Inherited Vault

Audio: 20

Chapter 20:

The ship left the Harrowgate docks before nightfall. It did not leave Harrowgate. They had nearly reached the harbor mouth when bells sounded from the towers.

Mara turned toward the eastern wall. “Something’s wrong.”

Across the channel, an iron chain began rising from beneath the water. Black links broke the surface one after another, each large enough to crush a man’s chest. Water poured from them as they stretched between the two harbor towers.

The final gap closed ahead of the ship. Joren leaned over the rail. “Is that customary?”

“No.”

Red lanterns ignited along the seawall.

Behind them, harbor crews pulled smaller vessels back toward their berths. Soldiers appeared on the upper walkways. At the mouth of the harbor, a narrow black cutter passed through the remaining opening moments before the chain locked into place.

No trade markings.

No cargo.

Dominion banners hung motionless from its masts. Mara’s expression hardened. “Drop anchor.”

The sailors obeyed. Canvas collapsed overhead. The ship slowed, turned with the current, and settled among the other vessels trapped inside the harbor.

Frey stood at the stern watching the black cutter approach the Dominion quay. The Pages rested beneath his coat. He had taken it out twice since boarding.

No warmth.

No movement.

No answers.

Only a weathered Page covered in writing he could not understand. Now someone had sealed an entire harbor behind them. That made the Pages feel less like an answer and more like evidence.

Behind him, the deck was unusually quiet. Five sailors remained. Nine had begun the journey. Frey had learned enough about numbers to know they could tell the truth and still hide most of it.

Mara emerged from below deck with a clean bandage along her temple.

Every sailor noticed. No one asked. Joren handed her a cup. She smelled it.

“What is this?”

“Tea.”

“You don’t make tea.”

“I’ve suffered personal growth.” She took a cautious sip. Her face tightened.

Joren nodded. Mara handed it back. “Keep growing.” For a moment, the deck almost felt normal.

Then one of the sailors stepped forward.

“Captain.”

Something in his voice changed her expression. “What?” The sailor looked at the others before answering.

“We need to talk.”

They gathered near the bow. Frey stayed back at first. This was between Mara and her crew. Then Mara looked at him.

“Stay.”

So he did. The sailor rubbed his palms together. “When we reach the next safe port, I’m leaving.”

Mara said nothing. A second sailor stepped beside him. “Me too.”

Then a third. The fourth didn’t speak. He joined them. Mara looked across the four men. Then at Joren. He hadn’t moved. “We’re close.” The first sailor nodded. “I know, Captain.”

“We’ve already come farther than anyone expected.”

“That’s not why we’re leaving.” Mara’s jaw tightened. “Then why?” His eyes moved to the bandage along her temple. “Because we don’t know what we’re sailing toward anymore.”

He looked at the other men.

“Torren’s dead. Davin’s dead. Gregory’s dead. Four men aren’t coming home.” He swallowed. “I have a wife who still thinks this is a trading voyage.” Another sailor spoke. “My sons think I’ll be home before the season changes.” Mara looked away. “We knew this could be dangerous.”

“We knew the sea could be dangerous.” The first sailor shook his head. “This isn’t the sea anymore.” Silence crossed the deck. Frey watched Mara’s jaw tighten.

“So that’s it?” The sailor held her gaze. “What we’ve already lost can’t be the reason we lose everyone else.” Mara had no answer. Then her eyes moved past the four men. Joren was still leaning against the rail.

He hadn’t joined them. “We’ve lost four men getting this far.” The sailor nodded. “That’s why I don’t want to lose five more, proving it was worth it.”

Mara looked at him sharply. But Frey felt the sentence settle somewhere deeper. He had seen the same mistake in money. A merchant kept feeding coin into a failing venture because he’d already invested too much to stop.

A gambler chased what he’d lost because walking away made the loss feel permanent. People stayed in bad decisions because leaving forced them to admit what those decisions had already cost.

But yesterday’s cost did not make tomorrow’s sacrifice wise. Frey stepped forward.

“Mara.”

“Don’t.” He stopped. She stared across the water.  For a long moment, only the water moved.

