Chapter Three: Buried Hearts

Only a few hours had passed since the three unlikely friends took the road to the mines.

Lordani was still worried about the frozen trail they found on the way back, when the woods were yet thick on both sides of the lane. The trees had been pushed and broken by something a lot bigger than them. Where the thing had touched, a thin layer of ice was left like a winter's veil.

They had not discussed this, but rather tried their best to focus on the fact that whatever crossed the road was heading to the opposite direction. Raibeart recalled the elementals from the old stories of his people and their wars against giants, but he was never one to listen to such tales idly. He would always get impatient and do some hunting and trading.

Faye had spoken nothing since the night before. Lordani was concerned about this sudden change of mood and for a few moments she suspected the dwarf had done something ill to her. But that proved unlikely, since at some point Faye helped him prepare wolf meat for lunch.

"Faye", called the paladin.

The little burglar seemed not to have noticed.

"What happened yesterday? At the house?"

Faye tried not to show her emotions, but Lordani knew how to read faces. "Did you see anything... anything that was not meant to be there?"

The girl quit pretending and at last looked at Lordani. She replied with the tiniest yes in the world.

Lordani just assented. "Raibeart?"

The dwarf was concentrated on getting the food done, but listened all the same. "Dead bodies, milady demon. One o'them hangin' by the neck, alright. Couldn't take the blow, the lass. Don't blame'er, tho." Raibeart spoke very matter-of-factly, never ceasing to smooth and slice the meat.

Faye looked away for a few moments. Lordani understood the trauma, but could not force a conversation on her. The little noble should leave the shell by herself.

The weather was quite pleasant after yesterday's storm and the sky the bluest they had ever seen. After the meal, they pressed faster to the mines. By the time the shadow of things grew half their size from noon to dusk, they had arrived at the gates of Lowlo.

The rocky gates were very long and very narrow, even if four little persons could walk comfortably side by side through them. Before it, meadows grassed and underlined the mesa where the gates were built. Raibeart noticed the doors were not carelessly carved and approved of the quality, though his people's cousins could have done a lot better, he thought.

The gates were slightly opened. Faye was already peeking inside when Lordani heard noises coming from the meadows. Soon they realized what was producing them: two  warring tribes of white orcs were announcing a conflict with battle cries. The likelihood of such an event in that very place at that very moment baffled the tiefling, but she hurried the others to enter and leave the struggle to the concerned parties. At least within the mines they would be safe.



"Now what?", asked the burglar.

The gates had closed soon after they passed, leaving them in sudden darkness. Little by little, the small flame of torches hung on the walls spread beyond them, revealing they were all alone.

The mines were empty.

"Where is everybody, Faye?", asked Lordani. She hoped Faye would have at least some insight about her kind.

"I don't know!", Faye replied. She was starting to walk towards the center of the room. It was a hall neatly carved into the stone, in simple designs and favoring utility over beauty. At the center, a path of different tiles led to an inner main gate, and beside it three other passages. There were signs of both little people and orcs, but no blood on the floor. Here and there, pieces and objects were scattered, some of which were clearly tools from the mining business.

"Is this... greypowder?", asked Lordani, mostly to herself. She knelt to inspect a silvery dust left in between the tiles.

Raibeart saw greypowder once, when his father was trading with the humanfolks of down the Trifelgos River. "I guess so. They need'em for explosives, blowin' rocks and such", said the dwarf.

Lordani confirmed her suspicions and nodded. She knew greypowder was extensively used in Tiefenland to open new paths through the underground.

Faye was getting impatient. "Should we just stay here, standing like open targets? Hello-o, orcs!"

As if on cue, something hard bumped into the stone gates from the outside. "They probably want to get in. Let's move", said Lordani.

The main hall was dry and cold, though not as much as at the outdoors, nor it was cold in the same manner. It was underground cold, a bit different, a bit drier, a bit emptier. It already felt like a tomb in there.

Faye decided she did not like mines. She rushed the others, and, after analysing briefly the four passages, asked them for advice.

"Well, I don't know", replied Lordani. The complete absence of the miners was an obvious challenge, she tought. But better have a second opinion.

"I guess our master dwarf may present himself for duty."

