by E. G. Foley
But there wasn’t time for unpacking quite yet, or they’d be late for their tour of the Everton Goldmine.
On Derek’s orders, they changed their shoes and put on wellies or good, sturdy boots for the hike up to the mine entrance and for traipsing around through the underground tunnels that awaited them.
Four sets of clomping footfalls rushed back downstairs to the kitchen, then the kids scarfed down the traditional Welsh bannock cakes that Snowdrop had prepared for them. Cut into wedges, they were very much like scones.
They were wonderful.
“Quickly, now.” Miss Helena tapped the dainty watch that hung on a ribbon around her neck. “You mustn’t keep the dwarves waiting.”
“Aren’t you coming?” Isabelle asked.
“No, my dear, I’ll stay behind to get your things unpacked,” said the governess. “You go on, now, and do as Derek tells you. You’re due there in twenty minutes.”
“Time is short,” Jake agreed, flashing a grin at Archie.
“Ah, yes!” the boy genius drawled. “We don’t want the dwarves getting angry. They can be short-tempered.”
“We all have our shortcomings,” Jake rejoined.
“But I’m sure their anger at us would be short-lived,” Dani chimed in.
Isabelle just looked at them. She hadn’t found the game very amusing in the carriage, either, during their bout of silliness. But then, empaths were incapable of making fun of people or hurting others’ feelings, since they shared them.
Jake snorted. Little Miss Perfect was too bloody nice. No wonder she had been chosen as a Keeper of the Unicorns.
“Enough, you lot,” Derek grumbled, rising from the table. “Crack a joke like that in front of one of the dwarves, and you’ll see what you get.”
“They’ll make short work of us,” Archie said under his breath.
Jake tried not to laugh.
“You’re not exactly tall yourself, Master Archie.” Derek scowled at them. “Time to go.” He stalked out of the room, leaving them to scramble after him.
“I’ll grow!” Archie assured the others as they left the table, thanking Snowdrop for the snack and grabbing a few extra bannocks to bring along on their hike.
Miss Helena accepted temporary charge of Dani’s dog. Teddy growled as the governess took him in her arms; he accepted Miss Helena but would never quite trust her, considering she was a shapeshifter whose other form was feline.
Dani waved a finger at him. “Teddy, be nice!” Then the Irish redhead ran outside after the others.
Before the group set out on their hike up to the mine’s hidden entrance in the woods, Derek gathered them around to reiterate the warning he had already given them several times along their journey.
“Now, children. About this goldmine. Listen well. I know you’re tired of hearing it, but as Jake’s bodyguard, it is my duty to remind you one last time. It is of the utmost importance that you keep everything you’re about to see today in strictest secrecy. Understood?”
“Yes, yes, we understand,” they mumbled.
“Even knowing about the Everton Mine’s existence, let alone its location, brings a certain risk,” he continued. “You may discuss it amongst yourselves or with us, but never speak about it in front of outsiders. Never forget, having great wealth, like magical abilities, can make a person a target for those with bad intents. Of course, you’re well protected here, but always be discreet. We don’t need the wrong sort of people hearing about the goldmine and deciding to try to kidnap Jake or any of you, as his closest friends, to make a fortune in ransom money.”
“I’d like to see ’em try it,” Jake drawled.
The battle-hardened warrior eyed him with a cynical frown, then turned away with one of his meaningful low growls.
“What?” Jake asked in an innocent tone.
“We all know you hate caves, Jake,” Derek shot back over his shoulder, “and that you’re already dreading going underground into the mine. Your showing off, boasting, and making fun of the dwarves isn’t fooling anybody.”
“Am not! What do you mean?” he protested, his cheeks coloring as Derek stalked off. “I’m not scared!”
But even his friends chuckled at his protests.
Archie slapped him on the back. “It’ll be fine, coz. We’ll be right there with you.”
“We’ll protect you, Jake,” Dani teased as they walked away to follow Derek.
