A Miner's Call

The walk towards the mansion in the morning sunlight seemed to pass by in slow motion. I watched rays of light dance along the plate armor and swords of the guards. The mansion itself sparkled in the morning dew that covered the front gardens and all three floors of pure majesty. Looking off to the top left corner of the mansion I saw a window open and I recognized the glint of scarlet red hair immediately, the daughter of the Lord, Etheria Jane. A moment later what seemed like flower petals had fallen from the window, and I realized that they were burned and blackened. The petals crumbled to ash as the fell through the air. That explained why I was here. I guess it could not be helped, the Lord of the town always had his way.
The entrance overflowed with wealthy attire, musicians could be heard in an adjoining room, and food lined the tables. The music and fragrances of the royal mansion faded away as they ushered me past the festivities and up the elegantly carved staircase to the study. I frequented this location, although not during broad daylight, but instead under the cover of night. Within the shadows one might think of the place as a dangerous maze instead. I lowered my head as I climbed the steps. My summons, no, rather my arrest had come in the early hours of the day. The guards stopped me during my errands for my father’s company. I generously complied, hoping to make it look like a simple request from the Lord and to hopefully soften any punishment that was coming our way.
With a shove the guards closed me into the room. The study had always seemed daunting, endless shelves of books and records. A repository of all the happenings in could have been housed in this place. As I stepped slowly forward, I faced an ornate desk directly across from the entrance, a desk I had only previously seen empty. The Lord sat; hands clasped leaning forward on the desk. A long silver mane closed off by a beard, housed features of physical labor and a face filled with scars and stories. His eyes shone like the freshly frozen ice on the mountaintops where the miners work.
As I locked eyes with him, the room seemed to disappear, save for his imposing figure, and a low rumbling came from deep within his chest. It was the miner’s chant, a song that echoed around us as voices bounced off the cold cavern walls. A chant I heard my father murmur when he put me to sleep as a child. An explosion filled my ears and then the noise subsided with a whining from within my ears. I snapped back in the study. Lord Jane had built his fortune through the endurance of his heart and muscles as hard as iron itself. He had saved the miners from a deadly explosion years prior, my father being one of them, and constructed a town around their efforts.
“You have two days to leave this town” Lord Jane spoke with a crushing weight.
“This town is my home, my father needs help with the company and…” I spoke hurriedly hoping to overturn the situation.
“Etheria will have nothing more to do with you. You are not fit to be in her presence, let alone her partner. You are lucky I overlooked your transgression and let your father retain ownership of his company. You very well know I could have sent the guard to seize it at any point. I should have your head, but I’m giving you a chance. Now leave while I’m still out of my senses.”
“Surely there’s a misunderstanding that I can be of help to ”
“SILENCE” Lord Jane roared, the bookshelves rattled with the sheer ferocity from his voice. I stepped back fearing for my life, I heard the rattle of armor outside the door.
The Lord’s face became red momentarily before easing back into a shade of pink.
“You are a fool that lives up to their namesake. Leave Stulton and never return to this land. You are banished.”
I regained my composure and met Lord Jane’s stare. I couldn’t accept that, and I had no intention of honoring it.
“Well, I must thank you for sending me off on a spout of good weather.”
I gave him a beaming smile and I bolted through the doors behind me, staggering the guards. As they chased me, only steps behind, I took in the gleaming mansion one last time. Priceless paintings, finished stairwells, and lavish furniture filled the halls. The place felt unrecognizable. Only during the cover of night did I have the pleasure of exploring the mansion. The moon would cast streaks of blue across rooms and furniture. Ms. Jane, her scarlet hair turning deep purple in the moonlight, always had softened the mood. All this space to ourselves and all we did was simply talk. Outlandish talk filled with ridicule for the world. We met as two creatures on either side of a social world, and yet together we found safety in our most vulnerable moments. As I sprinted down the grand staircase and out of the foyer, I yearned to see that face and hear that voice, so that all my worries would be eased.
As I approached the edge of the property, I turned back towards the mansion. The rich aura stood frozen in the distance like a painting, I stared blankly back covered in dust and sweat as I stood in the summer heat. The adrenaline I had quickly wore off, and as I continued about my day, I felt a numbness to my existence in the town. I wanted somewhere new to settle my roots and begin my exploits. Back at the company I oversaw a series of letters of opportunity. One of them spoke of a boom town, recently scouted out, where Mythril was rumored to run down the mountainside like rivers of jade. I felt a spark light in my chest and planned travel there for the following spring. The town was Mythrite. And I hoped it matched its namesake as well as I did mine.