Delving Beneath the Surface

Chapter 7

Verona rifled through her backpack as she walked the familiar hiking trail that led towards the mines. The leaves on the trees painted the cliffside in patches of gold, orange, and red – reminiscent of a sunset. A crisp autumn breeze ruffled her hair, now cut short just below her chin and tied back in a half-ponytail. Haley had come over the night before and they just went for it. It felt amazing. She should have chopped it off a lot sooner.

Pickaxe. Check. Granola bars. Check. First aid kit. Check. Dagger. Her hand fell to the leather blade strapped to her leg. Check.

She had everything she needed for a day of exploration. She thought about asking Haley to join her but decided against it at the last minute. She would have no doubt say yes. She had agreed the last time, but Verona decided to leave her out of it this time around – especially after her conversation with Marlon. Ya know, just in case there really were ghosts haunting the mines.

Really, she knew how stupid it was to go down there by herself, but she already found two dwarven artifacts in the original mineshaft. There had to be more. The risk was worth it in her mind.

She rounded the bend near the carpenter shop just as Sebastian stepped out onto his front porch, an unlit cigarette hanging from between his lips. He raised a hand and waved. Returning it, she teased, "You're up early."

"My mom needed some help gathering timber and stone. I just wrapped..." He trailed off as he lingered on her hair. He caught his cigarette as it slipped from his lips. "Wow, I mean, I like the new cut. It suits you. I mean, the blonde looked fine too, but this..." He scratched sheepishly at the nape of his neck. "It's nice."

She grabbed a loose curl and twisted it around her finger. "Thanks. I think it suits me too."

A painfully awkward silence fell over them as they stared at each other. She wracked her brain as she searched for a reason to stay with him a while longer, but she couldn't think of anything. If the dark circles under his eyes were any indication, he pulled an all-nighter and was getting ready for bed. She didn't want to keep him up.

Sebastian gestured to her getup. "Are you heading into the mines again?"

"That's the plan. Marlon gave me a few leads a few weeks back. I finally have a free day to go poking around down there." Her grip tightened around the straps of her bag. "I just hope I come back with something good. I can tell Gunther is getting antsy. And if I'm being honest, so am I."

Sebastian tucked his cigarette back in its carton. "Do you want someone to go with you?"

"Why? Are you offering?" To answer her question, he reached for the old axe propped against the porch railing. Her brows rose to her hairline as she said, "Oh shit, you are offering, aren't you?"

"I mean," he shrugged and threw the axe over his shoulder, wandering down the path that led to the mines. She hurried after him as she searched for the right words to say. "I've lived here my whole life and I never actually explored them on my own. You're always talking about your adventures down there and, if I'm being honest, I feel a little left out."

"You know this isn't a scenario from the Solarian Chronicles, right?" She had to jog to match his long strides. "Like it's actually dangerous down there."

"All the more reason for me to join you," he countered, "It'll be safer with someone by your side."

They stopped just short of the steppingstones that led across the river. The water was calmer today. So clear, Verona could see straight to the sandy bottom. A few fish rode on the current, following the stream until it emptied into the lake. Maybe she could convince him to stay out here while she caught some fresh fish for Willy, instead.