Jake scowled after them. What did they know? They had never been sent off from an orphanage at age nine to work in a coalmine. Maybe he had a reason for how he felt!
He shuddered at the memory of the older boys’ cruel pranks on him—and his own, even worse retaliation on them. The meanest thing he’d ever done in his life. And that was saying something.
The darkness just seemed to bring out the worst in some people, he guessed. Even a future Lightrider.
He thrust the unsettling memories out of his mind and ran to catch up with the others, still irked—which was probably a very strange emotion for someone who had inherited a goldmine.
Let’s just get this over with.
CHAPTER TWO
Master of the Mine
Marching up the mountain path toward the mine’s secret entrance in the woods, Derek pointed out the distant boundaries of all the lands belonging to Plas-y-Fforest, practically the whole mountaintop. The outer world believed the property to be simply an outdoorsman’s retreat for the Earls of Griffon, passed down from father to son.
The woods and streams were rich grounds for hunting and fishing, after all—a fine country getaway from the hustle and bustle of London life and the Parliamentary duties that Jake would have to take up after he turned the ripe old age of twenty-one.
But the truth was, inside this sprawling parkland, the entrance to the Everton Goldmine was hidden, along with the clan of dwarves who worked it—not to mention the herd of unicorns who roamed inside the magically protected bounds of the wilderness preserve.
As a designated Keeper, Isabelle could hardly wait to go and check on them, find out how the unicorns were faring. The Welsh herd at Plas-y-Fforest was supposed to be much wilder than the tamer group she tended back home at her family’s country estate in England, Bradford Park.
For his part, Jake saw no sign of the elusive species, though he scanned the green, leafy shadows constantly as they hiked up the sun-dappled path. Of course, according to unicorn lore, the wary creatures would not come near when they smelled male humans in the area.
They had been hunted by men for too many centuries ever to trust one again, according to Isabelle. The creatures barely even trusted grown women, only young girls, and even the most docile unicorn mare could be extremely dangerous if she decided she didn’t like you. Though the boys were envious of the girls’ good standing with the creatures, they had no desire to be impaled, and thus were content to keep their distance.
Fortunately, other sorts of beasts had no problem with boys.
Gryphons, for example.
A loud caw from the sky signaled the arrival of Red, or rather Crafanc. Jake grinned as the winged beast landed lightly on a mossy outcropping of rock above them.
“There he is!” Archie beckoned to Red with a cheerful grin. “Come on down and join us, boy!”
Red bounded down onto the trail ahead of them and proceeded to lead the way to the goldmine, strutting up the path with a grand, lion-like stride.
“You’re feeling very pleased with yourself today, aren’t you, boy?” Jake asked in amusement.
“I think he’s just happy to be in his homeland again,” Isabelle said.
“Wait, is he purring?” Archie exclaimed as they followed the Gryphon through the woods.
They paused to hear the sound.
“How cute!” Dani ran after him and rested her hand on Red’s withers as she walked along beside him.
Derek shook his head with a rueful smile, but since Red had taken the lead, he waited to bring up the rear, waving all his hikers past him. �
��Keep going, we’re almost there.” He gave Jake a friendly clap on the back as he went by him.
Actually, nobody minded the walk after being cooped up in the carriage. It was a perfect autumn day. The path was steep but not difficult, with a little brook trickling alongside it. Overhead, the sun shone through the changing leaves so they glowed like stained-glass, red and gold and orange. The forest floor around them was covered in ferns turning russet, and squirrels frolicked here and there, arguing with each other in funny chirps as they scampered around, rustling the fallen leaves.
The way Red kept watching the squirrels, Jake suspected his large feathered friend was thinking of gulping one down for a snack.
Fortunately, he didn’t; Isabelle, who could communicate telepathically with animals, besides sensing other people’s emotions, would have been horrified.
At last, the Gryphon stopped where the path ended in front of a small but steep section of the hillside. Red summoned Derek over with a low caw, nodding at the spot.
