Unbearable Weights and Dreams

::31 years ago::
 
James helped his mother, Joan, set the table. It wasn't much, and at only 10 years old, he couldn't carry everything at once, but he tried. His little sister, Yasmin, just over a year younger, helped with the napkins. Of the other two, the newest, Lucas, was currently in a sling on his mothers back as she finished preparing the meal, and the next, Claudia, was safely in a crib that his father, Liam, had built. At only two, Claudia could be an absolute handful and would get under foot very quickly. A few minutes after the table was set, the familiar thumping of his fathers booted feet could be heard on the small porch. As usual, he came inside, covered in dust and dirt from his job at the mine. And no matter how hard of a day he had, seeing his kids always made Liam smile.
 
"Now don't go tracking that dirt or dirtying up the children Liam! You go get washed up, then you can hug 'em." His mother aid. "Of course dear, can't have dirty children around the table now can we?" His father said with a smile, as he quickly rubbed Yasmin's hair before going off to the wash. Liam's job at the mind paid just enough for them to keep the kids fed, and a roof over their head, but not much more. Joan did a little work when she could, but with four children it was difficult to have time to do anything other than take care of them. Later, a freshly washed and dressed Liam came out. "Alright little ones, come on and get me!" They all ran over, happy to hug him. It was not a life of means at all, but it was a life, and there was love.
 
::28 years ago::
"Alright son, it's time you started learning the tricks of the trade if you're gonna help the family." Liam was taking James to his first day at the mine. Being a kid, they wouldn't let him handle anything too dangerous, but with another mouth to feed on the way they needed the extra income badly. James walked proudly beside his father, and at 13 was rapidly approaching his fathers height. "I'll do my best papa! I'm going to be the best miner there is!" Liam laughed at his sons enthusiasm, and hoped that he kept it. Liam had been a miner his whole life, just like he father and grandfather. When the mines ran out in Avalon, Liam's grandfather had just enough to get his family across the sea to Castile, where many new mines were opening up and they were hiring anyone who would work. Liam sighed inside, not letting James know where his thoughts were headed. Liam had lost both his grandfather and his father to the mines. His grandfather to the diseases that plague miners, and his father to a collapse. He was just a few years older than James when the foreman came home and told them the news. When a new kind of mine opened up, an open pit mine, Liam jumped on the chance. He'd never told anyone, but the idea of being stuck underground in a collapse was a terror that kept him up some nights, even now, years after having changed mines. "You'll do a fine job, I'm sure of it. I'm going to hand you over to Treyver Summerbush when we get there. He's a wonderful halfling fellow who'll show you the ropes and get you started!" James beamed up at his father, wanting to do nothing more than make him proud.
 
::26 years ago::
A 15 year old James swung the pick, breaking up the rocks from the latest blast they'd done. At 6 foot and a smidge, he was taller than most in the area. Just some of the truly big people, the real heavy lifting races, stood above him. Sweat poured down his body as he swung again, and again, breaking rocks with mechanical precision so they could be hauled away to the crusher. Antonio, his younger brother would be turning 2 soon, and his mother had just given birth to Luna, named because she was born on the full moon. All of the children who were old enough tried to work, doing something that could keep them, at least fed, but there were days, with 8 mouths to feed now, that some went without. Never the children though, they needed all they could get. James and Liam would work extra hours, doing whatever was required, even some of the more dangerous work, simply to get a few more coins in their pocket. The mine had been sold in the last year, and the new owners cared only about one thing, profits. If they could have gotten slaves to do the work, rather than paying honest people for honest labor, they would have in a heart beat. Anything to save a few coins to line their pockets. Liam had been promoted as a shift supervisor, but even that pay wasn't enough. The new owners slashed pay for any new promotions, so his papa was earning half what he should have been. That money would have been enough for them to start putting away for the future, maybe even a bigger house. But not with what they're earning now.
 
