Very few people gathered outside, the rare courier or soldier swiftly walking by the temple and palace just to vanish when they had walked downhill far enough. The inside of Hess' temple however was busy. Not only didn't it look anywhere close to being a temple, the designs were quite mundane, too. In the centre of the large square hall stood a huge statue of an Amazon in leather armour. Its details were intricate and rich. Her sword was sheathed on the belt, one hand gripping a scroll and the other holding a thick, open book. The god's eyes were hidden in shadows under the flow of long hair, as most of the lights came from chandeliers above.

Valentina smiled up at the statue, returning the kind expression carved into the stone. If this was an accurate depiction of Hess, then the muscular woman was kind and beautiful. "Greetings, traveller. How may I be of service?". The deep, male voice ripped her back into reality, all admiration for the statue gone in this very instant. "Ah, uh, yes. Hello", the Uppersider mumbled, hand scratching her neck, embarrassment tinting her cheeks in a light red.

While her mission still mainly required her to gather information, a direct question might be offensive and outright cause her to be kicked out. Instead her eyes scanned across the room. Since the Hess statue stood on a circular pedestal, around its base was a round counter. Multiple people, the closest description she could come up in her mind with was a monk, hurried back and forth. Behind the counter and the monks an enormous amount of scrolls were neatly stacked into shelves, on top of which a number hung in black on white paper.

Along the left wall from her position, a crowd had gathered and was listening to someone, she couldn't quite see the person. The crowd blocked her sight from everything further back. On the right side a line of merchants and rich people, judging from their detailed and colourful clothes, had formed. Some held jewellery, others books and papers, and one person carried a chair. Hess had three fields of responsibility. Justice, Righteous War and Trade. Valentina assumed this was the line for receiving a blessing or advice. It gave her an idea.

The man in front of her, dressed in a red toga-like garb similar to everyone else in this temple, patiently smiled at her. How could people be like this? She imagined herself making a scene in his place. She rolled her eyes at herself, which caused the monk's eyebrows to rise. "Maybe you can help me. I'm part of a trading crew, I'm a long way from home. With the war and all, I hope to get some advice to avoid the war as best as possible?", she pursed her lips and smiled at the man. His hands folded in front of him and he thought for a moment, "I'm sorry, traveller. We are not what you seek".

The Uppersider's shoulders slumped and she sighed deeply. "Lift your chin, traveller. While we are not what you seek, it does not mean I cannot offer some advice. We have received word that the Sicilian Aegis is negotiating with Mayor Oughtard about converting part of the northern and western port into a military outpost. Many warships sail the Shallow Straights lately, some head north, others head east back to Sainte Monique", his voice tuned down in volume, "I should not say, but not everyone in North Cross is thrilled about getting pulled into the war, especially as a defensive position against the west. Make of this what you will, take into account that very soon the military will conduct checks and searches".

The monk smiled at her and tilted his head slightly. Valentina processed the new information and thanked him kindly. Since a rich couple just walked inside, the kind monk directed his attention over to them, walking with quick, small steps across the polished floor tiles. Before she turned around, her gaze met the statue's, that seemed to smile at her. Had she been smiling before, too? Uncertain, gifting the god another glance, just to be even more confused since the statue didn't smile anymore, she walked outside.

***

Her walk downhill was conducted in silence, both hands stuffed into her pockets and she glanced absentmindedly forward, expertly avoiding any passerby crossing her path. So the military had plans to covert North Cross into a checkpoint. While it wasn't located near the front lines, anyone sailing around the Shallow Straight could flank the Empire. While this had no immediate effect, it definitely had implications. North Cross wouldn't be the only town the Aegis would convert and that meant they would have to circumnavigate the Shallow Straight and the Foggy Vortex.

Would they even have the funds to do that? It also made her realise that a route outside of the Empire would leave her without any potential support from the Eye of Clarity. Not that they had provided much support, it was more about her recruitment and potential spy job. Should she just leave it be and ignore it? Get rid of the Duality Coin? Her path lead her over to the area where she remembered Umira's temple. Clockspire Road was as busy as ever. Many shops were closed now, other buildings had opened restaurants that had been hidden behind shutters earlier. Delicious food made her stomach rumble again. This time it would get ignored. Too much food would make her fat, she didn't want to get fat.

