They made the decision to trek over the hills on foot because Joy and Sams were both subtly grimacing and stretching out their wings when they thought no one was looking. Back-winging was an unnatural position for most dragons, and doing so for a long time while descending the pit had threatened to strain muscles.

Not every dragon can be a purple, Arthur thought with a hidden smile.

But also, they didn’t want to overfly any possible reward. After hearing how Cressida had found her card, all were mindful that the Dark Heart could hide cards anywhere.

Besides, the landscape was pleasant, and despite the fact that the sun was definitely not a sun at all, it was a nice temperature.

As they topped the next hill, Arthur took a look back toward the way they’d come. Other adventurers were now popping into existence in the same location they had. Most took off running in different directions.

Arthur saw Jon’s Lightning Cat group do just that, and they were so fast that they disappeared within moments.

But others took the opportunity to launch instant surprise attacks.

Thankfully, the people who had made it down to the staging area first tended to have powerful cards and knew how to use them. So it wasn’t a case of the strong beating up on the weak. Most people could defend themselves.

No one went out of the way to approach Arthur’s group. A few people crested the hills and pointed in their direction, but no attacks were thrown their way.

“Might be the three dragons we have with us,” Horatio snarked, noticing the attention as well. He threw a sarcastic wave their way, and the group eyeballing them quickly went back down the other side of their hill and out of sight.

Brixaby buzzed up in the air a few dozen feet to watch them go before sinking down again. “What a shame. If they are afraid to fight us, then what chance do they have of defeating the Dark Heart?”

“They don’t want to defeat it,” Arthur said quietly. “They just want to take enough to be considered rich when they get back home.”

“Bah. They think too small!”

As they walked on, the landscape subtly changed to become drier, then rockier. But now the areas between the hills were woven with occasional freshwater streams.

Arthur took the opportunity to fill a few empty buckets he had in his Personal Space with fresh water. Of course, he already had barrels locked away, but when dragons grew thirsty, those barrels emptied fast.

They passed dwellings that were both familiar and unusual. Some were no bigger than huts, others were cottages in good repair or decrepit. There were stick-built homes of unusual design with high-peaked roofs, a large door on the side big enough to fit a small dragon, and windows that didn’t look like they’d last against a scourge-eruption. They even passed by a multistory castle that didn’t look too far off from the type nobles used back in Arthur’s kingdom . . . except for the fact that masonry was crumbling.

All had one of those blank cards hovering near the entrances, ready for someone to claim it.

Arthur didn’t consider any to be suitable for their needs until they came to an unusual structure which was tucked in a valley between two sharp hills. Soledad called it a pavilion. It had a red large roof held up by pillars, and no walls at all. The floor was smooth dark slate. But the structure was large enough for three dragons Sams’s size to shelter under.

Cressida made a face but then seemed to accept they wouldn’t be staying somewhere fancy anytime soon. “I suppose because there are no walls, we’d see someone trying to sneak up on us.”

“Yeah! That’s super convenient!” Joy said, enthused.

“I have bedrolls in my Personal Space,” Arthur said.

Cressida smiled. “Of course you do.”

But as they walked closer, they found the card to claim the territory was nowhere in sight. However, there was the outline of a trapdoor in the slate flooring. It was so heavy that it took Arthur and Marion heaving to lift it, but once the stone was up a few inches, it slid easily to the side as if under some kind of card power.

Below was a stairway that led down. And at the bottom hovered a territory claim card.

Marion gestured grandly. “After you, fearless leader.”

Arthur gave him a look, but since he was the one who would take the card, it made sense for him to go first. With a light touch on his Nice Shot card, he descended the stairwell.

Nothing jumped out at him from the dark, and though he couldn’t see a thing, he had a feeling of a large space beyond.

Then he reached out and grabbed the card. A message flashed in front of his vision.

Do you wish to switch territories?

Yes, he thought back.

Well, that solved one question: Someone could only hold one territory at a time. Not that he was interested in hoarding shelter from other people.

Instantly, he sensed that the card he’d carried from the shallow dugout disappeared from his pocket. Meanwhile, the new one he’d just acquired filled in the names of everyone who stood in the pavilion—his entire retinue.

