Chapter 17 Part 2: A Second Mine

Jun hummed, slightly rousing. The sky was still dark. He groaned as he rolled over.

‘Get up.’ The Silver Flame tickled in his right ear. Jun heaved a sigh as he sat up, rubbing at the sleep with his good hand.

“What is it this time?” Late night calls from a certain deity were not his favorite. Before he could hear an answer, footstep broke at the entrance of his tent. The light from a fire spell blinded him and he recoiled.

“Oh good, you’re awake.” Was that Solara’s voice?

‘Hurry up, now. Your daughter needs your help.’ That was Serena’s voice. Jun stifled a groan as he slumped out of bed. He shook off the sleep and grabbed his shoes, slipping them on, leaving the shoulder cloak.

Solara rushed off, and Jun sped up after her, his mind finally alert. Asking questions could wait. Where was she?

They came to the edge of the camp, the healer’s circle. Jun felt his stomach knot. He rushed forward, pulling aside the curtain. Mei’s eyes darted towards him, meeting his gaze. She clutched at her arm and stomach before looking away. Jun’s brows pinched up as he approached. Before he was by her side she motioned with her hand, a sharp three finger flick. Jun swallowed hard.

“Solara, can you give us some space? Please?”

Her eyes were wide and Serena shooed the girl away, bowing to Jun, before passing through the curtain.

Jun waited a second, listening and then rushed to Mei’s side. He placed his limp hand against hers, her gritted teeth and tightly shut eyes stopping him from asking. He found the injuries quickly. Multiple knife wounds, some festering with poison. A poison he was too familiar with. His gaze flicked to hers as he began to burn it away. He could sense the pain growing and he shielded her as best he could, speaking words of encouragement.

Mei shuddered and then let out a whimper.

“Stupid fools.”

“The Jinshari?” he spoke softly and Mei shook her head.

“One of my own. The Kasai. I mentioned him earlier. Well, I met up with him tonight and he turned out to be on the Matriarch’s side. Stupid Jerk.”

Jun shivered, eyes closing. He had anticipated this, however seeing her in this condition tore at his heart.

“I thought… you…” he stopped himself. The time for chiding was long past. She was a grown woman inside that teenage body.

“I know. I guess my skills are a bit more rusty than I thought.”

“You were going up a Kasai. He likely read you like a book.”

“Hmmm. Maybe.” Mei looked away, her tone low and rumbling deep in her chest.

“Still. So many injuries. You’ll send me to an early grave if you are this shabby. If The Master were here-”

“He’d praise me.” Mei interrupted. Jun huffed. “Oh come on. I did exactly as he instructed. I didn’t let our enemy know how strong I am. He would have been an easy kill, but I had to let him think he was winning. A few cuts are better than a dead enemy. Though, it was a tough call. If she hadn’t stepped in-”

“She?” Jun had to admit that was a wise decision. As he looked at the injuries more closely, none were critical, even the ones with poison on them. She had defended herself well while retreating.

“Yes, she. Another family member in the Kasai branch. I’m starting to think there is a large number of them.” Mei shifted back, stretching her legs as Jun healed. “She, in question stopped that jerk from following after me. She also gave away the most critical information too. Such an easy target. I bet she didn’t stay in the family long, or-“

“Mei,” Jun interrupted, refocusing her on the point. “What critical information?”

Mei flinched and then mumbled an apology. “The…. Well, the Jinshari are mining, and the Kasai are keeping our teams away from the site. I learned where it is and what they are mining as well.”

Jun’s frame stilled, eyes searching hers. He then stopped and asked for Solara. As the healer appeared, Jun asked her to fetch Tarron and Christopher. He chewed on his lip as he watched her leave.

When he returned to Mei, she tilted her head, waiting. He rested his hand on her shoulder, waiting for the others to come.

“Don’t you want-“

“You’ll have to share this with them anyway, so let’s keep the reveal to one time and one time only.” Jun sighed and Mei shrugged, settling in before complaining about her aches and pains. Jun helped her to be more comfortable, pausing only when Tarron appeared, followed by Christopher with Solara at the tail of the group.

“Why is she injured?” Christopher spoke up.

“Mei… relay that to them, will you.” Jun pinched the bridge of his nose, stifling a yawn as best he could.

As Mei exchanged the information about the Jinshari mining, Christopher’s sleepy face vanished, Tarron nodded along quietly, face darkening, while Solara ducked her head, seeing Jun yawn. She came over and assisted him with the healing.

“This is outrageous! I knew they had influence, but to rob the island?” Christopher’s voice raised and Tarron calmed him. Tarron and Christopher shared a look, then each raised a finger to their lips.

“But why were you looking into this? That’s important information… don’t you two stay in camp and take care of-“

She left my protection. Tarron’s words were short and to the point, scribbled on the slate.

While Christopher talked, Jun sat down, letting Solara finish with the healing. She looked at him with a quick glance but then focused on her task. Jun closed his eyes, removing one distraction as he pondered on the conversation. Why were they mining? What were they mining? As if on the same train of thought, Christopher voiced the same question.

When Mei said what she thought she overheard, it took no time for Christopher to start shouting again.

“You know this material?” Jun asked.

“That’s what we’ve been calling the new metal!”

Jun blinked, eyes staring, head retreating as Christopher stomped towards him.

“Don’t tell me you never heard of Vera Stone? It’s a beautiful silver color, unique fiery shape and has the ability to shift when faith is applied. It’s practically the metal of the Silver Flame from the legends!”

Jun sighed, looking to Tarron as he pulled the young merchant back. While Jun had listened to Christopher before, he never caught the name of this material. Vera stone. Yet Christopher called it a metal. An idea flickered, his hand moving to his right arm, the scars visible without his cloak.

“The bigger question is what this metal can be used for.” Jun couldn’t understand how the Jinshari planned to use the metal. It required faith, and outside his faction, he doubted there were any in the clan who could utilize it.

Tarron’s slate appeared before him and Jun stared at the scribbles.

Do you know why… your family is after the metal? It was written in two parts, but Jun waited while he pondered on it. The questions were on everyone’s mind. If only Mei had gotten more information. He shook his head. Knowing how injured she had been, and that they were alerted to her presence, it was suicidal to send her out there so soon.

Would you like to see it? Tarron wrote and Jun nodded. He chewed on his lip before speaking. If this metal reminded Christopher of the Silver Flame, could his family be after it purely for religious reasons? The idea was absurd, but not out of the realm of possibility.

Despite the lateness of the hour, Tarron led them to the metals they had retrieved and brought out the Vera Stone.

Jun stared. It wasn’t flame like. More, quartz-like except reminding him of polished silver, striped with impurities that were the colors of fire.

Christopher grinned.

“Watch.” His voice resounded as he stretched out his hand and touched the metal.