The harbor buzzed with activity, sea merchants and dockers darting around like ants in a frenzy. This was a boon for Hunter. After the back-alley brawl, his raggedy-ass appearance was a godsend for blending in here.

He weaved through the chaos, dodging seafood wagons like they were explosive traps, all the while keeping his one good eye on Xuthos' fortress-like residence. Stationed outside was some meat-head, all decked out in shiny armor wielding a big spear that could pierce through an armored elephant if he felt like it.

The guard stood as a flesh and blood warning sign to any one dumb enough to think Xuthos was a soft touch.

No sneaking around back like last night, if I step anywhere close to that place, guards will pop out of the woodwork faster than cockroaches at midnight.

No sane soul would buy that he was there for business or a friendly visit.

Hunter needed to get real inventive if he was going to see Jo before the sun kissed the horizon goodnight. Eratos doubled the amount of guards all along Delphare’s boundary wall, meaning a heftier risk for Hunter when he made his return journey back to the tower.

The blaring horns signaled the docking of a shipping vessel.

Above, seagulls wheeled and dived, their cries a raucous celebration of imminent plunder. It told Hunter the vessel carried fresh stock, a valuable payload that needed swift delivery. A plan sparked in his mind as he watched the dockers board the vessel to unload crates of crabs.

Hunter saw his chance, flashed a wicked grin, and snatched up an oar that'd been tossed to the side. Then he stepped right into the chaos swatting a seagull mid-dive before it reached the crates.

"Thanks mate." A grizzled dock worker puffed on a pipe as the seagull swooped out of reach. "Those treacherous feathery bastards got Jimmy's eye last week. You takin' his spot?"

Hunter, swinging mid-air as the next seagull plunged into a nosedive, glanced down at the worker. "Nah, mate. Just a hired hand, paid by the hour. You know how it is."

The man, sweat dripping from his brow, gave Hunter a once-over and finally offered a nod of approval. Hunter had passed a silent test, knowing how to fit right in with these dockworkers. He was used to their rhythm from their visits to Death Island. They smuggled in illegal supplies of Red Rum for Magistratus Dimus when the fancy took him.

For the next twenty minutes, Hunter played seagull-whacker, while the dockers loaded crates of crabs onto the transport wagon. He felt for the crabs, the poor bastards were packed tighter than a jar of sardines. Many crates bore the scars of wear and tear. Some were so badly cracked and broken, they allowed a few fearless crabs to make a run for it. Their desperate struggle to escape was something he could relate to.

Hunter silently rooted for them.

Each successful escape felt like a personal victory.

It was a high-stakes showdown between those sideways scuttling crabs and the seagulls, all under the dockworkers' stomping feet. Hunter nudged as many of the little crabs as he could, ensuring their slippery escape back into the harbor waters when no one was watching.

When the wagon was nearly full, Hunter hopped on back, continuing his seagull-defense duties. He caught the eye of the docker who'd thanked him earlier.

"Need me to guard the wagon till it reaches its next stop?" Hunter raised the oar.

The docker pointed down an alley beside Xuthos' residence. "We're not going far, just down there. The port manager likes to check the goods and sign off on 'em."

His sour look said it all. Xuthos had sticky fingers, and a few crates were likely to go missing.

“Xuthos will place a basic protection array on the cart, so we won’t need you after that."

"Happy to have any work at all." Hunter’s grin hid the tension beneath.

The docker offered a grim smile. "You done good, lad. No workplace injuries means no paperwork for me, and thanks to you, I don't gotta deal with Xuthos' miserly ass when it comes to compensating for injuries. That tight bastard expects folks to show up to work even if they've lost a limb!"

With that, the wagon driver cracked his whip, and the mules up front took off. In a blink, they were down the lane, the wagon turned about, ready for a quick getaway once the inspections and paperwork were done.

Sly as a pickpocket, Hunter slipped down from the back of the cart.

In broad daylight, that back courtyard looked like a parade of fancies. Benches for people to park their behinds, circling around a statue of Xuthos, his larger-than-life manhood immortalized in stone. Hunter lost interest in that real fast and took in the rest of his surroundings.

