Eyde contemplated the knife at his throat. His first few days in Volgorne had done little to enamour him to the great city thus far, but he was beginning to believe the place had been against him from the start.

The acrid breath of his assailant crept insidiously into his nostrils, his breathing ragged and desperate.

“Stay back,” the man growled to the three people in front of them, gripping Eyde’s chest tighter with his other hand. “Wouldn’t want this one on your conscience now, would you?” Eyde could feel the knife’s edge pressed against his skin.

A woman in a long, sleeveless coat of slightly off-white material stepped forward, “Kellin. Let him go.”

“Chin up, Eyde,” the Innkeeper set down a glass of dark brown liquid on the counter. “I’m sure they’ll let you in tomorrow.”

Eyde groaned looking up from his large, open book, “If you say so, Lin.” Taking the glass, he drank the full measure of the burning liquid, recoiling as it scoured the inside of his throat. “To think I’ve come all this way only to be denied access is somewhat frustrating.”

“Well, lad,” Lin laughed, “Some folk go their whole lives and never see the upper stages. That goes double for the people who are born in the Roots.” Lin peered over the yellowing pages. Though he couldn't understand the tight script and complicated language, he was fascinated by the accompanying illustration. “Who’d have thought a city like this had so many beasties?”

Eyde gave a brief chuckle, “Other than the people, you mean?” He smiled to himself, “Animals tend to adapt to whatever surroundings they find themselves in. It’s really quite interesting how they carve out homes for themselves, unnoticed by all the people around them.”

He held up the book for Lin to get a better look. The page held a black and white drawing of a four-legged animal with striped fur from its small, sharp-looking teeth, to its bushy tail. “This fellow, for example,” Eyde gestured to the creature. “Is a lantrit. Usually, their habitat is woodland, but with so much food thrown away in the city, they appear to have found a home here. There have been some observations that they‘ve also started picking up objects we casually discard or lose; change, clothing, jewellery, you name it.”

“I’ve seen them!” Lin exclaimed. "Little bastards are always spreading trash across the place."

Eyde laughed, “They can’t help their nature, Lin. They’re just hungry and curious.”

Collecting the glass, Lin poured another measure of the brown liquid, “Aye, well, if you’ve been invited to the Institute, they’ll see sense before too long, I’m sure.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Eyde stood up from the bar and threw back the replenished drink. “I’d best get going. See you tomorrow, Lin.”

After setting a few coins onto the counter, he placed the book in his satchel, slung it over his shoulder and made his way to the door.

Lin’s tavern, the Vicolla, was situated in the Roots, the lowest of the four stages of Volgorne. The streets were dark; being this deep into the stage, this deep under the mountain meant the oil lamps that lit the city were needed even during the day. Eyde looked up. The immensity of Volgorne was something that one had to experience for themselves.

Of course, he’d heard stories before his arrival, but nothing could have prepared him for the experience of standing beneath an entire mountain. The solid rock above his head formed the foundation of the other three stages: the Notch, the Quick, and the Rostrum; the only stage fully open to the sky.

All that weight above his head made his skin crawl. Looking left, he could see to the Interior, the plains onto which the city splayed like ink through water, and onward to the Troeden mountains which fenced in the great city. The sliver of sky he could see held few stars.

A ringing sound struck out over the area; the hour was getting late. Eyde remembered how he had marvelled at the ingenuity of the large clockwork tower in the centre of the Roots, how he had delighted in hearing the sound of its bell carry across the stage. How quickly things can become routine.

He turned down the street, trudging towards his rented accommodation. He’d not gone far before a cry from behind made him turn. As he did so, a figure collided with him, sending them both sprawling to the paving stones.

In the tangle of knees and elbows, Eyde fought to push himself to his feet, checking his satchel for damage as he did so. The wiry, elderly man who had hit him sprang to his feet, clutching at Eyde’s coat. “Please, sir,” he pleaded. “You must help me. They’re after me. I need a place to hide.”

Eyde turned in the direction the man had gestured with his bony fingers and witnessed the cause for the man’s concern. Down the street came three figures at a run, the oil lamps casting strange shadows on their skin, their clothes, their weapons.

Eyde reacted before he could think, dragging the man into a side street, pulling him along as fast as he dared. “Oh, thank you, sir!” the man clung to Eyde’s arm, keeping his voice low as they made haste, twisting and turning through various alleyways.