Somehow the smell couldn't be ignored. Valentina leaned against a corner wall holding a sandwich that she had acquired for two fifties from a vendor, a tiny, massively overweight woman with a strong accent and mumbling that had made her nod throughout the whole order process. The first bite revealed the sandwich to taste a bit like pizza, the second bite had her mouth on fire. Tears shot into her eyes and she was panting against the spices attacking mouth, throat and nose at the same time. "What the flying fuck!", she whispered and sniffed. Every time she blinked, tears ran down her cheeks.

"Ol' Dany got ya, didn't she?", a kind ghost in brownish green clothes handed her something. Another sniff and the back of her hands wiped tears from her eyes. Without the ocean across her sight, Valentina squinted at a woman around her age with neatly plucked eyebrows, big hazel eyes and thin, red lips. The face itself was too edgy, but that didn't matter as long bangs framed it. Most of the hair was hidden under a brown shawl. Somehow she made the zealot dress look quite elegant and sexy. So the Solomonians lived up to the reputation, love thy neighbour as thyself. Beautiful. The one belief despised by the majority of the crew, and here she was receiving help from a stranger, a Solomonian.

"Thanks", Valentina croaked and took the water skin from the woman. Water with a sweet syrup, as it turned out. It helped. Not as much as she had hoped. "I'm Valentina. Thanks again", the Uppersider introduced herself, throat finally recovered and handed the water skin back. The brunette bowed her head slightly and smiled, "I'm Mina. Nice to make your acquaintance. Are you a traveller?". "You could say that! I'm from far away", Valentina chuckled. Mina's eyes lit up and sparkled at her. Had she never seen someone from far away? And what to do with the sandwich? "Uh, you seem to know this Dany, do you know what I can do with this sandwich now?", she held up the bread and offered it kindly. Luckily this interruption distracted Mina from her interest in the Uppersider, "Uh, you can take out the brown mushrooms. They are the spicy ingredient. Is that why you don't know Redcaps? Because you're from far away?". "Where I come from we do not have Redcaps", she explained and pulled a couple of brown mushroom caps out of the sandwich, dropping them to the ground unceremoniously. "Oh, that must be quite far away", the woman put her finger to her chin and thought about it.

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Without the Redcaps, the sandwich had a bearable spice level and turned out to be quite tasty. "I know it's none of my business, but could you tell me a few stories? Exciting stories from far away islands? Most travellers don't want to share...", she trailed off and the Uppersider frowned slightly. There were tasks to complete and being seen with a Solomonian might become a problem later. "I know what you must be thinking", her voice turned to pleading, "I can cook a decent meal and while I prepare food, I get to hear something interesting! Please, Valentina! My mother wouldn't mind having a guest, I'm sure!". "You still live with your mom? Aren't you like… uh… old enough to have your own place?". "What do you mean? Every child lives with their parents until we are married to a suitable partner!", she exclaims, puffing her cheeks in a very childish and cute way. "And you haven't found a suitable partner, I presume", the traveller concluded. "I'm too picky, my mother always says. Everybody they suggested…", the voice died on Mina, as if it had been a bad thing. Valentina however saw between the lines. It all looked similar to an arranged marriage deal where both parties were required to consent. And Mina here didn't want to consent. Quite the old story, the parents would become anxious, more so when their kid grew way too old to get married and the kid, well, the kid is caught in a system that might or might not fit.

Valentina threw a glance over her shoulder across the square toward Umira's temple. In front of its entrance sat a fountain with a woman at its centre. A naked, pregnant woman with enormous breasts, emptying a decanter into the pool beneath her. All around her feet grew mushrooms and some ivy. The Mother, it seemed, didn't mind exposing all her features to the world. The temple beyond was tiny and had a flat roof. Its entrance, walls and roof was strewn with mushrooms. Some stipes long, others thick, caps in all sizes, some with gills, others with sponges. The god of agriculture and harvest couldn't be mistaken for anything else. As she let her eyes sweep across the square, very few people could be seen. A lonely gardener in a dark green garb tended to the mushrooms. Rain had been right. Umira wouldn't be helpful when it came to information.

