A Miner's Honor

The trek to the Mythrite Mine was not the worst, not when compared to the frigid cliffs of the Copper Mountains. After a few hours travel, the trees and brush opened into a clearing. The other side housed a gaping hole in the mountain and a structure next to it. I stood there in a for a few moments. I hadn’t seen anything like it during my entire time back in the Copper Mountains. I made my way towards the building and gave a firm set of knocks on the door. After a moment, a man opened the door, gave a rough greeting, and motioned me inside.
I was greeted heartily by a band of miners a mix of humans, dwarves, and elves. A mixture of faces filled my vision. I recognized their feelings, and I was quick to introduce myself as a fellow miner, specifically a prospector, who sought to complete some work here in Mythrite. That information created a small buzz in the crowd, and soon enough I was barraged with questions. After some time, people went back to their own tasks, and I was given a place to put my belongings while I stayed. One of the older members approached me and spoke in a hushed tone,
“Name’s Bastsk, Horger Batsk, Stulton. I’ve been here longer than most and don’t take what I say poorly but…the mine’s no place for a young soul like your own. You live and die by the stone you understand?” He gave me a small smile.
“I get you I do, I’m the same profession as my pops, but I’ve also got an additional reason for working here. A call to honor if you will. I don’t plan to stay here for long, I can promise you that.”
“That’s what they always say son, but it’s not always that easy to get out of the mines”.
“You misunderstand me, I don’t mean to leave the mines, just these mines in particular, I’ve got my old fool of a father waiting for me back home.”
“Ah, I see. You aren’t held prisoner by the stone, but instead are set free by it.”
“Something like that…” I finished with a small chuckle and gave him a beaming smile. With my sleeping roll set up, I took my place on the floor, and tried to get some sleep. I would explore the mines later. From there I could truly decide if this place was worth the trouble. An inventor by the name of Alya Tenyo was kind enough to show me some shards of Mithril she had acquired here in town, and the quality of her sample was impressive. I thought the odds were pretty good of finding a big enough deposit to make a small fortune, but like Bastsk said, it was dependent on time and I couldn’t keep Ms. Jane waiting.
Sometime later, I carefully made my way down into the mines. The crackling of torches and dripping of water felt oddly soothing and familiar, I guess I could assume all mines were the same. A series of small rocks tumbled past my feet, and I quickly spun around holding my torch.
“Who’s there?” I heard more tumbling rocks, but the timing seemed off. That would only happen if the rocks were falling. I swung my torch up high and saw a small shape on the wooden beams above me.
“Who are you?” I pulled my torch back as the small figure hopped down from the ceiling.
“Says the stranger.” A small voice full of intensity shot out of the darkness. A small girl covered in dust stepped forward. Her eyes glinted in the light of the torch, a blue-grey hue that reminded me of freshly cooled steel.
“Not the most welcoming individual I’ve met, but you’re certainly far from the worst.” I gave a hefty smile.
“What do you want with us miners?” The girl continued, and I stood there with a frown.
“Nothing in particular, I just need people to work with in order to strike it big.” I turned back towards the expanse of the mine and continued down the mine. I heard the patter of her steps behind me. We walked in silence for a few minutes. She spoke again.
“So, you know your way around a mine?” I sensed some curiosity in her tone now.
“Been in the caves since I was younger than you I reckon, my dad brought me, so guess I have him to thank. Not the brightest man by any means, but he definitely provided a foundation for my knowledge.”
“Your father did that for you?” Her voice sounded tense. I turned towards her, but she turned away.
“I wouldn’t say he did it for me, I just had to do something with my life. He taught me what he knew.” I hesitated for a moment then continued, “We don’t get along so well after my mother turned ill. His mining business prevented him from seeing her off as she left us. That was a choice he made though.” Again, we walked in silence for a short while shadows dancing across the walls as we made our way deeper.
“My father also made a choice, but I wasn’t as fortunate as you.”
I kept walking as I wasn’t quite sure what to say. After a moment I realized she wasn’t following me. I stopped and turned around; her figure barely visible at the edge of the light. I could not hear it, but I could see her shoulders shaking. Inside I was torn, I had come here for one reason, to make my fortune. I would not be able to face my friends back home, let alone Ms. Jane, if I let this girl live on in this condition. The stone was freedom, I told Bastsk that, I lived it. I would teach her that too. I stepped forward, knelt in front of her and held out my hand.
“I can’t promise fulfillment, but I might be able to get you fortune.”
“I’m no fool. Just because I’m a child…” Her voice trailed off. I pulled my hand back and raised the torch again.
“I know, I’m the fool.” I smiled at her and stood up, “What should I call you?”
“Cilsih Starmantle. That’s not what the others call me though.”
“What do they call you?”
“Their daughter, the Daughter of the Mythrite Mines”
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Starmantle.” I chuckled softly and looked down at the ground. That Sprick Grimmer really has got something coming to him. Putting me in a position to pair up with an actual child. He was craftier than I thought. I had expected the Child to be someone like me, older yet still vigorous and knowledgeable. I looked up at Cilsih again, well she has potential at least.
“What are you laughing at?” Her stone-cold face returned.
“Nothing! I just remembered an old story about stars my dad told me as a kid.” I turned her back towards the way out and we began to walk. I opened with a story my father told me once as I kid, I was so entranced that I never forgot about it.
“The story’s called, the Star of Neverwinter...”