In the dappled shade, partially covered by ivy, stood a statue of a lady holding the hands of two children—one boy, one girl. Hunter squinted at the figures, his mind racing with curiosity. The boy's furrowed brow reminded him of Pheres back in their school days. But the lady and girl were strangers to him, their faces unfamiliar.

The driver's impatient hollering broke through his thoughts.

"Lazlo, get your lazy ass out here before these crabs turn on each other! My boss'll skin me alive if I don't deliver these goods on time." He mumbled the last part to himself, and Hunter took it as a sign to make himself scarce.

With nimble steps, Hunter vanished under the canopy, taking shelter beside the forgotten ivy-covered statues as service doors flew open.

A hefty man, draped in an apron caked in dust, charged toward the driver, rubbing the sleep from his eyes like he'd just crawled out of a booze-soaked stupor.

Hunter used the distraction to slip into the service entrance. It wasn't the time for a risky midday trellis climb to Jo’s balcony. Inside, he found himself in what seemed like a cluttered hovel, illuminated only by the flickering glow of spirit lamps. The place was a chaotic hurricane of papers, discarded scrolls, and half-finished inventions, making Hunter’s tinkerer's table look as neat as a noble's parlor.

Spotting a winding staircase behind one of the doors, he crept up to the top level, heading straight for Jo's room.

As he approached the end of the corridor, muffled sounds came from behind closed doors, urging him to tread with caution. Holding his breath, he moved past the rooms, praying that none of the occupants would burst out before he reached Jo's door.

He decided against knocking and eased the door open to Jo’s room.

There she was.

Her room was a stark contrast to the mess downstairs. Jo sat at her desk, dwarfed by two monoliths of paperwork that seemed ready to avalanche at any moment. The sunlight streaming through the window lit up her hair with golden highlights that made her look almost angelic.

Hunter stepped inside, the floorboard groaning under his weight.

Faster than a striking viper, Jo spun around. "Geez, Hunter, you're back already." Her eyes sparkled with delight as she stood up, a wave of worry washing over her. "I haven't seen you for years, and now you're back for a second visit." She scrutinized him as if trying to piece together the puzzle that was his sudden appearance. Hunter knew Jo was thrilled to see him, but she kept her excitement locked up tighter than Xuthos’ vault.

"Yeah, well, it feels like an eternity to me. Time in the tower creeps along like a snail on a Sunday stroll.”

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Jo’s eyes flickered towards the balcony, then back to the door he'd just closed. She held a finger to her lips, straining to hear anything amiss. “You here for something specific?”

Hunter shrugged, playing it off with a casual grin. “Can't a dutiful big brother swing by for a visit to check on his favorite sister?”

“You mean your only sister, you big oaf.” The frost in her voice thawed. She placed her stylus down on the desk and shook her head. “Sorry, big brother. All this paperwork gets under my skin. No need for me to take it out on you. But cut the bullshit, okay? You know me, I might look it, but I’m no fragile wallflower. Why are you here, and how can I help?”

Hunter held up a hand. “Give me a minute and I’ll explain.” He checked his inventory and found what he was looking for. “Since you asked… I could use some help.”

Jo’s eyes went wide when she saw it. “Holy shit balls, is that a golden blush apple? Those things cost a fortune. Haven't seen one since we were kids.”

She stared at it, unblinking, until Hunter nudged it into her hands. “It's for you. It won't heal you, but it'll help fortify your body."

Jo frowned, biting her lip. She held the apple like it might shatter in her hands. “Remember when mother sent foragers to every corner of our province to find alternatives until she…” Jo trailed off, her gaze falling to the floor.

Without a word, she turned and placed the apple on her desk. Her shoulders slumped as she continued, her voice barely a whisper.

