I had to sneak out of Willow’s bedroom. She had been fighting sleep for hours in an attempt to spend more time with me, but she finally settled down to rest for the night. While it was after her bedtime, it wasn’t every day that I was home for so long and I wanted to spoil her while I could.

A quick glance showed that there was faint light under Emilia’s door, and I smiled. If it was still on in a while, I’d make an excuse to check in on her, but if she wanted to read a little longer then I wasn’t going to stop her. I had been the same way when I was her age, after all.

Stretching, I closed Willow’s door just as Tabs finished up in the kitchen. Emilia and Ferrisdae had returned with Giganbull steaks a lot quicker than we had thought they would, and I had grilled them to perfection. The young Forest Elf had insisted she helped with dishes afterwards, but my wife had heard none of it from someone she considered a guest.

I caught Tabitha with my arms around her waist and rested my head on her shoulder. “I think I’ve had enough of people today,” I whispered to her.

Tabs gave me a knowing look. She squeezed my hands before clearing her throat. “Ferry, it’s starting to get late. You’re welcome to use the guest room on the second floor I showed you.”

Ferrisdae looked up from the book she was reading on the couch and smiled. “Thank you, Tabby, Badger,” she said as she stood up. “I really appreciate you both letting me stay here.”

“It’s no trouble at all, my dear,” Tabitha happily responded.

“So long as you feel safe, you’re welcome to stay,” I said. “It’s not much trouble at all.”

My wife elbowed me in the side, but Ferrisdae giggled. “I’m glad to see that a month in quarantine did nothing to hinder your spirit, Badger.”

I scoffed. “It’ll take a lot more than Sophia’s constant attention to break me, I’ll tell you that now.”

“I’m sure that’s true.” Ferrisdae stretched and yawned, easily reaching our ceiling, before holding up her book. “Do you mind if I borrow this for the night?”

“Just so long as you don’t stay up too late reading,” Tabs said, putting on a motherly tone. “You’re still a young lady, and you need your rest.”

“She’s older than-“ I started.

“Don’t you give me any nonsense, Badger, she’s a growing girl,” she chastised before speaking a little louder. “We may tolerate a little reading after light’s out, but there’s a time for reading and a time for sleep.”

We all glanced towards Emilia’s door, specifically the small crack between it and the floor. The dim light flickered before we heard a small voice coming from the other side. “Can I please finish this chapter?” my daughter requested.

“You have ten minutes,” I answered. There was no response other than Tabitha patting my hands in approval.

Ferrisdae gave us a bright smile. “I really have to say, I wasn’t expecting this to be your home life, Badger.”

“Oh, yes, I’m quite aware of the aura I put out on the job,” I said with pride. “And I know you won’t share a word of this with anyone. I’m trusting you with this secret, Ferry.”

“I wouldn’t say secret,” Tabitha rebutted. “It’s a pretty open secret.”

“It’s a secret,” I insisted.

“Of course, Badger,” Ferrisdae said. “My lips are sealed.”

Releasing my wife with one arm, I gestured towards the door. “Good. Then get yourself to bed. It’s already late. Have a good night.”

“Goodnight, you two,” the Elf said before taking the book and heading towards the door.

“G’night,” Tabitha replied before turning to face me once the door was closed. She wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned her head against mine. “There, no more people to deal with.”

Lifting my wife off of the ground, I walked over to my chair and sat down. She adjusted until she was comfortable, and rested against me. “Just the way I like it,” I whispered.

“The fact that we came here and not our bedroom implies that you have something you want to discuss with me,” Tabitha whispered back. I nodded, and she pulled away to meet my eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong, fire of my heart.”

I smiled at the affectionate phrase, one that came from her tribe, but took a breath immediately after. “Back in the tower, when they brought you in to talk to me, I told you most of what happened in the Thousand Year Blizzard. Not everything, though.”

“No, not everything,” she agreed. “I know you were hiding some things, but it didn’t seem like it was from me. That place puts us both on edge.”

“There are some things for them to know, and some things for us to know,” I said. “This is one of the things that is for us.”

Tabitha reached up and ran her fingers through my hair, across my neck, and ended cupping my cheek. Her touch was electrifying. “Is it something I’m not going to like?” she asked.

