The crickets would chirp if they could. Although Ria didn’t think the poor critters could survive in such cold climates.

Blaze blinked innocently.

“You know, genius,” Ria mocked, “I was actually wondering the same thing.” Her smile dripped with sarcasm. “What am I doing here?”

Blaze shrugged, “I wouldn’t know.”

Ria stomped forward, fists clenching. She shook her head, “You stupid, cheeky-! Ugh!”

Blaze stuck out his tongue. Ria froze at the unexpected, childish gesture. It made the man look a lot younger. Suddenly Ria wondered, how old was the small-time mob boss? His mature expression, old man fashion sense, and lackeys had made him seem older, but now, he seemed (stressed judging by the dark bags on his eyes) but also younger.

Seeing her thoughtful look, Blaze crossed his arms, reverting back to his usual aloof self. Seeing her confused expression, he shot her a long-exaggerated wink.

Ria fake gagged. This dude had an extremely weird sense of humor. And Ria told him so, only to receive a shrug in response. She dragged a hand across her face. “Why do people even think you’re cool?”

Blaze squinted at that. “I’m of perfectly normal body temperature, thank you very much.” He leaned back, staring at Ria. “Why are you so angry?”

Ria’s jaws dropped. “Seriously?”

Blaze nodded

“Okay, how about the fact you left us?” the girl crossed her arms, tapping her feet agitatedly.

“So?” the young man looked genuinely confused. “Why did you even expect me to help in the first place? I told you I’m a criminal.”

Ria paused. She had actually thought about this. “Well, for better or worse, I thought you were a good guy.”

“A good guy,” Blaze mouthed. He looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or be seriously concerned for the girl’s mental state. “Well, that makes no sense-”

“Okay, look,” Ria held up a hand, “I get dumped here, robbed, kidnapped, beat up, and sold to slavery, and am currently locked in an inescapable prison, and in this entire span of events,” the girl exhaled, pitying herself, “You were the only one that was kind to me… and not also stuck in said, aforementioned prison. So, ta-da!” She hit the side of her head. “My stupid brain thought, good guy.”

“Well, I am glad I proved you wrong,” snorted the young man.

“Except you didn’t.”

Blaze raised an eyebrow at the unexpected words.

Ria raised both her arms and gestured to herself. “Cause I’m still here…and not a dead body in a sea cave.” She let her arms fall, staring intently at Blaze as if trying to decipher him. “The leader said we were saved on orders of the cloaked man. As far as I know, the only one that fits that description is you.”

“And that’s your definition of a good person?” Blaze shot her a concerned look. “Are all people so stupidly gullible where you are from?” he asked, a genuine curious note in his voice.

“Deny it all you want,” Ria rolled her eyes. She leaned down to grab the spoon. “Your turn. What are you doing here?”

“I own the place,” Blaze crossed his arms. “I’m Eres.”

“Nice try,” she snorted. “Now the real answer?”

Blaze’s brows furrowed. “And why should I tell a mere miner that information?”

“Oh, that’s easy…” Ria dragged herself over to the water bucket. She took a sip, savoring every drop. She sighed, toes curling up in happiness. “Because you’re not supposed to be here.”

“And how would you know that?” Blaze’s mouth quirked up into a smirk. “I could have permission from Eres herself.”

“Except you don’t,” Ria shrugged. She took a bit of water and dumped it on her hands. The girl winced as the liquid slid across her bruised and cracked knuckles. Blaze watched silently.

Ria began to hum a cheery tune, trying to generate her inner mine supervisor. “We can’t leave, and outsiders aren’t supposed to come in. Company policy.” She shot the young man a bright smile. “In fact, I would bet that if I reported you to the supervisor, you would go straight to jail.”

The young man stepped forward and gripped the water bucket. Lifting it high in the air, he dangled it above the girl’s reach. He glanced down at the girl’s cracked knuckles. Blaze murmured softly, “And why would a supervisor listen to you?”

