Ranus closed the door as he left. Outside in the dark, he found Elian and Albrot approaching the doors. Both stopped walking when they saw him. Ranus was too tired and confused to question this, so he nodded to them and started walking back home.

His head hurt.

He did not see the worried look that passed between the other two before they caught up and walked with him.

"Ranus, I never expected a nighttime walk in the Dungeon from you," Elian asked with an attempt at humour.

"Oh…. Of course. I had never entered before, so I thought…." He was distracted. Not even bothering to end what he was saying was a clear sign of it. His eyes were not focused, and he walked to his destination, using muscle memory more than actually paying attention.

Albrot lifted his hand behind Ranus's head, and the faint glow of magic showed that he was casting some spell. Elain kept speaking to him.

"How far did you go into the Dungeon?" She enquired. He did not appear to hear her. "Ranus!"

"Oh… Sorry, just the entry room." He said, appearing a bit lost. Elian looked at Albrot, who shook his head. So, he could not identify any magic or curses affecting him. What was wrong then?

"Ranus, you seem distracted. What is wrong?" Elian decided just to come out and ask him.

"Money issues and running the town made me a bit restless at the moment." He seemed to realise how he looked and sounded, which caused him to answer with more confidence.

Elain did not believe him. Something had happened before or when he was in the Dungeon.

"Now, if you excuse me, I must be away. My bed chambers call." With this, Ranus strode away with more of a regal pose, leaving the other two behind.

"Of course, Lord Goldwind, we shall leave you as we are near the Guild." Albrot cut in before Elian could speak.

After a few more pleasantries, they parted ways into different buildings. Elain followed Albrot to the Guild. Once in her office, Albrot brought up the privacy wards before Elian started speaking.

"What do you think is wrong with him?" she asked, her face written with concern. She sat down behind her desk.

"As far as I can tell. Nothing." Albrot sat across from her. "Nothing magical that I can sense for sure."

"Then what?" She pressed.

"If I were a betting man, I would say he has discovered something significant and does not know what to do with it." Albrot mused, stroking the beard he was growing.

He had returned to the town only a few hours before. He and Elain were still discussing the twisted monster entering the Dungeon when a message arrived that Lord Ranus Goldwind had entered through the main doors.

They had made it there to see him leaving.

"He was told of something in the Dungeon or was told to go there." Albrot continued. "Either to confirm what he learned, or it was revealed there to him."

"Do you think he will tell us?" Elain was sitting with her elbows on her desk, holding her head.

"Unknown. It depends on what he has discovered or what conditions led to his discovery." Albert was not showing it but was equally as concerned as his young protege.

"Then we must wait." She was getting frustrated with many unknowns.

"That is all we can do." Albrot agreed. Elian gave off a frustrated sigh.

"Before the message about Ranus, what was the news you were going to tell me." She asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, that. It seems that Doltum and Seela are heading back this way."

## ## ## ## ##

Ranus tried to sleep.

His mind refused to accommodate his desires.

He was tired.

He was confused.

He was trying to find his way out of the problems before him.

He lay flat on his back, looking up at the timbers supporting his ceiling. The sun was rising and the early light was now coming in through the shutters, casting strange shadows across the room. Ranus watched them as he thought. Well, he tried to think as the weariness of a night of no sleep had brought.

The black-speaking crystal designed to allow him to speak to the Dungeon sat beside his bed. He turned his head to look at it. Was it a curse or a blessing? Who had sent it?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

More questions.

Talking to the Dungeon had been… Strange. That was the best word he could come up with. From the works he had read about Dungeons, those lucky or unlucky few all said speaking to a Dungeon was a unique experience. But as unique as the one he had spoken to?

He doubted it.

With a groan, he sat up and turned, swinging his legs over the bed's side. He felt the rug under his bare feet. His boots were still lying on the floor where he had left them. His clothes from yesterday were still on his body.

His stomach spoke to him, rumbling loudly as the smell of cooking from downstairs reached even his room.

"Time for some food then." He spoke to himself, but he needed to be presentable first. He was the Lord of these lands and his appearance mattered.

He went to the copper mirror and a water bowl sitting on another table. He straightened his hair and washed his face. Changing his clothes as he looked over himself, he was happy. He looked tired, but he was ready for the day.

He left his bedroom and walked downstairs to his main meeting room. Naru was in the room placing the vellum on the table—reports for the day for him to read.

"Good new day, Naru." Ranus greeted her.

"Good new day, Lord Goldwind." She returned the greeting.

"How does my day look?" He asked.

"You only have two meetings today. First, there will be a group representing the priests and then another from the local Merchant Guild." She replied, not looking at anything as she recited his meeting schedule.

"Excellent. I think the priests will be a quick one. Do you know what the Merchants are after?" He could not remember the reason for the meeting.