Then Mara faced her crew. “When we reach the next safe port, anyone who wants to leave can leave.” No one spoke. “You’ll be paid everything you’re owed.” The first sailor shook his head.

“Captain.”

“Everything.” Her voice left no room for argument. “And you’ll each take something to the families of the men who aren’t with us.”

The sailor’s expression changed. He nodded. “I will.” Mara looked across the five faces. “Get some rest.” They dispersed slowly. One sailor stopped beside her. “I’m sorry.” Mara stared toward the horizon. “Go see your wife.”

He left.

Only Joren remained.

Mara noticed.

“You can go too.”

“I know.”

“Then go.”

Joren considered it. “No.” Mara looked at him. “That’s your argument?” “I’ve had worse ones.”

“Joren.” His smile faded. “I know.” Something passed between them that Frey couldn’t name. Mara looked away first. “You’re an idiot.”

“That’s been established.” This time she almost smiled. Almost. Then she walked toward the bow. Joren watched her go. Frey stepped beside him. “You’re really staying?” Joren looked offended. “I just gave a speech.”

“You said three words.”

“Concise speech.” Frey laughed despite himself. It felt strange. Necessary. Joren leaned against the rail. After a moment, his expression softened.

“They’re not wrong.”

“No.”

“Neither is she.” Frey looked toward Mara.

“No.”

Joren nodded toward the sea.

“Annoying, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“When everyone has a point.” Frey smiled.

“Terrible.”

They stood there until the wind took the conversation from them. Mara spent the next hour settling the crew’s accounts. Frey sat across from her while she worked through wages, advances, and what each man would receive when they reached port.

She stopped at one name. “You took an advance in Solara?” The sailor nodded. “My son was sick,” the sailor said. Mara said nothing. She turned the book and began calculating.

Frey watched.

“How much did he borrow?”

“Forty crowns.”

“And how much has he paid back?”

“Twenty-three.”

Frey looked at the remaining balance. “Then why does he still owe twenty-six?”

“Interest.” He looked again. The numbers were simple enough. What they meant wasn’t.

The sailor had needed forty crowns immediately. In exchange, part of the money he had not yet earned already belonged to someone else. “What happens when he leaves?” “I settle the debt from his remaining wages.”

The sailor gave a tired nod. “Do it.”

Frey looked at him. “You’d borrow it again?”

“For my son?” The man didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” That complicated the lesson. The debt had been expensive. That didn’t mean the decision had been foolish. Mara closed the account book.

“Debt isn’t always a mistake.”

“But it always costs something.”

“Usually more than people notice when they’re taking it.” Frey looked again at the original advance. Forty crowns had solved a problem immediately. The repayment had followed him for months. Debt allowed today to claim tomorrow.

The question wasn’t simply whether borrowing was good or bad. It was whether what you gained today was worth what you promised away later. That evening, Frey opened his Journal and began to write.

On the hill above the harbor, the clerk sat alone inside the interrogation room. Through the narrow window, he could see the iron chain stretched across the harbor mouth. Ships crowded the dark water beyond it, their lanterns swaying with the tide.

Footsteps crossed the empty hall.

Slow.

Unhurried.

The clerk did not look up when the door opened. A hand appeared on the opposite side of the desk and placed a coin beside the lamp.

He knew the mark stamped into it. “So,” Elias said. “You came yourself.” The Curator removed his gloves one finger at a time. 

“Four men died beneath the northern water. The Registry was breached. And a record was given away.” The Curator laid his gloves beside the coin. 

“Did you expect me to send someone else?”

“He’s gone.”

The man looked through the window at the ships trapped inside the harbor. “No,” he said. “He hasn’t.” Elias followed his gaze but revealed nothing.

“You gave him the Page.” Elias said nothing.

“Which ship?” Silence. “I can search every vessel in that harbor.”

“You can.”

“I can question every sailor.”

“You will.”

He studied him. “You knew what this would cost.” Elias looked toward the harbor. “I knew what keeping it would cost.” For several seconds, only the lamp moved between them. The man picked up the stamped coin. “At first light, bring him to the Tide Court.”

