On the uppermost floor of Hollowoc Tower, the Tower Crown, Haisuh leaned over the little basin in his muggy quarters and gratefully splashed his face with cold water.

The stubble of his facial hair scratched the palms of his hands, and he groaned at his ragged reflection in the faded mirror.

A few days ago, the forecast monsoon had rolled in, and the Tower, on the precipice of Stocross Mountain, had become awfully humid.

Yet monsoons were a regularity in Hativa Quarter, so that wasn’t the reason Haisuh, exhausted and uncomfortable, had sweated through his robes and barely caught a wink of sleep.

Last night when the Tower had lit up in the spellfire of a challenge, the eyas of Hollowoc Tower’s Guard had flown into a frenzy, thinking they were under attack.

The grown Aven of the Guard, their seniors, had managed to settle them down before they could all do something stupid.

However, those senior ‘ven were required to evacuate the Tower immediately, according to the rules. This was not going to be their fight.

The challengers were an Order of eyas, so it was the eyas of Hollowoc Tower who would assist the Captain of the Guard in defending the Tower.

Haisuh’s Lieutenant had groused and resisted, until Haisuh had put on a bravado and reassured him that he would handle it.

No matter what his Lieutenant thought of the Hollowoc eyas, it was ultimately Haisuh himself that the challengers had to get past.

Besides, said Haisuh, there was enough work to do in Hativa Quarter, looking after the denizens during the monsoon.

Haisuh promised his Guard that they would see each other again in a week. He would end it quickly. This challenge wouldn’t last any longer than that.

Haisuh peeled himself out of his stifling clothes and briskly washed up, before changing into the ceremonial Captain’s robes in the colours of Hollowoc Tower: white, with accents and trims in red and lurid green.

He hissed as he worked his arms through his tunic sleeves. He was especially stiff and sore after falling asleep at a desk in the Tower Library last night, but showing any weakness today was the last thing he could afford to do.

The priority last night had been to clear out Iliamna Pavilion, which the challengers would be staying at near the Stocross Mountain entrance Gate.

Given the inclinations of the Aven of Hativa Quarter, Haisuh hadn’t imagined it would ever be needed for its designated purpose. He was paying for that now, he could understand.

The eyas had questioned and complained, doing the work of servants as they cleared out the disused pavilion and provisioned it with amenities fit to host their guests.

That was the rule of the law, Haisuh explained, stressing that they must all strictly observe the procedures. They had to know how serious this was.

If they failed, he and the Castellan would be dismissed from Hollowoc Tower. Hativa Quarter would be under the purview of some new Aven, and they would lose their privilege to enter the Inner Sky.

They had all sobered at that and gone back to bed in a low mood, but Haisuh saw Hwanda gather them around to say some encouraging words.

Satisfied that morale wouldn’t be too low tomorrow, Haisuh flew up to the very top of the Tower, the roof of the Tower Crown, and made one last inspection on the lightning rod there.

Haisuh had stood in the middle of the ancient spellcircle inlaid on the floor there, gazing up at the triple-pronged instrument that protected them.

How many copper serpents had he slain to restore it?

Who else in Hativa Quarter could say they’d flown so high on their own two wings?

There was no one.

These were his skies.

Now in full dress, Haisuh evaluated himself again in the mirror.

He opened his huge grey patterned wings.

He looked mature, accomplished, worldly.

He was the picture of a champion.

Yes. This Tower Challenge was nothing.

Haisuh checked over his quarters one last time.

Someone had come up and taken his gear and clothes down already, so there wouldn’t be any need to return here for a while.

He looked at all the treasures of his achievements, tokens of esteem and tribute from the people of Hativa Quarter.

This fight was for them too.

Who knew what this new eyas Order wanted? Unless Haisuh beat them back, Hativa Quarter would change.

He wouldn’t let it change.

Haisuh left his quarters and shut the door.

Staying across the hall was the esteemed guest of Hollowoc Tower who had arrived from the Inner Sky less than a week ago.

It was silent now, and despite the ruckus, not a peep had come out of that room all night.

Haisuh went up to the door and almost knocked, but lowered his hand when he changed his mind.

---

The sun had just finished rising, but the sky was so overcast, there was almost no light.

Haisuh took a lantern as he descended to the bottom of the Tower Crown.

While there was a long winding staircase that one could take to go down to the floor of the main hall, the inside length of the Tower was predominantly hollow.

It was an enclosed interior gauntlet Haisuh could fly in his sleep.

In the gloom of the dim morning, Haisuh dove down.

---

When Haisuh met up with Castellan Fiorri in the main hall, it was clear that she herself had barely slept. Likely she had spent the night reviewing the rules of the Tower challenge, as Haisuh had been.

The Castellan wasn’t elderly, she was only one generation older than Haisuh, but her creased face was often pinned with a tired, artificial smile.

Haisuh had only ever seen her working, but he certainly wouldn’t describe her work ethic as ‘conscientious’.

 Perhaps it would be more accurate to call what she did ‘fulfilling obligations according to instruction.’ Haisuh had pieced together enough over the years to know that she was well-connected and well-supported by some ‘ven in the Inner Sky.

