Spire's Spite

Fritz motioned for his pair of recruits to follow him out of the Anchorwrought smithy. They walked the steam district looking for any provisions they may have overlooked or missed. Seeing some bargains, Fritz purchased a small whetstone and an old bullseye lantern from a stall, he didn't get any oil though, as he had though of a different way to light it. The last glowstone should do nicely in place of the flickering flame.

After one last stop for some king’s rations, an absolute last resort, they then made their way towards the Upper Ring. Fritz's purse was feeling mighty empty by this point, having spent quite a bit of his gold here and there and on his re-filling water flask. He only had one gold and a couple of silver triads left, he'd have to raid the stash he'd left in the herbalist's attic.

It wasn't on the way so they had to detour. It didn't take too long, maybe twenty minutes but it was rather annoying and he scrounged the five triads he had stashed in a mossy mouse hole.

Still kneeling and scraping for triads, he mocked himself. Some things never change.

He had considered revisiting his safe, but decided against it. Every time he visited the stash, especially during the day, he risked being followed and found out. That and it would take far too much time, an hour or perhaps even two, depending on how flooded the district was.

It was steadily approaching noon, so Fritz took off with a jog, urging his team to follow as quickly as they could. Which turned out to be not very quick. They weren't exactly going to be late but he wanted to be early, just in case he forgot something.

They had to slow as they passed through the gates again, as it was starting to get truly busy and the crowds made running through them inadvisable. But once they had had entered the Upper Ring proper they walked at a brisk pace.

Eventually when it seemed that his crew could no longer keep up he stopped and allowed them to recover.

Recover and gawk as they watched a procession of other Climbers heading the same way they were. Towards the smaller of the two Spires but still terribly tall Mer Spire.

As he walked he felt a niggling feeling like he was forgetting something, something important.

"Spire's Spite," He cried as he remembered. "I nearly forgot to say goodbye to my brother and sister," Fritz said frantically.

"What?!" Carter panted.

"You two, keep going. Meet up with Bert and tell him I'll be along in no time," Fritz said.

They nodded, seemingly relieved he wasn’t going to push them to go faster anymore.

Fritz set off towards the orphanage at a run.

Luckily it was quite close, being on the same side of the Upper Ring as the Mer Spire and only took him nine minutes to get there. He ran flat out where he could and slowed where it got too crowded, dodging through the wet streets and between carriages.

He leapt over the orphanage's small gate in one fluid motion and was knocking at the heavy door within moments. It opened to reveal Frank's annoyed face which only got more annoyed as he stared at Fritz while he panted in the doorway.

"Frank, my good man," Fritz began before the guard cut him off.

"I'm no one's 'good man' what do you want?" Frank grumbled.

"Just to say goodbye to Eli and Thea, I'm Climbing the Mer Spire today, at noon," Frtiz explained as he slowly caught his breath.

"Cutting it close," Frank said. "And you’ll also want to say bye to Jess."

"What a fine suggestion, and here you are saying you're not a good man," Fritz said.

Frank scowled, "Are you going to say goodbye or waste your wit and words on me?"

"Well, I might need directions," Fritz said.

Frank pointed him down the hall to the room Jess was in last time.

"I don't need an escort? Not afraid for Jess's virtue?" Fritz mocked.

"Should I be?" Frank scoffed.

Fritz strode away.

Frank followed him.

Jess was glad to help him find his siblings and helped guide him to where he needed to be with a smile on her pretty face and a spring in her step.

Fritz found his brother on the combat court practising some sword forms that for some reason irritated Fritz when he saw them, or rather, saw them done improperly.

He strode up to him, saying "Eli, I don't have much time, but I'm Climbing today. I won't see you for at least a week or two."

An exerted, sweating and huffing Eli merely said, "Okay, see you later then."

Fritz held out his hand, then when Eli took it he quickly pulled his brother into a hug.

