Mines over Matter

[Gaius Atius Tira]

Mines over Matter

Three years ago;
The geologist showed Novas Tira on the chart where the water ran through mine 8. If you wish to avoid another cave in, you’re going to have to cut east, it’s just too unstable to continue west in this shaft. Novas Tira, the eldest of the six boys of the Tira family, was not accustom to being “told” anything, the smart one suggested, never told. Novas standing almost eight foot and 350 pounds, leaned over the table looking down at that geologist charts; “but the vain in to the west, its thick and plentiful, I will not let it go!” He pounded the table to emphasize his point.
The geologist, stepped back at the sound, and then raised his eyes to meet Novas’s black cold ones. “Then you risk your men!” Novas stood and turn to the fireplace warming the cabin. With his back to the geologist he looked into the fire and spoke; “Men are like ax handles, I can always get more me. Why do you think the camp is full of Whores and Gypsies?” “We dig, and you will find a path to that vain or by the gods I will feed you to the next cave troll we find!” He waved his hand dismissing the geologist.

Present time;
A group of ten miners and five cart boys were working a run around shaft, when one of the miners picks hit the wall. A spray of water of high pressure water started showering the men and cart boys. Then the rumbling started, the sound could be heard throughout the mine all the way to the lower levels. Everyone knew something was wrongs. The worker in the run around shaft were the first to die, they only made it a few steps before the west wall gave out and blasted them with rocks the size of small huts. Because of the cave in, the water backup until it reached the main shaft, then taking the natural slop of the mine heading deeper into the dark shaft. The water came from an under river that was fed into by the sea itself, the force of the water was unstoppable. As it moved down the shafts it picked up loose equipment, carts, tools, pack animals, men and even ore. It hurled it down the shafts faster than any horse could run or arrow flew. It crushed solid object like toothpicks.
I took only a couple hours for Mine number 8 to fill totally with water and rock, taking back what the miners had stolen with their picks and shovels over the many years. It took less time than that to kill the two hundred and three miners, sixty cart boys and one geologist.

Upon getting the message from Judas and the others at Ashencrosse, Gaius rode like the wind, from Ashencrosse to Umbra Moongate, from there to Minoc Moongate. He then rode north through Minoc, passing the rioters and fires they had set in protest, he spurred though the city ignoring their pleas for help.
Upon reaching the mountains, he took the passes leading to the east side near the coast; there he took the supply trails up to the base camp.
As he entered the base camp, a fine haze was in the air from the force of the cave in. Everything was coated in a layer of gray dust; visibility was only a few yards. People scurried around attempting to help those in need. A large group stood at once was then entrance to Number 8, looking in disbelief at the collection of stone blocking their way.
One man stood out among the rest by his sheer size, Novas the mines foreman. Gaius spotted him and dismounted. He moved towards him with a purpose, pushing others out of the way as he made his way towards Novas. As he approached Novas turned, that when Gaius struck! He kicked the big man’s kneecap sending him to the ground in pain, as Novas fell to his good knee; Gaius used his hand to deliver a blow to the neck sending him reeling backward. The others were standing around Novas seeing this spectacle, reacted, and started to close on Gaius. Gaius stood his ground pulling his blade and announced; “back off this is a family matter!!” Upon seeing the blade, they stopped and stepped back. No one wanted to challenge the man that just dropped their foreman in two blows.

Novas from his position on the ground looked up at his attacker; “Gaius?” Gaius turned to him leveling the blade toward Novas’s throat; “Where are they you bastard!” Novas looked confused, then pointed to the mine; “your brothers and father where in there!” Gaius move his arm forward allowing the tip of the blade to draw blood from the neck of Novas; “the boys you foul beast from hell, where are my boys?” Novas’s eyes widen in fear, and glanced towards the mine. Seeing this Gaius’s rage was unleashed. He trusted the sword through his eldest brother’s throat, twisting it as it entered. Novas made a gurgling sound and fell back dead.

[Gaius Atius Tira]

Gaius dropped the blade and walked to where the opening use to be, speaking in a tone of authority he spoke to those behind him still looking at the dead body of Novas; “Get every able body man with a pick or shovel here and start clearing away the rocks now!” One of the men approached Gaius, but staying just out of sword range; “My lord, there gone! Nothing can be done for them.” Gaius turned slowly to face the man staring into his eyes and pass him; “What part of my order did you not understand?” Gaius’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword. “Yes my lord, but…..” He stopped mid-sentence as a flick of sliver cut through the dust and stopped just under his chin. Gaius looked the man in the face, his eyes determined; “I don’t like repeating myself, SO MOVE YOUR ASS!” The man quickly withdrew and started to do what was commanded, the others of the group follow suit. Gaius stopped one of them, and gave further instructions; “Have the women of the camp set up a food and sleeping tent for the workers along with water barrels, also tell the healers and priests to set up a place for the dead.” Yes m’ lord and what about him. The man glanced down at Gaius brother. Gaius looked down at the form that was once his brother; “dump him with the rest of the garbage!” “Yes m’ lord.” The many picked up the body of Novas and headed to the pit used for trash. Gaius turned and moved to the blocked passage and started removing stones by hand.Everything was done according to Gaius’s orders. The men worked around the clock in twelve hour shifts removing rubble; the women ensure food and drink were ready for those coming off shift; even the camp whores were put to work, changing bed sheets and bathing workers. After two days of backbreaking work, they were able to open a passage to the mine, only to be met by water, debris and bodies.

Because of the pressure from the sea, they could not drain the mine, so they pulled what they could from the shaft. Thirty one bodies in all were recovered out of two hundred sixty four. Nine of them were cart boys.

Gaius attended to each of the cart boys, making sure each body was cleaned and wrapped in white lien, placing gold coins upon their eyes, and kissing the foreheads of each before they were sent down the mountain to the waiting families. The rest were dealt with properly by the priests on hand.

When nothing further could be done, Gaius ordered the mine to be sealed and had the priests perform rites for those who remained entombed with in. He then went to the main office of the mine and found the documentation needed to withdraw the funds from the mine’s account. He went to each household on the rolls and divided the money equally among them, keeping none for himself.

Once this task was done, he returned to the mountain where he sat at its base and wept until the tears came no more. Exhausted, covered in dust & dirt, hands torn and covered in dried blood from removing rocks by hand. He mounted his horse and rode slowly out into the wilderness, broken and tired.