They walked through the streets, avoiding the thin metal grates puffing out gray steam along the gutters. Unlike many of the other towns in the Barren, the people that they passed were often unarmed.

A man wearing a tightly fitted blue shirt with a popped collar strode past them, shooting Angel a glance down the bridge of his rather long nose. The longer they walked, the more apparent it became that they were completely out of place.

Almost everyone was wearing expensive clothing and carried themselves with the airs of nobility. There were no grizzled adventurers or battle scarred warriors – just people Vanessa’s age and younger.

“Lots of judgmental little snots here,” Silver observed. “Fits the motif. Rich kid school. Only nobles would send their children across the Barren to learn something you could learn in your home city.”

“The teachers in Molten Ridges are some of the best in the Barren,” Vanessa said defensively, but she didn’t sound entirely convinced of her own words. “And Molten Ridges is very well defended. It’s a safe place to send your kids if they’re in danger of assassination. Or kidnapping.”

She finished the last sentence off with a pointed glare at Silver, who shrugged in response. Nobody gave them any trouble as they continued through the streets towards the looming towers at the east end of the city.

If Angel had been wondering how they’d find the school, any doubt was instantly dispelled a few minutes later. The city line came to a complete stop. There was a long path completely devoid of any buildings, and behind it a tall, ornate fence.

He drew in a sharp breath. Behind the fence was green. Tiny blades the length of a finger and the width of a wire rustled gently on the ground, forming a natural carpet. Four thick trees stood in a line on the other side of the plant and parallel to the fence.

Behind the trees was the towering castle that could have only been the Molten Ridges school.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Silver said, letting out a whistle. “Wood.”

“And grass,” Vanessa said. “I told you. This school is the best of the best.”

Angel grunted, tearing his eyes away from the stunning scene. He could only assume that the green carpet was grass – he’d never had a chance to see it himself, and he’d only seen trees in his reading.

A short distance away from them was a gate guarded by a heavily armored man. He wore a thick gauntlet on his hand and held a spear in the other. His helm rested on the ground beside his foot.

“Well, let’s go introduce ourselves,” Angel said, walking towards the man.

The guard watched them approach, sizing each of them up with calculating eyes. “What’s your business here?”

“We need to get to the school,” Angel said, nodding at the massive building behind the guard.

“You’ll need to be a bit more specific than that,” the guard said with a snort. “This fence wouldn’t be much use if we just let anyone past it. Are you delivering your charge?”

Angel grimaced. It looked like this was about as far as he could get without giving up Vanessa’s identity. “Yes. There should have been word of her coming.”

“Her name?” The guard gestured irritably.

Angel nodded to Vanessa. She pulled her scarf back, revealing her face. With the sun now shining straight down into her face, her scarlet eyes glimmered like rubies. “Vanessa, daughter of Dalliah.”

The guard’s eyes widened. He tilted his head to the side and muttered something into what Angel presumed to be an artifact before giving them a much more respectful nod. “You match the description. Your arrival was meant to have been several days ago. Were you delayed?”

“There were some problems in the Barren,” Angel said. “What can you expect? It’s the Barren. However, I’d like to get moving if possible. I didn’t bring her all the way here to have her identity shouted out to the entire world.”

The guard nodded. He grabbed a key from his belt and put it into a hole on the gate. It swung open with a click, granting them access to a thin pathway that wound through the grass and up to the school.

“Please continue ahead on the path. Magistrate Dalliah has already arranged for a room and bodyguards,” the guard said, inclining his head.

“Are you sure they’re trustworthy?” Silver asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“They were handpicked by the Magistrate, and Molten Ridges takes its reputation very seriously. Miss Vanessa will be far safer with us than she could be anywhere else.”

“Thank you,” Angel said, shooting Silver a glance as they started down the path. The former bandit curled his nose in distaste.

“Slimeball guard, sucking up as soon as he figured out that the girl was expensive,” Silver said. “Robbing his sort was fun. Never thought they could lose and always had some good loot as well.”

“Silver,” Vanessa hissed. “Stop. What if someone recognizes you?”

“I’ve got my fancy new mask,” Silver said. “Maybe you should call me Cowl.”

“Let’s not,” Angel said. “I don’t need to be betrayed a second time.”