Eyde threw himself against the alley wall, peering back the way they had come. Seeing no pursuers, he rested his head against the wall, his chest rising and falling as he gasped for air. They’d only been running for a few minutes, but to Eyde’s panicking body it felt like much longer. “I think we’re safe.” He gasped.

“Iphenia be praised, sir,” The old man shook Eyde’s hand with great enthusiasm. “You’ve saved my life. They’d have done me in as soon as they caught me.”

Eyde nodded, still short of breath, “Why were they chasing you?”

The old man smiled as if he was sharing a deep secret, “The city isn’t what it used to be, boy.” Eyde waited, but he gave no further explanation.

“It’s late,” Eyde looked around. “Will you be alright getting home?”

“Perhaps, but if I could impose a little further, I’d appreciate the company. You understand.”

Eyde suppressed a sigh. All he wanted right now was to be back home in Stirren, warm and comfortable and safe. He looked at the old man, who smiled back at him, and Eyde realised he couldn’t let him walk through the dangerous streets alone.

Returning the smile, he replied, “Why not?”

“Good lad,” the old man held out his hand once more. “I’m Kellin, by the way.”

“Eyde,” he replied, taking Kellin’s hand in a firm grip.

“Good to meet you, Eyde. This way,” With that Kellin turned, leading the way deeper towards the back wall of the Roots.

During his brief time in Volgorne, it had seemed to Eyde that the further you walked into the Roots, the more distressing the atmosphere became. As if light was somehow capable of carrying hope but could not penetrate this far under the foot of the mountain.

The neighbourhood Kellin now led him through was no exception. The taller buildings found nearer the edge of the stage gave way to shorter, unkempt structures. The alleyways between them were clogged with refuse; the smell of it carried into the street. The people here seemed to come in two varieties, those who were making an attempt to conceal their weapons, and those who weren’t.

Keeping his books clutched to his side, Eyde cursed the man’s slow gait with every excruciating step. “How long have you lived here?” Eyde asked in an attempt to distract himself.

“All my life,” Kellin replied over his shoulder. “I’m Volgoran through and through.”

He took one final turn into what appeared to be a dead-end of an alleyway littered with the remains of wooden crates. Eyde glanced around, panic rising as he saw no way out. “I like what you’ve done with the place,” he managed.

Kellin bent over with laughter, wheezing before he spoke, “Don’t be daft, boy. What kind of vagabond do you think I am?” Moving to a pile of refuse hidden behind the skeleton of a crate, he began to rummage through it.

Eyde peered over his shoulder, “Kellin, as fun as this is, can I ask why you’re sifting through rubbish?”

“Just retrieving something I had to drop earlier when those villains were chasing me, lad.” Kellin pulled something from the pile. Holding it up, it glinted and shone in the weak light of the oil lamp. A deep red gemstone.

Eyde’s brow furrowed. “What’s that?” he asked.

“Just a family heirloom,” Kellin turned and winked, stashing the stone into a pocket inside his tattered coat. “These thieves will steal anything. Even from a poor old man like me.”

“Right,” Eyde conceded, but the opulence of the gemstone had raised his suspicions. Kellin led the way from the mouth of the alley and continued deeper into the Roots, arriving in front of an unassuming wooden door after a short walk.

Kellin turned to Eyde and smiled, holding out his hand, “Thanks for today, lad. I’ll see you around.”

Eyde tried to hide his reticence as he shook Kellin’s hand, finding that something had been placed into his palm when they parted. Looking down, Eyde’s eyes widened at the glint of the coins shining back at him. Far too large a sum for someone as shabby as Kellin.

He looked up to protest but found the door closing as Kellin went inside. Eyde approached the door and banged on it with his fist. “Kellin,” he called. “Kellin, what’s going on here?” He was answered by a great roar as the door flew out of its setting, striking him in the face and knocking him to the floor.

The world became a blur as both his vision and hearing failed. He was being pulled to his feet and dragged along by his wrist.

Blinking blood from his eyes, he saw it was Kellin doing the dragging. The man seemed changed, pulling Eyde along with a strength and speed Eyde could not have guessed he possessed.

“Kellin, what happened?”

Without looking back, Kellin hauled Eyde around several twisting corners, “They were waiting for me, boy. Can’t stay here anymore.” he called back.

“Who are they?” Eyde began to ask but was cut off as a figure clad in dark leather armour dropped from a low roof into the alleyway ahead of them. Kellin skidded to a halt, cursed, and turned, dragging Eyde back through the mouth of the alley.

