Over the course of four long days, the Redland Runner slunk across the desert and into the mountain plains, staying as far from the roads as possible. Instead, the team stuck to the wilds, dashing between rock formations and sparse forests, hiding at the faintest sign of any and all ships prowling the wasteland. Progress to Greyspire had been slow as a result, giving Sheah plenty of time to fret.

  On the morning they were set to arrive, Sheah occupied herself by fretting next to Jira and Kaelis on the bridge. The three mingled in stilted silence, half-listening to music radio whilst scanning the wilds around them. Sheah took a step closer to the window. She watched the pale grass drift by, her anxiety growing at a steady pace. There appeared to be no sign of civilization for miles, only expansive, arid flatlands on one side, and the rolling slopes of the mountains on the other.

  “You said we were close, yes?” Sheah asked, putting on a composed facade.

  Jira glanced over but didn’t respond. Instead, she simply lurched the helm, broadly swinging the Redland Runner around the base of a nearby hill. As the ship rounded the ridge, a towering, slender shape appeared in the far distance, breaking the silhouette of the mountain hills, warbling like a mirage in the hazy sunlight.

  “Ah, there it is!” gasped Kaelis, thrusting an enthusiastic finger towards the structure.

  Sheah shivered with anticipation. She grabbed the binoculars from their hook and brought them up to her eyes, scouting the formation ahead.

  Built atop a shelf between a pair of rocky peaks was a settlement: a town of modest scope, its blocky clay buildings densely packed together, seeded like foliage across the clifftop. Clefting the settlement in two was a wide waterfall, shimmering in the sunlight and magnificent to behold even at that distance. Its waters careened over the cliffs, pooling into a deep basin far below. Arching over the falls, framing the rapids with its supports, was a narrow viaduct, connecting the settlement to the main event: the tower of Greyspire.

  Greyspire was certainly an apt moniker. It was a soaring needle of a structure, its colorless stone tapering up towards the heavens. The tower scraped against the sky, traveling well beyond the peaks of the rocky foothills, looming like a sleeping sentinel over the calm and quiet wilderness.

  Sheah had to admit that it was an arresting sight. It was difficult to believe that a structure of such stature could have been built centuries ago, or that it still stood so many years later. Kaelis, unsurprisingly, was overjoyed to see it. Borrowing the binoculars, she bounced with glee, bursting at the seams with eager energy. Jira, on the other hand, simply stared, a look of placid familiarity in her eyes. Doubtless she had seen it many times throughout her travels.

  As the tower grew nearer, Sheah felt the stress drain from her neck. It appeared as though they had made the right choice in coming here. There were no ships in the area, the weather was clear, and given Greyspire’s impressive height, they were sure to determine whether or not Verloren was skulking about the mountain pass. Much like Sheah’s gaze, things were looking up.

  The team parked the Redland Runner near the base of the falls, just below a path of switchbacks that snaked their way up the cliffs. Unfortunately, the fields below Greyspire were just as exposed as Dez said they’d be. While they did their best to hide the ship, their only real choice for cover was a half-standing toll booth that barely concealed a quarter of the hull. It wasn’t perfect, or even adequate, but it would have to do.

  Kaelis bound up the slope with leaping strides, eager to reach the top, only stopping to catch her breath at a landing halfway up the ascent. Despite its age, the walkway leading to the Greyspire settlement was amazingly preserved, having been carved directly out of the hardened stone of the cliff face. Really, its only fault was that it was just a bit too steep for her liking. She shut her eyes while resting, listening to the roar of the waterfall and feeling its mist blowing towards her on the soft winds. She definitely made the right call leaving her helmet back on the ship.

  Glancing back down the walkway, Kaelis checked in on her team, who all seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot less than she was. They puffed and panted up the winding path, lagging behind by several lengths.

  Feeling refreshed, Kaelis moved on without waiting for the crew to catch up—she’d meet them at the top anyhow. To take her mind off the climb, she adjusted her gear as she ascended, tightening her straps and polishing the shiny new buckle pinned to her chest just below her pauldron. A badge of the Archguard, straight from Ama-Lasria itself—it still made her giddy whenever she saw it. She let her mind wander, daydreaming about the incredible journey the buckle must have made in order to reach her.

