Momma had been preparing this for quite some time.

We weren’t that far from RiftCliff, probably an hour on foot, but… Passing another empty room, I noticed the white stone being worked on up against the wall.

Masons, building a fire place.

Upon passing their room, the workers all paused. Heads turned. Those who had been in the middle of conversation went quiet.

Such a thing was normal. Considering the current situation. Yet…

Workers of stone. Furniture movers. Cleaners.

Each we passed stopped what they were doing to stare.

I was used to being stared at.

I was a power.

A Guide.

The Riftborn.

I’ve been stared at my whole life…

But right now their staring was bothering me.

After all, I was sweating profusely. With each step, a drop of sweat fell. With each step, I had to take a deep breath.

I hoped I didn’t have to carry this thing all the way to RiftCliff. I hoped I could put it down soon.

It was growing far too heavy, and now people were starting to see that.

Showing such weakness, especially to them, wasn’t good… but I couldn’t have allowed them to carry this burden.

Even if they were her people. Even if that had been what she had wanted.

Until I see Momma, and shake her hand, this was my responsibility. No one else’s.

The woman walking in front of me, dressed in black, had not liked what I had done. Or was doing.

She had glared at me quite fiercely, although hadn’t argued. She now calmly led the way, guiding me down dark hallways.

Was she worried Momma would discipline her, or had she planned to steal the stone?

Not that it mattered.

Rounding a corner, I noticed something odd beneath my feet.

The floor wasn’t just stone. It was detailed.

Tiled.

The walls were smooth. The ceiling had recesses put in, to decorate.

There were freshly cut holes for lights. Candles. Sections in the walls were cut out deeper to give places for tables and other decorative furniture.

Yes… she’s been prepping this place for a long time.

Far longer than she’s had this stone.

Years possibly.

Most of this underground building was still empty. Doors were still missing. Half the rooms we passed looked completely empty, still. Only a few here and there had any furniture, and even fewer looked half furnished.

Chances were she wasn’t ready just yet to come here. But the stone had hastened her move.

I didn’t blame her… The Lakes, although ran and owned by her, were connected to many other places via their rivers.

Capitals even, of nations far more powerful than her.

It was too dangerous.

Here though, no one could lay claim.

Even before the Rift had appeared, so many years ago, this place had just been a small mining town. Unwanted, thanks to its criminal element.

The nation of the ocean, which laid claim to the lands and ocean not too far from here, were going to be very upset when they found out about this.

Yet they won’t be able to quite so easily invade, steal or kill… thanks to these very cliffs.

Momma seemed to be not only willing to make most of the world her enemy… she was already planning on how to defeat them.

Humans.

“It’s the Riftborn…”

I glanced to the whispers, and noticed the group down another hall.

The half dozen humans looked like any other. Dressed somewhat dirty, yet not covered in grime. Workers. Servants.

Maybe slaves.

Did they even comprehend what Momma had planned? Could they?

Would they be so willing to work for Momma, if they knew how dangerous this stone was? How deadly?

How untrustworthy magic was?

Did they have a choice?

It was almost sickening how similar these humans were to us. How they were just as easily tricked and manipulated… and how even those who weren’t, still happily followed those who led them to their slaughter.

To be so different yet so similar was a funny thing.

Especially since they had more freedom than we did.

“Right through here, Sir Riftborn.”

Looking up a little, since the damned stone was crushing my head and neck, I watched as we approached the end of the current hallway.

The first real doors I’ve seen upon entering this underground home were being held open by two familiar guards. I could not remember their faces or names but I remembered their armor.

The same two who had been there when I had picked up the stone at the lake.

Good. Finally.

My guide, the woman in black, went to stand next to the door outside the room. She watched intently as I passed her, entering an already lit up room.

Unlike last time, the two guards stared at me. Me, not the stone I was burdened with.

But I ignored them as I scanned the room.

Other than the rods of metal in the center, there was nothing. Just another entrance off to the right. Like all the rest, there was no furniture. Nothing but candles lit in their little pocket holes scattered the walls.

“Krift! You wonderful Riftborn! If you had half an idea on how happy you’ve made me, you’d probably start to sweat!” The boisterous woman basically ran into the room, entering from the other door, and I flinched at the sight of her.

She was nearly naked. Wearing nothing but a thin nightgown.

Seemed there was indeed something worse than that ugly glowing dress that she could outshine.