"Damn it, let go, you're embarrassing me," Eli complained.

"What else are brothers for?" Fritz said jovially.

Fritz let him go and with one last wave spun on his heel and sought out Thea.

She was harder to find, tucked away in the corner of the library reading some faerie tale. Still, it didn't take him too long, his Awareness and keen familial instinct leading him right to her.

When he said goodbye to her it was much more subdued and teary, on both sides. He held her small form for almost a minute before she let go.

"I'll be fine," He repeated. "I've Climbed it before," He lied.

"You better, and if you're going to make me cry bring more biscuits next time," Thea chided, as she wiped her red, tear-stained cheeks.

"I will," He promised.

Last was a farewell to Jess,

"I may still have a spot for you to Climb with me," Fritz offered.

"I'm.. not ready," Jess said sadly. "I want to do it right, like I said. With a Guide and as prepared as I can be."

"We can't be prepared for everything," Fritz argued gently.

"I know, but I don't feel prepared enough," Jess said. "Maybe I never will." She whispered to herself.

Fritz gazed into her dark eyes until she broke the eye contact. He knew then that she was right, she wasn't ready. Completely unprepared for the dangers a Spire presented. And worst of all; unwilling to face them.

"It's okay, there's no rush. Do it in your own time,"he said softly.

Without another word, she embraced him. It was improper and impolite but she didn't seem to care. Fritz had discarded his care for propriety years ago and he returned the hug.

"Farewell," she mumbled into his chest.

"Faewell. I'll see you in a week or two." He said.

Frank coughed and Jess nearly leapt off of Fritz.

"Maybe you were right, Fritz," Frank said as he strode down the hall towards them. "You're a menace to virtue everywhere. Now get along, it's almost noon." Franks said sternly.

Fritz gave Jess a weak, guilty smile and followed Frank's order as she waved timidly, her face as red as a boiled lobster.

Frank followed him to the entrance and just as he was about to close the door on him, Fritz spun on his heel and said, "Oh, and by the way, Bye Frank, I'll see you in a week or two. Keep them safe for me would you?"

"That's my job," Frank stated with a furrowed brow. But Fritz felt with some ineffable awareness that the man had just made a promise, maybe not to Fritz but to himself.

He left at a run, then a sprint as the sun's bright spot in the clouds moved ever closer to noon. It took him another ten minutes of jogging to reach the Climber gathering yards that were set around the Spire and its wall.

As he got closer and had slowed to a steady stride the Spire's details became clearer. It's black-blue and grey-edged stone brick glistened as rain cascaded off the smooth, sheer surface. At its precipice a dim beacon shed a scintillating silver-blue light that glimmered off the rain, making it look as though shimmering scales fell from the sky only to disappear when they alighted on the walls or the waiting Climbers.

Twelve-foot tall stone walls surrounded the Spire grounds, ostensibly there to protect the good folk of the Upper Ring from an Aberrant beast and its spawn should there be a Spire Break. Though Fritz suspected it had more to do with making sure everyone paid the king's gold triad tax.

There was only one gate in, or out, and two lanes stretched from it. One for those seeking to enter, excited, eager and well armed and armoured. And one for those leaving, battered, bruised and burdened with bags full of Treasures, magical materials and stretchers with the fallen splayed across them.

He swiftly passed by a Guides Guildhall, again the smaller of the two in the city, and Fritz didn't give it even a glance. Instead, he searched the slowly milling crowd and lanes for Bert and the others who were to join his team.

The yard was a clamouring, clattering, collected chaos, many differently coloured flags flew and fluttered despite the rain. Disparately dressed, armed and armoured Climbers formed their teams or rushed around looking for any open slots in teams missing a member for any number of reasons from injury to indolence.

He eventually spotted the golden hair of Bert just offside the line to enter the Mer Spire and he saw his eager friend chatting amiably with Carter and Rosie standing by him. Bert was bouncing on the balls of his feet and clad in his self-repairing vest and pants while keeping his stuffed pack secured to his back. The other two watched the crowd furtively.

