40 Chapter 40- Repentance (1/2)

Deep inside the mines, a torch flared giving off a vibrating burst of illumination. In the tunnels beyond, only the pitch black darkness could be seen, and it could envelop the miners at any given time.

Water mixed with sulfur dripped from the ceiling as the four dwarves inside the mine breathed heavily, swinging their pickaxes at the yellow tinted walls.

Dust flew about, causing one of the older dwarves, with a balding head and a long white beard, to start a coughing fit.

Chains hung from one of the legs of each dwarf, connecting them in pairs.

As the dwarves swung their pickaxes, the chains clanked and rattled, but when the older dwarf began to cough, a younger one threw down his pickaxe in fury.

Rattling across the dusty ground, the pickaxe came to a halt, and the orange haired young dwarf began to rant.

”These conditions are inhumane, I tell ya! How can they treat us like this? A few more days in these mines and well be poisoned by the fumes!”

The dwarf who was chained to the younger one was middle aged, with dark brown hair and tired eyes. He placed his hand on the younger dwarf's shoulder and looked at him sadly.

”We are no longer in a realm where we have rights. We should be thankful that we are not worse off. Others who got captured from the village might be undergoing far worse tortures than this. At least in this place we do not have to undergo cruel and unusual treatment.”

Another middle aged dwarf, the one who was chained to the old man, had blonde hair and a braided beard.

Speaking, this dwarf began to lecture the young one. ”You should keep quiet. If the knights are watching us from a distance, we could all be punished for the words you just uttered. Do you wish to die for a few measly complaints? Get back to work before they find out we have been slacking off.”

The young dwarf angrily walked over to grab his pickaxe, dragging the brown haired one with him.

Retrieving it, the dwarves continued to swing their pickaxes, placing the sulfurous ore into the minecarts, and shoving them off into the void of darkness, where gravity would guide them along to the entrance of the mine.

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After the dwarves finished filling another load, they all took a breather.

”We better keep this break short, else we risk getting found out.”, the blonde dwarf stated.

”They don't even provide us food or water during the workday... its as if they are trying to kill us...” the young dwarf mumbled to himself.

A short amount of time passed, and the dwarves heard footsteps coming from the dark corridor that lead to the entrance of the mine.

”Ah shit! It looks like the knights are onto us! Quick everyone, get to work!”, the yellow haired dwarf stated.

The dwarves shuffled and their chains clanked as they quickly began working again.

Sylvester and Reginald came down the corridor, and their faces lit up when they came into the range of the torchlight.

”Dwarves, halt your work! A large incident has occurred, and we wish to explain the situation to you.”, Sylvester proclaimed.

”Did they catch onto our slacking off? Perhaps they overheard Drocai grumbling?”, the brown haired dwarf thought.

”No, that couldn't be it. He said a large incident has occurred. If he were here to punish us, he would have been straightforward about it.”

”What is it, Sir?”, the brown haired dwarf asked politely.

Sylvester began to speak calmly. ”The third squadron has been attacked, and no longer exists. The captain has been taken into custody, and a few members have been killed. The remaining knights who live are the ones, such as Reginald and myself who have always believed our treatment of the slaves to be unfair.”