Raibeart was not even listening to them. He tried to trace living beings from the footsteps, but could not focus properly. "Should we rescue the little brats?"

Faye frowned on the choice of words but nodded, along with Lordani. "Yes, that would be best, I presume", said the girl. "Or else, who could know the way out? My people like to lock doors with tricks and charades, never with keys. I don't know how could someone open these doors without a Republican miner."

Raibeart agreed, with a wry smile. He gave one final glance at the passages and made his mind. "Let's take that way."

The passage was the first from the left, one who turned sharply and went on and on. It was dark, but, as they walked, a few candles appeared on the walls, leading to a smaller chamber with a single well in the middle. There were signs of struggle on the ground, now made of dirt.

"Well, here is the water supply. And a fight", said Lordani. From the corner of the room Faye was already lifting a fine piece of paper.

"A-ha! Once more the nobility saves the peasants! Here, this seems to be some sort of code..."

"Let me check", requested the tiefling. "Faye, it's blurred. The ink was too fresh and something wiped two of the symbols!"

"Aw, man. Ok, at least we have one. Maybe we should know what to do with these in the first place."

The trio left the well chamber and proceeded to the second passage from left to right. It was quite bright with candles, and soon they found themselves in what looked like a dungeon kitchen with two white orcs asleep in it.

They drew their weapons and noticed the orcs were not only asleep but stuffed with food - hopefully - and snoring much loudly at it. There were traces of pies and chicken bones, crumbs of cheese and a few vegetables scattered amid broken chairs and turned tables.

Raibeart, forever upset by the very existence of orchenkind, was already coming closer to the clueless creatures with an arrow ready when Lordani intervened. "No, master dwarf. They're asleep. It's not right."

"Right? N' what's right, milady? Unh? Is it right what this lot did to my people?', questioned Raibeart, flustered. His red beard almost seemed to be in flames somehow.

Lordani toned down. "It's not that, my friend. I'm not defending them. I'm solely defending that is not right to face them when they're most vulnerable."

"Don't preach me abut vulnerable. And I ain't no friend of yours, if you mind."

The tiefling was starting to feel the situation rising up beyond proportions when Faye spoke, gingerly. "Well, what if we tie them up? We need information, anyway."

Raibeart seemed to weight the proposition for a few seconds, then stayed silent. It was his consent. Lordani felt the relief cool down the issue and quickly went for the ropes in her bag.

As they wrapped one of the orcs, Raibeart approached the other and, without noticing, kicked out a big copper pan that was laying on the kitchen floor, scraping over the stone and screaming metallic noises all over.

The orcs woke up instantly, still groggy from the feast they presumably had. Their white hairy bellies were much proeminent and their thick skin was a mess of gravy and wine.

Faster than thunder, Raibeart drew an arrow and shot it point-black, instantly killing one of the Northern creatures. Meanwhile, Lordani overpowered the other, who, tied as he was, had actually rolled to the floor and was having trouble standing up.

"Where are the little miners?", asked Raibeart, in Orcish.

"Fuck you, shitbeard!" The orc's voice was coarse and spiteful.

"Damn it, vermin! Tell us what we want to know or else..."

"I'd rather eat my shit, daughter-fucker!"

The more Raibeart tried to put some sense into him, the less likely it was for the orc to cooperate. Infuriated and frustrated, the dwarf stood up and kicked the restrained creature with his boot in a fit of anger. However, he did not measure his strength properly and a loud snap was heard coming from the orc's neck.

Lordani was aghast. "Raibeart, how could you...?"

Raibeart seemed as astonished as the tiefling. "I... I, milady, I didn't mean to..."

Faye just put her hand on her face and sighed. What a disaster that educational trip to the mines was turning out to be.



After deciding not to go further through the corridor of the kitchen, they ignored the inner gate and entered the darkest path leading to many levels below. They were descending through an old mining rail path for so long it seemed like forever.

The trio was not talking much. The atmosphere was dank with something oily, and an oppressive silence coming from the tunnels made any sort of conversation much less likely. By the rusty look of the rails, the ramp probably lead to abandoned sections of the mines. They had already established that they should find a way to discover what were the two blurred symbols written on the piece of paper they found at the well chamber. But they did not yet know which door would it possibly open, if any at all.

