Like every night since the time they arrived at the quarry, Anthony, Zoe, and Jason camped out in the brush outside the quarry. A place with a high enough tree line to hide their horses and tents, while still maintaining a good vantage point of any activity since the Boreas Group could arrive any day now. It was on this third day that they spotted something they hadn’t before, a set of three new horses just along the entrance.

“By the Kings, they’re here!” Jason called in shock.

“Quiet...” Master Zoe instructed with a finger on her lips. “...It’s not enough men for full expedition forces, so it’s probably a scouting party.”

“What kind of scouts carry heavy saddle bags?” Anthony pointed to the horses with empty saddle bags ready to be filled.

“A scouting party is probably a unit from the Slums.” Jason answered for her. “They mark the best crops for the reclamation team, but they also procure their samples for the black market. Raw fungus spores can go for a hefty price even though it’s illegal without an Imperial approval.”

“I’ve noticed first hand that the Boreas Group has no misgivings about working for black market.” Anthony recalled his encounter with the hunters near Dotys who almost burned down a field.

“We better be careful, we don’t know if they’re entering the mine or just going there.”

Slowly and carefully they crept down the rocks of the quarry, but still no sign of anyone. It was then a large shadow appeared before them. A large muscular shadow standing in their path to enter.

“Guys!” It called out to them.

Anthony grabbed his knife at the ready, but did not draw it when he saw it was Charlie waving his hands in the air.

“Keep your voice down, you big buffoon.” Master Zoe looked around for any sign of scouts but saw none.

“Why are you whispering?” He asked.

“Did you notice that we’re not the only ones here at the mine?” She pointed the horses behind them.

“Oh those guys?” Charlie checked over his shoulder to be sure. “Yeah, they’ve just headed into the mines.”

“You didn’t stop them?”

“They had the right credentials, they said the Boreas Group sent them to conduct a quick survey.”

“Great, that means we can’t use the front entrance.” Jason placed his hand on his forehead. “How else are we going to get into the mines?”

“Why don’t you use one of the sub-entry?”

“Sub-entry?” Master Zoe turned an eye of curiosity.

“Yes Master Gaia, the mine has several sub-entry’s installed in case of cave collapse. Our father was very adamant about safety especially in confirmed myrrh ant colonies.”

“Why are none of these sub-entries on the map you gave us?”

“Well, you didn’t ask for them and they’re only supposed to be used in cases of emergencies.” Charlie shrugged.

“You made this map, didn’t you?” Master Zoe mumbled as she rubbed the temples of her head.

“Why yes, no one knows this site better than me. Gerry and Poko needed a quick map to give to you and...”

“...I get the idea.” Master Zoe stopped them. “Bios, Charlie, come over here for a second.” She took the map of the caverns and rolled it out for all to see. “Bios from this drawing can you tell me exactly where the cavern you were talking about could be?”

Anthony thought long and hard trying to remember every track and trail he led in the vision from his sleep. Starting from the entrance he began to drag his finger along a path, pass rows of black and white Xs and passed any known cavern that was marked. He then placed his finger practically on the edge of the map, to a place that wasn’t even marked.

“It should be right about here.” He simply said.

“That’s deep in Myrrh Ant territory, we don’t have any entries that go through there.” Charlie answered.

“What’s the closest entrance you can think of?” He pointed to an area of a new cavern with a question mark around it. “That'll get you about halfway there, but it’s possible that place might have contamination.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Contamination from what?”

“These specially marked areas have high levels of myrrh ant activity. Usually they’re explored during an expedition, but have been known to contain high quantities of fungus, so I’m told.”

“Probably because they’re closest to the colony and a lot more risky since the slightest misstep could lead to a premature outbreak. That means we’ll have to be extra cautious as well.” She folded up the map and tapped Charlie on the shoulder with it. “Alright, Charalampos lead the way.”

