2405 Tull 2, Reshpe

The air smelled electric, like someone had sent off a bunch of explosive magical spells. Rhys had ground his teeth against each other so much it had started to become a habit. He glanced at his sister who ran along the length of the tunnel with a grim expression. Around them, the other miners who expressed a desire to escape followed closely.

So far, no one has noticed anything off. Rhys would know, if there was. They have developed a signaling system just for that. Gods, he hoped the other tunnel was going well too.

The plan had been simple at first. They would dig a separate tunnel in secret while excavating for more paths leading to more ores. Nornel had confirmed it was possible and had used his well-crafted reputation in informing Ilphar about the chances of uncovering more hotspots if they dug more tunnels. And dig they did. It was Korr's idea to appeal to Ilphar's greed to their favor anyway.

Through all that confusion of tunnels being started almost at the same time, it was easy for Nornel to slip by unnoticed to poke around for the quickest way to dig to the surface. But, after a few months, people have begun catching on. In an effort to keep their secret escape plan for a little longer, Rhys had proposed a two-shaft system. In case one tunne failed, they'd still have some chance with the other.

Since Rhys was paranoid, only Korr, Nornel, and Reeca knew there was a second tunnel out apart from the one they're in. All the miners with them were expected to think there was only one way to the surface.

Now, Rhys ran a hand alongside the chappy walls, noting the rough surface enough to prick through his fingertips. Not bad for a rush job. The darkness was suffocating but at this point in his life, Rhys was used to it. He was more afraid of what would happen when he emerged into the surface. The sunlight might blind him temporarily. It would make him a poor protector to Reeca. He'd be utterly useless for a while.

Reeca cleared her throat. Just seeing her talking and moving about again provided the energy required for Rhys to keep moving. His sister was still fighting, somewhere inside her. He should keep at it, too. "What's on your mind?" she asked, quiet enough to not let anyone else hear but loud enough for Rhys to catch. "You've been quiet."

Rhys pursed his lips. It's no use dwelling on the plan. Was this Reeca's attempt to divert their attention away from the fact they're literally in the middle of sneaking away now? "Nothing much, really," Rhys replied, indulging his sister's silent request. "I do want to ask you something, if you can answer it."

Worry flashed in Reeca's mismatched eyes. "What is it?"

Rhys glanced at the other miners behind them. Like them, they were dressed in scratchy tunics and trousers, boots, and all kinds of cloth scarves around their necks. Eyes traced his back but none of their expressions told him they were particularly interested in what's happening between him and Reeca. Rhys narrowed his eyes. Who among them might have been most likely to talk?

He shook his head. No use being paranoid here. Reeca's expectant eyes stared up at him. She never did reach the height he did despite being taller than an average fairy herself. "What really happened in Mom's tower back then?" he said. "I know I shouldn't ask but well...I think it's high time I knew what happened to her," he met Reeca's gaze. "And to you."

A series of expressions passed across Reeca's face. Fear. Guilt. Apprehension. Finally, her features settled on anger. "Must you bring it up now?" she clicked her tongue. "Really? What a way to curse this entire thing."

Rhys averted his eyes. "I just feel like you should tell me if it's bothering you so much," he said. "You don't have to carry it alone. I could help you clear your name when we get back."

A scoff from Reeca made him raise his head again. "I'm not going back there," she dropped her voice to a harsh hiss. "Not anymore."

As much as those words drove a pike in Rhys's gut, he understood Reeca's reasoning. She didn't need to see Narfalk and Arcole again. If she wanted to go for another adventure after all this, he'd support her all the way. That's what he was around for, anyway.

Instead, Rhys didn't push. Reeca would tell him what happened in that tower in her own time. "Where would you want to go, then?" he asked.

Reeca looked down at her dusty boots. The mud caking on them had hardened and began to peel off, trailing behind them in mounds, flattened by the scratching footsteps from the other miners. "Away from wherever this is," she said. "I think I'm old enough for a cup of Rosado now, don't you think? I'd love a cup of that."

Rhys chuckled—a strange sound in a tension-ridden cavern like this one. "We'll get the best one when we reach Helinfirth," he said. "I hear they're the main consumers of quality wines. Rosado. Carleon's Mirasatra. You name it."

Reeca blew an amused breath. "What, are you suddenly a wine expert now?"

"Are you kidding?" Rhys crossed his arms. "I can be who I want to be."

Reeca's mouth slightly parted. "Wow," she matched Rhys's stance. "What confidence you have in yourself, mister."

Rhys snickered. "You should try it sometime," he said. "Works wonders."

