Kaen glanced at the map as Pammon descended along the mountainside. A multitude of tunnels had been dug out on the west side, south of the keep, and none had yet produced the ore they hoped was there.

These are the mines that your friend died in... I can feel the sadness in your heart.

They are. It seems so long ago. Over five years ago... maybe almost six?

I remember how you talked about them. They were full of life and wanted the life of an adventurer. They died doing what they wanted to do: protecting the people of this land.

Kaen patted Pammon's neck, feeling its rough scales against his calloused hand, and just nodded. Every day, something seemed to remind him that there was a battle looming, that death was always a possibility, and that death was risked because of what it meant. Others would be able to live a full life.

That one down there, the eighth one from that set of carts, is the one we need to go in.

Turning his lifestone off and allowing his vision to return to his own, Kaen reached back and felt the handle of Hess’s pickaxe strapped to his back. The worn wood and leather on it had seen countless swings. Secretly, he prayed that the next few days might give him some success.

“Uh… Dragon Rider Kaen, we can send a few men in there with you if you want with some lanterns. The sketch you have shows where we think there might be some of the ore you’re looking for,” the foreman said as he watched Pammon fly off. “We’ll need to also build supports depending on how far you dig. Just tell me what you want us to do, and it’s yours.”

Kaen nodded and looked at the twenty or so miners watching him now that his dragon was almost out of sight.

“Well, the truth is I don’t need the lanterns or light stones to see," Kaen replied, seeing the looks he received for that comment. "I plan on digging at a rather fast pace. If I'm correct, two tunnels nearby have a chance of the ore I'm looking for."

“That be true, but surely you would need some rest, and I’m not certain you know just how hard mining might be beggin yer pardon,” the foreman said, scratching his chin. “It ain’t like fighting.”

Kaen nodded and removed the pickaxe from his back, taking the leather cover off the head of it.

Most of the men and a few women who were there whistled, their eyes focused on the metal tip.

“Let’s just say it’s not my first time swinging a pickaxe. I’m afraid I might actually move faster than your support team can keep up.”

A few chuckles came from the crew, and the foreman looked at Kaen and then at his pickaxe. A sly grin appeared, and the man’s teeth that still remained began to appear. “That sounds like a bet we might want to take. Are you interested in wagering?”

Smiling, Kaen held out his hand. “I’ll wager I can run your support team dry before I do. Either way, I’ll ask my dragon if he can bring back a deer for us all. Two though if you win.”

Some whistles and yells of joy came from the crew, and everyone was nodding with excitement.

Shaking Kaen’s hand, the man smiled. “Ready whenever you are.”

Kaen lost himself in the simple task of swinging that pickaxe. His night vision made work in the tunnel a breeze, and the men behind him worked quickly, making sure that timbers were set up and safe.

He cleared out a section, waiting for the men to haul off the stone in the carts. The workers laid more tracks, and then, once the rubble was gone, the support team came in, erecting the braces and getting things in place while Kaen moved to the other tunnel, repeating the process.

His muscles ached in a good way, and the sweat that fell was replaced by the water he drank continuously. A young boy and girl brought a bucket of water, standing in awe as he drank most of it before dumping it over his head.

Men watched, amazed at the body he displayed. There was no fat present, just a mountain of muscle that showed he was not soft and lived up to the legends they had heard about Kaen.

Every time he walked by or saw one of the miners, Kaen would laugh and joke, ask questions about their families, and engage them in conversations. He even began to join in with a few of the songs, singing the words to the ones he knew and making up the ones he didn't.

Between the ringing of his pickaxe on stone, the noise of rocks breaking, and the work of men, Kaen heard something he had missed: the sound of life in everyday work.

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"Mr. Marshell," a voice came from behind, getting Kaen's attention as he attacked the stone before him.

Finishing his swing and letting the rock fall, Kaen turned to see the foreman, Mr. Brumbledon, holding a latern and looking at him with awe.

"Everything ok, sir?"

"It is... it's just we are out of timbers. We hadn't planned on you doing so much in one day, and well, it is time to stop for us in a bit anyway. We can get some timbers cut tomorrow and be ready to do some more support work, but would you be okay if we stopped for the day?"

Kaen hefted the pickaxe up and put it over his shoulder, feeling the grime of stone and sweat sliding under the wood and against his skin. "I think that would be ok. Besides, my dragon is waiting for us to finish. He has some gifts for us."

Kaen saw Mr. Brumbledon's eyes widen. "Gifts, you say?"

Kaen nodded and motioned toward the tunnel they had entered through. "Let's go outside and wash up. I'm looking forward to Pammon's gift."