They walked along the outside of the quarries’ trail, down rocks and gravel to another tree line on the opposite end of their camp. There, covered under an assortment of leaves and branches was the entrance to the emergency entrance. Charlie cleared up the entrance and opened the iron barred gate to reveal an underground tunnel with a ladder attached to it.

“This is the way in, but how are you going to get there?”

“I’ll have to carry you down Master Zoe. Is that alright?”

“As much as it hurts my pride, we’re currently in a race. So, let’s make haste.”

Jason held Master Zoe over Anthony’s shoulder and she held on tightly as he descended down the latch ladder. Jason soon followed and Charlie stayed behind to guard the entrance and close the gate as soon as they were out of sight. When they reached the bottom of the ladder, Jason took off his gear and distributed the remaining masks for everyone to wear while they began to explore the rest of the tunnel.

They held their hands over their light stones using the dark colors of their suits to give them a stealth edge in case the competing parties were nearby. They traveled inside with nimble feet and cautious steps, so as not to give away their position, checking their map to make sure they were in the right direction. As they approached the gate of the mystery tunnel, they stopped hearing the sound of footsteps approaching.

“Keep quiet.” Master Zoe whispered beneath her mask.

From behind the corner of the wall, they saw three figures approaching. All of them were wearing suits similar to their own but more advanced, full body suits that hide many of their features complete with small tanks along their waist attached to hoses on their mouth. Zoe recognized the state of the art equipment of the Boreas Group, made possible by Wind Mages who compressed air into canisters to make portable sources. It was more cumbersome and heavy than their equipment but with a lesser chance of inhaling hazardous spores.

From the way their suits were fitted, she could tell that two of them were female, and the other was a man. The lone male carried all the baggage while the more muscular of the females led the way waving her light stone around in every direction.

“Hey, new guy!” She asked the man carrying the bags. “What’s the map say about this door right here?”

“If...you’ll give me...a second...” He struggled trying to get the map from his suit pocket.

He nearly dropped the bag, before quickly recovering and retrieving the maps.

“Be careful with merchandise, boy. That’s worth more than your measly life.”

“I have a name you know.” He scoffed back, before the woman grabbed him by the front of his suit.

“You’re lucky it’s not ‘dead man’ after the stunt you pulled with my friends! You think bloodlines are gonna stop me from getting one for Cas and Nos?”

Quickly the third member grabbed her by the arm and shook her head. Although she was silent, the look under her masked face was enough to stop her from continuing her course.

“You’re right Al, I’ll just have to be content with making this cowardly worm holding the bags for now.” She pushed him to the ground on his butt. “Now the map, and this door, talk while you still have breathable air.” He picked himself up and began to read the drawing on the map.

“It says that the door is unknown, usually has the most stock but we save those for the company because it takes a whole team to tackle.”

“What do you think Al?”

She quietly shook her head.

“You’re right, you mustn't get greedy. We’re lucky the company doesn’t mind a little side business for all the good we’ve done for them.” She turned to the man and commanded with great authority. “Mark this one as high priority and move onto the next chamber.”

“Yes, Sir!” He put away his map and started drawing on the map.

From his vantage point, Anthony tried to get a peek of what he was writing, it looked to be a copy of the same map they had, but drawn with a trail that led from target to target like a directional chart. He imagined this was their true intention, not just to take something for themselves but to mark the most optimal route for the full excursion to explore. What Anthony hadn’t noticed was that a small rock was kicked when he took a second step closer to look.

Tap! It was enough to leave a small echoing sound through the tunnels.

“What was that!?” The young man’s ears must have been as sensitive as Anthony’s because he turned his head in their direction.

Sir turned to Al and nodded her head. Immediately she began to walk toward the corner holding a strange sickle like blade in her hand. It appeared to be in the shape of bone, but carved in such a way that it made the impression of scythe that sparkled with a pearly like luster. Despite its beauty it looked no less perilous as it started to approach the very corner where Anthony and his group were hiding behind the corner of the cave.