Expansion - Chapter 14

 

14 – Brammir – Work stops and Rumors

He awakens to the sound of marching boots. “Did I miss Forge-Breath?” Brammir asks aloud.

From the cubby nearby he hears Dorgin say “Stone-Waking didn’t even chime yet.”

Brammir quickly dresses to see what’s going on, and he apparently isn’t the only one. Sleepy-eyes and unbraided beards watch from their cubbies as a full squad of the Legion of Stone reports to Elder Hadrik. His acolyte Varnen stands quietly with the hammer to ring the bell in his hand.

The Legion team that accompanied Brenna, dresses and joins the group in the courtyard, as Varnen rings the Chapel announcing Ember-Spark.

Even though the miners all threw on clothing, they all head for washroom.

“What’s going on?”

“Why the Legion?”

“Maybe’ll hear during Forge-Breath.”

“Is it related to your engineer?”

A new voice to the group remarks, “I didn’t call for the Legion. I expected to return back to Root-Stone Hearth.”

They look at Brenna as she joins them to wash up, and they make room around the basins and pumps.

A moment later,  Varnen quietly approaches, “Brenna Stone-Arc, Elder Hadrik and the Senior Legionnaire would like to speak with you.” He then looks to Jorvik “this involves the Mining Guild too, can you join us.”

Jorvik quickly finishes washing his face but only dries his beard. “If it’s Guild business, I’m coming.”

As they leave, the whispers start up.

“Guild Business?”

“A full squad of the Legion?”

“I don’t like Varnen, he’s always so cheerful but quiet.”

“You don’t like that he looks like he’s never held a pick.”

“His only hammer is the one for the Bell.”

A small ripple of laugher, nervously moves through the group.  

 

The Chapel bell rings again to signal Forge-Breath, and the miners grab their plates, quickly sitting around the table. The Legion now occupies the area where a second shift of miners would sit. The cooks have the miner’s normal morning meal on their table, but the Legion’s table is filled with travel rations. Everyone sits waiting for Elder Hadrik and the rest.

When the small group enters, the Legionnaires all stand up as one, and remain standing until the Senior Legionnaire motions for them to regain their seats. Elder Hadrik looks around the room and clears his throat. “Slate-Leader Valgard, has an announcement.” He then turns and nods to him.

Still standing, he unrolls the scroll in his hand. “By order of the Unified Guilds, the miners of this worksite are to remain here until the tunnels have been verified as safe. Engineer Brenna Stone-Arc will work with the Legion of Stone as we verify that your mines have not been tampered with.”

Brenna is also still standing. She nods but her eyes look damp.

Jorvik takes the scroll from Valgard “I’ll post this by the Chapel after we eat.”

Valgard nods and looks to Elder Hadrik “Do you want to offer your blessing?”

Hadrik nods. “Please bow your heads. Durn, as he keep your laws and commands, please watch over us. Protect the souls of those who were lost, guide the hands of those who protect, and bless all of us as we follow your will.”

They then sit. Brenna and Jorvik sit with the miners.

“What’s all that about?” Brammir whispers to Brenna.

“I’ll tell you in a bit. Let me eat first.” She quietly says and puts a little on her plate.

 The meal is quiet and tense as the miners glance at the Legion, eating quickly and efficiently. The sound of tin utensils on tin travel plates fills the air.

Jorvik looks at the folks at their table, “After we finish, let’s all spend a little time doing tool maintenance. I think a few of you mentioned you’d like time to clean and sharpen things. We have it.”

As they swallow food or sip from their mugs, they all nod. “Of course.”

Slate-Leader Valgard stands up. “Assemble outside. We’ll leave soon.”

Almost as one the legion gathers up their travel kits and lines up at the wash basin. Quickly rinsing and drying them, they pack them and line up.

“Impressive.”

Brammir nods. Brenna gets up. “I need to check my equipment.” She says as she lines up to clean her plate too.

Brammir looks at the food still on his plate. He looks to Fenrik, whose plate is always empty. “Want it?” Fenrik holds his plate out and Brammir scrapes the food onto his, then gives a sad grin and gets in line behind Brenna.

“Did you get bad news?” He asks quietly.

She nods. “I’ll tell you as I gather my stuff.”

“I can help. I’ve got nowhere else to go today.” He says with the same sad smile as earlier.

 

As Brenna lays out her measuring ropes, Brammir helps hold one end as she rolls them. “So, what happened?” he quietly asks.

As she secures each roll, she replies, “The Legion is here because…”she blinks back tears, “Mardek died.” She pauses and wipes her eyes.

“Were you close to him?”

“Not really. He was our junior surveyor.” She picks up her lamp. “But he showed so much promise. He was our runner.” She slowly fills her lamps from the larger oil flask. “He was so eager to do a chamber on his own.” She wipes the excess off the lamp with a rag. “We had him do a waste chamber.”

“How did he die?” Brammir asks.

“They said he fell and drowned.” She answers filling her grum‑tal.  “He should have been more careful.”

He moves closer. “Is it possible he fell into a trap?”

She pauses “Maybe, why do you ask?”

“My brother Helmir was killed by border scouts.”

Her brows knit in confusion. “I thought border guards captured people and returned them to Peacekeepers?”

“Helmir was part of a group of non-guild miners looking for ore. They captured them.” He pauses and swallows. “They sliced his throat, and shot an arrow through his hand.”

She places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “When I return, can we talk more later?”

He nods as a legionnaire approaches. “Engineer, are you ready?”

She stands up, putting her ropes on her shoulders, her lamps in one hand and her metal probe in the other. “Yes. I am.”

Brammir watches as she goes with the Legion into the mine, and grabs his equipment to clean and sharpen.