A guard appeared in the doorway. Elias kept his eyes on the ships below. “You think killing me will bring him forward?”

“No.”

He slipped on his gloves. “But watching you die might.”

The lamp went out.

Across the harbor, the red lanterns continued burning.

Frey’s Journal: Cycle 10, Phase 2, Solar Arc 218

Entry: Cycle 10, Phase 2, Solar Arc 218

Payment History

Weight: 35% (FICO) and 40% (VantageScore). Your payment history is the most critical factor in your credit score. It reflects how consistently you’ve paid bills on time and includes data from up to 10 years. Lenders rely on this information to gauge your reliability.

– Positive Impact: Making on-time payments consistently builds trust and improves your score.

– Negative Impact: Missing payments or paying late, especially if they are over 30 days overdue, can significantly harm your score.

Instance:Your score will benefit if you consistently pay your credit card and loan payments on time. Conversely, a single late mortgage payment could drop your score by 50–100 points. Set up automatic payments or reminders to make sure you never miss a due date.

Good Debt

Good debt refers to borrowing that supports financial growth or creates opportunities for advancement. This type of debt typically has lower interest rates, manageable repayment terms, and the potential to increase one’s net worth or income over time. However, to remain beneficial, good debt requires responsible management.

Examples of Good Debt

1. Mortgages: Why it’s good: A mortgage allows you to own a home, which can appreciate over time and build equity. Additionally, mortgage interest is often tax-deductible. Instance: Buying a house for $250,000 that appreciates to $350,000 in 10 years increases your net worth by $100,000, excluding costs like interest and maintenance.
   
   
2. Student Loans: Why it’s beneficial: Education loans provide access to higher education, which can increase earning potential. They also typically have lower interest rates and flexible repayment options. Instance: A $40,000 student loan could lead to a degree that increases your earning potential by $20,000 annually, recouping the cost within 4 years of post-graduation employment if done correctly.
   
   
3. Small Business Loans: Why it’s beneficial: Business loans can provide the capital needed to start or expand a venture, generate income, and build wealth. Instance: A $50,000 loan to open a bakery could result in a business generating $100,000 annually, doubling your initial investment.
   
   
4. Personal Loans for Consolidation. Why it’s good: Consolidating high-interest debt (credit cards)
   into a lower-interest personal loan reduces monthly payments and simplifies repayment. Instance: Refinancing $10,000 of credit card debt at a 20% APR into a personal loan at an 8% APR can save over $1,000 annually in interest, and avoid using those cards until the loan is repaid.
   
   
5. Credit Cards (Used Responsibly)Why it’s good: When used responsibly, credit cards build your credit history and improve your credit score. This can lower interest rates on future loans or give you cash back by rotating your money. Example: Paying off your $500 monthly balance on time avoids interest, improves your credit utilization ratio, and boosts your FICO score. Some cards even give cash back, opening a small but additional revenue stream.

Bad Debt

Bad debt refers to borrowing that doesn’t provide long-term benefits or leads to financial stress. These debts often have high interest rates, short repayment terms, and little to no return on investment.

Examples of Bad Debt

1. Payday Loans: Why it’s terrible: Payday loans offer quick cash but with exorbitantly high interest rates (often exceeding 100% APR), trapping borrowers in cycles of debt. Instance: Borrowing $500 from a payday lender may result in repayment of $650 or more in just two weeks, costing you 30% of the loan in fees.
   
   
2. High-Interest Credit Card Debt. Why it’s terrible: Carrying a balance on high-interest credit cards can lead to unmanageable debt due to compounding interest.Instance: A $5,000 credit card balance at 25% APR will cost you $1,250 annually in interest if it is not paid off, significantly increasing your debt burden.
   
   
3. Luxury Purchases on Credit: Why it’s terrible: Financing non-essential items like vacations or luxury goods provides no financial return and can drain resources.Instance: Charging a $5,000 vacation to a credit card and paying the minimum monthly payment can take years and cost an additional $3,000 in interest.
   