Her only answer was a bout of eye-rolling.

Then, something flared at the side of Rhys's vision. A strip of red. Something's wrong. He cursed. One glance at Reeca, at her mismatched eyes tracing the same space he was, and he knew she understood what was going on as well.

Red meant danger. It meant being discovered in the worst way possible.

Rhys cursed, a little more audibly this time. He turned to the miners behind them and forced a smile to his face. "Everyone," he announced, letting his voice carry all the way to the back of the horde. There were at least thirty people present with them. "I'm gonna need you all to go ahead, as fast as you can. Just keep going straight. Don't look back. Don't turn around despite anything you'll hear behind you. The exit is just right ahead. Avraja."

"What about you?" Polly, the kind brownie who was also a mother of five before she was drafted in the mines, said. "We can't leave you behind."

Rhys let his smile soften. That concern eased the tension in his shoulders a little bit. "I'll catch up," he said. He tried not to let his mind wander to the fact that it was the same thing Wynra had said to him before the half-blood's demise. Nornel still hasn't quite finished grieving, too. "Please take care of Reeca on your way out."

"What—Rhys!" Reeca yelled. Her voice made the dim corridor quiver for a bit. The ceiling rumbled but stayed put. Debris rained on them with a silent hiss. "I can't leave you alone here. We will go together."

Rhys took her by the shoulders. "I'll follow close behind," he hissed. "Go with them."

The corners of Reeca's lips curled downward. "No," she declared. "I'm coming with you."

"Listen to me for once!" Rhys tightened his grip on Reeca and shook her. Fear coiled around the anger and worry budding in his chest. "If you don't get to survive, everything I've done to get here would go to waste. I won't risk it this time. You go with them. Don't you dare turn around."

Reeca looked like she wanted to argue. It was the unfortunate by-product of her talking and prancing about again. Rhys instead knocked his forehead against hers. He could at least do that. "Please," he whispered. "The other tunnel is in trouble. I got to help them. You understand, right?"

To his relief, Reeca nodded, keeping her clenched fists to her sides. "Yeah," she whispered back. "I do."

Rhys closed his eyes and breathed a sigh. He turned to the miners gaping at them. "Reeca will lead you to the exit," he said. "Follow her, everybody."

A series of nods and mutterings but they moved. Rhys pressed himself to the wall and let them all through. When the last of their scuffles disappeared into the darkness, Rhys ran his tongue against his chapped lips, spread his wings, and dashed to the opposite direction. Without the mass of bodies and with the darkness smothering him, it took a quarter of the time they walked to their spot for him to reach the point where they started.

Rhys strained his ears for any sound or for any changes in the air. He lowered his vision to the trail dimension and tracked where Korr and the others were. Past through the swirls of gray and green curling in and out of the rocky walls and ceiling, he spotted the lingering wisps of red. That's the flare he had given to Korr.

He cursed and flew toward the entrance of the other tunnel. His magic rushed to the surface, curling off his fingers before latching to the rocks in the ceiling. With a cry, he yanked down, tearing off chunks of stone. Dust erupted in loud clouds. To Pidmena's realm with staying unknown and untraceable. He's going to use all the magic he wanted from this point on.

Rhys didn't stop to admire his work and instead flew towards where the flare was fired. Maybe he had already taken too long and the people in this shaft have already been captured. Worse, they'd all already been killed. Would Ilphar go that far to keep his miners inside this place?

The sound of metal clanging against stone rang in the dark. Rhys slowed his flight and dropped to the ground. A glint shone in the darkness, spearing for him. He ducked just in time to dodge a dagger whizzing towards him. He pressed himself against the wall, staring after the blade as it landed on the ground with a strongest clatter.

With his heart beating in his throat, he scrambled after the weapon and gripped its hilt. When he turned it over, the crest he saw in the soldiers' black uniforms glowed from the blade's guard. So it's them.

Rhys adjusted his grip around the hilt and shot up. He ran and came across the real source of chaos. Grunts and feral screams echoed in the cavern's hastily-excavated walls, so loud Rhys feared they would make the ceiling collapse on them. Korr slammed his fist into a soldier's exposed stomach, throwing him against the wall. Nornel, meanwhile, had locked his legs around another soldier's legs. With a twist, the soldier fell backwards, right into another soldier rushing to help. The other miners whose names Rhys wasn't familiar with dealt with the fallen soldiers with blunt kicks and punches.

"Oi, Rhys!" Korr yelled when they saw each other. "Get your ass in here!"

For once during this whole mission, Rhys smiled in anticipation. Then, he angled his "borrowed" dagger and charged.