“First thing you’re going to love,” I answered with a soft chuckle. “The second thing is more conjecture, but I’m pretty sure it’s what’s going to happen. That one, I’m sure you won’t like.”

“Then let’s start with the stuff I will like,” Tabitha said firmly, leaning back against me.

“When I destroyed the dungeon in order to save Ferrisdae’s life, we weren’t floating in the void for very long. The story I had told Cojisto to tell had us waiting there for a few minutes before we were back in our world, but I actually got a little help from someone unexpected.”

Tabitha didn’t say anything, but I can tell she was paying attention, and I continued. “Earlier in the subjugation, Himia said that the Goddess of Community, Cheroske, was watching me,” I admitted, which was something I hadn’t told Sophia or the mages. “There was no indication whether it was a lie or the truth, but I went with my gut feeling and prayed to her for our safe return.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

My wife nodded. “I’m going to assume you got more than you asked for on account of the fact that you agreed to set up a shrine to her after all these years,” she said slowly. I opened my mouth to protest, but she put a finger against my lips. “I’m not complaining; I know how you feel about the divine, and I’m not going to push you one way or another.”

“I always appreciated that,” I told her honestly. “And you’re right, I got more than I asked for. She sent the other three back into the eye of the blizzard, but I was brought here. Well, downstairs.”

“To the tavern?” she asked, confused.

“Yes. The goddess said she loved it,” I said, and Tabitha gave me a surprised look. “She told me that the Bottom’s Up was such a happy place in a city that doesn’t take care of a lot of its people. That it’s a safe haven.”

“That’s…” Tabs blinked a few times before letting out a low laugh. “That’s a lot to take in.”

“I wanted you to know how well you were doing here,” I said, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “You’ve done great things in the Bottom, and I wanted you to know that you’re not only appreciated by everyone whose day is brightened by your actions, but that you’ve even gotten the attention of higher powers thanks to your good will.”

“I’m just doing what any retired adventurer should,” she deflected in a manner I could only describe as shy. It was out of place on her, but I found it endearing. At least, I did until she narrowed her eyes and looked back at me. “Did you enter Cheroske’s service?”

“No, I didn’t. But, I realized that, if it was to help save Ferrisdae, I would have,” I answered before sighing. “She's just a kid, you know? I was going to, but Cheroske said that she didn’t want me to enter her service under duress. That what she provided was only a small miracle. She said I was welcome, but to take my time and discuss it with family first.”

Tabitha shifted so she could take in my whole face now, and her hands caught mine. “What are you thinking, Liam?”

“Yes, I am Liam,” I whispered without thinking about it, closing my eyes as I heard my family name for what seemed like the first time in ages. “Liam Rhodes.”

“Alright, don’t get sentimental on me,” she said, patting me on the cheek. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

I smiled and nodded. “Being quarantined for a month gave me a lot of time to dwell on it, but… I’m sincerely thinking about going down that path again.”

“That’s a surprise.”

“I know it is, but the world’s going to become more dangerous,” I said, my smile changing into a frown. I caught it before it could become a scowl. Sighing, I settled further into the chair. “Under normal circumstances, I’d have accepted the small miracle, told you that I wanted a shrine made, and call it a day. But, things are in motion now.”

“And?” Tabitha urged.

"And I may need the extra strength. Honestly, I don't know yet." I chewed on the inside of my cheek for a moment. “This is the part I don’t think you’re going to like.”

“So?” she challenged. “When have I ever wanted you to hold something back when I knew I wouldn’t like it?”

Snorting, I shook my head. “I’m fairly certain that there’s going to be a expedition set up by the Department of Dungeons, the Adventurer’s Consortium, and the Mage’s Guild thanks to the information from the Dungeon Master.”

“To the Southern Continental Dungeon,” Tabitha said, immediately connecting the dots. “Is this confirmed?”

I shook my head, but went quiet as I thought things over. The Dungeon Master had told me, very dramatically, that his sister, another Dungeonborn named CC, was working on a bridge between the Southern Continent and our own. Her abilities were similar to his except that she had the power to take over dungeons and expand them, while he needed permission.

