“It’s all inside,” Rangvald replied, heading for the tunnel. “Well, besides the stairs we made to make it easier to get up and down.” He motioned to one side of the camp at the stairs that’d been carved into the rock face.
“Nice work,” Doc chuckled. “What about the entrance on the far side?”
“Have a lookout set up there. They’ll be hard to spot. I’ll show you after the tunnel.”
“Fair enough, Rangvald. Lead on.”
The tunnel was lit with lanterns that illuminated a wide arc in front of them. Doc caught the glint of polished metal behind the flame. A handful of dwarves looked up as they came past them, giving the two nods.
“Didi, how’s it going?” Rangvald asked the dwarf kneeling next to the pool of water that contained soul stones.
“Slow and steady,” Didi said, not looking up. “Damned troublesome material to work with. Expensive, though, so it’s worth it.”
“We’re not in a rush, so go slow,” Doc said.
Didi looked up and smiled broadly. “Doc! Come to see what we’ve been doing?”
“Thought it’d be a good idea, considering the last haul.”
“He chewed me out in front of everyone at the Lily to buy him a little more time,” Rangvald said.
“You thought it might come to that,” Didi replied.
“Don’t let us stop you,” Doc said. “I’m just getting a tour.”
“Right,” Didi said. “See you at dinner.”
“Sure enough,” Doc replied.
They walked further inside, passing another couple of dwarves who were working on gold veins. Just past them, Fulco, Ivan, Rudi, and Urs were gathered around the mythrium vein.
“Gods damn,” Doc said when he saw just how big the area of mythrium was now.
Rangvald laughed seeing Doc’s face. The other four turned to see what was so funny, and they began to laugh, too. Doc snorted, joining in their mirth.
“Yeah, I’m sure I looked like a slack-jawed yokel.”
“Is that how humans phrase it?” Urs laughed.
“Probably,” Doc said. “So that small sliver we saw lead to this?”
“Told you I thought it was only the tip,” Rangvald said, wiping at his eyes.
“How deep do you think it goes?”
“We’ll only find out once we dig more,” Rangvald said. “Considering your goddess, I won’t be surprised if it becomes the richest strike in history.” He looked pensive for a second. “We’ll need a lot more people for that, but that beauty right there will cover it with ease.”
“Did you all take the percentage?” Doc asked the others.
“We did,” Ivan grinned. “Honestly, it would be better for you if you just doubled the base and discontinued the percentage.”
“That’ll be up to Ayla,” Doc said. “She’s handling the money side of things. If you have an expert, let them handle it.”
“He means that,” Rangvald said. “I’ve been told a dozen times that I have the final say on the mine so we can do this right. Big news at dinner tonight, too, so make sure to pack up on time for once?”
Fulco laughed. “We just get lost in the groove.”
“Be at dinner,” Rangvald said firmly. “Clan business.”
“We’ll be there,” Ivan said.
“See you there,” Doc said.
“Sure thing, Boss.”
Doc and Rangvald went further down the tunnel, greeting the dwarves as they walked by them, until they came to the shaft that started it all. A single dwarf sat mostly below the lip in a niche that was obviously created just for that purpose.
“The lookout is on this side,” Rangvald said.
“Seems pretty visible to me,” Doc said.
“Come on up and see what you think,” Rangvald laughed as he headed for the wall the dwarf was sitting on. “Hand and footholds are here. Oh, we might need some more light for you.”
“I’ll be fine,” Doc said. “You lead.”
Rangvald gave a small nod and started climbing. Doc followed him, bypassing the dwarf on watch by a foot. Climbing out of the shaft, he looked around the top and could see the dam the dwarves had made a dozen yards away.
“We go this way for a bit first,” Rangvald said, walking down the dry streambed.
“Why’s that?”
“To break your perception of where the lookout is. Now, pick a direction and walk for a while. Then, head back toward the shaft and stop when you spot the lookout.”
Doc shrugged and turned hard right. After walking a few dozen yards, he stopped and turned to face the shaft. Lips pursed, he stared at the opening, but failed to see the dwarf. Walking slowly, he kept his eyes focused on the opening.
Ten feet away, Doc stopped. “Hell, that’s good.”
“Expected him right at the edge, huh?” Rangvald grinned.
“Yes, I did. That’s clever.”
“Old trick,” Rangvald chuckled, which was echoed by the lookout. “If I blindfolded you, walked you around randomly, then released you, you’d probably still miss him until double this distance.”
“I believe you,” Doc said. “Why not just cover it over?”
“Hard to do without being obvious,” Rangvald said. “They could break the dam up there, but that’d only work during the flood season, and we’d be ready for that tactic.”
“Appears you have things covered,” Doc said. “Figured you would, though. How is Jesamin doing?”
