Miners of Djaromir Toren - Leora Gonzales Page 0,3

she watched her friend with mate walk out of sight. “I’m ready.”

Chapter Two

How many are meeting our warlord and lady at the gate?” Toren checked the screens that displayed the area outside of their tunnel city’s last gate. It was past the time he’d planned to leave the city and return to the mines, but he was glad he’d been delayed. Only moments earlier, he’d discovered that his warlord’s travel would soon take on unexpected danger unless something was done. Studying the latest sensor sweep, he noticed a large pack of byorin that were on the outskirts of the path of the approaching phaetrain.

Although the speeding silver vehicle should be capable of handling a direct hit from one of the large, tusked animals that wondered the tundra of their planet. However, he wasn’t sure if it could handle an entire pack of them.

“Ten Djaromir are already waiting and ready to assist once they clear the gate.”

Toren eyed the screen before shaking his head. “Not good enough.” Turning around, he began to jog in the direction of the first gate.

“Toren?” Caspre called, his confusion clear as he followed along behind hesitantly.

“We’re not going to wait for our warlord and the others to enter the gate before we assist them, Caspre. The pack of byorin will begin hunting the phaetrain the moment they hear its approach. If they push it off course just enough—”

“Warlord Matrix will miss the gate and hit the ridges,” the other miner concluded with a grim look. “What’s the plan?”

“We open the gate and clear the path. Shuddre’s posted and waiting for instruction, correct?” Toren triggered the mechanism to open the first of three gates that protected Gunninng.

The entrance to each of the three cities on Djaromir had multiple gates in an effort to keep their inhabitants safe. There were byorin, flying meat-eaters called treidls, and a few other predators kept at bay by a series of city gates. The combination of gates, each separated by a good length of tunnel, had served Gunninng well. Now, the beasts only passed through the gates freshly slaughtered, on their way to be hung deep in the storage tunnels beneath their city.

“Yes, he is.”

“Perfect.” Toren grabbed a heavy hooded cloak and pulled it on while the gate finished opening. He’d continue layering on furs and leathers as they’d approached the surface outside of the city, but the cloak would keep him warm while still allowing him to move at the speed he needed to beat the byorin and the phaetrain to the gate. “He’s still our best hunter with a spear.”

“Do you believe they’ll truly come close enough that we’ll need to attack?” Caspre quickened his pace to keep up with him as he began to jog down the tunnel.

“I’m not sure, but I want to be ready if they do.”

The miners didn’t speak again until reaching the large cavern where everyone else was waiting for them. Heavy leathers covered them from head to toe as his brethren were prepared for the hunt to come. Despite the matching leathers, Shuddre stood out among them.

Built like a beast, Shuddre was one of the largest males that Toren had ever met and had the strength to back up his size. Among the miners, he was also one of the most productive. His sheer bulk helped him move more ore than three other Djaromir combined. Despite his contributions to their city, he preferred the outskirts gatherings and celebrations. He appeared rarely, typically attending only when summoned by orders to do so. Toren understood the need for solitude. He, too, preferred living away from the others, but Shuddre took it far enough to worry him.

Given his way, Shuddre would be alone all of the time in the mines. His size and gruff nature kept many of the others away, but Toren made an effort to engage with him as often as possible. They shared much in common, including the tendency to get wrapped up in the mines for longer than was probably healthy.

Even though they worked in different sections of the mining planet, Toren occasionally trekked to visit Shuddre’s small mining camp when the weather permitted. While not often enough, the visits provided a welcome reprieve from the absolute and continued solitude of mining. Once or twice, he’d even forgotten the sound of his own voice, not having anyone to talk to for so long.

“You assigned me this task,” Shuddre said as he and Caspre approached. His expression was suspicious as he watched them. “I