Heart desired

//Chapter 50//

We waited till the mines clear up, hiding in the shadows.

Usually, three meals would be served for any worker of Rawen per day. But even after we waited for ten hours, there seemed to be no meal break for the workers. I knew the routines of these tunnels barely from my past experiences, but it seemed to have gotten worse.

I leaned against the wall, my legs sore from sitting in the same position. Resh clicked his toungue for the thirteenth time. "Maybe we should go and make a distraction." He whispered. "I'll yell I'm hungry or something."

Glaze looked at him, expressionless. "And they will find it abnormal. This is a thievery. The consequences must be zero. If not, we won't proceed."

Resh examined his nails, yawning. "I know. I am just saying."

Kylan leaned on the wall, making his dirt spattered clothes spot with ash patterns. "Seriously, how can they even work like this?"

Nobody answered. My guilt multiplied. I had to take them out, as soon as I could. Just watching them suffer like this made me want to tear apart this place, but I kept myself steady, breathing in and out. It would only make everything worse. Finally, after two long hours passed, they were led outside by the inspecter.

He was still carrying his whip, waving it around like a toy. I gritted my teeth and watched him from shadows. As of sensing me, he turned around and stared at the tunnel. We all were deadly quiet, not even daring to breath. If he saw us or decided to come over, everything would be over before it even started.

Just then, a worker who came from behind bumped in to him, making him stagger. I could not look away as he turned and sneered at the man. "Do you wish to die?"

I knew his eyes must be empty, because the worker did not respond. He just bowed his head and stayed rooted on the same spot.

But even then, he could not escape from the whip.

I watched as a bloody pathway open on his arm as the whip cracked across it. The man yelped in pain. Still, his head was bowed.

"That's what I thought." The inspector pushed him along with others. "Hurry up. I am starving."

Resh stood up as soon as the footsteps faded. I let out a trembling breath. Glaze touched my hand. I looked at her, surprised by her gesture. "You will get back at them," She said, looking straight ahead. "Focus."

I nodded. She took her hand away and stood up next to Resh. "Let's hurry." She said. "We have to proceed quietly and effectively."

I went to the tunnel entrance, where everyone went out. I had to watch the entrance. Behind me, I heared others going on for their tasks.

I went a little bit ahead. There were sounds coming from other tunnels. I could not penetrate the walls, so I didn't have a choice but to investigate the mine myself while others worked hard. Resh and Zone would mine, Glaze would collect and Relach and Kylan would bring the stones to Savin, who would store them in a room incase something something happened to us. The maze would go back to King Droumer if anything happened to him. I did not like the idea of something happening to him, but it was nice to have a backup plan. Even if all of us died, our mission will be successful.

But I could not die here. My duty was just starting.

I found out five tunnels where workers were working under inspectors. The scenerio was same as the previous one. Every inspecter carried a whip, except one who carried nothing. I wondered if he was a good person or he had something up under his sleeve. I didn't wander too far away from the entrance, in fear of workers returning from their meal.

Just as I was about to turn and go back, a moment caught my eyes. I looked back, startled. Did anyone see me?

A worker stood in front of me, at lease twenty yards away. With my black attire, I was almost one with shadows, so I told myself he hadn't seen me. He was tall and young and one of his pointed ears were bleeding. He stared directly at me, eyes wide and horrified. I took a step back, pushing myself deeper into shadows.

Then I saw another moment. I cast a quick look in that direction and saw the inspector and workers returning. I had to run back and warn the others.

The boy took a step towards me, trapping me with his gaze. I was afraid to move. If he hadn't seen me yet, I could not risk it to be seen. But if he had seen me...

Every cell in my body told me that he had seen me. If that was the case, then I had nothing to lose.

He took another step. The inspector and others were not stopping or slowing down. I stirred a little, stuck between decisions. What to do?

The boy seemed to notice my distress. Still, he advanced and stopped after being five or so yards from me. We locked eyes. His eyes widened, as if he confirmed something. I grimaced inwards. I should cloud his mind before he starts yelling "Princess Sumi was here!" or something. I reached out.

His mouth moved, forming words. I watched him for a moment, my eyes wide. My hands started trembling and tears threatened to fall from my eyes. No way.

I swiftly turned away, speeding towards the others. If I couldn't make it in time, we would be noticed and everything would fall apart. I had put everyone in danger.

"Guys!" I whisper yelled as soon as I could see them. "They are coming!"

All of us began our tiptoe running, sticking to shadows. Zone came after all of us, sprinkling dust on our tracks, since our tunnel was abandoned and dust filled. Resh, Kylan Relach and Glaze carried four sacks of insfi stones, filled more than half way to the top.

It didn't take us that much time to get to the tunnel. I hurriedly wiped dust on the marks I left on the walls with my dagger, concealing them. I waited till others all got into the tunnel before getting in. Zone jumped inside and Savin caught him. We also jumped. There was no time to take stairs.

As soon as we all got down, Zone pushed the soil blocks back into the place. Together, he and Savin worked, covering the tunnel after putting the sacks in a room.

Then, I remembered something and froze. I forgot to remove my tracks from the day I went to scout the right path with Resh.