They rushed to get everything ready for the trip to Gnoss, a two day journey that would have to be reduced as much as possible to save time. For that, all they needed was three horses, some large saddle bags and carefully selected supplies for this journey. Leather gloves to handle the fungus, special tunics to prevent contamination of their clothing, and a special kind of mask that had glass goggles, and a large cylinder to protect harmful continents from entering. Master Zoe checked and double checked to make sure that these items were packed as there wouldn’t be a time to retrieve them again. Leaving Selene in charge and Iris and Clio to help around the store, the three travelers made the long journey to Gnoss, Anthony, Jason and Master Zoe.
It was during their few rest halfway to Gourd and Gnoss that Anthony got to know more about Jason. Having spent most of his time in the store, he could only wonder why he was necessary for this task. He approached him when he was sleeping near the horses for the night while Master Zoe was sitting near the dying of their campfire.
“Are you comfortable sleeping next to the horses?” Anthony asked.
“I could ask you the same question.” Jason smiled. “I would think sleeping in the barn would make you feel more like kindred friends.”
“I sleep away from the horses near the feed stocks.” He nodded his head. “I’m afraid my ‘unique’ abilities tend to alert the animals to an extent.”
“Lucky you.” He scoffed as he gazed up in the starry night sky. “I guess I can’t deny that with my unique upbringing you tend to get comfy around horses.”
“Your family used horses a lot on your farm?”
“Let’s just say when you grow up on a farm in Hyele you learn to feel safer sleeping near a quick getaway.” He began to rant. “We didn’t grow regular cash crops, and since the Empire moved in and created specialized districts, our family's livelihood became endangered. You know the old saying, “When you live in the Slums, it’s hard to move out of the Slums.”
“Yet, now you live in the Low States I understand.”
“Thanks to Ms. Zoe.” He looked over at her sitting peacefully by the fire, asleep under a thick black over her shoulders. “My family business got them into a lot of trouble with the Imperial forces. Ms. Gaia was the only healer who would help tend our wounded and bring us back on our feet again. She even said she saw potential in me and offered me a job at the shop. The pay’s bad but it does have certain opportunities to travel to interesting places in the Duchy. Really increase my knowledge for the day I might take over the family trade.”
“What exactly was your family business?”
“That’s enough talk for tonight Anti.” He turned around to sleep near the warmth of the horse’s body. “Do me a favor and wake me up at dawn, I gotta make sure the horses are fed before we start in the morning.”
Anthony nodded as Jason dozed off into a deep slumber near the horse's stomach. Anthony sat between Zoe and Jason watching them sleep in his ethereal state making sure to ward off animals and any dangers that might be lurking. As he did, the pale glowing green amulet by his side led him back to the mines of Gnoss, to scout their destination to come.
It was the same experience he had every night since the first time, returning to the tunnels watching the gathering of ants and the scream of the great creatures that woke him up. However, this time he heard no screams, but followed the sound of a thousand ants all circling together like a death spiral. He saw the giant rainbow colored ant whimpering and heaving, lying on the ground and then quietly falling to the Earth collapsing on a bed of small ants breaking the circle. At the center of its thorax was a single round object that shined with the luster of a multi-colored crystal.
As something moved inside the object and turned, the ants dispersed and laid to rest near the great ant’s body, as it held the object like a new mother holding its newborn child. It was then he realized what he was witnessing. The great howling creature must have been the Queen Myrrh and this round object was an egg for a new Queen waiting to be born. Now, as it tried to hatch the ants would remain still in this place guarding the sovereign until she was ready to come out. All the while the giant Queen’s sparkling luster began to fade, slowly, steady as a dying heartbeat.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Time was running short with this latest vision and the dawn sun rising on a new day. Anthony, Zoe and Jason had been riding for all morning when they arrived at their appointed destination, a quarry outside of Gnoss deep in the woods. Among the piles of gravel and rocks and dirt and carts, there was a small building with a sign on top that read, “Clotho Mining Co.: Family Owned.” As they dismounted their horses near the stable, Master Zoe noticed Anthony stare at the sign with the mark of hammer and pickaxes.
“You know a miner and a hunter have a lot in common.” Master Zoe chuckled. “You’re both freelancers who rely on orders from higher powers.”
“Must be why Miners and Hunters work so well together.” Anthony smiled. “I heard the best mineral deposits are often found in Myrrh Ant Colonies, making it quite risky but rewarding at the same time.”
“We’re not here for minerals, we’re here for plants, dangerous ones at that.” Jason said, putting on his gloves and putting on his protective robe. “I don’t have to tell Ms. Gaia this but be aware that even a small whiff of Ebony Fungus can cause anxiety and paranoia. Not as bad as Ivory Fungus, it makes you feel energetic but can lead to severe heart attacks if you’re not careful. They call it ‘following the ant trail’ for a reason, if you know what I mean.”
“We’re not even near the mine entrance yet Jason.” Master Zoe wondered why he was taking such precaution.
“That’s what my cousin thought.” His voice was muffled under the canister of his protective mask. “His eyelids are still red from the stuff.”
“Well, our contact should be nearby. Let’s meet up and get to work gentlemen.” She finished tying her horse and made sure that everyone was ready to go.
At the entrance of mine shaft deep in the heart of the quarry they found their contact, a tall brawny man with muscles that were built as steady as a rock. His face was covered in dirt like war paint, as he lugged around his heavy tools as easily as if he were carrying a bundle of sticks. A miner’s hat with a dormant light crystal, and an apron across his chest reminded Anthony of the previous miner he had met before. Like Poke and Iris he had the same green eyes and amber hair that made him realize that he was indeed another relative of the Clotho family.
“Charalampos!” Master Zoe called out to him by name waving her hand in the air.
“Master Gaia!” The man smiled back, dropping his tools on the ground and running toward her.
Before they knew it, the muscular man had wrapped his arms around Master Zoe like a giant bear practically crushing her beneath his strength.
“It’s great to see you again, I didn’t think you’d arrive here so quickly!”
“Easy now...easy!” She tried to breathe from his tight embrace.
“Oh, sorry.” He let go of his grip and backed away. “I’m so used to dealing with roughnecks that I forgot that I’m in the presence of a lady.”
“I don’t mind a warm greeting Charles, but remember I’m not as spry as I used to be.” She brushed the dirt off her clothing and pointed to the men behind her. “If I was, do you think I would have brought help along?”
“It’s a good thing you did Master Gaia, because you’d better grab what you can before the Boreas Group gets here?”
“They’re here already?!”
“Not yet, my brother Gerry went to the home office in Iasera to inform the old man about our delays.”
“Usually it takes them a week to organize a large reclamation team, and by then the mines become active again.” Master Zoe said.
“I don’t know why but the moment I sent the crew off I noticed someone was lurking around the mines. I thought it might be an informant or something, but the Boreas group knows that only company workers are allowed in this quarry.”
“If it was a spy that means time just became an even more critical factor.” Master turned to her companions. “Alright boys, we gotta work hard and fast, so get the lead out of your shoes!”
Master Zoe led the two men into the quarry like a fine commander, guided by the map in her possession the safety gear carried by her porters. They had little time to get what they could before the Boreas Group arrived. Getting caught was bad, but much like the Slums, anything could happen inside these dark and stoney walls.