Fritz took a moment to rest, then after a minute, once his breath had settled, he decided to stride over to his awaiting, captainless crew.

What would they do without me? Aimless. Like a boat without a rudder, He mused feeling a self-satisfied smile stretch his lips.

As Fritz approached he noticed Bert had added some cloth wrapped bracers to his forearms, beneath which a sliver of gleaming silver could be seen. He also now wore a silken headband of white with a pattern of fine silver lines.

"Bert, nice bracers," Fritz said. "The headband's a little much though."

"Fritz, nice fish blade," Bert replied. "Your armour looks like skulg waste."

Fritz tilted his head in acknowledgement.

"Please tell me you have some extra gold. I'm almost out and will be if I have to pay for all of us," Fritz said.

"I have some extra gold," Bert told him with a grin.

"How much?" Fritz asked at the somewhat evasive answer.

"Fifteen triads," Bert stated, rattling his purse.

Fritz was mildly surprised and thoroughly impressed, and his face must've shown it because Bert scowled.

“Remember, I’m the sensible one. I don’t waste all my gold, and I take care of my team,” Bert said.

Fritz scoffed openly, but was silently thankful. Sometimes he wondered what he did to deserve such a friend.

With his six gold going toward the tax, they could use Bert’s gold for filling Treasures, if they used them sparingly.

"Good," Fritz said. "Or good enough," He corrected himself.

"What do we do now, do we have a flag or banner like one of the other teams?" Bert asked.

"I forgot," Fritz admitted grimacing.

"It's okay, these things happen to the best of us, and sometimes they happen to you too, Fritz," Bert said with an infuriating grin.

"I guess we'll just have to wait, though one of them may or may not show," Fritz said as the four of them stood around and shuffled awkwardly.

"Hmm?" Bert inquired.

"Never mind, I see her," Fritz said nodding his head in the direction of the clerk woman. "Really should have asked her name earlier," He added, mostly to himself.

Bert glanced at him, giving him a serious side eye but lucky the other two didn't seem to hear his comment.

The nameless clerk approached with a confident but brusque gait. She was wearing a set of blue battle robes overlayered with grey leather armour. It was the kind of protection favoured by those who wanted to rely on ranged Abilities without dragging themselves down with all the weight and inevitable exhaustion that came with heavier armours.

She had a carved bone rod the length of her forearm in one hand and a buckler strapped to her belt. She also had a sidearm, some kind of shortsword with a blackened hilt and grip.

Her confident stride soon changed into one of harried haste as she held on to the straps of her backpack and joined the team at a jog.

She looked over the team taking in their faces and polite smiles.

"Are we ready? We should go... quickly," She said, panting a little then glancing over her shoulder.

"I hope you didn't run away from home to Climb," Fritz laughed.

Her eyes went wide and when he saw he was joking she added a laugh too, one that sounded forced.

Fritz was about to question the woman further but just then, clanking in half-plate armour, a man with his helmet's visor down joined their small gathering.

Fritz only took a second to recognise George and offered his hand to shake, "George, good to see you, and right on time."

George took his hand with his own iron-clad one and shook eagerly. The man was about four inches shorter than himself and had a sheathed greatsword, or maybe a bastard sword, slung over one shoulder and looked ready to go.

Suddenly and seemingly without cause a shiver ran down Fritz's back. Something had roused his Awareness and somehow he knew someone was stalking him, it was a feeling so like when the Hound hunted him that he broke into a cold sweat. Not wanting to draw attention but needing to find the origin of the sudden dread he felt he slowly scanned the crowd.

Though he put on the facade of calm collectedness he was anything but. His heart was hammering and his hand trembled. He rested his palm against the pommel of Quicksilver for reassurance.

