Chapter 25: The miners' trap

The night slipped away almost without him noticing. At the first light of dawn, Ren's eyes opened of their own accord. The air was fresh and clear, and silence still reigned in the little house. His father and the little girl slept close together, as if they never wanted to let go of each other.

He got up quietly, almost afraid of waking them. On the table he found an old piece of paper, smoothed it out carefully, and, with his handwriting still a little uncertain, wrote a few lines:

“I'm leaving with the others. Thank you for your kindness. I won't forget it.”

He placed the letter next to the bread left over from the previous evening and left.

The golden light of dawn spread across the deserted and silent streets. The only sound was that of his rapid footsteps as he ran without any real destination. Each breath filled his lungs with that calm, almost unreal air.

“I must admit... this village is quieter than I thought,” he murmured to himself, observing the neat houses and the greenery peeking out from hidden alleys. There was even a small wooded area, almost hidden behind the houses, as if someone had wanted to protect it from prying eyes.

He continued running until the sun rose high, tinging the rooftops with warm reflections. Then he returned to the meeting point, where the horses waited patiently for him.

Shortly after, the others arrived. Cedric, as always, stood at the front of the group with an air of strength, even though not everyone had the same energy.

“Good! Today we have a clear goal!” he exclaimed, his voice firm, almost solemn.

The group of soldiers, however, did not seem as enthusiastic: many were still dazed from the alcohol of the previous day, their eyes dull and their gait uncertain.

“W-we're r-ready!” they replied in unison, but with a tone that did not convey confidence at all.

Cedric pretended not to notice. “Great! Let's go!”

The journey was not long. The road climbed up a rocky hill until the dark mouth of a mine dug into the mountain opened up in front of them. The air there was different: tense, as if the quiet was just a veil ready to be torn.

A group of miners was waiting for them. Covered in dust, their calloused hands clenched around pickaxes, they stepped forward.

“What's going on here?” asked Cedric, getting straight to the point.

One man, probably the oldest, spoke for everyone. “They're coming. They already think this mine is theirs. Yesterday they came to look around. They ignored us... as if we didn't exist. Then we heard that they'll be back every day to take the gold away.”

The veins in the leader's neck bulged. He clenched his fists so tightly that his gloves creaked. “How dare those wretches! Soldiers, today they will understand who they are up against!”

“Yes!” shouted the others, although their enthusiasm sounded more like a reflex than conviction.

Ren stood aside, watching silently. Something about that story didn't add up. So he walked away, checking the surroundings. Behind the mountain, he found only a large solitary tree, its deep roots sinking into the rock like claws. No suspicious traces. So he returned to the others, still pensive.

One of the miners stepped forward. His voice was calm but firm. “If you want to check the mine from the inside, that's fine. But we ask that only your leader come. That way we'll avoid... misunderstandings.”

Cedric nodded without hesitation. “All right. I'll go. Soldiers, you stay here and keep watch. Keep your eyes open!”

“Of course, Cedric!” they replied in unison, gripping their weapons.

With a determined stride, the captain followed the miners into the darkness of the mine. Meanwhile, the rest of the group scattered around the area, seeking shelter behind rocks and abandoned wooden planks. The air seemed to hold its breath.

At any moment, something could happen.

Minutes passed that seemed like hours. There was no sign of Cedric or the miners. The wait began to weigh heavily, and the soldiers' murmurs soon turned to unease.

“Hey... don't you think it's strange that they haven't come back yet?” asked one, in a whisper.

Ren, who was staring into the darkness of the mine, felt a shiver run down his spine. The words came out without thinking: “They've tricked us.”

Some turned abruptly toward him. “W-what do you mean, boy?”

His eyes were wide, not out of fear, but out of awareness of what he was realizing. “They took advantage of it. We have to go in now!”

“Are you crazy? It's dangerous! And how can you jump to conclusions so quickly?!”

“Let's go!” he shouted forcefully. That shout broke the indecision and drew the others along with him. The soldiers moved, hesitantly at first, then faster and faster, until they threw themselves into the mine.

The light from their torches illuminated the damp, cold rock. Halfway there, however, the group stopped abruptly. A thick, fresh red streak cut across the ground. They didn't need to get too close to understand what it was.

Blood.

A deadly chill spread among the soldiers. Some stood motionless, eyes wide, unable to move; others trembled, unable to speak. The silence was more chilling than any scream.

“We have to find him, now!” The boy tried to shake them with his voice, but his words seemed to bounce off a wall of fear.

It was then that a soldier stepped forward, his eyes shining. He leaned toward him, speaking softly, almost in a whisper that broke with every word.

“You know, kid... I admire your courage. But this blood only means one thing.” He swallowed, clenching his fists. "Cedric is dead. Dead, leaving behind three children and a wife. He was a tough man, yes, but he only did it for them. He always played with his children... even when he was exhausted. You know, there used to be four of them. He lost one in an attack on the village. After that, he fell into a deep depression. When his third child was born, he realized he couldn't break down like that anymore. He got up every day, trained, even though he was broken inside. In the end, he asked Zaro to join the guard. He sought revenge, but not only that. He wanted to become someone his children could be proud of."

The soldier's voice cracked. Tears streamed down his face without him trying to stop them. “When he became chief, his children always said to him, ‘Dad, now that you're in charge of everyone, you're really strong! You're a hero.’ And he... he really believed it.”

The torch trembled in his hands, his legs could no longer support him. He was a man who had lost not only his commander, but a brother.

The boy stared at him, unable to reply. A lump formed in his throat, tears ready to fall. Finally, he managed to speak, his voice breaking: “T-thank you for telling me... But that's exactly why we can't stop now. We have to save him!”

“Don't you understand?” The soldier shook his head in despair. “It's already too late.”

“No!” Ren shouted, his legs already moving before his brain had made up its mind. “It's not over!”

Without waiting for a reply, he sprinted toward the heart of the mine.

For a moment, the soldiers stood there, torn between fear and courage. Then some, infected by his determination, followed him without hesitation. The others, still paralyzed by terror, stayed behind, staring into the darkness that seemed to swallow all hope.