Ria tilted her head to look up at him. Her eyes glinted at the challenge. “You’re a businessman. Do you really want to take this gamble?”

“Your punishment as a dawdling worker would be much greater than mine,” he challenged. His eyes held the same confrontational spark in them, but on the inside, Blaze was truly curious to see how the peculiar girl would answer.

Ria lifted her chin to meet the verbal duel head-on. “Here’s a hint.” She leaned in to whisper, “I. Can. Read.”

That’s right. Being one of the only miners that could read efficiently and even better than some of the supervisors, Ria was reluctantly but immediately given charge of all the records to organize. Sure, she still had to move rocks, but now, she also had to fill out all of the paperwork regarding how many rocks she and the others moved. The only bright side was that now she was able to keep Daisy and the others off the more strenuous runs… but only at the cost of sending others to fill those spots. It was a lose-lose situation, but at least if they were turned in, she knew Blaze wasn’t on the guest list and would be in just as much trouble as she would be… if not more.

Blaze pursed his lips. He was fast to put together the picture. “And if you’re wrong and I have Eres’ explicit permission?”

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if that were true,” dismissed Ria. They were in the back entrance of the mines. A true guest would have gone through the front.

He crossed his arms. “Then do it. Report me.”

“I would…” Ria rubbed her hands together. “But I have something else that I want from you.” She smiled, “So, let’s make it beneficial for both of us. I help you, and you help me.”

The other stared silently.

Ria pressed, “There’s a reason you’re in the mines, and I have all the records.” Seeing that the young man wasn’t budging, it was time to play her final card. “I know you’re here for the copper.”

The girl pulled out a sand dollar from her pocket. She had stolen one from the treasury when the supervisors forced her to do an inventory check and calculate all their numbers for them. Despite the security hazard, the convenience of having someone else do their work for free was too much of a golden opportunity to pass up. Ria barely slept anymore. Every day, she was either mining or filling out menial reports. But she never complained. For the first time, understanding numbers was more than just a way to finish homework and be able to sleep in class. It was an actual crucial tool. Ria now knew the entire ins and outs of the Citadel’s financial system. The entire kingdom based most of their economy on the mines and free labor. It meant massive profits with little to no costs. It was no wonder they were able to become one of the richest kingdoms despite being in a civil war a mere decade ago. But take the mining profit away… the thought had Ria smiling as she plotted the Citadel’s imaginary downfall.

Late nights pouring over the old records and accounts had given the girl the bare inklings of a plan. As long as she had a chance to talk to Eres, she could convince the other to a more profitable revenue system that would also benefit the miners. But she was short on time.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Ria had no idea when the portal would next transport her back to her world. She had fainted from exhaustion and still woken up to the sight of the miners’ sleeping quarters. Who knew when she would return? It could be tomorrow, or it could be in another twenty, fifty years from now. It took a while for the truth to sink in but when it did Ria realized that she had to plan for the long game.

If nothing else, Daphne, and even Blaze, had taught her an important lesson. If anyone was going to save them, it would have to be Ria.

For the first time, Blaze looked truly upset. His eyes were wide and mouth twisted furiously. “How do you have that?”

Ria stared intently back into those angry, dark eyes. “Because the Citadel just confiscated them from a group of rebel miners. Apparently, they’ve been selling these counterfeits to a group of bandits that sneak in every couple of months.”

She tossed the coin over. It spun in the air. Blaze caught it. He studied the round metal piece. Ria quirked an eyebrow up. “Sound familiar?”

Blaze remained silent.

Ria sighed, “Those mines you were using are all gone. They’ve already relocated all of the copper miners to start working in the Dust mines.”

Blaze grunted, “So the men currently working at the copper mines?”

“Decoys,” said Ria bluntly. “Guards in disguise. They want to simultaneously cut off Oceanport’s new revenue system and catch those behind it.”

The young man’s face went completely blank. He sank to his feet. Studying the coin, he closed his fist around it.

