The soldiers were hard at work on the walls, when Dray walked into the mine. Hefting his pick to his shoulder, he decided work would help. Using his vague mining sense, he targeted a section of wall, striking a powerful blow, and exposing a vein. He kept going, dropping gems to the floor. After a while he stepped back, looking at what he had done. It was quite a sizable pile. Dray’s expression didn’t change.

He looked up and down the tunnel. While he had been working, the other miners had joined him. Each had his own area, far enough away that they wouldn’t cause reverberations through the rock walls.

Dray dropped his head a bit, a small smile on his face. He took comfort in the men around him and their unspoken support. He went back to mining. This time, holding back in order to use his strength at the appropriate targets.

That night during their supper, he asked the group of miners, “what’s going to happen now?”

The men looked at each other, some shrugged and continued eating. “Well, I suppose we’ll carry on mining. The enemy might try to attack again, but we have to focus on mining. The more we mine, the stronger the soldiers will be, and the stronger the soldiers are, the better protected we are.”

This wisdom came from Phen, who seldom spoke and was notorious for being hard of hearing.

“Maybe there’s something else we can do?” Dray asked again, and again, men looked at each other. They could all tell he wasn’t asking about them, but for himself.

Wilhye spoke up first, “well, if I was your age again, I suppose I’d look around a bit and consider my choices. I could go out and join the army, or perhaps be a lumberer. If I was smart, I could’ve piled up a bunch of gems and gone up the ranks. Then a sect might want to take me in. Or I could start a farm. Growing crops you’re either gettin’ ‘em into the ground or out of the ground. Otherwise I got plenty of time.”

That was a concept that had not occurred to Dray. His time, how much he had, what to do with it. As you go up levels, you get more time and can live longer. But is that the end of it?

Dray moved his spoon to his mouth, over and over, while he thought about time. Maybe, maybe . . . there was a mystery out there he could solve. Or something important to get done.

Once again, he found it hard to sleep that night, mulling over his future.

He spent his days mining and sorting the gems, always picking the very best of the lower levels for himself. Then secreting them away. His level bar came along faster because he didn’t have to bribe guards. Any guards that were willing to go into danger were already soldiers.

He grew more and more frustrated, not knowing what path to take. Maybe he could just give up and live as a hermit in the woods. Of course, he’d have to build a big place, so that his mother could live with him.

He began to imagine his options as portions of the rock, and would chip away at them as he considered them. He wasn’t sure about being a blacksmith, but being able to repair his wagons, if he became a traveling merchant, would be helpful. Carpentry always came in handy. Book knowledge, well, smart people liked to associate with smart people. So if he studied he’d be able to stand out.

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He felt like he was going down the road of an everyman. A man who knew a bit about everything. Well, it would be interesting. But he wouldn’t succeed at anything. Not truly. He could almost physically feel himself stuck in a mire. Trudging his way through the muck.

He gritted his teeth and swung harder. He spent the rest of the day slamming his pick against the wall. Doing the job, almost accidentally.

That night, the other miners watched him as he ate. He glared at his food, but still shoveled it into his mouth. The taste didn’t register on his tongue. A couple of miners shared a look. After dinner, he rolled over and over again, until falling into an agitated state.

When morning came he awoke and joined the others around the large cooking pot. After putting his bowl away, he turned towards the mine. “Hold on Dray.” He stopped and looked, it was Wilhye calling him.

Wilhye walked over. “I see you got a lot on your mind. Last night, you weren’t much fit for company. What’s the problem?”

Dray shook his head, “I’m just having some thoughts. Thinking through things.”

Wilhye’s eyebrows rose, “that’s some angry thinking. What about exactly?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know what you’re angry about?”

“I don’t know myself. I don’t know . . . what I want to do. What should I do? I . . . don’t want to be a miner forever.”

Dray had finally admitted it. He felt like he had just insulted all the older men, but it was a relief to say it. Wilhye’s laughter made him look back up.

Seeing Dray’s surprised look made Wilhye laugh more. “You don’t want to be a miner forever. Well, I’ll tell you. None of us do. We all hope to make a major find. To get paid a lot of money, so we can retire. However, reality isn’t that kind. But you know what? We don’t care. We can at least make sure our kids don't have to be miners.” Wilhye’s voice became softer, “Your father didn’t want you to be a miner.”

Dray felt confused for a moment, “he didn’t?”

Wilhye’s mouth quirked upwards, and he shook his head. “No, he didn’t. None of us want our families to go into mining. Why did you think you were the only man your age in the mine? Because we have all done our best to convince our families to do something else, anything that doesn’t put their lives in danger.”

Wilhye paused, looking Dray in the eyes, “but your father was never able to tell you. I’m afraid he wasn’t able to arrange anything. You were still young. The rest of us tried to help. But, our families came first. I’m sorry.”

Wilhye was not apologizing for not helping, he was simply sorry that the world was the way it was.

“And when you showed up on your first day, carrying your father’s spare pick, it hurt. We saw ourselves in your father’s position. Of not being able to provide a better life for our children. So we did what we could, we taught you what we could, even if you thought it was nonsense at the time.”

“Aldel” Dray said softly, but Wilhye heard, and nodded. “But we also made sure to give you space to grow into the man you’d become.”

“Thank you Wilhye. It means a lot to me to know that you were looking out for me.”

Wilhye smiled, and patted Dray on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re calmed down. I actually had another reason for talking to you.”

Dray looked at Wilhye with interest.

“I know you’re young, and can be quick to anger. Sometimes the best thing for that is exercise. But, you already have exercise. So you need new exercise. So, I arranged with Gials to have a sergeant teach you to defend yourself. We’re in dangerous country, and if those bastards attack again, I want you to be able to survive.”

“That’s . . . thanks Wilhye. Thank you.”

Wilhye delivered a strong slap to Dray’s back. “Go on, I bet he’s expecting you.”

Dray smiled and nodded. Walking towards the training area, he was able to hold himself back, although a few tears did escape his eyes. So he walked a little slower and blinked more often than normal.