Then he saw the man, the man with the cold black eyes. Vaa'Gur. The Krakosi raider. Somehow he knew it was this man hunting him, that had somehow marked him.

Awareness, he supposed, was warning him to be wary. And he heeded it.

"Well since we're all here let's get going. There will be plenty of time to get acquainted on the first floor," Fritz expressly espoused.

The clerk nodded vigorously and George said, "Sure let's go."

The sibling looked at each other and something passed between them, then they nodded their heads in agreement.

Bert was already pushing his way through the crowd.

Going against his instincts he turned his back to Vaa'gur and followed Bert with the rest of his team in tow. They were at the walls within minutes. The tall gate was open and flanked by two properly outfitted storm guard sergeants. Clad with rainsteel breastplates and sporting longswords belted to their sides they collected and directed the lanes of people in as prompt a manner as was possible.

Fritz counted out and handed over the six gold triads to the gatekeepers and he and his team were allowed then ushered along towards the Spire.

It took all his will not to glance over his shoulder at the man who he knew was following him. He was so preoccupied he barely noticed how close the Spire’s doors were until they were right in front of them.

He stared at the Door that would lead him to his Climb and though he was still beset by the fear of being stalked he grinned. Excitement overrode his wariness and he was determined to get in and escape the glare of the Krakosi raider.

The gleaming silver-blue light poured from the great arch, the entrance was at least twenty feet across, rippling like a pond and showing nothing of what lay behind its shimmering plane.

The newly formed team strode though with only a small amount of hesitation from the leveless recruits.

There was a strange feeling of being between places, in two separate rooms at once and stepping a thousand steps in a second. Then they were through and on the other side of the Door.

The first thing Fritz noticed was water sloshing around his ankles, the next thing he found was that the Spire's entrance floor wasn't empty. There were teams standing and pacing between the three Doors on the other side of the room. To his left, there was a well-organised table that stretched a full third of the circular wall. Hanging above and across the table, a mustard yellow banner emblazoned with the Guides Guild crest, a stylised, triangular, black eye, was proudly displayed.

The table, carefully watched by a Guide and Guild enforcers, was covered in small objects ranging from packs and potions to Guidebooks and Door Dowsers. All small things that could make a Climb easier, or at least less deadly. A last temptation to spend gold before entering a Door. Fritz knew the items offered weren't useless, far from it, but they came at a steep price compared to the outside.

He didn't know why he expected the Spire's landing floor to be empty, he knew it wouldn't be, but watching the last-minute gouging it somehow felt... wrong, perhaps even sacrilegious. Like it was going against the whole purpose of the Spires.

Fritz shook his head, Sacrilegious? Spires weren't sacred, they just were. Though some thought them gifts from the Gods, and maybe that was the case. But having never seen or spoken to a God Fritz could hardly countenance the theory. As for a Spire's purpose? Who can know?

"Stop standing around and get moving," A storm guard sergeant ordered causing Fritz's attention to leap out of his wandering wondering.

He started forward as did his team, quickly getting out of the way of the next group that came through and headed straight for the Doors.

"Should we look over the Guide's stall?" The high voice of the clerk asked.

"Got any gold?" Fritz asked.

"No," She replied dejectedly.

"We'll be okay without what they're selling," Fritz said.

"Might as well take a look though," Bert said and strode towards the table.

With a shrug Fritz followed, it wouldn't really hurt them any, that and the feeling of being hunted had subsided somewhat. Though it still sat there warning him with pulses of paranoia. He wanted to be in a Door as soon as may be but decided to let them see for themselves that they either didn't need what was here or couldn't afford it.

As they strolled down the stall and looked over the goods for sale Fritz's eyes caught upon a pack of familiar white cards, Know-notes. He cursed, of course there was another thing he forgot to procure beforehand. Upon seeing the stack of six Know-notes wrapped with a red ribbon he wanted to steal them, maybe palm it discreetly when the Guide wasn't looking.