Blaze knew Eres must have had another reason for inviting him to the Citadel. She probably knew that he would use the visit to check the copper mines. He chuckled. Oh, what he would give to have seen her face when she found out that the sand dollars were being produced right under her nose. He sighed. That was the end of that business then.

Ria watched as Blaze sat down, stared at the coin and laughed to himself. She didn’t know what was going on in the other’s head, but she figured she should say something now before he completely lost it.

“A small group of miners were kept to continue mining for copper.” Now for the cherry on top. “They’re extremely secluded and rarely checked on to prevent, oh I don’t know…” she trailed off.

Blaze’s eyes narrowed. He slowly got to his feet. A familiar fire relit in his eyes. “Another group of bandits from hearing the news and taking advantage?” He paused, “Since they send in reports…”

“Once every six months,” Ria piped in dutifully. All her cards were on the table, it was up to Blaze what happened next. She waited patiently for him to think it out.

Blaze was the type of person that was already hard to kick down in a fight. Unfortunately for his enemies, he had grown up being a scrawny and arrogant kid in a fighting ring. The instinct to keep getting up at the sign of a chance of winning carried on with him past childhood. Combined with his current fighting experience and size, that drive was deadly.

“And how many people know about this… secret mine?”

Ria crossed her arms. “Unless you want to talk with the main head honcho that ratted you out in the first place, your choices are Eres,” she smirked, “or me.”

Blaze lifted his eyes to match her smirk.

—

Eres’ eyes glanced across the ballroom. The decorated room was filled with masked lords and ladies chittering away at one another.

She smoothed out the soft, blue fabric of her ballgown. Everyone of prominence in the Citadel from the ministers of the court to the most powerful families in the Citadel were in attendance. In short, the entire Symvoluio, the oligarchy that controlled the kingdom and put Eres on the throne, was present. Honoring their ancestors that had been hunters and specialized in the fur trade business, the annual banquet required all guests to follow an animal theme, wearing colorful and beautiful masks based off a certain creature. Except for the wolf that was.

Varae sat on its haunches. Its silver fur matched the beautifully carved mask Eres wore. Only the queens of the Citadel were allowed to take the appearance of the kingdom’s greatest beast.

Eres glanced across the room to see her sister dressed in a dark emerald dress. Fiona’s mask was decorated with different shades of green in a scale-like pattern. Although the bishop was surrounded by some of the most important ministers in the kingdom, the queen’s sister had a disinterested look on her face. The girl’s eyes would dart towards the door every few minutes.

The queen excused herself from the conversation with the matriarch of her family. The older woman nodded and curtsied. Eres liked to think that she was a warrior first and politician second, but the truth (as she had come to realize it) was this: those that had put her on the throne could just as easily tear her off it if she wasn’t careful. Long gone were the days when the Symvolio would relinquish the Sacred Piece to Admin and allow the Temple to choose the next queen. They found it much easier to choose who they wished to rule themselves, and to keep the power within the great families. Not that it was much different in the other kingdoms.

Estate passed their Sacred Piece to the eldest member of the royal family who had always been more of a symbol than actual ruler. Their every move was controlled by the Court of Farmers. In the Capital, the current queen vowed to never have children and passed down their Sacred Piece to their chosen successors. To Eres’ knowledge, the only kingdom that still had Admin choosing their queen was Oceanport… and look how they turned out.

Sure, every queen had their pawn, a next of kin or successor that would theoretically take their place, but in the Citadel, the pawns were chosen by the Symvoulio.

Eres walked up to a pregnant lady in a loose black dress. Her mask was filled with dark elegant feathers and sparkling jewels.

“Sefa,” Eres called.

The woman turned. She broke out into a grin and bowed to her queen. “My lady!”

Eres smiled, “Come now, there’s no need for formalities between us, my friend.”

Sefa nodded cheekily. “Of course, my lady.”

Eres shook her head, huffing fondly. Sefa and the queen had been best friends growing up, the other was as much a sister to her as Fiona. Now, with the other woman carrying Eres’ pawn, they were as good as official family.