“It’s unfortunate we currently have no way to contact the Inner Sky,” said the Castellan, as they both ate a quick, simple breakfast in the main hall. “According to the records, there have never been any attempts to take Hollowoc Tower in a challenge during a monsoon. I though we could get this challenge nullified on those grounds, but I suppose that won’t be the case.”

“Tell me Captain, how did the preparations go?”

Haisuh recounted a report of everything he and the junior Guard had achieved last night.

“I haven’t decided how the Guard will be stationed yet,” said Haisuh. “I’ll make a decision after I see the challenging Order. But I know all of their strengths and capabilities very well, I assure you.”

Haisuh had also reviewed each of his eyas’ files last night, and the back of his mind had since been spinning with strategies.

While the most apparent flight course of Hollowoc Tower spanned the height of the tower itself, the longest course on Stocross Mountain included the cliff faces the tower was built over.

It was a course that went from the Tower Crown to the rocks at the base of the mountain, where it met the water.

The Castellan nodded absently. “You know, Hwanda was here earlier,” she said. “He told me that he and his kith were ready, and that they wouldn’t let the two of us down.”

“He’s not much like you, is he?” Remarked the Castellan. “His enthusiasm is more like your Lieutenant’s.”

Haisuh raked a hand though his wavy hair with a contrite smile. “Maybe it’s for the best that I don’t influence him.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to manage your own legacy,” she replied. “I’m counting on you Captain. Let’s both take this challenge as an opportunity to show the Quarter and Inner Sky our capabilities.”

---

They finished their breakfast and together went down to the address balcony that overlooked the tower courtyard.

One of the Castellan’s staff was waiting for them there. At their arrival, the servant curtsied and scampered off, mumbling that they would fetch the challenge ticket that had been retrieved from the cauldron at the entrance Gate.

The Castellan went straight to the balcony. “Let’s see them, shall we?”

Haisuh followed after her.

Down in the tower forecourt, stood rigidly to attention, were the Order of eyas challengers.

The two eyas shoulder-to-shoulder at the front were glaring up at the address balcony.

The taller one was wrapped in the contrasting waist sash that designated him as their Chief’s disciple. Beneath his outgrown bangs, his eyes were filled with hatred.

In comparison, the eyas next to him was strikingly unremarkable. He didn’t seem to be any kind of way in particular. In fact, it was almost uncanny how little one could glean about him in a glance.

“Black and white,” said the Castellan. “I don’t know any Academy with those colours. Who’s Order is this? Challenge tickets cannot be obtained easily.”

Haisuh observed the challengers’ assets; the apparent heights and builds of the eyas, before flicking his eyes to the back of the ranks, at the Order’s Chief and Master.

He was tall and dressed plainly in a thick, fur-trimmed cloak. In one hand, he leant on a slender cane.

The wide brimmed hat he wore was draped with long gauzy curtains that obscured him significantly as they fluttered in the gentle breeze.

Haisuh had lived his whole life in Hativa Quarter, with and among all of its denizens, before and after he’d become the Captain of the Guard.

He had never seen any of these Aven in his life.

Who were these nobodies?

The Castellan politely covered her mouth. “I dare say, Captain. This challenge looks like it’s about to be trivial.”

She took a deep breath.

“But that only makes me think that they are surely not as weak as they seem. Don’t underestimate them.”

Haisuh bowed. “Of course, Castellan.”

“Nevertheless, I’m not worried. We have our esteemed guest here too, after all.”

Haisuh and the Castellan both looked to the balcony doorway where Sayzei, the Vanguard of the Inner Sky, was listening to them, arms crossed.

Her piercing eyes were pinholes of flagrant disdain, which she never deigned to hide behind her short-shorn hair.

She looked absurd in the colours of Hollowoc Tower, in robes more rough-spun than what she usually wore.

The Castellan said, “You can use your Celestial authority if things get out of hand here, can’t you?”

Sayzei’s expression instantly soured. “What are you talking about? You think things will get out of hand? You think you can’t handle something as piddling as this?”

Haisuh bowed diplomatically, but his smile was sardonic. “Castellan, the Vanguard is right. I don’t need any help defending the Tower. It’s my job, not her’s. This sky is my domain, after all.”

The Castellan laughed nervously. “I see. If you say so, Captain. My apologies to you, Vanguard Sayzei.”

Sayzei rolled her eyes. “Last night was such a racquet, with your eyas going up and down the Tower, asking this and that. Don’t they know how to think for themselves?”

Her voice was acid. “Nothing impressive has ever come from the backwater hovel.”

Haisuh sneered. “Yet here you are, in this hateful place. I wonder what’s happening up in Ouranos that’s got you hiding out here in our humble Quarter?”

Sayzei only narrowed her frosty eyes.

Then the servant, head lowered, arrived in the doorway with the challenge ticket, still smouldering with spellfire, on a tray.

Sayzei plucked up the scorched ticket with a bare hand.

Pale green flames ignited from her fingers as she worked her own spellfire over the ensorcelled paper.

“Can you see the blood seal?” Asked the Castellan. “Who is their Chief?”

Sayzei approached the balcony to look out into the forecourt herself. She handed the restored ticket to the Castellan.

“Akiyoh…” read the Castellan. “Who’s that?”

Sayzei took in the enigmatic image of the unknown and Chief of the challenging Order.

“By the end of this challenge, I suppose we’ll all find out.”