They are an interesting group. They remind me of the people from Minoosh. They are hard-working but enjoy what they do.

They are the people we fight for. Hearing them sing, seeing them laugh. Knowing they were doing everything they could to keep up with me. I know many will go home and wake up sore tomorrow.

Don't worry about me until it is time to turn it in. I am full and content. I cannot believe I found a herd of deer over the mountain.

Kaen smiled as the men and women he was sitting around a massive bonfire laughed and celebrated, consuming the two deer that Pammon had brought back. He couldn't help but remember when he had been at a campfire like this at the quarry. Those memories solidified his commitment to what he was doing.

"Rumor has it you have two children on the way," a voice called out, getting Kaen's attention.

"It is true. Twins. I'm not sure what will be harder, raising two children or our two new dragons."

A younger man with reddish hair raised his hand, and Kaen chuckled, nodding for him to speak.

"Is it true that Stioks has a dragon like yours?"

Grumbles and people shushing the young man turned the night silent, with nothing but the sound of the flames consuming the wood they surrounded.

Kaen took a deep breath and nodded. "He does. Things have changed, and I would like to say that the coming battle will be easy since we have two new dragon riders, but I won't lie to you. Stioks is strong. He has had at least sixty years or more to hone his strength and power, and I've only been doing this for about five years, but let me tell you why I'm certain we will win."

As he paused, Kaen shifted his gaze to everyone around the fire.

"This isn't a battle that just dragons and dragon riders fight. How many here were on the walls defending against the orcs and goblins?"

Hands shot up, and only two young boys who looked less than fourteen years old sat there, frowning that they couldn't raise their hands.

"It wasn't me who defended the walls. It was the people of Ebonmount. It was you defending your families and fighting for the life you want. Seeing you all working today, hearing you sing and laugh, and getting to share a dinner with you tonight has done more good for me and my commitment to fight. It is because of you all that I am willing to fight."

Some of the people clapped each other on their backs and smiled. The same young man raised his hand again without pause, and people groaned, telling him to put his hand down.

“What’s your name?” Kaen asked.

“Kevin, sir.”

“Okay, Kevin, what is your question?”

“Well… I was wondering…” Kevin stammered, looking at the expressions everyone was giving him. “When do you think you might win?”

More groans came, and a few threw small stones at Kevin until Kaen raised his hands and stood up.

“No, let him ask it. I would rather he ask the hard questions because he wants to know when life might return to normal. He is brave enough to ask what I’m sure many of you want to but aren’t willing.”

Some feet shuffled against the dirt as people didn’t look at Kaen.

Kaen turned his attention to Kevin and saw the boy's small smile at the praise. “I wish I had an answer, but I don’t. I plan to train the riders and find the ore I seek. That ore is pretty special to me and will help in the battle. When I fight Stioks next, I believe we will win once and for all. I would like to say there won't be any deaths on our side, but every one of us knows there is a cost for war. Battles are hard and require a commitment that most aren't willing to give.”

Kaen held up his right hand. “This hand can do a lot of things. I can swing a pickaxe, as you all found out."

The group laughed and nodded as Kaen waited for them to go silent again.

"I can wield a sword or a bow and try to strike down my enemies. It can also hopefully hold my children one day and guide them to be the men or women who try to help others. Each of you has that same hand. You get to choose what you want to do with it, how you want to live. I choose to live with one goal, with one purpose."

Kaen turned his gaze toward the fire that burned near him and felt his own lifestone begin to burn.

"I fight so that families will hopefully never know the pain of a lost father or mother. I lost my dad as a child because he risked his life to kill Stioks. He sacrificed everything so that I might have a future." Kaen's gaze moved back to the people around him, shifting from person to person as he continued to speak. "I will do the same. I will fight so that no one else will hopefully have to endure what I did. So that you can return home to your families each night."

The fire crackled and popped after Kaen finished speaking. He saw those men and women staring at him, tears forming in many. The sounds of rocks under boots made Kaen turn to his right, and he saw an older man moving toward him.

"Thank you, Dragon Rider Kaen. Thank you for your sacrifice," the older man said, tears rolling down his wrinkled and leathery face.

As others got in line, the sounds of rocks under boots continued. Each one came to offer Kaen their thanks before moving back to their seat.

After they had all finished, Kaen stood there with a few tears running down his cheeks, yet a smile was present.

"It is my honor to fight for you all. Now, please, let's laugh and sing some more. I would rather not cry anymore!"

Everyone clapped and started to laugh. In a moment, the celebration of life began again.