Derek strode to the front of the group, his long black duster coat trailing out behind him. “I’ll get that.” He started brushing away the tangled growth of vines, uncovering a small, arched, slightly rusty metal door.
It had a round metal handle, like that on a ship’s hatch. He grasped the metal wheel in both hands and began turning it—or trying to.
Rusted into place, the handle squeaked and creaked in protest as he strained to get it working. “Thing seems…stuck.” Just as he heaved the handle into motion, a little metal peephole in the door suddenly slid open at about Derek’s waist level.
“Hello!”
The greeting startled the mighty warrior so much he nearly fell back onto his rear-end on the path. The kids stifled laughter as he caught himself with a curse.
A pair of blue, twinkly eyes peered out at them through a rectangular peephole opening halfway down the door. “Oh, good, you’re all here! Right on time. One moment, please. I’ll let you in.” The eyes disappeared.
They could hear the small door-guard on sentry duty shuffling about behind the metal barrier, talking to himself. “There’s a mechanism here somewhere…too dark, can’t see. Where did I put my lantern? Can’t believe I dozed off. Oh, here it is. Humph. Be right with you!” he called politely.
“Take your time,” Jake answered, glancing wryly at the others.
“Jump!” the little old dwarf said to himself.
They heard an odd thud and a rusty metal squeak, but nothing happened.
“Oh, blast. Did it open?” the dwarf called.
“Not yet,” Archie answered.
“Hold on! I’ll only be a minute! Drat it,” he muttered to himself. “Jump again, Ufudd.”
Thud-squeak.
“Must be a weight-triggered mechanism of some kind,” Archie murmured sagely.
“Almost got it! It’s just that I’m not quite…heavy enough. Must be losing weight. Maybe I’ll buy a nice apple tart for dessert tonight. Hm, wait, let me get a rock,” the dwarf mumbled to himself. “There. This should do it.”
A pause.
Behind the door, the little dwarf jumped with all his might onto the square metal mechanism, and suddenly, the door popped open.
“Ha! There she goes!”
They heard him throw down the large rock he had picked up for extra weight, then he appeared in the doorway, beaming at them—an old fellow, white haired and white bearded, with a pointy brown hat. “Welcome to you all! Sorry about all that. These outer doors get rusty in the rain. And, er, don’t tell Emrys I dozed off, would you?”
“We won’t say anything,” Dani answered, tilting her head as she stared at the little fellow in wonder.
“Well then. Greetings to you all!” he said in a more formal fashion, clapping his little hands to his chest. “I am Ufudd, and you are all most welcome.” His wrinkled face wreathed in smiles, Ufudd beckoned them in. “Come, come. Mind your head.”
When Red hopped in first, the dwarf was overcome with joy, much as the house brownie had been. “My Lord Crafanc! Such an honor to see you again!”
While Ufudd made much of the Gryphon, the rest of them filed into the small, dark antechamber—first the girls, then Archie, each bending down to be able to fit under the dwarf-sized doorway. The six-foot-plus Derek practically had to crawl through on his hands and knees.
Jake was the last to follow, wiping the cold sweat off his palms onto his tan trousers. Now or never. Tilting his head back, he took one last, longing look up at the sunshine and the bits of blue sky showing through the parti-colored trees.
Then he braced himself, ducked his head down low, and stepped through the doorway.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he was surprised to find a towering metal door ahead of them, far grander and more formidable than the small hatch behind them.
It was covered with intricate carvings depicting dwarven warriors clad for battle.
“Now then, are we all in?” Ufudd asked. “Security procedures! We cannot open the Great Door until the outer one is shut and locked again. Would you hold this, dear?”
Ufudd gave Dani his lantern, then he marched back to the small door, dusting off his hands.
They watched curiously as he jumped up (it took a few tries), reaching for a knotted rope that dangled down from beside the outer door. When he finally grabbed hold of it, he hung from it with a grunt for a moment, pulling down on it with all his might, making the door creak shut, until his feet touched the ground again.
Jake exchanged a wry glance with Archie, realizing it was another weight-triggered mechanism, this time to get the door closed.
