- ...We Welcome Them

The men said nothing as they led Lia and her group down the street, past the bustling carts and people, and to a darker, much more quiet section of the city.

A place not many people were seen passing by on the streets, no carts filled the road, and the only people you saw with a lively face, were the few occasional beggars in the alley, high on some drug.

'This place is sad..'

Though, despite all this, all Lia could see, rather than the danger that clearly awaited anyone who passed a corner, she saw it as a place, abandoned by the people of the city.

'This is the Dark Roads. It's not a place where the normal folk go.'

Inside her head, Cain told her of the shadow within the city, and the people who lived there, distended to be forgotten by their peers.

'This is the quietest place for someone to hide. Away from all distractions, and prying eyes.'

Cain's voice trailed off, and Lia realized that he was hesitant to tell her something.

'Cain?'

'...It's also the quietest place for someone to die.'

A chilling cold ran down her spine when she heard what Cain said, hsi voice holding no signs of sarcasm or lies.

'Be careful Lia. This can go really bad, or really good.'

'Either way, this will be the last time I visit this place.'

Not only had she nearly died several times, but she was now being questioned by some underground group she had practically no knowledge of at all.

'I tried to warn you.'

And last but not least, Cain, who was back within his element, had begun his constant nagging all over again.

'Since when did you tell me that?'

Lia didn't need to exaggerate when she could tell she felt Cain vividly sighing in that moment.

'Remember when we were in the tavern. Rook Neck Tavern?'

'Vividly. I almost died at the hands of Rian. Another reason I don't want to be here any longer.'

'Well, whether you want to be here or not, you're here now. And here you will stay. Either way, when I was telling you about the floors…do you remember when you stopped me?'

'Yeah. You were going down another rabbit hole of information that I wasn't too keen on listening to. Rather, spend the entire day listening to it.'

'Oh shut up. The third floor happens to be a den for the underground. A meeting place for those that live in the shadows.'

'Why didn't you tell me that!?'

'For the love of… I Tried.!'

Lia flinched for Cain's yelling, though her ears were unaffected, and therefore they proved no protection when she covered them.

It was sure to leave her a headache later.

'Fine, fine. Maybe it wasn't a good idea then, but right now I need to know who is in charge.'

'You mean who runs the underground?'

'Preferably.'

'Your about to meet him.'

Stopping before a large and grand building, Lia took notice of how well designed the outside of the building looked, a trait she didn't expect to find in the gallows.

Yet it blended with the dark gloom of the alleys, the streets and the many large and intricate buildings and bridges that decorated the sky and land.

It looked to belong here, yet it did not.

"Our master is inside, and you will enter here. He will ask you questions and you will answer them. No debating."

As they stopped, one of the miners gestured to the solid iron gates that bordered the mansion, and its surrounding yard.

His voice was stern as was his demeanor, giving Lia the impression that she didn't have much room for choice here.

So, naturally, Lia followed after the miner as he entered through the creaking and rusted iron gates, followed closely by Rian, who was carrying Lukali.

Not once did they say a word to her, as their eyes spoke enough between themselves.

'What happens now Rian?'

Lia asked with her eyes, glancing back at the unsuspecting Rian, but was only met with a blank expression.

Clearly this situation was a bit emotional.

'Well, it's not like I could blame him. This must certainly be a bit of a shock to him.'

When the miners had first entered the spider's den, the chamber had been barren of any life except for theirs.

And so, naturally, they forced them to follow, leaving little room for discussion.

Even Rian, who was thought of in high respect by the miners, barely got more than a few glances of pity, and a whisper here and there of warning.

'Be careful.'

'Good luck.'

'Godspeed, Rian.'

Things like this were heard by Lia from left, right, and center, as they traveled through the streets of Neverdark, passing by many miners on their way to work.

Though Lia could hear it thanks to her enhanced hearing, she had no doubt Rian could not. Which begged the question to form in her mind.

'Why speak so low? What are they afraid of?'

However, Lia never got the answer to this question, as silence insured as soon as they neutered the giant manor, a grand and vast interior.

Giant pillars of wood decorated and engraved with small metal wires, spiraled up to the roof. A large and wide red carpet fell to the door and spread to the stairway, splitting off left and right. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, from the post against the walls, and candles decorated the shelves and tables.

To call it grand left Lia expressionless.

While she had seen grander things, this had impressed her more than she would have liked to admit, as it would damage her pride as a princess.

'Your no longer a princess now Lia.'

'What?'

'It's alright to get a little mesmerized by something like this.'

