“Is that all I’m good for? Carrying stuff?!” Joseph was grumbling as he shifted his heavy pack to sit on his broad shoulders more comfortably. The boxes clinked and sloshed behind him.

“Of course not! You are also good at paying attention. That’s why I brought you along.” Navi patted his shoulder, then went to grab her pack. He stopped grumbling, pleased with the praise.

The True North was off on a short delivery run with a skeleton crew. When asked, all she had said about the destination was that they were going to check in with their patrons.

“We have patrons?” Jaehyun’s eyebrows shot up.

“O-of course we do. How did you think I was able to make up the other half of the money for this ship?” Navi asked, sipping at her sweet mint tea. Lately, she and Jaehyun had been working on communicating, but explaining things to him still made her nervous. “T-they were one of my earliest jobs. I was able to impress them, so they kept me on as their personal delivery girl. It was in their best interest that I had a ship of my own.”

“And when do I get to meet these patrons?” He leaned down, trying to peer at the face she hid behind her mug.

“Soon enough. Not today.” Navi turned her back to him. And that was that.

Now the True North was on the slow approach to the cliffs known as the Gordana Sundry.

“If these are the mines, where is the entry?” Jaehyun asked the question everyone else was thinking. “There is no sign of anything.”

For miles around, there were soft hills of rock and sand. Scrubby pines and the occasional clump of dry grass dotted the land. The only thing breaking up the barrenness—besides the kettle of vultures circling—were the strange craggy cliff faces jutting up like a giant’s teeth.

“They know we’re here,” Navi said quietly, watching the cliffs loom closer. “Hail them on the general frequency.

Jaehyun opened the frequency and transmitted. “This is Captain Jaehyun Park of the True North with a delivery for Lord Umbreon at the Gordana Sundry. Requesting permission to land.”

For a long moment, nothing happened. Then the largest of the cliff formations began to split near the top. It was as though the cliff were part of a dollhouse. Half of it split down the middle, with the halves swinging wide to reveal carved terraces as ornate as any manor. Near the top, half-hidden gears turned, slowly extending a massive docking platform with supports sliding along hidden grooves to hold the structure up.

“The True North is cleared for docking,” a whispery voice crackled over the radio. They could not tell if it were male or female. “Welcome to the Sundry.” The radio went silent after that. At the far end of the docking platform were ornate, iron doors set into the rock.

“Is-is my Joe going to be safe going there?” Jethro gasped in disbelief.

Navi grinned at his slack-jawed expression. Even Jaehyun looked impressed. “As long as he is quick enough.”

“Say what now?”

“Ready?” Navi ignored his question and turned to the young apprentice who was struggling to close his mouth. She pulled down her goggles and tugged Joe’s down over his face for him. The gesture snapped him from his reverie.

“I guess so.” He shifted his heavy pack. Something in the boxes sloshed thickly. He did not want to know what they were delivering. “They must be very rich!”

“Very. So be on your best behavior." She had started grinning mischievously. Much as he liked it when she smiled, he did not trust this one. “They've got particular…tastes."

"How so?" He shifted the brace and tugged his best bowler hat more firmly on his head.

Navi unlocked the outer door, waiting for Jaehyun’s signal to disembark. "They have a reputation to maintain, so everyone gets treated equally.”

That wind outside was howling something fierce. He could hear it more clearly now that the ship’s hum had died down. Jaehyun had taxied the ship settle near a set of airstairs that had unfolded from the platform. The entire place seemed to fold in and out of itself like a puzzle box. Somehow Joseph felt that his best hat may not be enough to impress these nobles.

“You’re good to go, Navi,” Jaehyun’s voice crackled over the radio. “Be safe out there.”

“Acknowledged.” Navi opened the door. The chill, dry air sucked away any warmth from the doorway. Navi led the way.

"So, why are we bringing weapons to see your patrons?" Joe yelled to be heard over the howl of the wind. It almost felt like the wind had claws that were tearing at them. Navi did not try to answer him. The two of them walked against the wind, crossing the platform towards the doors. There was a smaller door to the side that Navi opened. They stepped in out of the wind into a cavernous, well-lit stone corridor. It was cool but dry.

There were carved friezes along the ceiling and niches with statues. Paint adorned the floor in gorgeous, geometric patterns. As he watched, he noticed that the patterns were shifting slowly from some hidden mechanism. The friezes along the wall also moved slowly with the figures reaching toward each other, leaping, dancing. What devilry…? He turned to the mechanic who was gasping under her heavy pack.

“Now…we can talk for a minute,” Navi finally caught her breath. Finally, she turned back to Joseph. “After we make this delivery, we have to run for our lives. Weapons are the best way to help you stay alive.”

“They’re going to attack us?” he squeaked. “Why? And why are we here? We should go back to the ship!”