  After what felt like no time at all, Kaelis looked up to find that she was just about at the top of the cliff. Emerging from the mouth of the walkway, she stepped foot onto a large public plaza: a circular stretch of ashy cobblestone swirling around a quaint central fountain, its waters long dried out. As she studied the patterning of the brick, it quickly dawned on her that the plaza wasn’t a normal town square at all. It was, in fact, a giant compass of sorts. Laid into the rim of the plaza was a series of stone arrows and labels, pointing not only in the cardinal directions, but also towards the major cities of the old Egaellean Empire, complete with their distance in miles. A smile crept onto Kaelis’s face as she paced—she’d once read that the ancient watchtowers were built not just as military outposts, but also as beacons to help wayward travelers find their way home. It warmed her heart to see that, even centuries later, Greyspire could still perform a part of its original purpose.

  Surrounding the plaza’s northern and eastern rim were stacks of simple square buildings, lining stepped roads that gently sloped up the mountain hills. The homes and shops appeared well kept by the dry air, their doors and awnings still affixed and largely intact. The unweathered nature of the settlement, coupled with the gentle sounds of the falls and the temperate sunshine, lent it an almost paradisal calm.

  Though, in fairness, one person’s peaceful tranquility is another’s eerie stillness. Dez heaved himself over the lip of the walkway, his brow peppered with sweat, a pair of binoculars dangling loosely off his neck. He looked around the town, darting his eyes nervously, unswayed by its serene scenery. He double checked every corner while simultaneously staying as far from the buildings as possible. Despite seeing nothing of note, Dez only appeared to grow more skittish. He walked over to the southern edge of the plaza and gazed out over the sheer drop-off. Raising the lenses to his eyes, he scanned the arid flatlands, searching for signs of trouble elsewhere.

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  Sheah arrived shortly afterward, a length of rope wrapped around her torso, followed closely behind by Jira. The two women joined their comrades in the town square, taking in the sights around them.

  “…It is so quiet here,” expressed Sheah after a few moments of reserved observation.

  Kaelis put her hands on her hips and took a deep gulp of the mountain air. “Ahh, yeah. Sure is somethin’.”

  “Don’t be lowerin’ yer guard,” warned Dez, joining the group. “Who knows what could be lurkin’ ‘round these parts.”

  “You nervous?” asked Kaelis.

  “I just don’t think we should be dawdlin’, that’s all.”

  Kaelis shrugged. “You could always go back to the ship and wait.”

  “And be alone? Out here?” Dez loosened his collar, his brow growing even sweatier. “No, thank you.”

  Jira placed a gentle hand on Dez’s shoulder. His breathing slowed. He tapped her fingers gratefully.

  Eager to continue exploring, Kaelis ambled across the plaza, her team leisurely following at her heels. She fixed her sights on the river at the circle’s western edge, and the great tower built across it. Stepping onto the foot of the viaduct, Kaelis was surprised to find it was even narrower than it seemed from afar, with only enough space for three or four people to stand shoulder to shoulder. It vaulted over the river rapids, arching straight into Greyspire Tower’s lofty entranceway. She could only assume the bridge’s slimness was intentional, probably designed to be some kind of choke point—clever!

  Walking over to the viaduct’s railing, Kaelis peered down at the rapids rushing several meters below. She unfocused her eyes, tracking a single glob of foam as it careered towards the falls and disappeared over its edge. Stepping back, Kaelis put her hands on her hips and delightedly grinned.

  “Gods, I love waterfalls,” she declared.

  “Yes, ‘tis quite a sight,” agreed Sheah, coming up behind her.

  Not even close to being finished with her exploration, Kaelis bounded from the bridge and moved to examine the building nearest her.

  “I don’t know about you all, but I think I could retire to a place like this,” she proclaimed.

  She walked up to a simple structure with a thick wooden door and narrow slits for windows. Based on its sturdiness and its proximity to the tower, she could only assume it was once used for storage of some sort.

  “Clear skies, not too hot. What more could you want?”

  Pressing her ear against the door, she listened for any hint of movement. She heard only wood. Satisfied with her findings, she pried the door open and squinted inquisitively inside. The interior extended back deep, the light from the doorway quickly receding into a blackened haze. Its floor and walls were completely barren, devoid of any clues as to the building’s historical purpose. Kaelis shrugged at the disappointing emptiness and turned back to face the group.