Just as he thought that the Guide's gaze glided to him and kept steady as Fritz met the man’s piecing white-blue eyes. He thought he could see a dim glow coming from those pale irises and felt like a rat corned by a cat. The Guide smiled a knowing smile like he could see right through him or sense his thoughts.

Which he probably could considering the scope of Fritz's own burgeoning Awareness. This man probably had double or perhaps triple the amount of Awareness and Perception he did. He had been a fool to even think about thievery under such a watcher. He slowed his breathing, calming his rapidly beating heart and returned the Guide's smile weakly.

Fritz discreetly looked the man over. The man was in the reversible Guide's coat, yellow inside black outside, though at the moment it was in its opposite state with the eye-catching mustard yellow being displayed proudly. He had silver blonde hair, was middling handsome and looked to be in his early thirties.

A frown creased the Guide's brow and he motioned Fritz closer. Resignedly he obliged, it wouldn't do to make trouble with the Guides Guild, not yet anyway. Not until he could enact his revenge.

Dusksong chimed near his heart at the thought and he suppressed the sound, lest the Guide somehow hear it. He didn't know why he was worried about it, but he reasoned that he didn't want his unique quirks to be discovered before he was powerful enough to decide his own fate and escape the clutches of those who would wish to use him.

"What is your name? Why do you look familiar?" The Guide demanded.

This was the last thing Fritz wanted, a Guide's careful eye on him. He knew from his own flashes and impressions from Awareness that his first and best defence of lying was bound to be useless against this man.

So seeking shelter in the truth would have to do for now. Though half-truths would work as well.

"Fritz, Sir," Fritz said worriedly. "Maybe I look like someone else you knew or know, Sir?"

"Guide is fine, Guide Travis," The man offered, then thought on Fritz's words while watching him.

"Not a lie, but hiding something," Travis muttered under his breath.

"Yeah hiding his dumb real name, isn't that right, Francis?" said Bert who had appeared at Fritz's side joined by the rest of the team.

Fritz grimaced and it wasn't all an act, he had always rankled at the way Bert said his name, how his idiotically annoying friend over-emphasised the Fran in Francis.

Just as the Guide was about to ask another question they were both distracted by a team of nine Climbers pushing through the still-deciding teams and striding to the three doors leading up the Mer Spire. One woman wearing the yellow coat of a guide led them with utmost confidence. She barely glanced at the Doors before striding straight towards the middle Stairway.

Not stopping for a moment they filed into the pale arch that seemed to be made of hundreds of shells moulded together and were lost to sight as they walked up the white sand steps. Three seemed to be grizzled veterans, as could be seen functional, no nonsense equipment and expressions. They wore their armour as if it were a second skin who silently walked through without fear.

The rest were nobility, clad in the finest arms and armour one could be provided, likely inscribed with all sorts of runes and boons. Each of them held at least one Treasure proudly displayed and probably more hidden from sight. Fritz noticed at least three barrier rings that were almost identical to his own on their soft, uncalloused hands. The noble scions were clean faced and bright eyed, arrogantly boasting and chattering to hide their trepidation, reluctance or excitement for what was likely to be their first Climb.

When the last had gone through the Door seemed to shudder, ripple then sand poured down and filled the arch completely.

"What was that?" Bert whispered.

But he needn't have bothered as Carter echoed his question at normal volume.

"Just a Guild run for the newly Tolled noble sons and daughters," Fritz said, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice.

If his father hadn’t disappeared. If his mother hadn’t been murdered in the aftermath. He would have been one of them. Coasting along and being carried up the Spire with a Guide and some guards. It would've been easy and not wrought with the horrors of the Sunken Spire.

There were some benefit's, he rationalised. For one he doubted he would have still gotten his strange selection of Powers or his fortuitous meeting with the Faeries. For two he had experience of how things could go utterly, terribly wrong and was far more prepared than some one Guided and guarded could ever be. At least that's what he told himself.

