Rex Enzta or Rex Wellington as his family called him was a full-blood drow of rather particular tastes. He enjoyed the freedom of pitting his power against nature rather than slinking in the shadows. His father had been assassinated in a quiet bit of murder when the family expanded their territory in the City of Gold. Similarly, his mother, bless her black heart, had followed his father’s footsteps when she took her revenge on the killers. Being orphaned at ten would have been a death sentence for a normal child. However, the Wellington’s took care of their own. A few palms greased, and a small set of bribes allowed him to be taken as the ward of his Uncle, Jeffery T. Wellington.

It was with financial support from his Uncle, that Rex was able to establish the Enztra adventuring party. Enlisting into the Adventurer’s Guild had been a lengthy process, as there was no shortcut to gaining metal ranks. The slow yet steady rise to fame and fortune had eventually brought him to a dinner party. That same party was where the enchanting minx known as Maxine captivated him. While he wasn’t partial to the priesthood, he had no particular aversion to it either. As a talented priestess well versed in the healing arts including her in the party was only natural. It helped that the previous healer had been looking to retire, too.

I can call Uncle for a favor to try and resolve the current problem, but those tend to be expensive. Rex thought as the door opened during his musings. I’d rather solve this one without direct intervention, and demonstrate his investment all those years ago was worth it.

Rex glanced up to see two individuals one known, and one new entering the small waiting area. Rex knew the Bishop, Maxine’s uncle, rising to meet the older man and his associate. He spared a fraction of his attention for the doddering old woman who accompanied the Bishop gracing her with a few casual lines about his party’s thieves. It took a moment for Rex’s mind to catch up when the elderly granny’s eyes turned sharp and scanned the room for threats. She only seemed to pay a tiny bit of attention to him which made her next action mind-boggling. Rex didn’t manage to keep the shock off his face when she flashed an Orichalcum plate at him like a girl flashing a spiked club. After the Bishop left, the elderly lady hobbled over to the seat next to Rex’s and set her cane to stand upright beside her chair. It was a casual display of power that would elude most mages, as he well knew glancing at the party’s own mage briefly.

“Now, tell Granny Eve what problem a Wellington brat is up to, Rex Enztra.” the little old woman snapped like a general commanding their troop as she emphasized his fake last name. The words had riveted his attention back to her with an instant effect. He straightened in his chair like a child caught stealing cookies, barely managed to avoid freezing completely in place. Moments later while checking his truth stone she identified herself as a working partner of his family. Rex’s mind shivered, as the woman demonstrated she knew his Uncle, personally.

Further information only deepened the shell shocked feeling as she informed him that rather than bake cookies she supplied the newest drug that had recently taken the underworld markets by storm, Blue Heaven. The revolutionary drug was literally heaven in a pill without all the nasty effects other drugs tended to have. The party’s only mage, Everburn, was thrilled at the substance, claiming it was the answer to her drug-addicted divine prayers. Rex knew for a fact the mage smoked it when no one else was around since he had accidentally walked in on her doing it before.

There was a strange surreal feeling as he told Granny Eve about the current issue his party was facing. He told her everything he knew, from the carvings on the door of the sealed room on the 74thFloor to the suspicious actions of the Cardinal. Eve was a ruthless interrogator easily pulling the facts out seemingly knowing about his relationship with Maxine without any proof. The woman was downright terrifying, even if she was a white-haired biddy bound in robes that could barely walk.

Rex half-suspected Eve was a former member of the Inquisition, although no one left that organization alive according to rumors.

After learning the full details, Granny Eve slowly sat back against the chair with her eyes half-closed for a few minutes. Rex waited patiently, well aware that those of the higher Tiers had mental skills to boost their prowess. Granny Eve appeared almost asleep, but he had no doubt her mind was racing down mental avenues discovering leaps of logic beyond his ken.

“The carvings, remind me of something from the past.” Granny Eve said as she opened her eyes. “Something best left in the dark where it came from.”

Rex tensed anything that Eve didn’t approve of was definitely unhealthy for a peak Tier Five to be involved in. His party was good, but not good enough to cross tiers for more than a few minutes. Licking his lips he asked, “Will you intervene?” It was a loaded question with many facets, but it had to be asked. He wouldn’t take his people into a suicide mission no matter how good the rewards might be.