The queen glanced down at the other woman’s pregnant belly. “How is the babe?”

Sefa sighed dramatically. “Moody as ever! She’s just as energetic as her father was.” The woman’s grin fell.

Sefa’s husband, Stefan, had been one of Eres’ most trusted ministers. He had been a commoner that married for love. They were all shocked when the man passed away after a horrible hunting accident, leaving behind his wife and unborn child.

Many couldn’t believe that one of the greatest horsemen of their generation had been felled by a spook, but such was life. It was a pity. If Stefan had lived, he would have been the first commoner to father a queen.

Although the woman had changed greatly after the death, Eres was glad that Sefa’s royal ties and noble blood ensured that no hunting accidents would be in her or the child’s future.

Sefa leaned in close to Eres and whispered lowly. “Care to explain why Fiona looks like she’s about to punch our lovely Minister of Revenue while also seeming like a kicked puppy?”

Eres sighed and shook her head. As much as she hated to admit it, Sefa had a point about Eres’ sister. The girl looked downright pissed but to those that knew her, that was actually her version of pouting.

The queen cracked her knuckles. Where was that stupid boy?

She pursed her lips. The spies had reported back that Blaze had gone to look at the mines once, right after their meeting, and never returned to check on them again.

Apparently, he took his trip to be a vacation, shopping through the Citadel’s boutiques and listlessly writing in his journal while relaxing out in the great outlooks that bordered the edges of the mines. He would just write, rip up his papers, throw them out (littering!) and continue to sigh and keep writing.

If Eres did not know him as well as she did, she would have thought the man was trying to write an unrequited love letter or something of the like.

The mob boss’ ploy of using her mines to create his own version of currency had been clever, she would give him that. But she was not one to let such slights go unpunished. If not him, then she would capture and execute all his lackeys the next time they came to retrieve their “precious” shipment.

Her lips curled at the thought. Still, she wondered where he was. Judging by Fiona’s expression, he had not approached her. It was likely he planned to arrive late just to spite them. Still, the young man had a soft spot for her sister, so she had no doubt that he would at least grant her wish of a dance before the banquet ended. Especially as the royal decree demanded everyone have a partner for the last dance. It was a tradition believed to promote good blessings from Admin for the next year.

Eres turned back to the pregnant woman. “Sefa, what are your thoughts on-”

SLAM!

The doors burst open.

A new couple walked in. The servants were too stunned to even speak.

The man wore an elegant dark black coat with glittering red etching patterned on it. The material had been specifically tailored to fit his large frame nicely. Some of the younger ladies of the courts dropped their jaws. The young man wore a dazzling golden buck mask. It had delicately carved antlers extending off the sides of it. Everyone turned their gaze to his date. This time, every single person’s jaw dropped.

The young woman was dressed in an floor-length blood-red gown with golden etching of leaves curling on the bodice. Small, feather-like patterns ran up and down the sides of the beautiful fabric. Long, curled hair swayed with every step the couple took.

However, despite the couple’s beauty, all eyes were on the girl’s mask.

The mask was dark and had beautiful, hand-crafted carvings that detailed the animal’s fur and sharp eyes. It was a masterpiece that rivaled the details and beauty of Eres’. But even more audacious was the fact that it was…the mask of a wolf.

Eres’ eyes would have burned a hole into the couple if it could.

The entire ballroom was dead silent.

“Who dares?” Eres gritted out. Her voice was sharp as ice.

The buck-masked man let out a smile. A familiar low voice announced, “My lady Eres, per your request, I searched the Citadel high and low for a suitable date.” Blaze paused dramatically. “If I may introduce my wonderful partner to you.”

The wolf-masked woman undid the strings of her mask and removed it. She shook her hair out.

Blaze smirked, bowing low. “The last queen of Milror. Her Highness of Oceanport…”

“Four,” Ria finished. “Nice to meet you.”

The two queens, one in red, the other in blue, stared at one another. Technically, no rules had been broken.

Only queens could wear the mask of the wolf.