It was still dawn when the small party left for the Northern Gate of the Andoran mines. With the Blight increasing, Duke Ashdeer had been keen to exercise caution when it came to losing more people to the Blight. As they had mounted their horses, he has grabbed Azriel and said, "Azriel, whatever you do, don't move too far from me. Just promise me that."
She had nodded mutely. Not sure of what was to be done. She looked longingly at Ashmeer, but he was already on his horse and speaking to Malvin, who was joining them. Eva stood holing the Cup of Joy in her hands, her bearing was regal, as if she was walking into a courtly dance and not a battle, but her face was grim and pale, her lips pursed and her eyes pensive.
Azriel looked at the 3 whisperers, one male and two female who were huddled together. Three soldiers had been assigned to escort them inside to the Blight, as they didn't know how to ride a horse. It was pretty clear that they were all terrified. They wore the red and blue robes of Andora's colours and had hoods on their heads as well. Too many whisperers had died on duty in the mines. It was even rumoured that the Blight seemed to have a special penchant for whisperers and seemed to be targetting them. Which meant, Malvin would not be safe if he was even a whisperer.
Azriel, shook her head. She didn't want to think all this right now. The book hung from a cord around her waist, tucked against her skin, into her brown shirt. Her leather breeches were tied tightly around her waist. No one would even know she had the Book there, and she didn't know how else to keep it safe, but this seemed the best she and Eva had been able to do.
Galvin flagged off the party, his face also pale and grim. He held onto Eva and whispered something in her ear. He barely nodded to Azriel as she passed him. She felt a pang, she might never see her half brother again, but he wasn't interested in speaking to her.
They trotted on the two-hour distance to the mines, and the sun was much higher up when they reached the Northern Gate. The minekeeper came to greet them with a small crew. Too many people had died and the place held a deserted look. It was a much simpler gate than the Southern one, where Azriel had gone with her parents as a child for the annual reaping ceremony, or the honours rolls for the best miners. The Southern Gates were beautiful, carved from the rock itself to resemble a beautiful forest and inlaid with Andora's most precious and beautiful gems and metals. Tents in rich colours had been erected near the gate for the royal family to come and rest and hold ceremonies. There had even been a platform near the mine where father had awarded medals and honours to the best miners and whisperers.
There was no such gaiety here. The Northern Gate had been a working gate till a few days ago, but now its metal doors were shut. The tiny huts and wooden sheds around the Gate, where the actual sifting of stones happened were all shut and barred. Apart from the minekeeper and a few loyal staff, no one remained. Too many people had fled in the past few days, increasing in number after her father's death.
Azriel gulped as they stopped at the gates and moved ahead. The Book was warm against her chest.
"Azriel...we don't like this place..." said the Book
"I don't much like it myself, " she muttered.
"The Blight will kill, but we can kill it also..."
She smiled, "Thats the plan, Book, thats the plan."
"We will tell you our name soon, once the Evil one goes away."
Azriel started, "Evil one? Who is the Evil one??"
"We can't tell you that....too many secrets we cannot tell at once, " hissed the Book, getting warmer against her skin.
The Book apparently had a bit of a short temper and quite a personality. The more time it spent with her, the more it became chattier. Not that she had gleaned much from its obscure language.
She gulped as they moved ahead to the gate. They were right at the entrance when Malvin got off his horse and fell to the ground kneeling, " I can't go in...I'm not a whisperer..I can't whisper to save my life. I need to go back ...please let me go....Duke Ashdeer....I can't."
Duke Ashdeer looked at Ashmeer and his other soldiers and then at Malvin. There was clearly disgust on his face. Malvin knelt on the ground, tears falling down his eyes, snot coming out of his nose. His face was red from the exertion and he panted. Azriel and Eva exchanged a look, feeling the shame of his cowardice.
Duke Ashmeer cleared his throat and said, "It's all right Malvin....go back, turn around and go back to the castle, to your brother."
Malvin stood up wiping his tears and wrung his hands in front of the Duke, "Many thanks ....I can't go in. I'm young yet and I have my whole life ahead of me."
Azriel wondered how selfish he was. How had father raised his sons? They both had no spine it seemed. She was still fuming when the bell of the Mine rang. They had crossed the gate and entered the Mines of Andora. Behind her, Eva whispered, "No going back now sister."