his head. “I missed my Nexus Protectorate meeting, so she brought me the new invitation for tomorrow night.”

“She brought it to you herself?” Tsu’me asked incredulously.

Rhen shrugged. “Yeah, I know, right?”

“She’s definitely up to something,” Tsu’me warned.

“Yeah… I know,” Rhen said, defeated.

“Got anymore nasty skeletons in your closet?” Joseph asked with a wince.

“No,” Rhen said with a chuckle. “Unless you mean this one thing that happened way back when…” The other’s eyes bulged, and he trailed off with a grin. “No, there’s nothing else.”

“Well, that’s a relief. You don’t need to be givin’ the Desedras extra fuel,” Matilda said. “Now, if ya don’t have something interesting or important, shoo. I have cats to feed and orders to catch up on.”

She shoved them out the door and closed her shop up tight, leaving the trio in the dark streets. Streetlights hadn’t been installed yet, but there were a few oil-lit lampposts here and there. Rhen could see perfectly fine because of his passive ability on the third level Caress of Night and headed off toward the worn path home.

Joseph and Tsu’me chatted idly about the party and Rhen let his thoughts wander back to Zeichen. Her flickering hands, her seemingly genuine smile, her insults to her brother Adelus… Rhen new next to nothing about them except their names, which dungeons they owned, and who was head of the family.

Before he knew it, Rhen was back at the dungeon. Jakira was in the kitchen, preparing everything she could for tomorrow’s breakfast to make it a little easier on herself. She smiled, her face glowing bright gold when she saw him, and asked Patti to finish up for her.

They held hands up the stairs and Rhen told her all about the party, and about Zeichen. They changed out of their gear and washed up at the small sink near the window.

“You’re sure you want to go to her dungeon after all that weird behavior?” she asked, her forehead creased with worry.

Rhen smiled and brushed some stray hairs behind her ear. “I’ll save an anima profile before I leave.”

She sighed and shook her head with a motherly smirk. “Sometimes, Rhen, I think you like putting yourself in peril.”

“What’s life without a bit of risk?”

“Hmmm…” she tapped her chin playfully, then tackled him onto the bed.

Rhen oofed as his back hit the cushioned stone.

“Was that dangerous enough for you?”

He smiled, tightening his grip around her waist. “Having my skull cracked getting thrown into bed by a beautiful bruiser is pretty up there in the danger zone.”

“How about some more?” she whispered, planting a warm kiss on his neck.

Rhen looked down at her with a devious grin. “Yes please.”