“Good, as far as I can tell,” Rangvald said. “She only comes in to drop off food now. Haven’t seen her cat at all since… since the se’sxac.”
“I thought I healed Krisriit,” Doc sighed. “Hell, is she due back tonight?”
“No schedule for her,” Rangvald said. “Maybe Rosa told her you’re back?”
“We’ll find out,” Doc said. “Let’s walk back. I’d like to see the top.”
“No way in up here,” Rangvald said. “We can walk back topside or go back down.”
“Topside. I’d like to see things from this angle.”
“Sure.”
~*~*~
The day passed with Doc meeting the other dwarves in camp. Fiala was taken into the tunnel by Rangvald to be shown the mine when she asked. Doc took that time to catch up with Tony and Joseph. They were both beyond thankful for allowing them to be part of the mine, even showing him the chunks of gold that they’d collected over the last few weeks. When they asked if he could take them back to give to their mothers, Doc agreed and encouraged them to keep doing their best.
Dinner was almost ready when a whistle came from the overlook. Doc glanced up to see Alf pointing toward the gate. Looking where he was pointing, he saw Jesamin striding with long, graceful steps for the camp. A tarp trailed her, and Doc caught sight of horns on it.
Tony and Joseph sped for the gate to meet her. Jesamin saw Doc and handed the tarp to them, not speaking as she made a beeline for him. Her pace slowed when she saw Fiala standing beside him.
“Doc,” Jesamin said softly, “I didn’t expect you to come.”
“Just checking that everything was okay,” Doc said. “Where’s Krisriit?”
“Tree line. He doesn’t like the camp. Too many people.”
“He’s okay?”
“Yes, healed completely. Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. Without him, we might not have survived the se’sxac. We’ll be heading back to town tomorrow. Can I check him then?”
“Of course,” Jesamin said.
“I’d also like you to meet my wife, Fiala. Fiala, this is Jesamin. She’s the guardian and hunter for the camp.”
Fiala gave her a strained smile. “I know Jesamin. She and Lia don’t get along.”
“They should get along fine now. Lia owns the Lily again.”
Jesamin’s brow furrowed for a second. “You helped her?”
“Just as I helped Krisriit,” Doc said lightly. “I am her partner in running the Lily. It’s also expanding and becoming a gambling hall inste
ad of... its previous incarnation.”
Jesamin nodded slowly. “If you are involved, it is okay. I acknowledge that the conflict is resolved.”
“Good. I don’t like it when friends fight,” Doc said. “Are you staying for dinner?”
“I would like to hear what is happening in town.”
“Dinner should be soon. Let’s sit, and we can talk for a bit,” Doc said.
~*~*~
Dinner was stew with bread. It was good, but paled compared to Daf’s food at the Lily. When dinner had been finished by the majority of the camp, Rangvald stood up.
“News from town,” he announced, “that has a bearing on the mine and clan business. Doc underwent the Rite of Heriz, and has been accepted as part of the clan.”
All the dwarves in camp looked at Doc with even greater respect.
“Doc also married Fiala, and their wedding feast was held in the clan hall.”
People all began to congratulate the newlyweds. Doc and Fiala thanked them for the kind words.
Once the hubbub died down, Rangvald spoke on, “We should expect the others here within the week. They won’t be going to town, but will come to our camp by the road. Jesamin, I’ll need you to head that way in a few days and wait for them.”
Jesamin nodded.
“As for the town, well... things have been kicked up a little,” Rangvald chuckled. “Doc, do you want to explain it?”
“Your camp,” Doc said. “I’ll just jump in to correct, if needed.”
“Okay. To start with, the Lily is being expanded…”
~*~*~
Doc waved back to the camp as they rode away the next morning.
“That might well become a town in its own right,” Fiala said.
“Maybe, but it’ll take longer than a few months, and by then, I expect Goodman and Suez to be out of Deep Gulch.”
“You expect them to move quickly?”
“Once they realize the mine is richer than I’ve been letting on, yes.”
“What do we do?”
“Follow the plan we have in place and be ready to adapt,” Doc told her. “First, we meet with Jesamin and Krisriit.”
It was an hour out of camp before they found Jesamin and Krisriit waiting for them. Jesamin stayed seated on a stump, but Krisriit got to his feet and got between her and them.
“Easy,” Doc said calmly. “I just wanted to check on you.”
When Doc spoke, Krisriit’s ears perked forward and his head swiveled to the side slightly. Doc handed his reins to Fiala and got off the mare. Krisriit watched him with bright eyes, front end crouching slightly.
“Hey, now, I fixed your leg. Be nice,” Doc chided him softly. “Saved your elf for you, too.”
Krisriit let out a vibrating sound and his front end crouched further.
Doc looked past him to Jesamin, who was watching Doc with a blank expression.
