Morning broke over the mine to see the workers already nearly an hour into their labour. The first shift would start as soon as there was a hint of light in the sky, and the second shift ran so late into the night they often worked by torchlight. Wynessa usually watched her father leave for the morning every day, though today she slept right through the morning meal. By the time she woke up, it was nearly time for her shift to begin.
It was usual to see family members on different shifts. This was done intentionally to keep them apart and emotionally distance them. The only time during the day they would see each other would be the change over between first and second shift just around midday.
Wrapping her feet with the linen bandages she had been using since they arrived four years prior, Wynnie couldn't help but imagine what it would be like once they were free from this place. Her memories of before the war were scattered and seemed to grow more distant by the day. Of the few things that remained was a melody, a song her mother had sung to her often before leaving for war. Her mother had been a brilliant strategist and was the former King's lead general. Because of her, they had almost beat back the invading monsters.
But that was ten years ago. Almost half Wynessa's life. Twenty two years old this winter. She should have been married by now, maybe had a child or two if things went well. In another life, maybe.
The horn bellowed signaling the shift change just as she stepped out into the daylight, squinting as it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Two lines formed of those returning from working and those heading out to begin, handing their tools to open hands as they passed. Constantly under watch, they weren't allowed to speak, but notes wrapped around the handles of pickaxes told them when the signal would come: just after full-dark, when the night became darkest.
Human eyes adjusted to light changes much more easily than goblins and ogres, so the plan was to wait until their eyes had fully become used to the darkness before setting fire to as many goblin tents as they could. In the chaos, one group would fight as much as they could while the other group escaped through the tunnels and excavations they had made.
Many humans would die, but the older and more frail groups had volunteered for the fighting so the younger and healthier could free themselves. It was a noble and honourable sacrifice if they succeeded.
Wynessa quietly took the pickaxe from her father's hands and nodded gently, the feeling of old paper crinkling in her hands let her know tonight was the night for sure. It was a New Moon, so there would be little resistance once they got off the plateau.
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Miklian stood watching the patrols from an elevated outcropping, unintentionally scanning for that girl from the night before. He was so lost in thought that when his second in command came up behind him, he didn't hear until the giantess clasped her hand and thumped it against her chest in salute.
"Captain. You asked to see me, sir?" Lieutenant Liennan was a youthful woman with green-tinted skin from the lowland plains of their home mountains. It was no secret this giantess looked fondly on Miklian, and were he not her commanding officer she would have offered herself to him years before. The only one who didn't see her affection was him.
"At ease. I want you to tell me everything you can about this mine. This... Caldera." He paused as he remembered the word his brother spoke the day before, not expecting much of an answer.
"Of course, sir. The mine you see is actually an excavation of an old ruin and the stone you see around the remains of buildings was once liquid rock. This mountain used to be a battleground between fire and earth elementals deep underground. They called it a Volcano. Humans stupidly settled and built the city on top of the flat of the mountain before the earth elementals fully won, so when the rock started melting, it took the whole city into it. For some reason, this seemed to end the war the elementals had been fighting and the mountain became docile after." She rattled off the story without thinking so much about what she was saying, her entire focus was on Miklian's expression which did not change as she spoke.
"And what about the city itself? What we're their exports, their weaknesses, their lines of trade? I want to know why the slaves dig here specifically. What is the purpose of this mine?" He grew more agitated by the moment as he asked.
"Sir?" Her voice was concerned, but she did not step forward with an answer.
"Are these questions you don't know the answers to? Then find out. I want a report in my hands before sundown." He waved to dismiss her before his eyes caught on a braided head of dark ebony hair that shone in his eyes. Her. He was sure of it.
He stood at that peak watching the labourers, but mostly watching her. If anyone asked, he was learning about how the camp worked.
Afternoon rolled easily into dusk before Lieutenant Liennan returned to her captain.
"Sir!" She saluted behind him, a tired wave was all the response she got before she began speaking. "I looked into what you asked, but it seems only the warlocks and the General know what this place was before it sank. I'm sorry, sir. It's above my rank."
After a moment, he stood and turned to fully face her. To her, it seemed he knew something she did not, but with the light dimming behind him she could not fully say. He stepped towards her, moving to step past before pausing with a hand resting on her shoulder.
"Take the men drinking. My treat. They marched a long way and deserve a rest. Everyone under my command gets the night off." Miklian's voice was stern and distant, but Liennan nodded before stepping aside to let him leave. Her heart panged as she made her way back into camp to round up the ragtag collection that he had command over to pass along the order.