"So Kai, what have you been up to?" Hina asked, turning in her seat slightly in what she hoped was an appropriate way. She sat at the table with Kai, Gerda, Bruce, Ivan and Nora, like this was just another uncomfortable dinner party with her parents and their friends. Except they were in the House. Her knuckles were white as she gripped her spoon, which held a white smear of soup.

Kai set his glass down and looked at her, a little smile on his face. "I—a lot of things," he said. "Working in the garden." He nodded to the window. "There's vegetables growing out there at the edge of the trees. And helping Mr. Marlow in the kitchen. And Nora"—he looked across the table at her—she smiled and nodded. "Nora's been taking me exploring."

"Exploring where?" Hina tried to hide her concern, lifting her spoon to her mouth. The soup was creamy and salty, delicious.

"Under?" Kai glanced at Nora. "Under the house. There's a whole bunch of tunnels and rooms under there, and sometimes they connect to other places. Stranger places. Like, uh, before. But different."

"The House is vast and full of wonders," Gerda said with a nod. "It stretches across the void and beyond. Its doors lead to many places."

"Does it really lead to other w-worlds?" Kai asked.

"Other worlds, other places, yes."

"Is that safe?" Hina asked. Her next spoonful of soup had a shriveled black olive in it, and she chewed it slowly, savoring the salty taste.

"Certainly not. But there is much of value to be found by those who are willing to take the risk. And The House protects those who serve."

"Like Kai?"

Bruce shook his head, grinning, but didn't say anything.

"Like Nora," Gerda said, "who has been charged with Kai's guidance until he consents to join the House."

"How many worlds are there?" Kai asked, a dreaminess in his voice. He sipped from his glass of wine.

"Hundreds, thousands of worlds. More," Gerda said. "The simple truth is that we do not know. There are a handful that the House touches directly, and the ways between its branches are known and well-travelled.

"But we know of others that may be reached from those worlds, and more that can be found within the House only on rare occasions."

"Those who die in service to the House may return to life once more, reborn amongst those other worlds," Ivan said. "If the House is pleased with them." There was a strange note in his voice.

Hina shook her head. "How can you know that?"

"It has happened, many times," Gerda said. "And it is a great honour to be chosen."

"Has it happened to you?" Kai asked.

"Don't be rude, Kai," Nora said. "You know better than that."

"Yes, child." Gerda smiled tightly. "You must never ask a lady if she has died and been reborn. It's simply not polite."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be r-rude." Kai looked down at his plate.

"It is forgotten," Gerda said. "And to answer your question, no. Not I. But I have seen it firsthand." She frowned and looked away.

"But—" Hina wasn't particularly interested by that. "Kai has been to other worlds?" she asked. That didn't seem like a good thing.

"Yes. World-travel," Nora said, "is excellent training—it strengthens the soul."

"I have?" Kai asked. "I thought—"

"Wait, so when we were in the Spi—" Hina began.

The air went tense. The smile froze on Bruce' face.

"—do not say that name here," Gerda interrupted. "You should know better than that." She turned to glare at Bruce who threw up his hands. "You should have been better instructed."

"Sorry," Hina said. "I didn't mean to—can I talk about them generally? The Houses?" Hina asked.

"No names. Not within this House, but yes. You may speak in generalities."

"Does all of this mean that beneath the—the other House, if we had travelled far enough, we would have reached other worlds?"

"Perhaps," Gerda said. "If you persisted long enough, or the House was willing to guide you—a rare occurrence, except for those who serve. For most, the resistance is too great, and they are turned back before crossing any thresholds."

Hina was thinking of the graveyard on the edge of a village that she'd never gotten to see. Of an unfamiliar night sky. "Are they the same other worlds that can be reached from this House?"

"It is possible. The well-travelled paths are unique to each House, but there have been cases of Houses sharing destinations."

"Are they—are the Houses in every world?" Kai asked.

"No, child," Gerda said. "Working to expand the reach of the House is one of our greater tasks as its servants. A task that will require your assistance, should your sister choose not to join us."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Hina took another spoonful of soup. An olive rolled over in her bowl, the wrinkled skin looked almost like a shriveled up face.

"And that's why you need more people to join the House?" Kai asked. "To expand the House?"

"Yes. Our presence here is small—as you can see, we have been greatly reduced by the... losses of the past—and we are stretched thin. We need more servants, more powerful servants to help us," Gerda said, looking at Hina. "And more souls of every kind to help the house grow."

"Why are there so few of you?" Hina asked.

"The House has only recently woken," Gerda said. "It has been asleep for decades, dreaming, guarded by a bare few. But now, it is awake."

"And it has been here all along?" Hina asked. "So close to—the city?"

"This is but one branch among many," Gerda said. "Our seat of power was once far from here, but the House has grown and changed during its great rest. Now it is here."

"And it needs more people?" Kai asked. "More... souls?"

"Yes. It needs more souls to help it grow strong, more souls to help it protect itself. More souls of every kind."

Kinds of souls? "What kinds of souls are there?" Hina asked.

"Kinds is perhaps not quite right word." Gerda set her glass down. "Souls start out as a tiny spark of light and power at the moment of birth, and grow throughout the course of a life. Some grow more than others."

"And the souls of the eldest are the most valuable?"

"Often. Experiences can increase soul-strength, like working with power, or world-travel. And a talent for the arte often comes from an unusually strong soul. This kind of talent in the young can lead to a lifetime of exceptional growth, given the right resources."

"And the House needs strong souls in those that serve it?" Hina asked. "Why?"