“After you left, I was forbidden from leaving the compound. Uncle claimed it was for my own good, assigning me a wretched personal tutor who hovered over me like a vulture. I was practically suffocating, unable to do anything. They used my illness as an excuse to keep me within their control.” She paused, glancing back at him, her big brown eyes misting over. “I didn't know it at the time, but uncle called off the forager search that Mother had initiated. Eventually, he told me there was no cure, and that as I grew older, my body would adjust. I'd just have to learn to live with Sylphid’s Corruption, avoiding cultivation and strenuous activity."

Bitterness and regret swirled in Hunter, a gnawing feeling in his chest. The anger in Jo's voice signaled the need for space.

"I'm so sorry, Jo. I should've been here, or I should've asked Mistress Arista to talk some sense into Uncle."

“She tried.” Jo's voice was as cold as a winter wind. “And Uncle sent her off to some godforsaken borderlands in the Northern Valley. Those lands were ravaged by beast surges, and their schools were in chaos. Looking back, it's clear he hoped she'd perish there. It didn't take long for my new tutor to...”

Hunter moved closer, his hand hovering above her trembling shoulder. “Uncle only ever sent me one letter. Told me to leave you be. Said seeing me would be like reopening an old wound.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged him off and his heart sank. “Working on Death Island, I could've been a carrier of Scale Rot. The bastard asked me how would I live with myself if I infected you?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. He's the monster of our past. I refuse to let him taint our present or future.” Jo turned toward her desk, pulling her hair back taut with a ribbon. “There's nothing we can do about the past. You said you needed help with something. Spit it out.”

Hunter exhaled. “My knowledge of scripts is as rusty as my last dagger. You, on the other hand, must be a master by now. The golden blush apple? There’s more where that came from.”

Jo spun around to face him, her eyes darting in search of a bag that held the apples. Then her gaze fell to his ring, and she scowled. "Don't tell me you've stashed them in there."

“Before you kill me where I stand, they’re wrapped in silver cloth. It came from a god, if that makes it any better. The silver works as a preservative in the short term, but I need you to write me a protective script for foraged items so they last longer in my storage ring.” He gave her a pleading smile.

Jo leaned back against the desk, her fingers drumming her chin. "Well, that's a relief. Leave it to me. I'll whip one up in no time so you can add it into your ring." Her eyebrow arched. "Now, spill the beans. Why do you look like you've been in a brawl but reek of cheap perfume and trash?"

Hunter's cheeks blazed. His sister had a knack for cutting through the crap. He tried to explain in a single breath. "It's not what you're thinking. You probably can't tell, but I broke through to the Refiner stage inside the tower. I can't get into it now, but it’s a bit of a fixer-upper, so no access to clean water. I took a little detour to the bathhouse, needing to make myself presentable to visit Helios in the temple. That got me some unwanted attention on my way here. Ended up in a bit of a tussle down an alley, but I managed to slip away with a little help from my furry friends."

Her eyes widened, eyebrows reaching for the heavens. "Public or private bathhouse?" Then she waved her hand dismissively. "On second thought, I don’t want to know. Tell me why you visited Helios."

Hunter hesitated for a moment, ambling over to the balcony. Down in the courtyard, the driver scowled, arms folded, while Xuthos barked orders at two servants unloading crab crates from the wagon.

No sign of Pheres skulking around.

Hunter wasn't about to repeat the same mistake as the night before. He stepped back inside and closed the balcony doors behind him.

Crossing the room, he beckoned Jo closer. “I went to Helios to find out what he knows about the tower. Uncle requested him to research it and report back as soon as he was done. I need to know if I should expect any unwanted attention while I’m training in the tower. I also wanted to know where uncle stands, and what plans he’s made regarding the tower. Turns out he’s doubling the guards on the boundary walls and imposing a stricter curfew from dusk until dawn, no in or out without a pass token.”

Jo frowned. “Back up a bit. You glossed over the whole ‘tussle’ in an alley…”

“Yeah, a bit unexpected, that.” He smirked, feigning innocence. “First, they seemed like regular street thugs but turned out they were mercenaries loyal to Vassilus. You were right about Pheres being a blabbermouth. He overheard our conversation from the courtyard last night. The sandal sniffer ambushed me at the boundary wall to turn me over to the guards for breaking curfew. Somehow, Vassilus got wind that I was trying to enter the tower and sent his goons after me.”