As he was whipped around the corner, Eyde caught a glimpse of the pursuers from earlier advancing down the street towards them. Kellin tried to take off again, yanking on Eyde’s arm, but Eyde resisted, pulling his arm free.

Kellin reacted with unexpected ferocity, “Boy, you can’t let them catch us. They’ll not let us go without a beating.”

“There is no us, Kellin,” Eyde turned to face the approaching trio. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I want no part of it.” With that, he turned to walk away.

“Have it your way,” Kellin murmured as he retrieved a knife from his sleeve, snaking his arms around Eyde to bring the edge to his throat.

“Kellin,” the woman in the coat took another step forward. “Why is it that when I find you, there’s always a blade involved?”

Kellin’s reply brought with it a new wave of stench, “Hello, Mina.” He seemed to chuckle as he said her name, his voice bright like the edge pressed against Eyde’s throat. “I suppose you’re just lucky to always see me at my best. Who is it that wants me this time?”

The woman addressed as Mina rolled her eyes “Obviously the person you stole that stone from.” As she approached with careful steps, Eyde could make out the numerous rings she wore on her fingers. In a similar fashion, her neck was adorned with heavy chains of different precious metals. The broadness of her shoulders was evident, and as her coat moved, Eyde caught glimpses of hard muscle.

“I said stay back,” Kellin shouted.

Mina slowed but did not stop. “Come on, Kellin. We both know how this goes. You threaten and swagger, but you never actually do anything. In the meantime, Teyvar gets behind you.”

She thumbed over her shoulder to where Eyde could make out the same man in dark leather that had threatened them in the alley slinking down a side street, “and we take you down. I think you really want to be caught. Like you have a guilty conscience.”

Kellin laughed behind Eyde’s ear, “Perhaps you’re right, Mina. But then, maybe I’ve just not had a good enough reason to run before.”

Kellin’s whistle was so loud, it caused Eyde to flinch away. The sound of shouting and clashing blades erupted from the street Teyvar had entered. Mina turned in obvious surprise at the commotion. Grimacing, she broke into a sprint towards Eyde and Kellin.

Kellin whispered into Eyde’s ear, “Say hello to the weeper for me.” drawing the keen edge across Eyde’s throat as he did so.

Blood spilt down Eyde’s front as his eyes locked with those of the approaching Mina, his panic rising as hope began to dwindle. Bony hands dug into his back as he was shoved towards her, Kellin’s cackling laughter filling his ears. Mina caught him, calling out to someone as she laid him on the ground with care, Eyde in too much panic to pay attention. He tried to cling to her, one hand on his throat as if to stem the bleeding as Mina stood and ran after Kellin. Then he was alone.

“Volgorne’s a big place, Eyde. Are you still sure?”

“Of course,” Eyde laughed. “I can't miss this chance to visit the Institute. Think of all I could learn.”

“Well, if it’s what you want.” Wend smiled at him over the tankards of beer. “I’ll come and visit you when you’re a renowned researcher.”

Eyde laughed as he sipped the foamy liquid, “Renowned researchers are a rare thing. But you’ll always have a place to stay with me.”

The larger man rubbed his hand through his short beard, “Hard to stay with you if you’re dead, Eyde.”

“What?”

Eyde’s eyes fluttered open. Above him, he could still see the mass of oppressive rock that formed the ceiling of the Roots as it swam into focus. “He’s awake,” a calm, clear voice announced beside him.

“Good,” A voice he recognised as Mina’s was accompanied by the sound of marching steps. Her face appeared above him, long hair falling down towards his face, blowing in the breeze. “Sit up,” she commanded.

Eyde complied, pushing himself upright. He paused, his hand moved to his neck as realisation dawned. Looking at Mina, his face was a mask of confusion.

“Thank Galatae,” Mina gestured to a young girl with dark skin and deep brown eyes beside her, who gave a smile and a gracious nod of her head. “Now, I assume you’re not in league with Kellin, given that he tried to kill you and all but endanger my team again and he won’t be the only thing you need to worry about.”

Eyde shook his head, still dazed from the experience, “I thought I was helping him after he collided with me earlier.”

Mina gave a snort of laughter “That makes sense. No one who knew Kellin would let him get behind them.” Mina walked away, collecting both Galatae and Teyvar. “Don’t get in the way again.” She called over her shoulder as they left, leaving Eyde sitting in the dust.