Arthur activated every skill within his stealth class as he explored the interior of the Free Hive. That, however, soon proved to be overkill. He let go of all but classic Stealth, Silent Movement, Heightened Awareness, and Concealment.

The combination of skills didn't exactly make him invisible, just unnoticed – or, another bland, unremarkable face in the crowd. People glanced at him and then casually looked away with no change of expression on their faces.

It was liberating. The last few months had been quite the change for Arthur, socially. He had gone from a nobody – a common worker with a few good friends and useful skills to those who knew him – to arguably one of the most important people in the Kingdom. So to be another general face in the crowd again… Arthur savored it.

Stealthing around was also useful because he had no idea where he was going. For years, he had grown to know the level-based layout of Wolf Moon Hive. The more common folk, the low-ranked, the general crafters, and those who were high-ranked but wanted a taste of a different life often congregated in Wolf Moon's lowest levels.

The more luxurious amenities were located on the higher levels with the upper-ranked riders and general people of importance.

However, the Mesa Free Hive’s layout just didn't make any sense to him. For one thing, the mesa seemed to be made of a series of cooled lava bubbles, creating hundreds of caves with no levels stacked on top of one another. For another, they were a complete mish-mash of services with no obvious organization.

Arthur passed by caves that glowed with artificial light, where crops were planted in deep, black, rich soil with farmers attending to them. Other open-air caves seemed to be filled with pop-up stores where vendors hawked their wares, from fabrics and tools to all manner of odds and ends.

The most tempting caves were the open-air kitchens and food vendors. Arthur wasn't particularly hungry, but his nose picked up a wealth of spices – some in combinations he hadn't tried before, and others which seemed entirely new. It was a reminder that he hadn't truly tried to level anything within his cooking class since well before Brix’s hatching. He missed it.

But now was not the time. Also, he wasn't sure how his new suite of stealth skills would hold up under strain if he tried to grab a bite to eat. Maybe he would level these skills up a little, first.

No signs pointed the way to the rider's quarters. Indeed, some of the caves he passed seemed to be entrances to barracks. He passed several which were filled with stacks of bed cots, which served as barracks. Some were filled with sleeping people. He guessed those were on a night-work shift.

There were a few caves, too, which were converted into communal dragon dens. He saw one with several young hatchlings playing some kind of dice game.

That was another thing about the Free Hive which was different from Wolf Moon: dragons and people lived together more closely. The halls were wide enough for all but the largest dragons to pass by easily. Vendors spoke to men and women as easily as they did dragons – and the dragons spoke freely back, which was not something always seen in the hive. As dragons got older, they tended to forgo speaking to strangers. Arthur wasn’t sure why.

There was also a sense of… comfort and safety in the air. He didn't think the feeling was being imposed on him, like some kind of mental manipulation. It was simply a lack of tension. There weren't any high-ranked riders or nobles strutting about, snapping orders. Not to say that there weren't ranks altogether. Arthur passed by people with apprentice badges up to high masters.

But again, that was different from Wolf Moon. Usually, important crafters would be cloistered within their separate guilds and not interacting out in public.

Arthur was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize he was being watched until he felt a prickly sensation itching at the back of his neck. Still mentally holding onto the skills, he turned in place and studied the passersby.

When he spotted his watcher, he was taken aback.

A small silver dragon stared directly at him – and it looked so much like Marteen that he almost called out to them. But at second glance, he noted the slightly heavier set of the dragon's jaw and the more protruded bony eyebrows that indicated the dragon was male.

This wasn't Marteen. Just another silver mystic whose natural magic specialty likely let him see through Arthur's skills.

Sure enough, the dragon looked at Arthur intently, then raised two of his claws to point at his own eyes, and then back at Arthur in the universal signal of "I'm watching you."

Awkwardly, Arthur waved back.

The dragon made no move, and Arthur felt its gaze as he walked away. The dragon did not stop him. Just watched.

Arthur got the feeling the dragon had been sent by the council. It made sense. Since he wasn’t bound by the card-lock shackles, they’d want him under observation. If that was all they did, he’d consider himself lucky.

No one else seemed to notice him, and as he walked on, he leveled up several of his stealth class skills.

Skill Level Gained: Heightened Awareness (Stealth Class)

Level 14