Before he could ask her anything, Krisriit sprang. Doc let out a surprised sound as the two-hundred-pound feline knocked him down. Fiala let out a small shriek of fear and surprise, and the two horses whickered and backed away. Jesamin laughed as she watched the two rolling on the ground.
Doc realized he wasn’t being attacked when a hot huff nearly deafened him and Krisriit headbutted him. He became a little less certain when the cat bit his arm, but the bite was gentle, and his jacket and shirt took the majority of it. Relaxing once he realized the cougar was just being friendly, Doc exhaled and began to scratch Krisriit’s ears and neck.
“You damned cat,” Doc laughed as he roughed his neck. “Almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Doc!?” Fiala called out to him, her voice tinged with fear.
“Fine. I’m fine,” Doc said as he pushed the mountain lion off him. “See? Fine. Oof!”
Krisriit hit him from behind, bowling him over and laying down. Jesamin laughed and wiped at her eyes as she watched Doc become a bed.
“Help him!” Fiala snapped at Jesamin.
Jesamin shook her head. “He is fine. Krisriit won’t hurt him. He is thanking him and showing affection.”
Fiala took a deep breath and, when she exhaled her fear out, she could see what Jesamin was saying. “Oh...”
“Yes. Tie the horses and meet him?”
“Is that okay?”
“He likes very few, but you are Doc’s wife. You should have his scent on you, so you will be fine.”
Fiala got the horses tied up and approached Krisriit slowly, speaking softly, “Hello, Krisriit. I’m Fiala, Doc’s mate. You’re a mighty one, aren’t you?”
Krisriit sat there majestically when Doc stopped trying to dislodge him. Raising his head, he sniffed as Fiala got closer. He didn’t move, even when Fiala extended her hand to him. When she touched his neck, he pushed his head into it. A deep, rumbling purr came from him as Fiala got just the right spot.
“He likes you, too. Not surprising,” Jesamin said.
“Can someone get him off me, please?” Doc muttered from the ground. “I really do want to check him.”
“Kris, come,” Jesamin said in Elvish.
Krisriit huffed and got up slowly, stretching as he did. Doc sighed, knowing his jacket was done for as he felt the flexing of claws. With a slow, indifferent manner, the cougar went over to Jesamin.
Doc groaned and rolled over, triggering healing hands to heal the small punctures and scratches he’d gotten from the friendly byplay with the cat. “Affectionate.”
“He’d have torn the face off of almost anyone else,” Jesamin said. “He is very pleased with you.”
“Glad he’s a friend and not a foe,” Doc said as he shifted over to touch Krisriit.
His energy pushed into the cougar and he knew that Krisriit was fine. No damage he could find, outside of a split claw on his back left paw. Doc let it heal up before shutting down his gift.
“He’s fine. Only a single claw was broken, but it’s good now.”
“You’re going to leave the town after you get the others out?” Jesamin asked, wanting to clarify what she’d heard last night.
“Eventually. It might take some time to remove them from power so they’re not a problem anymore.”
“You will need capable people beside you.”
“Yes. I’ll also need capable people to stay behind. This way, I know that the town will continue to be safe.”
Jesamin nodded slowly. “That makes sense. I will do my job. Safe travels.”
“Safe travels, Jesamin, Krisriit,” Doc said, giving the big cat another good scratch behind his ears.
Krisriit chuffed and headbutted Doc once more before rising to his feet and moving off with Jesamin.
“She is nicer than I recall,” Fiala said when they could no longer see Jesamin.
“Well, the last time you saw her, she was fighting with Lia, so that makes sense,” Doc chuckled. “Come on. We have ground to cover before tonight.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Doc helped Fiala down from her mount and onto the log that had been made into a bench at the campsite. “It’s normal unless you ride more often,” Doc told her.
“I just feel like a hindrance right now,” Fiala said.
“You’re not,” Doc told her as he triggered healing hands. Pulling her leg up, his hand touched the skin under the hem of her pants. His energy rushed up to the stiffness and soreness, soothing it.
Fiala relaxed as he healed her. “You’ll need that energy for her.”
“I can spare some,” Doc said. “Now that you’re good, we should split camp chores.”
“I’ll care for the horses,” Fiala said. “I think I’m getting better at it.”
“I’ll get the fire and dinner going, then,” Doc smiled at her.
Doc had to help Fiala with the horses, as she’d forgotten a few steps, but they soon had the horses settled and dinner in their bellies.
“Trail food makes one appreciate a good cook more,” Doc said.
“It wasn’t bad,” Fiala said.
“It kind of was, and it’s okay to say it,” Doc told her. “I’ve had much worse, but that was barely passable.”
Fiala looked down. “Okay. It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t horrible, either.”
Cashing In (Luck's Voice Book 2) Page 19