"No not that. What happened with the Door?" Carter asked, breaking Fritz from his thoughts.

"That. Was a floor being locked," Travis said.

"Oh?" Bert enquired looking to the Guide and grinning.

After looking Bert over, from bottom to top, Travis smiled back, running a finger over his pointed chin.

"First time?" Travis asked.

"Maybe," Bert replied, puffing out his chest proudly.

"Hmm, well a floor is locked when it's full," Travis said as his brow creased a little.

"A floor can get full?" Carter asked.

"Yes, the smallest floors in a Minor Spire can fit a maximum of nine," The Guide explained. "While the largest can fit up to three times that amount. That's why Guide expeditions are carried out in groups of twenty-seven, or rather, three nines. One team for each Door, organised according to their strengths and the danger each floor presents."

"How long are they locked for?" Fritz asked.

"Anywhere from between half an hour to an hour, then they shift or reset," Travis provided. "For minor Spires that is."

"Reset?" Bert asked.

"Its a near-replica of the same floor instead of changing it completely like a shift," Travis said. "Happens with unlocked floors too, once someone goes in the countdown is on, though there are rare exceptions."

"You said 'for Minor Spires', is there a difference with the taller Spires?" Fritz asked.

"Oh, yes, plenty different, but talking about that skims against the knowledge you need to purchase," Travis said then turned back to Bert, seemingly liking him better. "But if you were to hire a Guide from the Guild you wouldn't have to worry about all that, you could focus on getting the most out of your Climb without having to dilute your power with detection and Sense Abilities."

"Too poor for that," Bert admitted shaking his head.

"Well, if you can't afford our services it is still advised you go with a Guidebook written by one of our very own Guild members," Travis suggested.

"And how much would that be?" Fritz asked as a plan to hide his Door Sense came to mind.

"Depends on your resources," Travis said.

"We have five gold we can spare," Fritz stated.

Travis seemed disappointed but shrugged it off slyly.

"For six gold you could have your pick of one of the Chapters. Maybe this one that helps you identify Doors that will plunge you underwater. That's a great danger if you're not prepared," Travis warned.

Fritz looked over the small sheaves of paper, bound in thin leather covers and containing a dozen pages at most. Idly he searched their silver embossed titles for something that might be useful. There were many such little 'chapters' of valuable information. But the ones that stuck out to him most were one that described the magical herbs and reagents that were common in the Mer Spire; and another that outlined some of the most common and some of the more deadly monsters.

The herb one might be good for getting something for Naomi's alchemy and the other might save his life if they found something too powerful. He put both thoughts out of his mind, there was only one choice that he could pick and that was the one Travis suggested. It would be the best cover for his Door Sense. It had to stay secret.

It wasn't that he was suspicious of his new team, but that they hadn’t earned his full trust, not yet. Not until they'd proven themselves to be resolute in the face of both life and death.

Fritz reluctantly nodded his head, knowing there was nothing for it, and had Bert give the man the six gold triads. He took the chapter titled: 'Underwater-Floors and The Excellent Art of Avoiding Accidental Asphyxiation' and pretended to read it intently.

"How much are the No-notes?" Bert asked.

"They come in packs of six, for eighteen gold," Travis said smoothly

"They don't come alone?" Bert asked imploringly.

"No, they don't," Travis said, then smiled and whispered. "But I like the look of you, I think you'll Climb high, I'll sell you one anyway for three gold."

Bert leapt on the 'deal' and handed over another three triads leaving them with only two left.

"Why aren’t you Climbing?” Rosie asked suddenly. "Seems a waste to have a Guide be doing a clerk’s job."

Travis’s face scrunched at the question but rapidly regained its bland imperiousness.

"Guild business, I’m afraid," He stated coldly.

Fritz suspected that the Guide was likely being punished for some mistake or mishap that happened on one of his Climbs.

