Here be treasure

The clouds darkened until they were as dark as my own eyes as I wearily made my way toward the mine's entrance that loomed in the distance like the gaping maw of a ravenous beast.

Everyday the same question hung upon my lips. Would today be the day? Countless faces, all a blur flashed through my mind. The victims of the mines endless appetite for human lives.

Mining was dangerous. And from what I heard muttered in the dim light of dying campfires, from men too deep in their cups. Then this mining operation was nothing like the other ones. The concept of safety had long since gone extinct here where lives were a dime a dozen.

Exhausted eyes darted about the line of drained miners, their heat radiating off them as they walked in the opposite direction. I avoided looking at the ones that held pity in their gazes.

Their stares sent my skin crawling like the late autumn chill couldn't. I knew I cut a sordid figure. Immature muscles, a far cry from the corded tissue of the men. Child miners were rare and that was what I was in the eyes of the men. Regardless of the fact that I was on the cusp of being an adult. And even the blackened lungs of miners would occasionally erupt with a word of sympathy directed my way.

I both hated and loved when it happened. A bittersweet reminder of what I would never experience. For a moment, I contemplated, how my life might have been had I not been an orphan.

Shivering underneath my dirtied and frayed light shirt. I pulled the sack dangling off my shoulder closer to my body. I knew from long cold nights, the warmth and comfort it could provide.

A twisted smile stretched across my face, brought upon by the knowledge, that soon enough I would be wishing for the chilliness that currently embraced me. The mine was as suffocating hot.

The men whispered that it was hotter than Damnation itself.

A spray of lake water had me sticking out my tongue, reveling in the sensation of drops hitting my parched lips. The rising morning sun reflected itself in the spray swirling around me from the nearby churning sapphire lake.

The westward wind blew harshly today. The Overseer had said the approaching storm was to traverse leagues to their north. It wouldn't be the first time, he would be wrong.

I squashed the doubts bubbling in my mind as I spied the clouds that looked ever darker in contrast to the the sapphire lake it hung above. Then again, I reassured myself. The Overseer had access to divining artifact. I repressed the memories, where I had seen the man pocket the crystals meant to power the artifact without a care in the world.

Not like I had a choice and if I had one - I would be as far away from this mine as I could possibly be.

My pace slowed as I neared the entrance. Cautiously moving forward, eyes and feet dancing across the slippery wet rocks. Experience guided me in the struggle to find purchase amongst the rocky surface. I crested the small hill just as a ice cold spray splashed me across the face.

"There you are, David," A large brute of a man said laughing, hand resting on the hilt of his rune inscribed sword as he lazily leaned against the sloped boulder behind him. "Nothing like a bit of ice cold water in the morning to get you going." Non-chalantly, the guard waved with his meaty hand towards the nearby rack of pickaxes.

"You know the rules," the man lectured, his eyes dyed the same shade of sapphire as the vast lake that stretched across the horizon below them.

The hair rose on my skin from the warmth of the dying embers of the night's campfire. Nearing the rack, I scanned it for a brief moment. My eyes lit up like the embers coaxed to life by an errant gale as I found what I was looking for. My favorite pickaxe rested there against the rack beckoning towards me.

With a burst of energy, I grasped it firmly. The familiar grain of its wooden handle a source of comfort. Heaving it up and letting it rest against my shoulders, I looked up at the man and nodded.

"Know them like I know this pickaxe."

"George, before you almost took that one. Made sure he took another one, if you know what I mean. Stay safe, kid." The man said gazing worriedly at the churning, surging clouds that roared above them. "The thunderheads that are forming above the lake, I reckon means the Overseer wasn't being truthful."

"Just another day in the camp." I replied feeling the same worry gnaw at me from the inside.

The man's laugh sounded like thunder, I was increasingly sure was coming. "You are too young to be all cynical like us old geezers. Now get in the mine," he said pointing with one thumb to the large metal banner that fluttered in the autumn wind.

Nodding, I spared a glance over his shoulder at the grand golden two-headed metallic eagle that stood atop the banner. Wings majestically extended and all-seeing, ever watchful ruby eyes glowing with an inner light. My skin crawled at the sight.

I lifted my pickaxe, holding it high above my shoulder with a strength at odds with my thin arms in a salute like I had seen soldiers' hold their swords. The small sack that I had attached to the pickaxe head fluttered like a banner in the raging wind that heralded a storm.

"Thank you, Gabriel."

"For?" Gabriel replied curtly with one eyebrow raised.

"Caring."