“Momma. May I place this stone inside that cage?” I asked her, hoping I didn’t sound too rude.

“Oh yes! Phil, open the cage! Hurry!” Momma quickly gestured, and I heard the doors behind me shut as both of the armored men hurried past me.

While the two men hurriedly fumbled with a makeshift gate, I studied the metal poles that had been placed in the center of the room.

I could tell they had been placed in a hurry. A few were slightly crooked, and most of them had been forced so roughly into the stone they were embedded in, that cracks had begun to spread out from where they connected with stone.

A makeshift cage to protect the stone.

Most likely temporary, but it told me she had only just a few days ago had it crafted. She had waited until she was here to order the construction.

The two armored men quickly got the cage open, and I carried the stone into it.

I had to carefully enter, since the makeshift gate they had installed was almost not wide enough to carry the stone through. There was also a slight recessed hole, inside the center of the bars… as if she had…

No. It hadn’t been carved. The recess on the floor was just a dip, from natural weathering. Maybe at one time water had been inside here.

“Krift, look at you. I almost want to lock you in there with it!” Momma teased as I laid the rock down in the center of the cage.

There wasn’t any platform, or even a rug for it, but I knew that Momma knew that the rock was neigh indestructible.

No hammer, pick, or tool could break this rock. Only magic could break magic.

Yet still, I laid it down gently. Both to make sure I didn’t collapse next to it, and to not be seen as rude.

“I’ve been locked in cages before, but not for display,” I said calmly, after the rock was delivered safely.

Momma of the Cliffs laughed with strange happiness as she too entered the cage. It very quickly became cramped, as I stepped aside so she could assess her rock.

Running her hand along the rock, I heard her nails scrape it as she smiled at me.

“I admit, Krift, I had started to worry. You’re late. But when I heard not a few hours ago that you had arrived, carrying the stone on your back, I understood… although now I am glad to have seen it myself. I might not have actually believed it otherwise,” she said.

I nodded, and was glad she was so happy. A part of me had honestly been worried she’d have not been.

“Sadly, your bear had… an accident. I do apologize,” I said. While I spoke to her, I noticed that Mintmorency was watching us from near the door. The two armored men were staring at her, and I could tell she was worried.

Momma waved my apology away, “Please, Krift! I got to see you covered in sweat! That alone makes up for it, I think!” she laughed at her own joke.

Well, if sweat was all I had to pay to make this deal go smooth and happy… then so be it.

“In fact, Marria! Escort Krift and… his friend, to my study! Get them drinks and food!” Momma then turned a little to shout an order. To someone who was not in the room, and outside the hallway. Most likely the woman who had guided us here.

The door opened, and the woman in black entered the room. “At once, Momma,” she said with a smile.

“Please Krift, go sit and rest. It will also let me get into something… a little more appropriate,” Momma said as she turned to leave the cage.

Following her out of it, I smiled at her words. “And here I thought I was receiving a bonus,” I said.

Momma laughed, but said nothing more as she went back from whence she came. As she did, I glanced into the room she went… and saw the room.

Rugs. Furniture, a bed.

Her bedroom.

She planned on sleeping right across from the stone.

Humans.

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“Lead the way,” I said to the woman in black, and gestured for Mintmorency to join. She didn’t hesitate, and hurried out of the room before me.

Following the two women out, I ignored the two armored men who watched us leave yet didn’t follow.

Good.

Heading back down the hallway, the woman in black guided us down a different path. She had a brisk pace, as if she wanted to hurry… but I walked slowly.

My slower pace had both the guiding woman and Mintmorency outpace me quickly. I let them, as I tried to catch my breath.

Now relieved of the burden, I felt my exhaustion.

The small break on the lift earlier hadn’t been much of one. I was on edge, since I had partly expected a lot of soldiers at the top. With spears, and arrows.

Damn good thing there hadn’t been.

“Momma’s study. Please, take a seat and I’ll promptly fetch you food and drink,” the woman said, stopping before another door.

“Just water. Nothing more,” I said as I followed Mintmorency into the room.

The servant shifted, and her eyes narrowed, but she only nodded her head at my words.

I knew she’d go first to Momma, both to service her, and to inform her of my order. But I didn’t care if it made Momma angry.

“Krift…?” Mintmorency whispered once the servant walked away.

“Sit. Remember what I told you earlier,” I said to her, as I looked around the large room.