"The stronger the servant, the most they can do for the House. And the better they can represent its interests."

"And how do they represent its interests?" Hina asked. "Say, I were to join the House, what would I be expected to do?"

"Hina," Kai said, quietly.

Gerda smiled. "Like I told you before, you would be expected to serve the House in whatever way it requires. You would be expected to help it grow, to help it protect itself, to help it expand its reach. To travel through the ways and bring back knowledge, power and more willing servants."

That didn't sound so bad, but— "Why—why does Om Qalar oppose the Houses?" Hina asked. "Why do the other practitioners?"

"Why do you think?" Gerda said. "The Houses are not united, but are collectively the greatest check within this world on Om Qalar's power. On the power of the practitioners.

"While the powers of this world seems to want to kill us and ours at every turn, we only want to co-exist. To live in peace. To challenge the world and its peoples to grow."

"But Om Qalar specifically—the Houses are its greatest opponent? Not the other cities?"

"Yes. Until Om Qalar, the cities and the Houses existed in a kind of balance. Not allies, but neither were we enemies. But the monarch in Om Qalar has changed that. And we can only respond in kind."

"But you were okay with me joining the Academy?" Hina asked. "Or you didn't seem bothered by it last time we met."

"Oh, no dear, not at all. We take a pragmatic view of these matters. If you were to join the House, nothing would change in that regard—on a foundational level, the Academy's training is excellent by any standard. The House would be more than happy to fund your tuition, provide you with a stipend, and ensure that you are placed in the correct classes.

"And of course we would provide additional instruction above and beyond what you can learn in the city."

"Specific workings, like the ones you already gave me?" Hina asked. "Or—"

"And personal instruction in the arte, yes." Gerda smiled. "It has been many years since I have taken a student, but I am confident that I could teach you much. Your path to this point reminds me of my own, after all."

"Huh." Hina took another spoonful of soup. "That sounds pretty good." Almost too good. "And all that in exchange for six years of service?"

"You would, of course, be expected to represent the interests of the House within the city during your studies," Gerda said.

"What would that look like?"

"Our representative within the city would have the occasional task for you, but nothing too onerous. An hour or two a month, perhaps. Officially speaking, your service to the House would not begin until after graduation. And after your mandatory Qalarian military service, though that too can be minimised with our assistance. Perhaps a sinecure in the city, or a position within a foreign embassy. It will depend on the needs of the House and the availability of positions at the appropriate time."

Hina nodded slowly. "That doesn't sound too bad," she said. "I'm still going to need some time to think about it."

"Can I ask you a question?" Kai asked.

Gerda nodded.

"What would they do to her? At the academy, if they found out that she was a servant of the House?"

Gerda's smile was tight. "At minimum, they would expel her, and she would be forbidden from returning."

"And worst case?"

"Her life would be forfeit."

"Wow."

"Indeed," Gerda said. "The Academy is a dangerous place for us and ours. But it would not come to that—we have ways of protecting our own."

"Like what?" Kai asked.

"Hina will find out, if she chooses to join the House," Gerda said. "But I will say this: the House is generous to those who serve it. None regret their choice." She stared along the table, looking at each of them in turn, stopping to linger on Ivan. "Not one."

After dinner, Ivan, Nora and Bruce cleared the table and moved into an adjacent room through the door to the left, presumably the kitchen. Leaving Gerda, Hina and Kai alone at the table. Gerda poured herself another glass of wine and then cleared her throat.

"Now, Hina. In the invitation that," she frowned, "the House extended towards you, I believe you were asked to bring a gift."

"Yes, I—" Hina trailed off. "I brought several items of interest. Can I ask for your advice on which is most appropriate?"

"No, you may not." Gerda smiled a cruel smile. "Make your choice, and deal with the consequences. Consider this your first test."

A chill ran down Hina's spine. The bell, or the knife? Which was a better gift, given what she'd seen of the House?

Would the knife be offensive, given its history? Or would it come across as a trophy, a sign of her strength—she'd taken it from a strange god's temple, after all.

And the bell was beautiful and valuable, and perhaps useful. A bell of unbinding, if Olivia was right. A powerful trinket, but perhaps not the right message for a gift.

She faintly wondered what the bell would do to someone who was performing a working. Or a ritual. Would it make them lose control? Or would it only break an active working, like the illusion over the door under the Spire?

She shook off the irrelevant thought. The knife seemed more appropriate. The knife was the better choice.

Yes, the knife.

She took it from her belt and handed it to Gerda, held it out with two hands. It felt more respectful that way. "A gift for the House," Hina said.

Gerda looked at it, frowning. She did not move to take the gift. "Tell me, girl, what is this?"

"A sacrificial knife," Hina said. "Taken from a temple to one of the strange gods." On a whim, she added, "Stolen by my own hand." It was more or less true. Mostly.

A smile spread across Gerda's face. "A fine selection. I accept this gift on behalf of the House." She took the knife. "You have done well, Hina. I am pleased. The House is pleased."

Hina smiled back. "Thank you." She felt a little thrill of pride and relief. And then bit it down. She still wasn't sure whether she wanted to impress these people or not.

"Do you need anything else, beyond your time to consider? Any further questions for this evening?" Gerda asked. "Otherwise you may retire to your quarters. I will send my man to escort you."

"May I have a moment to talk to Kai?" Hina asked, looking at Gerda. "Alone?"

Gerda studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "But of course. I'll be in the next room if you need anything."

She stood, took up her staff and walked through the door to the right.