Your territory is now claimed.

“All clear. It’s ours now,” he called and pulled a lit torch from his Personal Space. Arthur cast around, blinking in surprise.

The others except for Sams and Joy joined him, and they set off exploring.

The underground was indeed a massive area, so much so that it was a pity that none of the dragons except for Brixaby could fit down the stairs.

One corner of the area was filled with two rows of bunk beds. There were at least forty beds in total. Another wall had a fancy sitting area filled with overstuffed cushions and comfy furniture. The next held a grand fireplace that would provide both light and heat at night.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The last wall was . . . odd. A bright banner stretched over it proclaiming Level 1, and beyond stood three doors, each with their own labels:

Puzzle, Utility, Combat.

One by one, they all came over and stood facing the doors.

“This must be how we start,” Arthur said. It was obvious, but he wanted to break the silence. “It makes sense.”

Horatio turned to him. “We’re in a weird underground house in the middle of nowhere. How does any of this make sense?”

He shrugged. “There are only so many territories—the heart only allows one person at a time to claim one—but you saw the crowds lined up to get down here. They’re all going to be taken fast. Then it’s going to be a fight to hold on to them. But until then, we have access to the next levels of the Dark Heart.”

Soledad frowned. “That really shallow cave didn’t have anything like this.”

“But we didn’t explore it, did we?” Marion answered reasonably. “For all we know, it had a false back wall that led to something like this.”

“Who cares?” Horatio said. “We’re here now. Let’s see what’s behind these doors.” With that, he strode toward the one labeled Combat.

“No, wait!” Arthur said, but Horatio had already grabbed the handle.

Just as quickly, he yanked his hand back, hissing in surprise and shaking it out.

Soledad took a half step toward him. “Are you okay?”

“He’s not hurt,” Marion drawled. “Just suffering from a case of stupidity.”

Horatio shot Marion a dark look but turned back to them. “Got a message that only the territory holder can assign the party, whatever that means.”

“Then it’s up to me.” Arthur took his place, and the moment he drew close to the door, he felt a low buzzing sensation from the territory card, as if it was seeking his attention.

He flipped it over, and lines appeared as if freshly inked on the back side.

Level 1

Assign your party members.

Puzzle:

Combat:

Utility:

And in a line next to those choices was everyone’s names, including Sams and Joy. He supposed they were counted since they were in the territory of the pavilion, even if they weren’t downstairs with them.

Turning back, Arthur flashed the card around so everyone could take a look. “I’m thinking combat, right?”

“Of course,” Cressida said.

Horatio nodded. “Sorry, Art, but not all of us can be faffing around in the kitchens.”

“You worked in kitchens with me for years!”

“Yes, and I graduated from it.”

He smirked and gestured up to Sams, who was crouched at the mouth of the stairwell along with Joy. Both dragons were looking down. Meanwhile, Brixaby had long ago come down and was busy poking around the bunk bed’s metal framing for some reason. Though Arthur could tell he was listening.

Arthur, knowing Horatio was just poking at him, ignored him and instead looked around. “What does everyone think?”

He got nods and firm looks from everyone, even Horatio, who seemed to realize this was not a moment to be sarcastic.

Privately, Arthur suspected that this level would be every bit as hard as the wave-type dungeon that he, Brixaby, Cressida, and Joy had barely completed. He told himself they were more prepared this time.

Arthur nodded once sharply. “All right, when we go in, we’re going to take up defensive positions until we know exactly what we’re facing. Marion and Soledad, I want you to go up and get back on Sams and Joy. They’re your best protection until you get combat cards, and since their names are included, I think they’ll just be added to the challenge even if they can’t fit through the door. Cressida, be ready to snap up your shields at a moment’s notice—”

“Wait!” The shout came from Joy. She’d stuck her neck down the stairwell, all of her suddenly intense focus on Arthur. He got the impression that if she could have reached out and shaken him, she would have. “No, I don’t think you should!”

“Should what?” he asked.

“Don’t go through the combat door!”

Everyone had various reactions to that, but Horatio’s was the loudest. “I am not going through another puzzle challenge!”