“Of course. Did you think I would let Jeffery’s nephew get murdered by the machinations of the truly insane when I could prevent it?” Granny Eve said with a smirk.

“The thought had crossed my mind, Elder,” Rex said as he relaxed.

“No, I’ll deal with whatever is inside. If it is a Six, I’ll stuff it back inside and Seal the door again. If it is a Seven, I’ll hold the line until the City Lord arrives to sort it out. Should the problem be a true catastrophe, I’ll just move us all out. Worst case we bunker down in the Adventurer’s Guild until the heavy hitters clean up the mess.” Granny Eve said before smiling, “It really doesn’t matter what happens because the Cardinal’s gambit failed the moment I got wind of this situation. If justice doesn’t deal with the Cardinal, other forces certainly will.”

Like my Uncle. Rex thought as he nodded. No matter what happens, as long as the situation is weathered appropriately the Cardinal is doomed, Her Worshipfulness cannot fight the shadows.

The Wellington’s followed a principle that many other forces ascribed to, which was that to strike one, was to strike all. It didn’t matter where the Cardinal hid, or what forces she attempted to find refuge with, nor the backers she had now. Rex knew his family would buy, bully, or bribe their way to cut the woman’s future short. Even if the Cardinal had backing the Wellington’s couldn’t offend, well, there were always other forces willing to act. Rex glanced at the elderly woman before saying, “We’ll be departing after a few more hours, anything you need?”

Granny Eve shook her head to the negative before closing her eyes to the perfect image of a tired old crone. Rex shrugged as the elderly woman appeared to doze off with lightning speed. He was willing to bet the air around her was trapped with spells. Rising from his chair, he carried it over to the two main casters in his team. As he set it down, both Everburn and Maxine looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Answering the unasked question Rex said, “She’s a friend of the family here to provide insurance that nothing rips our hearts out to use in some demonic ritual.”

“She looks older than the Arrival, are you sure she can handle things?” Everburn asked her shapely figure tilting her head with a questioning look.

“She’s a Six,” Rex said not bothering to conceal the information. It wasn’t like Granny Eve was concealing anything flashing an Orichalcum plate around like rich biddies flashed gold teeth.

“I thought that contract had a few clauses that didn’t make sense, but I suppose they do now,” Maxine said with a grin. Rex liked the way her vestments expertly displayed the curve of her body. Custom-tailored clothing like what she was wearing was expensive, but it wasn’t like Maxine had money troubles. The Rightworthy name might not resound loudly, but in certain circles, it was worth more than gold.

“Indeed, most Sixes and Sevens don’t care to have their business bandied about. I doubt Mal or Tal even cared about what they were signing as long as they could get back to sleep.” Rex said eyeing the other two members who had gone straight back to their sofas after signing. Sometimes he envied the twins and their simplistic view of reality when not working.

“It’s not like they worry with you to look out for things,” Everburn said with a dismissive wave as she took a sip of tea from the platter between the two women. “Take it as a sign of trust, or laziness, either one works I suppose.”

Rex sighed before stealing a scone to nibble, the two twin thieves often gave him a headache. On the other hand, both of them trusted him enough to follow orders without question. He often debated if total loyalty in a dungeon was worth dealing with the guard for kleptomania outside it. Considering he still couldn’t choose, the question demonstrated how much value the twins brought to the team.

“Any luck on deciphering the carvings around the door?” Rex asked hopefully as the scone fell into his gullet with tasty strawberry overtones.

Everburn shook her head negatively before looking sharply at Rex and said, “I can’t access any of my normal resources for this, and it isn’t my specialty. Why the sudden concern, did you learn something from our new member?”

Rex shifted uneasily before he said, “Granny Eve recognized them.” Left unsaid was how someone who couldn’t possibly know where the hidden chamber was knew anything about unseen ancient terror invoking carvings.

Everburn and Maxine gave a sharp gasp. The women weren’t stupid after all.

“Are you certain? Those carvings pre-date known Languages. Not even Polyglot worked on them! I tested it to exhaustion. How would she recognize them, or even understand them?” Everburn said after a moment’s pause to sip her tea nervously glancing at the older woman.