  “Slap on a new coat of paint, an—”

  Khareee!

  A deer-shaped Unbound screeched and exploded out of the shadows of the building, plowing headlong into Kaelis’s back. Before she could utter a single sound she was on the ground, her armor absorbing her fall with a loud pang. The beast tumbled over Kaelis, its frenzied momentum carrying it well past her.

  Dez shrieked and fell from his feet. Sheah leapt to help him up as Jira instinctively rushed over to Kaelis’s side. The Unbound scrambled to stand upright, its jagged hooves scraping against the cobblestone.

  Only momentarily phased, Kaelis locked her eyes on the beast. In one smooth motion, she pulled out her revolver and lifted to her feet. She took aim at the creature as Jira joined her side, her gun at the ready. Together the two women opened fire, unloading their revolvers into the Unbound just as it moved to strike.

  The creature screamed as the bullets tore at its flesh and bark. Ammo expended, Kaelis and Jira eyed the beast dangerously, grasping their blades. The Unbound, bloodied and full of holes, whimpered in defeat before limping back into the building whence it came. With the creature inside, Kaelis zipped over to the door and slammed it shut.

  “…Well… maybe not,” she exhaled, throwing her back against the wood.

  Dez stood perfectly still, his head hunched forward, his mouth stuck open. “You’re just gonna let it go?!” he cried.

  Pushing herself from the building, Kaelis casually shrugged. “Eh, it ain’t hurtin’ anyone.”

  “It almost did!”

  Kaelis yanked the barrel of her revolver down, breaking it open from its bottom hinge. Dumping the spent shells onto the ground, she rummaged through her pouch and began to load in a fresh set of bullets.

  “We scared it off,” she explained. “It won’t bother us again.”

  Dez flailed his arms high above his head. “Are you sure?! How can you be sure?!”

  “Dez,” soothed Jira, bringing her hands up. She took her place at his side. “It’s okay.”

  Once more, Dez regained control of himself, inhaling rhythmic breaths that seemed to steady his nerves.

  Kaelis took one last glance at the storage hut—how long had that thing been in there? Months? Decades? It didn’t really matter. It was trapped again, and that was good enough for her. Unbothered by their Unbound encounter, Kaelis threw out her arms and stretched. She flexed her spine and legs, loosening herself up for the job ahead.

  “Alright, well, let’s get to it. No point in sticking around here.” She moved towards the viaduct. “I’ll head up, see what I can find out about the pass.”

  “We’ll stay here, guard our exit,” announced Jira, gesturing over to the switchback. She pulled the pair of chunky radio transceivers from her jacket and handed one to Kaelis. “Keep in touch on the two-way.”

  “Good plan.”

  Sheah raised her hand. “Wait,” she announced, marching over to Kaelis. “I will be accompanying you.”

  Kaelis lifted her brows. “Yeah, you sure?”

  “Of course I am sure,” Sheah asserted, offense in her voice. “Do you not think I have what it takes?”

  “Uh, no, I—”

  “No longer shall I be kicked around, belittled, or captured by pirates like some demure fledgling.”

  Kaelis cocked her head. “Captured—?”

  “I aim to be a proper adventurer. You said you wanted me along on the next mission, yes? Well, here I am.”

  “I mean, that’s great. It’s just…” Kaelis lifted her head up towards the top of the tower. “It’s a long way up.”

  Sheah’s dogged expression slowly faded as she craned her neck and gazed up to the spire’s tip, receding far from view. Now at the base, it was definitely easier to get a truer sense of Greyspire’s staggering height.

  “…And a long way down…” Sheah whispered, swallowing nervously. “…Yes… well… No matter. Onward!” She threw her head back and marched along the viaduct, swinging her arms and legs with gusto, keeping her eyes glued to the tower’s doorway.

  Kaelis began after her, turning towards Dez as she did. “Oh, lenses,” she requested.

  Dez removed the pair of binoculars from his neck and tossed them to Kaelis, who caught them in one hand.

  “We’ll be back soon!” she announced. She ran off to join Sheah at the tower's entrance.