“Joy, dearest,” Cressida said on a sigh. “You and I would do poorly in a utility challenge.”

“I, too, wish to fight,” Brixaby said.

Arthur shook his head. Even though in his heart of hearts, he did feel a twinge of regret. “Everyone’s right. We need to grab strong cards and abilities from this place, and combat is the fastest way.”

“You guys aren’t listening to me!” Joy said. “I really, really feel like Arthur should go into the utility challenge. Just him.”

This time, the loudest objection came from Brixaby. “No! He doesn’t have access to his anchor cards. He will be completely helpless!”

“Well, not completely,” Arthur grumbled. Though his heart did pick up the pace at Joy’s suggestion, and it wasn’t fear: He would rather face a utility challenge.

Sams rumbled. “What prompted this, Joy? Did you receive a quest?”

Joy stomped her foot so hard that dust rained down on the humans below.

“No! That’s not it at all. It’s . . . it’s really hard to explain. Remember I told you that I had to practice my intuition back in the first challenge? So, this isn’t something I can put a claw on. But I really, really, really feel like it would be a mistake for Arthur to come with us. He should go to the utility door! Sorry,” she added in Arthur’s direction.

“This is ridiculous,” Brixaby growled. Then, just as quickly, “If Arthur chooses utility, I shall too.”

“No.”

Arthur surprised himself with his own vehemence. Even Brixaby drew up in surprise.

“No,” Arthur said again. “We need all the combat advantage we can get, and Brix, you have combat abilities. Your Night-Mare Fire, which you can’t even use with me sitting on you. Not to mention your Stunning Shout, and now you have that card that makes your scales harder. No,” he said again. “You need to be in combat. And my strength . . . it’s always been in utility.” He cocked his head, coming to a slow realization. “Maybe it’s time that I learned to embrace that.”

“That’s what I was saying! Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?” Joy whined.

Cressida stepped forward, her brows knit with concern. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t like you going to a place where I cannot help you,” Brixaby added.

“I’m sure,” he told Cressida, then looked at Brixaby. “And you will be helping me. I’m wearing your anchor, remember?”

He looked around. No one seemed to be happy about this, and on one level he understood: He was supposed to be their leader. That meant being with them.

But at the same time, he wasn’t looking for a consensus. In his heart, he knew Joy was correct.

“Brix, I’m going to depend on you to be the leader while I’m gone,” he said. “I know you’ll fight whatever you see in there, but think of the rest of the retinue, too.”

“Of course I will,” Brixaby said, looking slightly offended.

But everyone else seemed a touch relieved.

Arthur continued, “Joy has a point. My goals are to increase the size of my heart deck and find Master of Cards. That’s a utility card. I have to do this.”

“What about him?” Horatio jerked a thumb at Marion, who’d been quiet this entire time. Now that Arthur looked at him, he saw that his friend seemed torn.

Arthur shook his head. “He won’t get a better experience of being a healer than while in a battle situation.”

Marion’s shoulders sagged, though he nodded in agreement. He just didn’t like it.

Brixaby growled. “If you get into trouble, if you get hurt, you had better use your Return to Start card.”

“Yes, then I’ll come back through the Dark Heart and return here,” Arthur agreed. “Though it might take some time. I’ll be at the back of the crowd.”

“Then pull rank!” His dragon was exasperated. “Should the worst happen, your job as my rider is to return to aid me.”

Nodding, Arthur patted his dragon’s shoulder.

Then he turned and looked at the doors. Now that everything had been decided, he could feel that they were more representations of a door than actual portals. Something to trick someone who didn’t hold a territory card.

And sure enough, above the middle Utility door was a divot that was the perfect size and shape of his card.

It appeared the Dark Heart had been listening to their conversation as well because when he glanced at the card, he saw that his name was the lone one under the utility list. Everyone else was under combat.

“All right. Good luck in there,” Arthur said to the group.

Then he stepped forward and reached to press the card to that divot.

There was a burst of light, and Arthur concentrated fiercely on his primary goal: Master of Cards.

A voice whispered in his mind.

How will you be a Master of Cards when you don’t even know how cards began?

And with that, he was pulled away.