“Ah! There we are. Mind you don’t step on that square there or it’ll pop open again.” Ufudd waddled back to the Great Door ahead of them, taking his lantern back from Dani on the way.
With the outer door shut, the antechamber was plunged into gloom. One lantern hardly drove off such darkness.
Caught between the two heavy doors, Jake instantly started feeling a tad claustrophobic. Dani must have known—she poked him in the ribs.
“Well, Lord Crafanc, would you like to do the honors?” Ufudd asked the Gryphon as he stood aside and gestured at the mighty magic door with a flourish.
Red walked up to it proudly and lifted his front paw, placing it in a sculpted indentation that turned out to be a metal paw print.
It fit him perfectly, and when he leaned into it, giving it a slight push, he triggered the mechanism that, otherwise, would have taken a bevy of magical incantations to overcome.
The kids stepped back in caution as great gears and interlocking parts rumbled and rolled. Slowly, the Great Door to the Everton Mine slid open.
But if they had been expecting to see shiny mounds of gold ahead, they were disappointed.
There was only a dark tunnel with small train tracks leading off into it; sitting on the tracks before them were four little wooden mining carts hitched together in a row.
Ufudd gestured toward them. “Your transport awaits, my lords and ladies! If you’ll kindly take a seat, I will bring you down to the Atrium for the Welcome Ceremony. Better let the boys know you’re coming,” he mumbled to himself.
While Jake and the others climbed into the carts, Ufudd hurried over to pull several times on another dangling rope behind the Great Door. This one apparently operated signal bells like those in any great house, wired to the servants’ quarters.
They could hear the signal echo traveling along the taut wires, ringing bells strung together at intervals, and fading off into the distance.
Having sent Master Emrys the alert that their guests were on their way, Ufudd triggered some other mystical mechanism that sent the Great Door rumbling shut again.
It closed with an ominous slam.
Jake swallowed hard and gripped the metal bar across from his seat in the second cart with the boy genius.
“You’re not nervous, are you?” Archie asked.
“Of course not,” he lied.
“I can
’t see,” Dani said. The girls were sitting behind him and Archie.
“Everyone hold on tight,” Derek warned from the back car, where he barely fit. His shoulders were as wide as the cart itself, and he had to bend his knees out at an awkward angle to wedge his long legs into the vehicle.
Ufudd hurried back and sprang up into the first cart, where the Gryphon waited. “Here we go, then. Have you there in a trice!” He pulled a wooden handle and threw a metal switch that gave off sparks, and the cars started to roll down the tracks.
Jake’s hair started blowing around as the carts picked up speed. The tunnel was lit with dim lanterns here and there along the way. They began to blur into a chain of staggered lights, a dizzying effect, as the carts began to whiz faster and faster along the tracks.
Around turns, down drops, over bumps, they flew every which way, the girls shrieking now and then behind them. Jake was trying hard not to yell, too, as he was thrown around inside the crazy cart beside his cousin.
With Red’s tall, winged form blocking the view in front of him, Jake’s disorientation grew. He couldn’t see where the tracks were taking them next. He hung on to the bar for dear life, trying not to scream.
He lost that battle when they burst out of the tunnel and plunged down a nearly vertical drop into the great, open hollow of the mine beneath the mountain.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Jake’s stomach lifted inside him as they fell through what felt like empty space, though the rails were still before them. Hair standing on end, he pressed with his feet against the wooden floor of the cart, his grip white-knuckled on the bar.
In the cart ahead, little Ufudd was perfectly serene, driving his vehicle, while the Gryphon seemed to be enjoying every minute of the ride, his feathers fluttering with the wind.
If not for his terror, Jake might have taken more notice of the vast working mine all around him.
Everywhere, an intricate web-work of ladders, walkways, scaffolding, buckets on ropes, pulleys and supports, little tracks with more carts full of gold and precious stones, and little wooden footbridges spanned the yawning gulf. It was as busy as an underground city.