“Nope. Straight up nope. I’m done. No more crazy scenarios. I want to get to Iron Mountain and be done. I want to be safe, and I don’t want to fight for my life anymore.” Deacon said angrily as he hurled a rock from the ground at the flora archway as hard as he could.

The rock hit the edge of the archway, sunk deep into the vines with some audible cracking, and didn’t come out the other side. He then looked at how close the archway was to their abandoned campsite. His chairs were still there. Deacon began thinking about how quickly he could get over there and snag the chairs.

“Don’t you dare.” Elle said, “You consider those chairs lost right now. We can get new ones when we get to town.”

“Just some of the first pieces of comfort I found in this world. Sure, fuck me right?” Deacon said.

“No! We are going right now. Ty, pick up the prisoner. Deacon, please stay with Genevieve this time.” Armand ordered.

They all gathered up and started heading down the road. Deacon ran over to the dead Vasilly soldier and checked his boots. Luckily, they were a comparable size to his feet. He swapped out his boots and looked back to see the arch way lurch forward about two feet swallowing up one of his chairs before turning toward the fleeing group of people. It didn’t move like normal matter, the doorway undulated like someone slapped Jell-O. Almost as if it wanted Deacon to see it move. Thoroughly creeped out by that Deacon kept moving hoping to put as much distance from the yawning entrance as possible.

“I have never heard of this, why does the arch roam the land?” Genevieve asked as she was hurried down the King’s Road.

“It may be because your race just joined the kingdom, but it is an old legend and the very definition of trap.” Elle answered

“Just something else that wants to kill us.” Typhus said as he pushed the soldier ahead of him.

“Its behind us now. We’ll report it to the guild and perhaps they’ll send some Dungeoneers out here.” Armand said.

“Perhaps? I’ll lead them myself.” Typhus answered.

“Don’t you have a society shattering ancient revelation to deliver?” Elle asked.

“Right, I do. Maybe I can sponsor a diving crew. First right of refusal on what they find. Armand, can you help me draft a contract?” Typhus asked.

“Just go talk to the Ryan Clergy, they’ll whip something up for you.” Armand said.

“Ryan? The lost God of Bureaucracy and Order?” Genevieve asked.

“Yes, they still maintain a shrine in the city. Something about the proper steps to dismantling a church. They are way out there. No sir, I’m not talking to them if I don’t have to.” Typhus retorted.

The tree started to get sparser, and travelers could finally see the size of Iron Mountain Plateau. Deacon was shocked by how much of the mountain was city. It seemed to sprawl all over the place. There were even roads with specific traffic patterns working their way up the slope. It looked to him like wagons and pedestrians were making their way up the left most stretch of road and the right most had the same making their way down.

“Are there specific ways to get to the top?” Deacon asked.

“Yes, the left path from here is called the Ascent Road and the right path is the Decent. It was one of my fathers plans to ease congestion and enhance trade. His thought was if you are leaving you don’t need to slow down the merchant caravans coming in with fresh goods.” Armand said.

“What about the other side of the mountain?” Genevieve asked.

“It remains flat plateau for many miles from the top toward the Crystal Cascade, the seat of the Griffin Kingdom.” Armand replied.

“As you can see, we have started to venture into farmlands on the outskirts. It should be another two to three hours of walking at this pace to reach the Ascent Road and the first guard house.” Elle explained.

“Most of the major buildings like guild halls and towers are at the top. Desentes Keep is also on a small hill of the plateau overlooking the city.” Typhus added.

“But you can see villages dotted along the rise. Much like old Mulvaria had homes built into the rock face.” Genevieve said.

“Only these homes are full structures with paths and districts that make up the city of Iron Mountain Plateau. Thirty percent of the kingdoms iron is mined from here. I’d say the only iron mine left owned by a human. Ty, correct me if I’m wrong but your people own the rest of the metal producing mines, right?” Armand expounded.

“That is true. The elves won’t let us mine in their territory and other property outside the kingdom is still being negotiated.” Typhus said.

“Ok its time for that talk we’ve all been avoiding.” Elle said eyeing Armand.

“Deacon, you can’t kill people in the city. I know its been one nightmare after the next since we found you, but we are going into the kingdom proper now. So, I’m asking as a friend to try and injure instead of kill. You are still much stronger than most. Once you have been given a guild ranking, getting you out of trouble will be much easier.” Armand said as they all stopped on the road. Several people hurried past them.

“Look I come from a world where I would have been locked up ten times over for that stuff back in Everhart. I understand what the rule of law is but, you’ve seen my life up to this point. Its fuckin nuts. I promise to try and pull my punches. You said that like you know somethings going to happen. Spill it.” Deacon said.

“You are a trouble magnet. Its not your fault, I assume its because you are Cheshire’s champion.” Elle said plainly and without missing a beat.

“I can be a good. I just haven’t been given a lot of choice is all. Remember we were just sitting there when this ass hat and his friends shot me in the head.” Deacon said.

“Why aren’t you the least bit hurt? I have seen you practically bleeding out, but the arrow did nothing.” Genevieve said with actual concern.

“A story for another day dear, look you can almost see the grand bell at the top of the temple to Astrael.” Elle said quickly changing the topic.

“It is glorious. We must go all the way up there?” Genevieve asked.

“Yes, the temple is one of the brightest spots on the main road.” Armand said.

“Is that an elevator going up the side?” Deacon asked.

“What is an elevator? That’s the main lift for soldiers and emergencies. Odd they would be using it in the middle of the day.” Typhus said.

“There seems to be a line at the base of the Ascent as well. Something strange is going on.” Armand said.

“Don’t look at me, I just got here.” Deacon replied.

“Your innocence is acknowledged.” Elle said.

Armand picked up the pace a little. He grabbed the soldier under his arm and dragged him along with him. When he got closer to the gate house, he could see the Ascent Road was blocked by a line of soldiers. There was a member of the Canidae race, red haired fox humanoid merchant from the kingdom to the east. The conversation was loud and animated.

“What is going on here? Why is the road closed?” Armand asked.

“Your grace this merchant insists on cutting in front of the good people of the Griffin Kingdom.” The first soldier said.

“Nonsense, I’ve been waiting here for four hours. I keep getting told to step aside. My name is Denvenue, and I want to trade in this city. I was told this was the place to do business this far south.” Denvenue said.

“Please give me a moment to clear this up. Who’s in charge here?” Armand asked.

“Well, that would be you now, your grace.” The second soldier said.

“I mean who told you to close the road?” Armand asked.

“It was Lord Cullep.” Soldier number three said.

“Open the path immediately, if Lord Cullep has a problem with it, tell him to come find me at the Keep.” Armand said.

The soldiers stepped aside, and the path was open once again. Armand passed the prisoner off to one of the soldiers and gave him instructions to bring him to a cell to await questioning. Once everyone else caught up to Armand, he pulled them all aside.

“Something is up. Lord Cullep had the road bared for some reason. I’ve undone that but when has he had any right to do so. I must go see my father which means we are splitting up for now. Typhus, please take Deacon to the Guild as soon as you have dropped Genevieve off. Here is the letter from Molok Elle, make sure Jacob gets it. We’ll meet at the Guild canteen once I’ve sorted out what’s going on here.” Armand said.

“This probably has something to do with that message you got at the Udder.” Elle said.

“Agreed. I should hurry. See you all later. Deacon, I know you’ll make me proud.” Armand said as he waved goodbye and headed up the path.

“Not sure how that’s possible wearing a dead mans boots.” Typhus quipped.