"We could have discovered what it meant if the orc hadn't died", said Faye, in a faint voice. The stillness of the place was overwhelming and made even a whisper echo greatly beyond.

"Murdered. If he hadn't been murdered", corrected Lordani. She was still very disappointed in Raibeart for his carelessness.

"It was n' accident", it was all he said. Lordani just inhaled deeply.

The ramps seemed infinite. It was almost one hour of descent, and, after a number of closed entrances and collapsed secondary shafts, they finally reached a ground level. At some point, the rail ramp became a blueish dirt and the tunnel looked like the insides of a giant worm.

"Not the best feeling", said Faye, imagining the situation. Not that she ever saw a giant worm in her lifetime.

The tunnel went straightforward until it led to two opposite sections. But when they reached somewhere in the middle, a sudden red shadow jumped out into the rugged walls and something hot blew steam and dust over the left path. Sounds of struggle winded up on them, breaking at once the disturbing silence of the abandoned rail line. Raspy voices, commands, grunts. And a single cry above all, clean and proud, spelling strange words.

Carefully, the trio approached step by step the left cave and the vision of the undisturbed mines rapidly changed into that of a raging battle.

The cave was wide enough to contain two giants, side by side. In the middle stood a single half-orc, of deep red skin and taller than the others, wearing reddish clothes unfamiliar to them. She whispered and yelled, distributing pain all around her. In her hand, a darkwood scepter fired waves of lightning.

Her condition was no good. The blood dripped from several wounds, and she was surrounded by seven white orcs. One of them was much like her in stature and yet a pure orc in features. Another eight lied dead on the floor, either burned or scarred or blackened by both flame and thunder.

The red half-orc saw the new-arrived party and rejoiced.

Drawing their weapons, the trio could do nothing but rescue that compelling and outnumbered half-orc magic-wielder.

Some of the orcs noticed them and readily advanced to contain the new threat. The strongest among them, the one who attended by the name of Uther, glanced at the party with disgust and contempt. He was the one who matched his adversary's height; his skin was whiter than that of the most Northern orcs, and he seemed far smarter. And more dangerous.

By command, he quickly detached a few warriors to engage the three outsiders. One of the minions drew his javelin and sent it flying, sticking it deep in Raibeart's left leg.

The battle had restarted already in disadvantage for the newcomers. Raibeart let a hissing growl escape his lips and bared his bow, unleashing an arrow that went deep into the attacker's throat.

Another orc saw the damage made to his partner and howled in grief. Staring right into the eyes of the dwarf, he drew his greataxe and went for the killing.

Three others left the combat against the red half-orc and ran to face the trio. Lordani threw one of her javelins and Faye moved swiftly to face the oncoming menace.

One by one, however, the orc wave bled and fell. One by one they came and perished by the hands of tiefling, dwarf and smallkind. Lordani reaped with her halberd and Faye struck with a rapier so lethal it found all the weak spots in the orcish body. The blood on the ground was the enemy's, and his would be the defeat.

Yet, Uther had not standed idly against the red half-orc. In a successful attempt, he managed to grapple and choke her until she fainted. He threw her to the ground and watched the outcome of the pursuit.

When he saw that his guard was failing and that the newcomers had landed their strikes with godlike luck, Uther was filled with a cold anger. He sought in his pocket for a hidden object and a translucid shield instantly hovered over his head, barely visible, except for a few glitches that would make its electric lines shimmer.

He ordered the remaining three minions to stand in line under the shield and waited.

Seeing an opportunity, and wishing to know the extension of that supernatural protection, Lordani grabbed the javelin in Raibeart's thigh and pulled it out, with a gasp from the dwarf. No doubt, she was still angry at the stunt pulled in the kitchen, even if it happened by accident.

She aimed the weapon with precision and threw it at Uther. It clashed against the electric shield and rebounded to the roof, splitering to pieces.

"What do you want, strangers?", asked Uther, in Orcish.

"What do you want?", returned Raibeart, spitting saliva everywhere.

Uther seemed to consider the question. "We wish to leave. We've already dominated this place. You're already doomed."

"We don't care. You vermin will die here!"