Taking heed to Cain's words, Lia thought about it for a moment, taking one last look at the grand entryway, before dropping her expressionless face.

She was amazed. The rustic furniture, the use of candles as both light and decoration, and the wooden pillars rather than stone was a beautiful touch that made it all seem less like a mansion of some grand noble, and more like a manor of some mysterious gentleman.

'Though now that I think about it, what is the difference between a mansion and a manor?'

'Keep focused Lia.'

Shaking her head , Lia threw away the needless question that entered her mind.

'Right, sorry.'

Leading them down the hall, the miner showed no signs of amazement, having already been used to the sight. Rian of course were the same, but Lia and Lukali however, were more than amazed.

Seeing this, the miner's stoic expression faded a little, replaced by a slight smile on his lips.

'Kids. They're just like me when I first came here.'

The miner thought, before dropping the matter altogether and continued on with his mission.

Passing through the long hall and up one flight of stairs, Lia was left even more shocked as they reached the second floor.

A much wider and larger hallway, filled with wooden pillars similar to the first floor lined a pathway for them stretching up as high as the sky, it seemed.

Through her amazement and admiration, a clean and clear voice entered her head.

'Doth thou know the beauty of the world. If not, thou shalt find it within the homes of those who appreciate it. Decorated on the walls and the floors, the windows and the doors.You find a beauty you never once knew.'

'Cain?'

'Part of a poem I read once. Never thought it meant much, but now I see that I was wrong.'

Lia smiled, agreeing with Cain as the beauty of the hall never seemed to end.

But eventually it did, as the miner neared a small, and darkened wood door.

Gesturing inside, the miner knocked once before opening the door, and taking a step to the side.

"Our master awaits. Best not to keep him waiting."

Taking a moment to let out the breath Lia held in her lungs, she mustered up the courage and took a step inside.

The room was small, office size if it was large enough to accommodate a merchant, but certainly not a noble.

But Lia did not let down her guard.

Seated behind a large mahogany desk, a man sat in a chair - his back turned to Lia and the group, as he overlooked a few papers within his hands.

"I presume you are the Hunters from the mines."

Lia didn't bother responding, as she could already guess this man before her knew the answer to that question, without her needing to explain.

Her silence resulted in the man turning his head, as if to better hear her, though Lia continued to remain quiet.

'Asserting yourself as a dormant figure is good. So don't let him find a weakness in your wall.'

Advising her from inside her mind, Cain both complemented and warned her.

The man fell silent for a moment, before he placed the papers in his hands down, and shifted back into his former position, his back still turned to Lia.

"Thank you Derik. That will be all."

The miner, who had escorted them here, bowed his head to the man's words, before stepping outside the door, closing it behind him.

Once they were alone, the man took out a small pipe from his coat pocket, before lighting it with a small, flaming stick.

Taking in a large whiff of the smoke, and with it, he exhaled letting his stress and work troubles leave him behind.

He appeared vividly lighter than before, and Lia finally took notice of the numerous papers and open books shoved and stocked full of loose notes across the shelves in front of him.

"Rian."

Breaking the silence, and Lia's thoughts, the man spoke in a stern and authoritative tone, leaving no room for chance. This was an order.

Yet, despite this, Rian didn't move, merely gesturing to Lukali who was draped around his shoulders, his breath labored.

When Rian didn't answer back, the man didn't bother to glance over, as he already had an idea of what was going on.

"Seat him over there."

He said, gesturing to a leather chair in front of his desk.

"We won't be too long."

Heeding his master's words, Rian did as he was told before walking over to the man's side, and kneeled down.

"Yes sir?"

"Is it done?"

"..."

At first Rian didn't answer, taking a chance to steal a glance at Lia from the side.

"Is. It. Done?"

"Yes…but sir…"

"What?"

"...we were not aware of another group joining us."

"And?"

"...we were almost killed."

Sighing, the man rubbed his forehead, clearly in the midst of a headache.

"I was aware that Alan would be doing something reckless, but that's why I sent some of my men with him. You're telling me that they didn't step in?"

"No sir…but…"

"But?"

Glancing at Lia, Rian didn't answer at first.

"I have a reason to believe why."

Turning his head and following Rian's line of sight, the man found his own eyes landing on Lia, before he fully turned his chair to face her.

"Well then, I can only apologize for not having dealt with the situation in the first place. I hope you can forgive me, as I was the one who asked you to take on this mission."

Blinking several times, Lia found herself shocked for a moment, before pulling herself together.

"So…you were the one who hired us?"

"Yes I am. My name is Wallace, and it's a pleasure to meet you."