After a search they found a lot of treasure hidden in various stashes in the large cavern. Over twenty-five thousand coins, another full set of power medallions, and then some magic wands and implements that had effects of changing the visual appearance of coursers. They were useless for battle, but were highly sought after by the noble class for vanity reasons.

Alec was so happy with their finds that he was shimmying back and forth. In fact he and Flynn had found the lion's share.

"Make notes Flynn. I'll give the medallions to Aldric again and pay the pot back," Edos said.

"Alright, we're going to have a nice and full militia bank by the time we are done," Flynn responded, "Which is good. Setting up a fiefdom must also cost money."

"Everything costs money," Samantha sighed, "But I think we are really lucky to be able to become wealthy through our endeavors in the dungeons and not come to any harm."

Aldric silently agreed with her on that. The dungeons were far more dangerous than he had imagined. He understood now why in some nations dungeoneering was strictly controlled  by the state and only special groups or the military were allowed in. Lumia was a lot freer. Even a common person like him or a former farmer like Flynn could decide they wanted to test their luck in the dungeons.

"Lumia is a place of great opportunity," Aldric said aloud.

"It is quickly developing and emerging because of the amount of wealth that is being brought out of the dungeons. The trade with other nations has tripled since a few years ago, and port towns are not expanding at an almost visible rate."

"The Nevith ships coming into the southern ports have a lot to do with that," Samantha mentioned, "They are buying all of the goods from the dungeon and shipping them to nations where dungeoneering is less common and making a mint."

"They pay a fair price for it here though," Flynn added, "So everyone is winning."

"I crossed here on one of their passenger ships. They give excellent service," Aldric said, "The journey was incredibly smooth and meals were provided as part of the fee."

"I promise to go on a journey with them one day," Samantha said, "I might visit Zaloria..."

"How shocking that you would pick Zaloria. Flynn didn't see that one coming at all!" Flynn said with a dramatic flare.

Edos chuckled when Samantha blew a raspberry at Flynn.

Aldric picked up that there was some inside story there and he wondered what it was but also didn't feel comfortable enough to ask.

Flynn noticed his predicament and said, "She's dating a courser from there. Hey! That means both siblings are dating Zalorians? Family preference?"

They all had a good chuckle at that.

Aldric didn't bother to ask Samantha who she was dating. Zaloria was a gigantic country and there was almost no way that he would know him. His family were nomadic hunters and so his first trip to a major city was to get on a boat and leave the country.

When Flynn was finished cataloguing everything, Edos decided it was time to rest and recuperate.

They went back to the spot they camped in last night and got to work setting up the tents and making a fire to cook.

"Mushrooms and grains tonight!" Samantha announced.

Flynn and Aldric both cheered while Edos watched them with a fond expression.

***

The hounds were playing in the corner but the wolf was fast asleep. Alec had retreated into his bottle, telling Flynn to wake him up if and only if they found more treasure.

Flynn was now helping Samantha cook while Aldric and Edos were in their co-joined tent grooming each other from the sound of it. 

"Do you think Aldric will be shocked when he finds out who your lover is?" Flynn whispered to her.

"Possibly," Samantha agreed, "He's the head of the state so it would probably be quite shocking."

"Flynn still doesn't understand how you two got together," Flynn sighed, "Is this why Flynn is still single."

Samantha had seen several coursers try to mate Flynn but the madder was oblivious to the attempt to the extent that it was almost comical. She figured that the person who succeeded would be whoever was the most overt; otherwise it would never get through Flynn's thick skull.

"It'll happen for you," she encouraged him, "You'll be a great Father."

"Of course! Flynn is a family man!!"

Samantha agreed with that whole-heartedly. 

"Flynn is also a great friend," she added.

"You too! Flynn is lucky he found the flyer for the old guild!"

They rubbed their necks together to express the mutual fondness and then got back to the business of cooking. 

***

After a full rest, they set off by first back tracking a bit. Edos managed to find a different passageway which was in the opposite direction of the mysterious gate and they set off with the canine companions trailing behind them.

As they entered the passageway, it suddenly shifted and closed in on them!

"What is this, will it squeeze us to death?" Flynn cried out.

"We've come too far in and we can't turn back, surge forward." Edos commanded. 

"It's so close it's hard to have enough space to gallop," Aldric complained.

"Steady, just keep moving forward!" Edos shouted back at them.

Samantha was quiet but panting heavily, so Aldric was worried about her.

"You're fine Samantha!" Flynn encouraged her, "Just follow me and keep going."

She neighed weakly in response but continued on.

Edos eventually escaped into a wider area and turned back to continue to verbally encourage them.

"You're almost there! Keep going! Come on Aldric! Come on Flynn! Come on Sammie!" 

Aldric had never felt so uncomfortable in his life but he knew he had to force through the mental block and keep going.