Interlude: Goodbyes (Patreon)

“Well Balin, what do you want to do?” Annie looked down at the dwarf she loved. The two of them were up on a ridge away from the camp. Not so far that their magical manacles would activate, but far enough away that they wouldn’t be disturbed.

“I’m stumped Annie. They said ma indenture would be near fifty years now.” Balin sighed, his head upon her lap. Her beard tickled his forehead and she laughed as he batted it aside. “Tha’s more than what workin hard can fix.”

“Well, you are a skilled laborer. You could try and join one of the rafter crew?” The rafter crew put up the mine supports. They got more time off their indenture as they were a more skilled position. As a carpenter, Balin could join them, but it was also a more dangerous position.

“I wouldn’t be caught dead in those pocket-pants.” The two of them laughed before Annie grew somber.

“You nearly were, caught dead that is.” Annie wrapped her arms around Balin’s head, and he sneezed as her beard caught in his nose. “Thanks be to the Gods and Pete that you survived.” A tear nearly squeezed its way out from an eyelid before she took a deep sniff and stopped it.

“I’m fine now.” Said Balin. “That which doesn’t kill ye makes ya stronger!” He puffed out his chest before he too grew somber. “I don want to take anymore risks, Annie. Not when I got so much to lose now.”

The two sat in silence for a while before Balin spoke back up. “Pete’s got an idea he told me about. I don think I like it…”

“What is it?”

“He said I’d need to shovel shit for ‘alf a year, and then we’d be out in a month.”

“What?!” Annie sat bolt upright, her knees shifting. Balin’s head slipped off her lap and bounced on the ground. “Sorry!”

“By my beard! Owch!” Balin cradled his head and rolled around.

“What do you mean, in a month?” Annie asked, as she placed Balin’s head back in her lap and patted it.

“Owwww… I dunno. He said he’s got a grand plan. He knows ‘ow to make somethin that’ll make enough gold to break both our indentures. Said it would revolu- revoluti- change minin’ forever.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Well, I thought he was crazy when he wanted sugar fer tha beer. Look where that went.”

The two of them thought back to the Radler incident. Bran had stared to have Lemonade available every night now. He said it would protect against scurvy, and it was in every dwarf’s best interested to drink some. They all knew what it was REALLY about though, and he wasn’t fooling anyone with that ‘doctor’s orders’ spiel.

“Balin…” Annie paused, this was perhaps her best opportunity to tell him.

“Aye Annie?”

“I got word from Grim today.” Annie took a deep breath. “The city administration has allowed for the reduction of my indenture.”

“Annie! Tha’s great!” Grim sat up, a look of joy on his face. “Was it tha grease?”

“Yes, nearly every mine in Minnova is using it now.” Annie’s face flushed with pride. It was her first successful invention, and soon everyone would be using it. “I’ll be leaving within a few weeks.”

“Oh… I’ll miss ya.”

“I know, I’ll miss you too.” Annie’s voice grew resolute. “I’m going ahead. I need to see how the brewery is doing and get things ready for when you and Pete get out. I don’t know what’s been happening for the past year, and I’m worried.”

“Alright. I’ll make sure Pete doesn’t bring the whole camp down in the meantime.”

“Luck O’ Barck with that Balin!” Annie laughed. “I'll take a dozen grumpy workers over a single Pete!”

“Hah! Luck O’ Barck to ye too Annie, not that you’ll need it. You’ll do well, I know it!”

The two of them watched a line of carriages slowly wind into the city far in the distance. Soon they would all be there, free dwarves once again.