The Other Apprentice

14-2 | Collapse

Bradwyr wasn't much to look at. Up in the foothills, it was a good way off the beaten track. The buildings and homes were all nestled against the cliff faces and single-story, dull grey buildings. Bradwyr's most impressive feature was the road leading out of it. The main road was wide enough to allow for a few wagons side by side to handle the valuable ore that was brought up from the mines. As the frost winds subsided and the snow on the ground turned to slush, it seemed likely this road would once again be seeing regular traffic.

For now, it seemed the two Ordo wagons were the most traffic this small town had seen in a week, judging by the curious stares of the locals.

As Tenet and mason disembarked and the second wagon pulled up alongside, a diminutive woman with a pretty face and a tight braid of brown hair down to her waist came running toward them. "Mason! I'm so glad you're here!" She ran up and gave the engineer a hug.

Mason returned the embrace, giving the woman a kiss on the forehead before breaking his hold on her. "Kylia, it's been a long time. How are you liking your new post?"

Mason wasn't especially tall, but Kylia still had to look up as she treated him to a dimpled smile. "Oh, it's not the excitement that Stillbrook was. But it's been a pleasant home to Petyr, the baby, and I." She looked around as Heron stepped down from the second wagon. "Who are your friends, Mason? And where's Sarya?"

Mason nodded to his companions as he spoke. "This is Heron, a first-year journeyman. And Tenet, apprentice of the wizard Madrigal. The border guards detained Sarya; said she was a spy."

Kylia opened her mouth in shock. "Those imbeciles! The miners have been trapped down there for almost five days now. They could be injured, and we haven't much in the way of medical supplies up here. Still, I'm glad you got here so quickly, Mason. I don't know how much longer they can wait. And the military won't do anything to help."

"Well, you can always count on the Ordo." Mason beamed a smile at her. "Now, what's the situation? Where's the mine?"

The woman sighed. "There was an explosion. Gas pocket. One of the miners was loading the ore carts when he heard it. There was a collapse in the tunnel. He ran out, but the tremor from the explosion started an avalanche from further up the mountain. Brought a large shelf of snow and ice down. The entrance is behind several feet of ice and rock." She motioned over. Tenet saw up on a slope where several men were working with shovels and picks, doing their best to clear the rubble. "Progress has been slow."

Mason lowered his goggles and surveyed the situation as well. "Two blockages, then. One to enter the mine and another to reach the miners."

"At minimum."

Beside Tenet, Heron sighed and looked upward. "It's going to take a while. And sun's setting. Are we starting now or waiting until morning?"

Mason thought for a moment. "Those miners have been down there a long time. I didn't come all the way here just to go straight to bed. Let's do what we can while we can."

Heron nodded. "Got it, boss. I'll get the tools."

As Tenet and Mason headed up the slope, snow crunching under their boots, Mason turned to Tenet. "I know how to go about this the non-magical way. But time is our enemy. If you have a way to speed this up, I'm listening."

Tenet drew up his mage senses as he looked at the blockage. The townsfolk had removed most of the loose snow, leaving a large wedge of dirty ice surrounded with rocks embedded in it. "I could melt the ice no problem given a source of heat. We can rid ourselves of it in minutes."

Mason shook his head. "Terrible idea. If the ice melts, the runoff could pour into the cave. That much water could flood the miners if they're on low ground. Especially if they're injured and laying prone. We might drown them."