There were three sets of seating areas. Each with their own chairs, and tables. Then there were two large desks near the end of the room, and a massive safe behind those.

A few bookshelves were already here, but only one had stuff on it. The others were still empty.

Walking over to the largest single chair, and not a couch, I sat and relaxed. My lower back hurt. And not just because of carrying that damned stone for so long. The makeshift backpack I had made had shifted and broke about half way here. A piece of wood had dug and poked into me as we walked.

After a few moments I glanced to the unsure power nearby.

She was still standing.

“What’s wrong? Need to use the restroom or something?” I asked her.

“Ah… no… I uh…” she stopped talking, and flinched. Yes that habit would have to be broken. “I mean. I’m tired. I’m afraid if I sit down, I’ll fall asleep,” she said softly, glancing to the still open door.

“Sit anyway. And stay awake. The women of our kind do not stand for meetings, it’s seen as beneath them,” I said to her.

She flinched again, as if I had scolded her, but accepted it. She went to sit in the nearest chair, near the door.

“Not that one,” I stopped Mintmorency from sitting at the first chair.

With a worried glare she then walked over to me, as to sit in the chair next to me.

She pointed at it before sitting down and I nodded, and wondered if it was her exhaustion or the human traits she’s learned over the years.

What kind of woman sits that far away from the man she’s with? Did she want Momma to think something stupid?

Mintmorency sat stiffly. I noted how uncomfortable she looked. And I knew, from the chair I sat in, how comfortable these cushions were.

“Krift! I heard you only wanted water! Are you trying to insult me? And don’t say you won’t eat or drink until our deal is consummated, because that too would be an insult you know,” Momma of the Cliffs barged into her study as loudly and boldly as always. It made me wince.

“Please, Momma. For as long as we’ve known each other have I ever meant such things as insults?” I asked her.

“Well… No… but still! Tell me, quickly, your reasoning,” she said, walking towards her desk.

“Because our deal is in fact not finished. And once it is, I’ll still be working. I have another task, after yours is finished, as you can see,” I said calmly with a nod to the power next to me.

Momma’s eyes only briefly glanced to the stiff power, which went even more still, as she nodded. “All right. I suppose I can accept that… for now. Another day I’ll have words for you though,” Momma said with a wiggle of a finger at me.

“I accept,” I said simply.

“Good! Then…” Momma went silent, and then nodded to me with expectant eyes.

I sighed and nodded. “Momma of the Cliffs, I’d like you to meet my next task. Mintmorency. I’ve been employed as her Guide, through the Rift,” I introduced her.

Momma walked back around her desk and in-between the chairs, to approach Mintmorency. Who quickly stood in greeting. “Mintmorency… What a name. My own is Everlist Bridonna. But I go by Momma. If I’m not old enough for you to comfortably call me such, I will understand,” Momma of the Cliffs introduced herself, extending her hand. I noted how she introduced herself, and how naturally she said it. Momma had rehearsed her introduction, to powers. It made me wonder how many she had met.

Mintmorency glanced to me, before taking it, and I gestured for her that it was alright. She took it, and I watched as she carefully shook Momma’s hand.

“Momma. You have… a very interesting home,” Mintmorency said.

“I do, don’t I! But just you wait; in the blink of an eye it shall be far more than it is now. That I promise you,” Momma said, smiling.

Right as the two separated their hands, Momma’s servant returned with a platter of water. Three glasses full of it.

Instead of laying the platter down on the table next to us, the woman instead carried it to Momma… who then grabbed two of the glasses. To offer to us.

She held the first out to the power next to me, who happily took it. “Thank you, Momma… Krift had neglected to get more water once our's ran out yesterday, so I am very thankful,” Mintmorency said as she took the glass.

I felt Momma’s look as I took the glass she then offered to me, but I said nothing.

“Well, I had heard how rough Krift was on his journeys… I had not expected those rumors to be so true! Hopefully he’ll be a little more attentive during your trip through the Rift!” Momma said happily, smoothly glossing over the indirect insult she had just given Momma.

It wasn’t her fault. Mintmorency had been trying to make small talk, while also expressing her dissatisfaction with me. She wouldn’t realize Momma would interpret her words as me ignoring her needs since I had been carrying Momma’s stone.

After taking her own glass, Momma went back towards the large desk. Instead of sitting down at it, she instead put her glass down and went to the safe behind it.