   

Loans Beyond Your Means Why it’s terrible: Borrowing more than you can afford to repay leads to financial stress and potential default, which can negatively affect your credit score. Instance: Taking out a $40,000 car loan with monthly payments that exceed 30% of your income could strain your budget and delay saving for other goals.Entry: Cycle 10, Phase 2, Solar Arc 218

The system was designed to sustain itself through high-interest loans, revolving credit, and compounding balances. It wants you to borrow to survive, but not to grow. The key isn’t avoiding debt entirely. It’s knowing how to make it work for you. Good debt builds: Evil debt traps.

Regularly Check Your Credit Report for Errors

Mistakes on your credit report, such as incorrect personal information or inaccurate accounts, can unfairly lower your score.

– Obtain your free credit report from trusted agencies once a year.

– Review account balances and payment history to identify any duplicate accounts.

– Please quickly dispute the inaccuracies with the credit bureau or creditor.

Instance: David discovered an unpaid balance listed on his report that wasn’t his. After disputing the error and providing documentation, the credit bureau removed the item, improving his credit score by 40 points. Increase Your Credit Limits (Without Increasing Spending)

A higher credit limit reduces your utilization ratio, which in turn boosts your credit score.

Strategy: Request a credit limit increase every 6-12 months if you have a solid payment history. You can contact your credit card company or request an increase, but please refrain from using the extra credit. (Easier said than done)Instance: Lisa’s limit increases from $3,000 to $6,000, dropping her utilization from 40% to 20% and improving her score.

Credit Utilization Ratio

Weight: 30% (FICO) and 20% (VantageScore). Your credit utilization ratio measures the percentage of your available credit that you use compared to your credit limit. It is a crucial indicator of your financial management.

– Calculation: Utilization Ratio = (Total Credit Used ÷ Total Credit Limit) × 100

– Positive Impact: Maintaining a utilization rate below 30% of your credit limit is ideal, while those with excellent scores often keep their ratio below 10%.

– Negative Impact: Missing credit card payments or consistently maintaining high balances can hurt your score, even if you pay your bills on time.

Instance: If you have a credit limit of $10,000 and a balance of $2,500, your utilization ratio is 25%, which is considered a healthy level. However, if your balance reaches $9,000, your ratio jumps to 90%, significantly lowering your score.

Pay down balances before your statement closing date, or request a credit limit increase to improve your credit utilization ratio.

Length of Credit History

Weight: 15% (FICO and VantageScore). The longer your credit history, the more data lenders have to evaluate your financial habits.

– Positive Impact: A lengthy history with consistent, responsible credit use boosts your score.

– Negative Impact: A short credit history, especially with other risky factors, can make you appear less reliable.

Instance: A credit card account you’ve had for 10 years reflects stability and sound financial management. Closing this account might shorten your average credit age and potentially lower your score.

Keep old accounts open and active to maintain a firm credit age, even if you don’t use them frequently.

Credit Mix & Types of Credit:

Weight: 10% (FICO and VantageScore)

A diverse credit mix demonstrates your ability to handle various types of credit responsibly—revolving Credit:Credit cards and lines of credit that replenish as you pay them off.

Installment Credit: Loans with fixed payments, such as mortgages, auto loans, or student loans.

Positive Impact: Having both types of credit shows lenders you can manage a range of financial responsibilities.

Negative Impact: Relying solely on one type of credit may limit your score’s growth potential.

Instance: If you have a car loan (installment credit) and a credit card (revolving credit), your score may benefit more than if you only use credit cards.

Avoid taking out loans unnecessarily; balance your credit use whenever possible.

New Credit Inquiries

Weight: 10% (FICO and VantageScore)

This category includes applications for new credit accounts and any resulting hard inquiries on your credit report.

– Positive Impact: Opening new accounts responsibly and spacing out applications can help boost your credit profile over time.

– Negative Impact: Making too many complex inquiries quickly can signal financial stress and temporarily lower your score.Instance: Applying for three credit cards within a month may result in a slight decrease in your credit score. However, a single inquiry for a car loan may have a minimal impact.