Then again, the Dungeon Master had only just woken up and already proved very powerful, so he might be able to do that as well once enough time had passed. That part didn’t really matter; what did was that he was terrified of his sister. Said that she went crazy and began merging every dungeon she could get into which made the entire landmass uninhabitable.

If she got a hold of even a single dungeon on our continent, it would be a disaster once she started spreading.

Realizing my wife was still waiting for an answer, I cleared my throat. “No, it’s not confirmed, but it’s the only logical conclusion I can come to,” I finally said. “They could try to block things off, but the ocean’s a big place. She would make it through eventually. The only thing that makes sense is a first strike done by a large expedition.”

“There’s been people going there for years only to fail, but it's never been done on the scale you're expecting before. If it’s a big enough force with the continent's resources behind them, then there could be a dent put into it,” she offered. From the look on her face, I could see that she slipped into problem solving mode. “I’m assuming this is going to be multi-national, but likely revolve around the three organizations.”

“That’s what I assumed,” I said with a nod. “Once it gets big enough, then the merchants will want in. The magical crystals in the Southern Continental Dungeon are bound to be far more potent than our own, provided CC hasn’t destroyed them for whatever reason like the Dungeon Master did. I don’t think they’re planning on releasing that information, at the very least.”

“Smart of them, if they don’t,” Tabitha scoffed. “Our economy is based off of them because that’s what keep the rich, rich. Much as I’d love to see the anarchy that would happen if we shifted into something less dangerous than a dungeon based economy, a lot of people would suffer during the transition. Now, I’m not saying that keeping the status quo is the way to go, but we have to ease into something better.”

“You’re absolutely right,” I said, smiling at her.

Tabitha nodded. “Well, I suppose they’ll want to send you, so I’ll be right behind you. It’s been a while since I picked up Britear, but I’ll get back into the swing of things.”

“Tabs…”

“What? You know they’re going to want to send you. You’re the heaviest hitter they’ve got, aside from that decrepit husk of a man you call the director,” she said. I had to snort in amusement at the accurate depiction. “So, because you’re going, I’m going.”

I gently squeezed Tabitha’s hands. “I feel like, if we continue, we’re going to fight,” I said diplomatically. “So I’d like to say something, take you to bed, and then discuss it later when it’s an actual thing that’s going to happen and not just an educated guess.”

Tabs looked ready to fight, but sighed and squeezed back. “Go ahead.”

My gaze wandered to the bedrooms of our daughters. The light under Emilia’s door was finally off, and I nodded that way. “The only reason why I’m able to do this work, to run off to be a Dungeon Inspector, is because I know you’re here for them,” I said, reaching up to trace her scar with my finger. “I would worry if it were anyone other than you in charge of their safety. If the choice was to go and leave them here with you to look after them, then I would do it. Begrudgingly, but in a heartbeat. If the choice was to go and you came along, leaving them with friends, then I’d much rather take my chances making my stand here with you. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, more important to me than family.”

“Is that all you want to say?” Tabitha asked after a moment.

“I don’t want to keep leaving you,” I admitted with a grimace. “All three of you are more important to me than anything else. I know you can take care of yourself better than anyone else, but I’m not all that worried for you. I’ll fight that battle to keep Emilia and Willow safe, but I need to know that you are there to do it.”

My wife pursed her lips, a telltale sign that she was thinking. It wasn’t the first time we’ve had this discussion, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. She had threatened to come with me on subjugation runs before simply because they were some of the most dangerous missions we Dungeon Inspectors had to go on. One of those times, she was still pregnant with Willow when she grabbed her axe off of the wall.

Still, it didn’t matter. So long as my family was safe, Tabitha knew I could do anything. She understood that.

My wife sighed and rested her forehead against my own. “To be continued,” she grumbled.

“To be continued,” I agreed, hoping that I was wrong and it wouldn’t. Sliding down the chair, I picked Tabitha up as I stood. She squealed in surprise, muting the noise with my shoulder. “Now, if I remember correctly, you requested something special tonight.”

“Don’t think you’re going to put me back in a good mood, Liam Rhodes,” she said teasingly into my neck.

“Challenge accepted,” I retorted as I carried her to our bedroom.