Good. My pay.

As Mintmorency sat down, happily sipping from her glass, I stood and also placed my glass down.

Momma’s servant had retreated to the side of the door, but hadn’t left the room… and I wondered if I should care for how she stared at Mintmorency. Those eyes weren’t just studying her…

“What are you plans with Norbi, Momma? She still runs the Cliffs, doesn’t she?” I asked, as Momma unlocked her safe and pulled it open. It didn’t make a sound as the large metal door moved.

“Norbi…?” Momma glanced at me, and I noticed the unsure look.

I smiled, and wondered if she was worried I was friends with her or something. “Did the cliffs eat her?” I asked; making sure she understood I didn’t care much.

“Ah. No. Norbi died many years ago. Seven, I believe. Since then I’ve ensured no one else took over the Cliffs. So, I suppose that’d be me now,” Momma said.

While she explained, I realized what had been her confusion. It hadn’t been her worry over my personal opinions… but instead true confusion.

“I see. I guess it has been some time since I’ve been here,” I said honestly. I had been here since then, but had only been passing through. There wasn’t really much business here, for someone like me, after all.

“It must! Hopefully you’ll not go that long without visiting again, now that I’m here,” Momma said as she messed with stuff inside her safe. I heard not just coins clinking, but papers moving too.

“Surely not. I expect I’ll be… busy here, soon,” I said.

Momma stopped what she was doing to look at me with one of her natural smiles. “I like the sound of that… In fact, I was going to ask your opinion on…” Her eyes briefly fluttered away from me, to the woman sipping water behind me.

“She’s not one to care for the Lands of Man, Momma,” I said softly.

Momma smiled and nodded, glad to hear it. “I wanted your opinion on my house. You wouldn’t happen to know any good… vermin killers, would you?” she asked playfully.

“How big are the vermin?” I asked, wondering if some kind of Rift Creature had made the Cliffs its home.

Momma laughed, waving at me. “Oh please, Krift! Not very big at all!”

Oh.

For a small moment I imagined spending time to clean this place up. She most likely had quite a problem, now with that stone…

“I suppose… Though if you want it soon, I may not be able to do so. After all, I have to guide through the Rift,” I said, gesturing to Mintmorency.

“Does that mean I can be next? Once you’re done?” Momma asked as she finally stepped away from the safe. She now had a nice sized pouch in her hand, although it wasn’t tied closed.

“Yes. I’ll return here, once this task is done,” I agreed.

“Good! I’m sure you understand why, Krift… you not only know of the stone, but I don’t need to worry over you. You hold no allegiances, after all,” she said happily.

“Indeed,” I agreed. Though something tells me I’ll need to be careful. She’ll try to claim that allegiance… Eventually. Or even demand it.

“Still! You’re always so busy, Krift. Do you ever take breaks?” she asked as she sat down at her desk.

When she did, I noticed the way her chair sunk and tilted back as she got comfortable. It didn’t make a single sound as it did. The chair was very well made.

“I do sometimes, in the Rift,” I said honestly.

Momma laughed, but only because she didn’t believe me.

No one ever did.

“You don’t mind if I count them, do you?” she then asked, gesturing to the small pouch.

“Please,” I accepted.

With care and surety, Momma began to pull coin after coin out of the pouch. They were all square in shape, and solid gold. The familiar face of a king from the largest nation here in the Lands of Man was stamped onto them.

Each one was worth more than the twenty-two coins inside of the pouch of the woman still seated behind me.

The only reason I knew which coins she had, was that her pouch had torn free during the scuffle. She had been so exhausted, once she fell asleep, that she hadn’t even noticed me tying it back onto her waist.

As Momma laid the coins out before me, I wondered if she was going to try her usual tricks.

I expected it of her, and that smirk on her face told me it was a surety… but would she really?

This was far more than usual, after all.

Yet now she was also obscenely wealthy. To the point where such fortunes meant nothing to her.

After all that stone may as well as be made of such coins.

“Krift.”

For a small moment I thought Momma had said something, since the next coin was now hesitating in the air.

It hadn’t been her though.

Glancing behind me, I glared at the woman who had picked up the glass of water I had discarded.

She paused in her grabbing of it, but smiled as she wordlessly asked if she could have my glass of water.

I nodded, and wished she hadn’t asked. After all, a female of our race didn’t. They simply took whatever they wanted. At least of those they deemed beneath them. At least, the ones at the top of the food chain did.