Their conversation trailed off as they passed through the grass. Angel fought the urge to kneel and pluck one of the strands of grass. They looked ticklish. And expensive. Very expensive.

The thick trees towered over them, temporarily hiding the group from the strong sun as they passed underneath and reached the edge of the school walls.

“How much do you reckon those are worth?” Silver asked.

“I don’t even want to think about it,” Angel replied. They came to a stop before a tall arch in the wall, where a well-dressed, middle aged man with a sharp white goatee stood at attention.

“Welcome, Miss Vanessa,” the man said, his tone firm and refined. “Your mother has been quite worried about you. She will be pleased to hear that you made it here safely.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened. “Godrick?”

She dove forward, wrapping the man up in a tight hug. His eyes widened and stood stiffly for a few moments until Vanessa released him.

“What are you doing here?” Vanessa asked. “I thought you were still in Salt Lake!”

“Your mother sent me over a few days after you departed,” Godrick replied, straightening his clothes. “Her network here is quite sufficient, but she felt that it would be safer were I around. Once you escaped Bronze City, your would-be husband quickly realized what was happening and hired a group of very dangerous bounty hunters. Magistrate Dalliah was able to wrap him up in legalities and freed me up to leave. I am surprised I arrived before you. What happened?”

“A lot,” Vanessa said, blinking furiously. She turned, gesturing to Angel. “This is Angel, the Seeker that saved my life a dozen times in the Barren. And the other two…”

“Prefer to go unnamed,” Silver said, giving Godrick a small nod.

“I take it you know each other?” Angel guessed.

“We do. Godrick is the former captain of the guard in Bronze City,” Vanessa said.

“Thank you for protecting my charge,” Godrick said. “The Magistrate wishes to bid you well, Seeker. You have done your job commendably. You are hereby relieved of Vanessa’s wellbeing.”

Angel inclined his head as emotions churned through him. Vanessa’s endless curiosity and drive to learn had been a stark change from his solo travels, and it was strange to think that they were about to part ways. Lilian had been right – the girl just had a way of growing on people.

“Take care, Vanessa,” Angel said. “Keep practicing Tinkering. One day, you might even be half as good as I am.”

“That’s it?” Vanessa asked, her face falling. “You can’t stay and teach me?”

“You said it yourself. This school is pretty selective. I doubt they’ve got room for tagalongs, and I’m sure your teachers will be more than capable,” Angel said.

Godrick cleared his throat. “Actually, Magistrate Dalliah wanted to pose a second offer to you, Seeker. She said that, should Vanessa approve of your work, you would be a valuable asset to the family as a tutor and bodyguard. There is one slot open, if you should be interested. We investigated some of the deeds of you and your master further – your list of accomplishments is impressive.”

Angel chuckled. “I appreciate the offer. As fun as that might be, I’ve got other things I have to do. There’s Old World magic out there, waiting for me. I can’t let the Reawakening beat me to it. It would betray everything I stand for.”

Vanessa pressed her lips together. She swallowed, then nodded. “Don’t let them kill more people, Angel. I’ll tell Godrick and my mom about them – maybe they can send you some help.”

“I suppose we’ll have to hire the last guard from the city. Less than ideal, but their soldiers are capable,” Godrick said. “Thank you again, Seeker.”

“There might still be someone,” Silver said. Godrick raised an eyebrow as everyone else stared at the masked man in shock.

“You?” Vanessa asked.

“I prefer to finish what I start, and you’re far from trained,” Silver said. “I wouldn’t mind posting up with some fancy shmucks for a month or two, just until you got your feet out under you.”

“Is this man capable?” Godrick asked Vanessa.

“Well… yes,” Vanessa said. “Very much so.”

“The pay is one Vei a day,” Godrick said, returning his gaze to Silver. “And a thorough background check.”

“We might have to waive that,” Vanessa muttered. Godrick’s eyebrow rose and he examined Silver, trying to make out details of the man’s face behind the mask.

“I will run it by your mother. Do you want this man as a bodyguard?”

“I – yes. I didn’t think he’d offer, but he’s more than capable,” Vanessa said.

“Then it’s settled,” Silver said. “Welcome aboard, me.”

Godrick let out a low hum. “Interesting companions. I suspect you have quite the story to tell, Vanessa.”