“Is she an agent of the divine?” Maxine questioned as she calmly took a sip of her own tea.

“No clue, and no. She’s has a Patron, but she’s not part of Churches.” Rex said with a grin. It was a sore point among the Orthodox that their own Deities refused to ban so-called Minor Deities. The major players were irritated from losing members of the faith to the godless ‘Pact Patrons’ the Minor were known as.

“Oh, snap,” Everburn said with a blink. She looked like she’d swallowed a bitter pill as she set her teacup down.

“Wait, my father asked for help from some random person who happened to have an interest in keeping us all alive by a coincidence of knowing you?” Maxine said clarifying the matter with a wide grin as she set her own teacup down.

“Yessss.” Rex said drawing the word out he was confused why his beloved suddenly looked like the cat who devoured a canary while robbing a cream factory and evading capture.

“Ugh.” Everburn said pulling a small silver coin out and handing it to Maxine. “Deities are such utter cheats.”

Rex blinked as he made the connection immediately and said, “You think V’nor had a hand in her arriving?”

Maxine took the silver piece before tucking it away discreetly and giving a wide smile as she said, “The ways of those on high are mysterious and vague beyond mortal comprehension.” Her very words made the woman’s face into a punch-worthy icon of purity. Rex noticed how Everburn clenched her fists, but the mage controlled her irritation splendidly.

Rex shared a look with Everburn and said, “One day, right?”

“One day I’ll win, and then you can all kneel and lick my dainty flower-scented feet for Blessings,” Everburn said with a gesture as small flames flared around her head before she put them out.

“Yeah, doubtful on that one spicy sauce. For some reason, I see your divine future form being wreathed in flames, very hot, very diabolical, flames. Most likely on a scorched plane with bubbling lava in the background.” Rex said with an eye roll for good measure.

“If only,” Everburn said with a wide maniac smile as her eyes glazed over briefly. Rex managed not to shudder as Everburn looked like she was having a moment.

Maxine dragged the conversation back to saner territory by asking, “Uncle has done all he can to limit the Cardinal’s reach, but he can’t directly countermand her orders. We’ll be forced to take those two groups of lackeys with us more than likely.”

Rex shrugged and said, “Accidents happen.” He had no doubt Eve wouldn’t like anyone who wasn’t under contract around her. She would probably take permanent measures if his intuition was right.

Everburn nodded sagely and said, “Dungeons are dangerous places, people go missing all the time.” She glanced at the older woman before taking up her teacup to sip once more.

Maxine’s brow furrowed in confusion as she said, “We can’t harm them though?” It was delightful how his girlfriend had this innocence about how the world worked sometimes. Rex noted it was one of the main attractions she had for him.

Rex said nothing but turned to look at Granny Eve behind him. It was a delight to watch the light of understanding appear in Maxine’s eyes as she made the connection in a sudden burst of enlightenment.

Everburn asked, “Are you absolutely sure?”

Rex nodded, “There is no doubt. No matter what happens, no one the Cardinal sends down with us will make it back alive. The dungeon is just that dangerous, after all.”

“Even if they are Sixes?” Everburn said with a raised eyebrow.

“There are Sixes, and there are Sixes.” Rex said with emphasis. If he was forced to gamble on someone his Uncle knew or some random higher Tier, that was really no gamble at all.

The party’s mage gave a nod that almost tipped her wide-brimmed pointy hat before she said, “Do you think she knows any Fire Element tricks?”

Rex paused before he said, “I’m sure you can ask her, after we finish this little bit of unpleasantness.”

“Not before?” Everburn said with hopeful eyes.

Rex slid his gaze over to Maxine and pretended not to notice the question.

Maxine reached over to take her friend’s hand and patted it comfortingly, “Don’t worry dear. I’ll make sure he asks her for a personal favor. Unless he wants to sleep on the couch, that is.”

Everburn’s eyes lit up with glee as Rex rolled his eyes at his partner. The fact that she would stoop so low as to hold the bed hostage in order to secure the pyromaniac’s favor was evil.

Fair, but evil.

Rex shrugged and said, “I’ll ask her after we finish, ok?”

As both women nodded sagely Rex purloined another scone with a sigh.

The things I do for a good night’s sleep. Rex thought.