“She looks famished, are you sure you won’t stay for dinner?” Momma asked, amused.

“Against my rules, Momma. You know that,” I said.

“Rules. I break those things, you know,” Momma said as she went back to counting coins.

“I’ve heard. I break them myself on occasion, too,” I played along.

The pouch was almost empty, and I was glad for it. It seemed there wasn’t going to be enough coins for her to try and pull any weird stunts.

“The Floating Baths, are still here I hope? Norbi had run them, so…” I asked.

“They are. I own them now. Marria send word for me. Tell them to expect the Riftborn,” Momma ordered.

The servant hurriedly left, to obey.

“Thank you,” I said.

Momma waved it off as she pulled the very last coin out of the pouch.

As she placed it next to the rest, I nodded and relaxed.

Good. The exact amount.

No games this time.

Before I could reach out my hand, to shake hers, someone stepped up next to me.

For a tiny moment, I went stiff. In expectance of an attack, or something worse.

Instead, it was just Mintmorency… still with the glass of water in her hand as she stared down at the coins stacked on the desk.

Both I and Momma watched her, as she studied the coins with an odd indifference.

Momma probably saw a bored power.

I saw an exhausted woman about to collapse.

“I’m almost done,” I said to her, and was glad I didn’t sound too angry. How could she approach the desk, while coins were being exchanged? Especially since she wasn’t a part of said deal…

“Almost,” Momma agreed, and then reached a hand to her side.

The movement was an odd one, especially when she reached into the folds of her clothes… and…

“Momma…” I groaned as she pulled two more coins out, with a huge smirk.

I sighed as she placed them down on top of the others, and with a defiant glare sat back in her chair… leaning back, as if to dare me to argue.

“What?” she asked, amused.

“I hate when you do this. If I don’t take them, you get upset. If I take them, I get upset. You never let both of us win,” I said.

“Why can’t I pay you extra for a good job? Why do you always argue? You do work beyond and above, and should be paid accordingly,” Momma said.

Like always she sounded excited. As if she enjoyed this more than actually making the coins themselves.

“Because we already had an agreement. If I allowed people to change the terms, then there’d be no point to my promises,” I said sternly.

“Promises!” Momma scoffed at the word, as if it was dirty.

“I can’t take them, Momma. Remove two of them,” I said.

“You can and will. Or I’ll not let you take any,” she argued.

The woman next to me shifted at the suddenly angry tone of the large woman before us. As if it had been directed towards her.

“Unless…” Momma then looked at the stiff power next to me. “She takes it. Then neither of us win,” she then said.

I was going to argue, since she was probably worried and anxious of being made a part of the conversation… but the power beat me to it.

She, without any hesitation, reached out to grab the coins.

Momma and I watched in silent awe as she put her glass of water down, and began to collect the coins. She quickly put them into her own pouch, which dangled unsafely and out in the open on the left side of her waist.

“Ha! Krift, I adore her! Please, please stay the night here instead. I beg you!” Momma began to laugh in amusement, as Mintmorency gathered up the rest of the coins.

“Maybe another time…” I said, and then held out my hand over the desk.

Mintmorency had to reach under my outstretched hand, to grab the last coin, and the sight of it made Momma laugh even more as she took my hand.

The pudgy hand was oddly solid, and cold, as I shook it.

“Thank you, Krift,” she said.

“Thank you, Momma. I’ll return within a moon, for your next task. We can talk more then,” I said.

“Agreed.” Momma then stood form her chair, and extended her hand to the woman who was now tightly tying her pouch.

Mintmorency took her hand again, and I noticed the smile on her face. The smirk had somehow mimicked Momma’s.

“It was a pleasure. Thank you for the water,” Mintmorency said.

“And thank you for the entertainment. Krift is always so stiff and boring, maybe you’ll return with him to make it more fun?” Momma asked.

“Regrettably, not likely… I am sorry,” Mintmorency said.

“I see. Maybe we’ll meet again then, someday.”

“Maybe. I’ll let Krift know, who can let you know,” Mintmorency said.

Momma smiled at that, and I didn’t like the way she glanced at me. She had misunderstood.

“Goodbye Momma. Try not to let the stone’s glow attract too many bugs in the night,” I warned.

“I’m used to bugs, Krift. The Lakes were full of them.”