"There's got to be a better way than this." James mumbled, half to himself at a tavern a few miles from his house. Being near the coast they got to see all kinds of people, and James had started to visit The First Bell only a few weeks ago. He never had much to spend, but could afford a small ale now and then, and had gotten a taste for it. "Wot you say der'e kid?" A very rough looking man said next to him, looking James over. Feeling bold James repeated. "I said there's got to be something better than just barely starving in the mines. Better work, better pay, something that isn't as likely to kill you."
"Welp, I don't knows 'bout de less likely kill ya part. But if it be better pay ya need, can always sign on wit a ship an crew. Der is more money den a person can spen in a lifetime out der on da waves!"
"Really? I somehow doubt that."
"Alright, some'n like you, big stron' boy, ye could earn top pay on a ship. Here, let me show ya a little secret." The man leaned over close to James and opened up a pouch. Inside it was more money than his family would earn in a month, combined. James stared at the money, dumbstruck.
"Ya see, dis here, dis is for one layover! Not even da whole voyage. Dat be ten times dis much!"
"How? How do you get that?" James asked. "What does it take?"
"Ye leaf all dis behind. Ya get yourself to a big port, one wit lots a ships. Der always be ones takin on new crew. But ye be out der a while. Could be weeks, could be months on da water. Depends on da cargo. Longer out, better pay."
James sat there, looking at the money, thinking of the possibilities, but then stopped. He looked up at the man, this grizzled old sailor and said, "Thanks old timer. Maybe if life were different, but as it is I can't go leaving my family behind, even for a few weeks. Thanks for letting me dream for a bit though."
The old sailor closed up his bag and looked at James with a sad, but understanding eye. "Aye, it be a hard decision to make, and it not be fo' everyone. But if ya ever feel da pull, or ya need to get out, it's about a days walk nort, and you'll find da port of Santander. If ya be wantin' a way out, an more coin den ya ever seen, go der and find a ship."
"If the stars change, I'll be sure to do that. Thank you old timer."
Not long after that James finishes up his ale and heads home to prepare for another day.
 
::25 years ago::
"Liam, we can't keep this up. We've not enough to feed us all with what pittance they're paying you, and even with what the kids are earning, everyone around here is poor and barely has enough to eat. We're almost starving as it is." The desperation in his mothers voice tore through James's heart, knowing that she was right. In over a year, his fathers pay hadn't increased one bit, and his own had been cut due to minor issues which the owners said would cost them hundreds. Yasmin was making more than him right now selling her woven fabrics.
"I know Joan, I know. And I can't think of a way out of it. We're not going to give up any of the kids, and the owners have already canned three people who've asked for raises." The frustration, and unseen tears of his father drove James outside into the evening air. It was just past dark, just after dinner, the cool air blowing across the town. He wanted to scream, he wanted to march right up to the owners and beat them, take what was rightfully theirs. Not for glory or fame or a desire to be wealthy, but just so he didn't have to hear that sound in his parents voice ever again. There was a scent on the breeze, something he'd only dreamed about, maybe smelled once or twice in his life before, but it was strong this time. He had no idea how it had traveled that far, but the smell of salt water, of the ocean, washed over him. He'd given almost 3 full years to the mine, and had almost less than nothing to show for it. He was stronger than most, could go longer than most no matter the heat. And he remembered the words of the old sailor "If ya ever feed da pull". That was the best description he had, there was a pull on this wind, strong. It had it's hooks into his soul and was urging him onward, northward to the far away port. "A days walk" is what the sailor had said. "One less mouth to feed" James said quietly into the wind. He knew what he had to do.
Quietly going to the room that most of the kids slept in, he packed the few clothes he had, got his water skin, and scribbled out a quick note.
"Papa, Momma, I know times are hard, and with what the mine is doing I'm not pulling my weight any more. I'm going to go make things better. If I succeed, you should be getting coin from me soon, and more than I could ever have made in the mines. Also you'll have one less mouth to feed, which my pay wasn't covering anyway. Don't cry, please. I'll see you again soon, and I'll write when I can. I love you both, and I'm off to find a better fortune for my family.
Your loving son,
James"
 
Not wanting it to be found early he put it in the clean pot that his mother would use for making breakfast. Sneaking out of his house, a strange lightness filled James, a weight lifted off his shoulders, his soul, that he'd forgotten was there, having gotten so used to it in the mines. He turned north, walking with a quickened pace, off to the start of the rest of his life.