“No!” Navi grabbed his arm. “We have to do this!” She released him. “I-I mean…I have to do this. You can wait for me on the ship, if you like.”

Joe’s instincts were to run. Something was off about this sterile palace of marble. He looked down at Navi who looked impossibly small surrounded by this grandeur. She looked crestfallen. He sighed. Darn his soft heard. “No,” he sighed. “I said I would help you.” He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “What else are friends for, right?”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Joe. I’ll make sure you survive this. I’ve done it about six times now, so just follow my lead.” He nodded, tightening his grip on the sloshing pack. She glanced around the empty, moving corridors, making mental notes. “This way.”

Navi took them down a corridor to the left and opened a pair of ornate lift doors. They got on. She threw the switch and they descended into the heart of the cliff. Like everything else in this place, the scenes on the lift doors moved on unseen mechanisms, making the images shift as they traveled. When the lift stopped, they found themselves in a hallway that was almost identical to the one they had just left. This one had several doors scattered along the hall. Navi led them to the most ornate set.

"We're here." She glanced back at him. “Remember: best behavior!”

He gulped and she pushed the door open. The darkness beyond the doorway seethed like a living thing. Navi took three steps into the darkness beyond. Joseph crept in after her, his senses on high alert. The door closed softly behind them. Though he could not see anything, he could feel something's presence in the room. Also, it was much warmer in here that he was expecting.

“Navilene Sitara greets Lord Umbreon of the Gervais clan.” Navi’s voice cut through the darkness. “Bow a little, if you can,” he heard her murmur to him. He complied, wondering what would it matter if no one could see him.

"Welcome back, Miss Sitara,” a warm, sibilant voice greeted them from the darkness. “We are always honored by your visits. It has been far too long since your last visit.”

“My apologies, my lord,” Navi humbly replied. “Th-the supplier was late, so we brought double the shipment. I hope this did not inconvenience your family too much.”

There was a soft laugh. To Joseph’s ears, it sounded a little strained. Lord Umbreon sighed. “Would that we were not dependent on outside sources for our needs. We are self-sufficient in all ways say in the way that counts.” His voice had taken on a bitter tone.

“M-My apologies,” Navi stuttered. Joseph could imagine the panicked look on her face. “I-we can try to make sure that the deliveries stay on time.”

Lord Umbreon laughed again. It was warmer this time. “We do not blame the delivery person for the sender being late in meeting their quota. We are always glad to have you. And I see you have brought us a guest. Let’s have a look at each other then.” Joseph could feel the intense scrutiny of a crowd upon him. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

There was the sound of a clap. A series of lights flared around the edges of the room. Joe was taken aback by how lavish the room was with smooth polished floors, carved pillars, and mirrors set about the walls. The room was filled with people. Servants in dark dress slipped in and out the room without a sound. There were guards in ornate dress, carrying halberds, lining the walls.

At the far end of the room was a small platform a small crowd of richly-dressed people had gathered. Joe surmised that the immediate family must be on the platform whilst other members of the family were scattered throughout the receiving hall. He could tell who was related as the Gervais family were extremely pale, with rich, dark hair and coppery brown eyes.

A man who sat upon an intricately carved throne rose with a wide smile. "Welcome, to my home, young master. I am Lord Umbreon Gervais. And you are?” Lord Umbreon was a pale, thin man with a drooping mustache. His dark hair was wavy and reached to the shoulders of his rich purple cloak. The copper of his eyes was brighter than those of his family. Joseph thought they were the color of blood.

“J-Joseph Connor, apprentice to Jethro Mulligan, master blacksmith, your lordship,” Joe bowed again.

The others in the family stood watching, whispering amongst themselves. At the edge of the group, Joe thought he saw a girl about his age. When he turned to look she had disappeared.

"It is a pleasure, young master Connor. Welcome!" Umbreon turned to Navi. “I trust you haven’t been scaring our young friend with tales of former deliveries.”

“Um…not yet, your lordship,” Navi ducked her head, hiding a smile.

“Was I supposed to be told something?” Joe’s eyes flicked over to the other people around the room. No one was smiling. All of them were watching. “I was just told it was a special delivery.” He glanced at Navi who did not make eye contact. He swallowed as doubts started to cloud his mind. Something was wrong here and he could not put his finger on it. Then it clicked. “Wait! I’m not the delivery, Navi, am I?” He grabbed her arm, shaking it nervously. “I-I’m not a human sacrifice or something…am I?” It was then he noticed just how quiet it had gotten. The silence was deafening. Every eye in the room (save Navi’s) was fixed on him and not a single person moved. Her shoulders had started shaking, but she did not answer him.

He swallowed, but his dry throat felt like he had downed shards of glass. “…Navi?”