Tip: Apply for credit only when necessary and try to pre-qualify whenever possible to avoid difficult questions.

Family Ladder Credit Strategy

If your family member is willing, you can create a multi-generation strategy:

– Add kids (13+) as authorized users on cards with a long history.

– Share financial literacy as they grow.

– They begin adulthood with 700+ scores.

This creates generational financial leverage, turning parental credit into a launchpad rather than a burden. Set a Credit Milestone for Passive Income Access

Use your credit score as a milestone toward a financial goal. Example:

Score hits 720 → You unlock an Airbnb arbitrage deal.

Score hits 750 → You apply for a business line of credit to launch a scalable asset.

You gamify the journey. Credit becomes part of a larger wealth system, not just a number. You become an Authorized User on a Great Card.

Get added to a parent, spouse, or friend’s well-managed credit card (long history, low usage, no late payments).

It boosts your credit age, limit, and payment history, even if you don’t use the card.

Use Rent, Utilities & Subscriptions to Boost Your Score

Use services like Experian Boost, BoomPay, or LevelCredit to report:

• Rent
• Netflix
• Utilities (electric, phone, water)

These regular bills typically don’t significantly impact your credit, but adding them creates new on-time trade-lines.

Use Rent, Utilities & Subscriptions to Boost Your Score

Use services like Experian Boost, BoomPay, or LevelCredit to report:

• • Rent

  • Netflix

  • Utilities (electric, phone, water)

These regular bills typically don’t significantly impact your credit, but adding them creates new on-time tradelines.

Credit Buffer Card

A strategy most use is to have one cash-back card for fixed monthly bills only. Another card for variable bills, and a final one for lifestyle expenses, which are never canceled and are paid in full at the end of each month.

This keeps a credit line open indefinitely, which helps with credit age and payment history, the two most challenging factors to build. You also earn card rewards, often in the form of cash back, simply for using your credit card first, rather than just paying from your bank account.

A strategy most use is to have one cash-back card for fixed monthly bills only. Another card for variable bills, and a final one for lifestyle expenses, which are never canceled and are paid in full at the end of each month.

This keeps a credit line open indefinitely, which helps with credit age and payment history, the two most challenging factors to build. You also earn card rewards, often in the form of cash back, simply by using your credit card first rather than paying from your bank account.Entry: Cycle 10, Phase 2, Solar Arc 218

Debt spends future income before I earn it.

Before I borrow:

How much am I borrowing?
What will I repay in total?
How long will I owe it?
What am I receiving in return?

A payment I can afford can still hide a debt that costs too much.

Some debt may protect or build my future.

Some only makes today easier by making tomorrow harder.

Don’t ask only what the payment costs.

Ask what it will cost to be free of it.

Use a Credit Buddy Strategy (Be careful who you pick)

Use a Credit Buddy Strategy (Be careful who you pick)

You and a trusted friend or partner both have decent credit. Each of you adds the other as an authorized user to a well-managed card.

Mutual boost to credit file age, limits, and payment history.

Great for couples or siblings looking to level up credit before buying a home or applying for a loan.

Other Practical Steps to Improve Your Credit Score

1. Pay On Time: Always prioritize paying all bills, loans, and credit cards on time.
2. Monitor Your Credit Utilization: Aim to keep it below 30% of your available credit.
3. Build a Credit History: Keep long-standing accounts open and active to maintain a strong credit history.
4. Diversify Credit: Balance revolving and installment credit responsibly.
5. Limit Hard Inquiries: Apply for new credit only when necessary and space out applications.

Your credit score reflects a snapshot of your financial behavior, and improving it requires consistent effort across all categories. Whether you maintain a perfect payment history, manage your credit card balances effectively, or build a diverse mix of credIt types, understanding how each factor contributes to your score is crucial for long-term financial success. By staying proactive and responsible, you can achieve and maintain a credit score that unlocks financial opportunities.

Audio 20.1

The ship had left the docks, but Harrowgate had not released them.

With the harbor sealed and Dominion soldiers gathering along the seawall, Frey and Mara could do nothing but wait for morning and whatever the Curator had planned for them there.