“But no one told them?”
“Well, the Chelli miners didn't want to risk a greater explosion. That's what they said. They supposedly ran for their lives and didn't remember the humans until they were outside. By then, the possibility of flames spreading to the nearby forest became too great a risk, so they had to close the entrance.”
“They closed the entrance?” The King leaned in. “Those humans didn't stand a chance.”
“No, I don't believe they did, sire,” Alensi said. “And that is bad enough. But I suspect something more sinister, and most of the jewelers around here share my suspicions.”
“What do you suspect?” I asked.
“That Lady Juva saw an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“Those humans had been working for nearly a month. It was getting time to pay them. But you don't have to pay dead men.”
“So, they buried them alive to save some coin?”
Alensi shrugged. “I don't know what happened, Claw Shinkai. As I said, it's only a rumor. Either way, when the Chelli used their magic to close that mine entrance, those poor humans were sentenced to a horrible death. They burned in there. I just hope the drug kept them from feeling too much pain.” She shook her head. “Those poor people. Burned alive.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Burned.”
“They say that once closed off, the mine would have become an oven. The flames got hot enough to rival Dragon fire.” She inclined her head to the King.
I looked at King Tor'rien. “The weapon.”
“The Chelli,” King Tor'rien said.
“It was retribution.”
“Retribution?” Alensi asked. “Are you saying that a bunch of humans have killed some Chelli?”
“No,” I hurried to say. The last thing we needed was for another rumor to circulate—this one about murderous humans. “No, we don't know anything for sure yet. But thank you for your help. You've been most enlightening.”
“My pleasure.” She started to hand over the garnet, but then declared, “Oh! This is an enchanted stone.”
“Yes.” I held my hand out for it. “It's drained though. How did you know?”
“It's not drained. I saw the glint.” Alensi put it in my palm and then tapped it three times.
The stone started to glow and air wafted out of it.
“Holy fuck,” I whispered. My head spun. Just when I had it figured out, things took another turn. Thoughts slammed forward from the back of my mind, shoving their way into my notice.
“Thank you for your help,” the King said. “I will come back the next time I'm shopping for jewelry. I never forget someone who has done me a service.”
“Oh, that would be lovely, Your Majesty. Thank you so much!”
He nodded and ushered me out of the shop. I didn't notice my surroundings. I was too focused inward. The King helped me into the carriage as I continued to stare at the glowing garnet. A blue garnet from the Hallax mine enchanted to keep a man breathing underground. And it wasn't drained.
“One more thing.” Alensi came out of her shop and waved at us.
I looked up, something telling me that what she said next would glue it all together.
She looked around, back behind her, and then ran over to the carriage. Sticking her head in, Alensi whispered, “Children were working in that mine. Human children. Those poor parents. They never even got to bury their babies.”
“What do you mean? I thought you said they reopened the mine?”
“I said they opened another tunnel into the mine. But they never reopened the original. All those bodies are still in there. The owners said it was too dangerous to unearth them.”