"More warehouses. They believe the town does not have enough." She was unsurprised by the question as he often forgot things due to the number of pressing matters he had to deal with.

"Ah, yes. Now I remember." The Merchant Guild had been pestering him for weeks over them. "Can you add Danrum and Amya to a meeting after the Guild? Send runners to let them know."

"As you request, Lord Goldwind."

Ranus sat at his desk as his first meal of the day was brought in. Even with so few meetings, it would still be a long day. He ate quickly, knowing that the first meeting would start soon.

The priests arrived shortly after. Not all of them, but a group of the most powerful from both courts. They all were looking expectantly at Ranus. He got the impression that they were informed he might have had a visitor last night.

"Last night, I received a divine herald from the Goddess Astraus and I was called upon to grant the presence of the paladins and other militant orders. The rent increase will be implemented. The paladins may stay, but I will be informed if others are assigned to my town."

All the priests and clerics nodded in understanding.

"May we enquire what else was talked about, Lord Ranus?" Cleric Asham asked as if it was his Goddess that sent the Herald.

"Other things were addressed, but I am afraid that I was placed under a vow not to speak…."

## ## ## ## ##

Ranus looked out the window at the dying day and stifled a yawn. He almost fell asleep twice during the last meeting with the Merchant Guild. In the end, he had approved two more warehouses to be built near the docks. There was no more space and he had flatly refused to demolish any of the homes or businesses there to make more room.

Danrum and Amya will be here soon. Elian also requested a meeting, which he arranged for tomorrow. He longed to be away from here to bed, but there were things to do before that.

The door opened and the last two people he hoped to see today entered. Standing, he greeted them.

"Thank you for coming. I know this was a bit short notice." He indicated to the chairs across from him.

"We are here to serve, Lord Goldwind," Amya said, echoing Danrum. They sat across from him. On the table was the map of the region Ranus often consulted.

"I have asked you both here to discuss some things I will do over the next few months. We should not be long." He said, sitting down. "Amya, first, I will need you to show me the financial loans you were discussing the other day. Also, you will see a rent increase from the temples soon."

She started nodding at his words, which stopped and turned into a frown at the second part.

"Danrum, with these additional funds, I want you to consider the options for the trade route to the south we discussed. Scout the route more, identify the threats and have the adventurers go out and deal with them. Questions?"

"How far am I to go with the route and adventurer job requests?" Danrum asked.

"As far as the budget I assign will take you," Ranus answered. Danrum nodded his understanding.

"Even with increased rent from the churches, the available funds will not be great." Amya pointed out.

"I am aware. The loans will be investigated and I have approved two more warehouses for the Merchant Guild. More rent money will be coming from them, too." Raus told her.

"The two on the land you aimed to be made into a park. Vulus will not be happy. He was excited to design it." Amya was surprised.

"Sacrifices must be made to secure the future sometimes," Ranus said with a distant look in his eyes. Because of this, he failed to see the brief look of concern on both of his underling's faces.

"I will start securing the routs as soon as Treasurer Amaya releases the funds," Danrum announced, snapping Ranus back to the meeting.

"I will do this when the Temples and Merchant Guild present the money to the town's coffers," Amya told him.

"Excellent. You should see the money soon. If there are any issues, please let me know." He stood, followed by them, signalling that the meeting was at an end.

## ## ## ## ##

Amaya returned to her office. As soon as the door closed, she leaned against it and was slightly shaking. Her hands were the clearest sign of her distress.

Normally, she would be happy that her plan to entangle the Lord with the required debtors could take a significant step forward. The additional funds were what shook her.

The Merchant Guild was a factored source of income. She understood them and how they operated. She knew the ed and flow of their actions. It was the temples that had thrown her. The Churches and temples were nearly legendary for late payments and deferment attempts. But here they were, all paying on time and even now offering an increase with no arguments!

What was happening?

She looked around her office. A sense of paranoia that had served her well all these years was now telling her to get out. Something was wrong—not with the office or building but with the whole situation.

What was she not seeing?

Paladins, cooperative temples, a Lord planning for something and a crazy Dungeon. What did it all mean?

Crossing the room, she went to her desk. She had prepared for his request and had already drawn up the information and contracts. She would a day or two before giving them to him. Then, she would seek to get out. She would endure the clauses in the contract she was under that would trigger by breaking it.

Reaching into a draw, she pulled out the vellum. Laying them in a rough pile on the desk, she took a few moments to compose herself. When she was ready, she went through them again. They were cunningly arranged to appear benign but, with a few carefully arranged incidents, would trap the Lord into an inescapable debt cycle.

She wanted to drink something strong to help steady her nerves but refused to allow herself such weakness. Not long, and she would be gone. That was what she focused on, and it calmed her down the last few measures.

Give Ranus the documents and then be gone. That was her new plan.