Uther paid the furious taunt no attention. He spoke a few commands and the orc formation moved forward, positioning axes in a clear offensive stance. Uther dragged the red half-orc by her feet.

Raibeart drew his rapier and dashed, and so did Lordani. Their eyes saw only the enemy. Behind the enemy lines, the corpse of someone who fought outnumbered, bravely, and yet defeated by a bunch of cowards. She deserved justice, and they would deliver. They needed to.

Their decision had been made the moment they saw relief in the woman's eyes. It was like a contract, signed and sealed, that bounded them to her. And else, if they let those orcs pass, many others would chase them by their warning. Who could guarantee they would survive an orcish swarm on their heels?

Their decision had been made.

But before tiefling or dwarf could clash blades against the orcish guard, they saw swift young Faye already there. She was quick and witty, and had managed to arrive first. Swinging her tiny rapier, the girl cut open both legs of the female orc by Uther's right side. She growled in pain and staggered, her wounds bleeding profusely.

Faye felt the rush of adrenaline flow, her self-confidence soaring high in the sky. She was strong! Beyond the spoiled brat many believed she was, beyond the daughter her mother wanted, beyond all that... she was strong in her own terms! The feeling flooded from heart to mind as she felt the rapture of imminent victory.

Yet, imminence is not certainty. Sometimes, there may be tides in play that even the gods themselves cannot overturn. Above all deities, the Wheel of Fortune spins for every things good and every things evil, for mortals and immortals alike.

The Wheel of Fortune spins beyond avoidance.

The white orc still wielded the axe. With exceeding prowess and overcoming the piercing pain in the legs, she raised the blade and set it free right through the burglar's tiny body. Fury was unleashed into bone and muscle, ripping apart the victim and making her fly.

Faye Highleaf was already lifeless when she hit the walls of the cave with a soft noise.

Lordani and Raibeart could barely hear Uther congratulating his underling on her accomplishment. The tiefling slashed her with a powerful blow and the Drabembur perforated another, with such a vicious fury that the opponents could not do much more than curse and wail.

But Uther was yet to bleed, and his heart, a wasteland to compassion.

Unsheathing his sword, he kicked aside another's corpse and used Lordani's emotional outburst to his favor. He reached for a blind spot and sent his blade deep within, so deep and with such skill that it came across her back. It bared whole inches of steel, like teeth out of a prey.

On Lordani's face, tears were already flowing freely. They drowned her vision into a darkness she never expected to reach so soon.

She thought of Faye. She thought of her mother. And she cried a last tear when she remembered her father's identity would remain a mystery forever.

Raibeart could not believe what his eyes were seeing. It was not possible. Not another massacre. Not another pack of damned white orcs to butcher those around him.

It could not be.

Uther saw the despair in the dwarf's eyes and grinned as if noticing the harshness of Raibeart's fate. Living was not for everyone.

Whispering a final order, he commanded the remaining grunt to wield the axe and chop away the life of the last of the Drabembur.

And also him, fell.

All was darkness.



Raibeart opened his eyes and saw a red face in front of him.

"Awake?", asked a husky voice.

He tried to focus and saw the red half-orc. "You live!?"

"Yes, I do. Choked me out of myself. Uther", she said. The half-orc seemed smart and articulated. She was hurt, though not as badly as before. Some of her wounds were already closing.

"You a healer?"

"Not quite. But I mended some of you", she said. "You lucky."

Raibeart felt the flow of the last happenings cross his mind and could do nothing but to feel a mountain's worth of grief over his shoulders. The pain, the guilt. What else could he have done?

Would he always be the last one standing?

"We should move. We need to reach the deeper mines", said the half-orc.

Raibeart knew she was right. They could be there no longer. And yet, her strong resemblance to his sworn enemies made it very difficult for him to trust her even the smallest bit. He searched around for his friends and bent to put together what was left of Faye. So light, the little one! So young...

And then he went for Lordani. She was heavy, much like her resolve in life. He had decided to take them with him, to give them a proper burial. To give them to the earth. He would not let them rot in that wicked mines. Damned may them be!

The half-orc called him. He brought the former trio's belongings and his former friends' bodies. They weighted him down, but he did not mind.

It was nothing compared to the vengeance that weighted deep within his heart.