"I'm spoiling your plans, aren't I?", the sad voice of Mina reached her. The temple had been a distraction, a rude one at that, yet the Solomonian took it personal and sought the cause with herself. "Alright, I can stay for a meal", she sighed and her lips curled into a smile. "Really? I'm so happy", Mina shifted her weight up her toes and then back down. "Lead on, I don't exactly know where you live", the Uppersider smiled again and followed the overly excited woman uphill, into a narrow alley.

Part of her wondered how bad of an idea this was, but somehow she couldn't imagine the woman had any ill will toward her, or her crew. Three alleys later, they had arrived. The house belonged to a series of houses, some had a small path between the walls leading behind the buildings, others didn't. Mina turned the key, pushed the door open and they left the dark alley behind. "Mother, I am home! And I brought a guest for dinner!", Mina all but sang happily into the building, the voice loud enough to be carried up the stairwell to the upper floors. Steps creaked the floor boards and then the panels on the stairs. An old woman in a similar zealot dress appeared as Mina dragged the Uppersider into a well-lit kitchen. "Sit, sit!", she pushed Valentina onto a chair in the corner. The old woman stepped inside, a scowl immediately changing the mood of the room. "And here I thought you finally found a man!", the scowl vanished and her attention turned to the guest, "I'm Lania, Mina's mother. Welcome to our humble home. I'm guessing Mina's extended an invitation. Please be at home, and ask if you need anything".

"Thank you. And you're right, Mina invited me to dinner, asking for stories to tell", Valentina smirked slightly when the realisation hit her that she was being paid to be a bard. "I wish my daughter had as much interest in finding a partner as she does for stories of adventure", Lania sighed, throwing a glance at her daughter who was already busy preparing ingredients. The Uppersider couldn't suppress a smile. "As you can see, I'm getting old. My spouse passed away a long time ago. And I can't fathom why she wouldn't want a partner in her life", the old woman shook her head and sat down opposite of their guest at a sturdy, wooden table, "I'm sorry, I should not burden someone with these worries. Might you tell me who you are?".

All parents seem to have similar worries, regardless of culture and faith. Valentina could empathise. Her own mother sometimes had brought up the topic. Yet in Italy, at her age, a partner for life would still be years away. Maybe not years, but definitely two or three after finding a suitable candidate. "I'm Valentina. Guess you can tell, I'm not a Crosser. I'll be leaving soon again, after my ship has been resupplied and our captain has figured out the best route for a successful voyage", she explained and added in some details that were not exactly true.

Mina turned to them and sparkled with interest, "You come from far west, right?". Valentina thought that in a way it was true, so she nodded, "From beyond Strife Island, actually". That sparked the interest of both Mina and her mother. "You've been to Strife Island? People say that Glint watches over it. There is supposed to be a tall temple there. And the faithful can reach the Heavens from there!". Lania snorted at that, "Oh child, do you really believe all this nonsense?". Before the daughter could push back, the guest spoke up, "It's not that wrong. Not entirely true either. Strife Island is but a lifeless rock, on top of which many people with many different skills have erected a tower. Don't get me wrong, it's impressive, but it also looks dilapidated. Directly above Strife Island is Glint's Gate. A white, shining hole in the ceiling of the Underside. The tower tries to reach it, but I think it's hardly one third of how tall it needs to be".

During her tale, Lania started to help with dinner. Both were listening intently, asking questions about the Golden Lily, about Sirens, Virgin's End and King Rochard and she ended her story telling with those that she had heard herself about AB-21 and its dangerous robots. Whether the food tasted good or amazing didn't matter much, Valentina was just glad for the company. Somehow these two Solomonians had given her something no one else had in the Underside. A place to feel comfortable and at home. They talked until it got so late, that Lania offered the guest bed, but the Uppersider declined respectfully. She promised to visit again, if she ever was back in North Cross, and they offered her a place to stay any time she needed it. What kind souls, she smiled to herself as she tried to find her way back onto Clockspire Road. North Cross had fallen quiet. Uncomfortably quiet.