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Without any clear objective or direction, everyone in the group spent most of their time mingling among the Hun’Sho. The four reapers practically insisted on it, though their servants didn’t require much convincing, save perhaps Zeff.

Unsurprisingly, the Lord Elroy seemed the most anxious to leave and expressed little interest in the Hun’Sho or Himmekel or even the Sosho’Diyu.

That last one was almost certainly what was on everyone else’s mind the most, Hector felt. They all seemed convinced that it was here, somewhere, which made him rather dubious about the sincerity of their attempts to “learn about Hun’Sho culture,” as Diego Redwater had put it. Without a doubt, that man seemed the most determined to stay, though Hector did notice the Hun’Kui behaving somewhat similarly. In particular, it was in the way they followed Diego around. They probably figured that if anyone was going to find it, it would be him.

But still. As unsavory as Hector found their behavior, he knew that he was not so different himself. When he thought about what he might be able to do with such an apparently valuable treasure... When he thought about Warrenhold and all the money it would need... not to mention all the people who would be staying there...

Assuming it really was money. He’d been starting to wonder what really qualified as treasure. There were certainly other things in this world that could be considered far more valuable than gold or gems or whatever. He was carrying one such item already, he knew. And he hadn’t forgotten all those weird names that reapers had rattled off not so long ago.

Garovel, at least, seemed certain that the treasure was something along those lines.

‘Do you have any specific theories about what it could be?’ Hector had asked him.

‘One or two, maybe,’ Garovel had said. ‘But I’m not prepared to share them yet.’

‘Why not? You’re always trying to tell me about your dumb theories.’

‘Hey. You’re hurting my feelings.’

‘If I apologize, will you tell me?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Then maybe I’m sorry.’

‘Sheesh. I’m thinking that the treasure might have something to do with Rathmore. Since his Flame is so near, then it would stand to reason.’

‘That doesn’t tell me much, Garovel. Or anything, really.’

‘Yeah, well, I don’t want to make a specific prediction and then turn out to be completely wrong later.’

‘Oh, come on. I don’t care if you’re wrong.’

‘Yeah, but I do. I hate being wrong.’

‘Believe me, I’ve noticed.’

‘Oh, shut up and go back to your meditation or practice or whatever you’re doing over there by yourself.’

With everyone else on the job, Hector didn’t feel the need to socialize with the Hun’Sho as much. He did, however, feel the need to keep up with his training, especially now that he could use temperature manipulation.