“What the hell does the head magistratus think he’s going to do with you? It’s a bold move to try that behind Eratos’ back.”

“I wager Vassilus thinks he can force me to give them access to the tower and the energy within. All based on rumors by Pheres or his father, I’m sure. The power he could gain from a tower of ascension justifies the risk.”

Jo’s face paled. “Well then, if that’s what he wants, what I’m about to tell you is really bad news. This morning I overheard Vassilus talking to Xuthos. I had just retrieved the daily scrolls from Xuthos' office safe. I stood outside the door and listened for a moment; I couldn't hear much, but it sounded like they were discussing a new business deal to rise against the death cultists who have infiltrated this city.”

Leaning a hand on the desk corner, Hunter shook his head. “They believe the tower was summoned by them and will stop at nothing until they see it destroyed.”

Glancing to the balcony, Jo crossed her arms. “Xuthos is always whining to his son about how soft our uncle is, demanding a zero-tolerance approach to tear down that tower. If Eratos were out of the picture, they could do it together. Now, you're saying Vassilus is interested in you and the tower. If they're working together, they're nearly untouchable and have half the city guards in their pockets.”

Hunter stared at his sister as the weight of her words sunk in. He’d been a pariah for years, living on Death Island among outcasts the city wanted to forget. Now, he’d hardly set foot in the city twice and so many folk were interested in him. Except for the bathhouse ladies, it was most definitely not in a good way.

He rubbed his chin. “It appears Uncle doesn’t trust Xuthos either, if he has you spying on him.”

"I remember Mother once warning Father, ‘Beware the serpent that coils within allies' hearts, for treachery dances on both sides of the sword.’ I didn’t know what it meant at the time but it’s a fitting way to describe Vassilus and Xuthos don’t you think?" She moved over to a smaller table and picked up a leather-bound notebook. "The information in here could damn not only Xuthos but half the nobles in the city. It's the Who's Who of corrupt politicians and schemers in this city."

Hunter reached for the notebook but Jo pulled it away. “It’s got a spiritual tracer on it. Besides Xuthos, it’s for my eyes only. Anyone else reads it, and there’ll be severe punishment for me.”

He saw the swirling runes on the cover, coiling like a sea serpent. The ledger was enchanted to protect Xuthos' dirty secrets.

Hunter tried to hide his disappointment. “I’d like to say he’s paranoid, but it seems he’s partying with backstabbing friends and enemies. Did Eratos say what he wanted to do with the information you’re collecting?”

She shook her head, placing the ledger inside the table’s drawer. “I’m on a need-to-know basis. Don’t know what his plan is but either way, it won’t end well for Xuthos, especially if he crosses our uncle.”

“Well, you keep doing as you have for both sides. I need to buy more time so I can get stronger more quickly and get you out of here. If they don't meet their own demise by their own hands, I'll grow strong enough to take them down or buy your freedom if I have to.”

Jo tsked. “You have to be smarter than them, not just use brute force. Even if you become rich, there is no guarantee any of them will let you buy my freedom.” She sighed. “We need to be more like a phoenix and safeguard our eggs in more than one nest. Brute strength can’t save me, not when both Xuthos and Eratos have held me captive for so long.”

“Do you have other plans?”

Jo placed a hand on her hip. “Nothing concrete, but I was on my own for a long time, not knowing if I'd ever see you again. So, I had to be resourceful. But now it's different, and we can work together, but promise me, Hunter, please don't do anything rash.”

“I may not be as smart as you, but I'm not foolish. Do you have any information I can use on either of them?”

“They'll know you wouldn’t come across this information on your own. Anything useful that I could tell you would all lead a trail straight back to me. I'll have to consider the information and be sure to cover my tracks before I can take such a risk.” She shook her head. “It's not just about you or me. Xuthos is hurting other people.”

“Then it’s time that his business is shut down for good and his hold over this city ends.”

She paused and glanced back at the drawer where she placed the ledger. “I have the information to take him down, but I need your help.”