Gabriel laughed, "Kindness is a luxury, I cannot afford." A wide smile stretched across his gaunt and scarred face, "Just looking after the Baron's investment in this mining operation, kid."

I smiled at the lie. Sympathy and pity, weren't too bad when it came from Gabriel. It made life almost endurable, I thought as I entered the maw of the mine.

The mine was unmercifully hot, a relentless heat that sought to wrung every drop of water from my body.

The dirtied fibers of the rope coursed across my palm as I let it guide me forwards. Briefly I stroked the rope for luck before continuing. Behind, the flickering light of a torch danced in the weak gusts of the mineshafts. Far ahead, the next bubble of welcoming light lingered, patiently waiting.

I dragged my feet across the uneven surface of the mine. Never letting my feet step off the ground, the memory of a sprained ankle my ever-present companion and reminder as I navigated the black tunnels.

Finally the rope ended. I inspected the torch above, deeming it prudent to add a bit of oil. Deftly removing and opening the small sack dangling from the pickaxe. I added the scarce few oily rags to the burning torch. The small flame roared and burst to life. I smiled at the sight, patting my stomach.

"There you go, little friend, at least one of us got some breakfast. You could have shared, you know? You greedy glutton. Sharing is caring, that is what they keep telling me in the camps, anyhow."

Tenderly, I grabbed the torch and stepped over the small puddle that had formed during the night. The sound of drops of water falling from the condensation of the rocks above, a soothing melody as I set about earning my pay.

Slamming the pointy end of the torch into a crack between two rocks, I set to work. My world became the clanging of steel on rock, the buzzing vibration in my arms and the booming sound of thunder far far above.

"A tip, tap, a tippe tip tap." I sung to the rhythm of the clanging of my pickaxe.

Hours passed.

And I found myself leaning heavily against the jagged wall of the mineshaft. Breathing heavily through the wet tattered piece of cloth that was tied across my mouth. A trick an old-timer had shown me long ago .A river of sweat poured down my back and my arms hung down to the sides as I shook them gently. Another trick worth its weight in gold, that did wonders with recovery.

The diminutive yellow light of the torch created a bubble of illumination which enveloped me and the surroundings.

My stomach growled and I knew it was time for lunch. Sitting down on the hard ground, near his crackling friend, I opened my sack. "I know, I know. I will see about getting you some food too, little friend." I japed while staring at the luxurious feast that lay on top a piece of cloth in my lap.

A stale piece of bread and some mysterious jerky. In the time it took to blink I devoured the food. Looking down forlornly at my empty hands. My stomach grumbled. "That is enough for today, you greedy boy," I whispered to it affectionately like I imagined my mother might have in another life.

The pickaxe slammed into the rock wall with a clang and a massive crack. Reverberations flowed down the shaft of the pickaxe and up my scrawny arms. Quickly taking two steps back, I eyed the wall suspiciously. Listening for all my worth. I knew the many flavours of cracking sounds by heart.

My ears having heard more than my tongue flavours.

This one, I hadn't heard before in my years of mining. And that tended to be fatal.

The knuckles around my pickaxe turn white as I grip the shaft of the pickaxe with all my childish might.

To my horror the cracking sound resumes, building with each moment. A deadly symphony of harsh snapping roars. I looked down on my pickaxe where it rested on my boots then back up at the wall. Horror growing for every second that passed.

"No, no, I did the ritual!" I whispered dejectedly. Mind racing as I mentally navigated the path back. Could I make it?

I hesitated, unsure before deciding that it wouldn't stop me from trying. Turning about, I ran with everything I had. A few strides later, and I skidded to a halt and retraced my way back.

You don't leave friends behind and I would need him for the journey upwards.

Bending at my waist, I picked up the flickering torch. Holding it aloft. Around me, the cracking noise grew until it seemed to be coming from everywhere. I heard yells deeper within the many tunnels of the main mineshaft.

A segment of the wall crumbled down in a spray of dirt. I coughed and blinked. Staring blindly at the water that slowly seeped in from the cracked wall like a stream.

It was then I saw it. A glowing reflection in the water. For a moment, I thought it was my trusty friend. Then I realized - there were two glowing reflections. I eyed the smaller, flickering one and saw the flame of my torch. The face of a pale, soot covered scared boy holding it aloft. Stared back at me.

Then I scanned the larger reflection, and my breath caught. My mind raced, water and imminent doom forgotten in the face of the golden resplendent glory that simmered with the light of the morning sun.

I didn't even understand what I was looking at until it was too late.