Seemingly satisfied with his sale and annoyed by Rosie’s presence and pointed question. Travis let them wander away from the stall and towards the Doors. Waving them off with a, "Good luck."

As they joined the other deliberating Climbers, they wondered aloud about what the order was and who was allowed to go first. They were informed by a man in the jade scale armour of the Scale Guard that all you had to do was, "Pick and go through. No 'dibs' or reservations."

Upon seeing the Scale Guard Fritz was very glad they had chosen to do things the legal way. There was no chance in the Abyss that he wanted to try and sneak past one of the King's personal army and a Guide. There was even less chance that he could even evade such a powerful fighter's clutches.

If this was the security on just the Mer Spire, how much more heavily guarded was the Rain Spire?

He’d need to come up with some seriously good scheme to get them in there as he intended to, once this Spire was done of course.

Fritz tore his attention from the guards, Guides and schemes then focused on the Doors.

He could see that the 'locked' middle door was starting to shade itself in grey and flicker at its edges, shrinking ever so slightly by the second. The effect was reminiscent of what happened when he saw the falling moon world die on the tenth floor of the Sunken Spire. Even if it was a more gradual disappearance rather than a sudden collapse.

He ignored that Door for now and searched the first one, pretending to compare it to the useless notes in the chapter they had just purchased. His team looked on awkwardly, save for Bert who was relaxed and utterly, unmovably confident in Fritz.

Bert slapped Carter on the back, and said, "Don't worry about it, trust in Fritz."

The rest of the team gave him sceptical looks but Fritz just knew they were just apprehensive and perhaps at the edge of getting cold feet.

He had to make a choice before their nerves got the best of them and they backed out.

The first Door had a ramp of sloping red sand and an arch of thin black granite. Acrid air seeped slowly from the floor above. Fritz felt at it with his Door Sense for whatever he could glean. The impressions came cleaner than they had done in the Sunken Spire, letting him almost feel like he was already on the floor. It was warm but not overly warm, there was a great green ocean to his left, a blue jungle to his right and monsters that scuttled under the crimson sands.

When he had all he could he pulled his Senses back then proceeded to search the next door.

The second and rightmost door opened underwater, he could tell that easily enough. What with the shimmering plane of barrier magics holding the water inside the arch of dark stone. Fritz wondered for a moment why no one had taken this Door yet if it was so obviously just an underwater challenge until he took a step closer and could feel the heat radiating off it in waves.

The water inside was boiling, and the dark stone pulsed with a deep red glow.

Fritz knew this Floor was probably beyond them but he still tried his Door Sense. What he found was interesting. One point of intense heat was focused near the entrance but the other scattered vents of boiling water were far less troublesome and could be easily navigated. He also got the impression that it was a smaller floor than the other.

“When’s the next Spire Shuffle?” Fritz asked another of the Climbers milling about the Doors.

“Last one was yesterday, so eight days,” The climber replied gruffly.

Fritz cursed under his breath, no shifting of all the Spire’s floors for more than a week so they’d have to take one of these two or wait for the middle door to reset.

Fritz quickly made his decision and motioned for his team to form up, then pulled them into a huddle.

"We're going in the red sand Door," Fritz said.

"Good," Bert said.

"Why?" The runaway clerk asked.

"The other door is too hot, and is underwater," Fritz explained. "I would try it with an experienced team but as we don't know each other well enough yet, we should go with the option that lets Bert and I react and give orders."

"Fair enough," George agreed easily, seemingly the most excited of the group save Bert.

"You're the captain," said Bert.

Carter gulped but soon joined his sister’s nodding.

The clerk looked worried and Fritz turned to her and looked her in the eyes as if giving her one last chance to back out.

Her face steeled into a mask of determination then she smiled.

"Let's go," She said eagerly.

Fritz turned, faced the red sand ramp and walked towards it. Giddy delight flared in his heart and his own smile split into a grin.

“Going up, again. Wonderful.”