“I touched the helachite in there. I need to wash before you hold my hand again. I’d never risk you with this stuff.”
He leads me through the rocky outcroppings toward another mining entrance bustling with people.
“You’re a remarkable man, Kieran. To have done all this in only nine years.”
I want to ask how he ended up at the mines—why he left me, only to come to this horrible place—but I’m afraid of reopening old wounds. I must have already done enough to drive him here.
“Good morning, sir,” a man says, tipping his cap to Kieran.
“Good morning, George,” Kieran replies with a nod as we make our way toward the mine entrance. Inside, I immediately see the difference between the two sites. This one is lit with bright gas lamps. Along atiled corridor are sinks with running water and soap; above them hang stacks of leather gloves in all sizes, and below are thick wool suits, clean and ready for the day’s use.
“Are you ready to go underground, Princess?” Kieran asks, handing me a pair of gloves and wool suit.
I smile and assure him that I am. Despite my misgivings, I know Kieran will keep me safe. And what he said when we left Fairbright was true—if I’m too afraid to enter these mines, how can I ask my citizens to do so?
Once I’ve slid the suit over my dress, Kieran hands me a heavy metal helmet, fastening the leather strap under my chin.
“How do I look?” I ask, giving him a little twirl.
“Ready to work,” he replies, thumping my helmet with his gloved hand. “Stay close to me, and don’t touch the mineral if you can help it. It’s still in its raw form down here, which makes it volatile. You should be fine, but I’d rather not risk you.”
I give a small chuckle. “I am the heir apparent. It would be a national emergency if something were to happen to me.”
He turns back and wraps a hand around my waist, looking down at me. “Just to be clear, I don’t give a fuck about the crown. It’s you I want to be safe.”
“Oh,” I say, surprised. When was the last time anyone valued me simply for myself and not for what I represent? Clemmy cares. My siblings do too. But still, I’ve always been the crown princess—even to those closest to me.
Kieran leads me to a strange metal cage and pushes a button that emits a loud chirp. A series of chirps answer before I hear the rattling of metal. A smaller cage moves up to meet us. He opens the door and guides me inside before pressing another set of buttons.
“This allows us to access the deeper parts of the mine. Before we installed the mechanical carts, we used a rope-and-pulley system. It was… precarious.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I just shake my head, though he probably doesn’t see the gesture. Part of me wants to ask what made it so precarious, but I also can’t help wondering if recalling it would bring up memories he’d rather forget.
“The buttons and beeps let us communicate when to move the mechanical cart and where to send it. Each level has an operator overseeing the system.”
As we descend deeper into the mines, darkness swallows the world. I can hardly see beyond the dim lamp Kieran carries. The cart lurches to a halt, and we step out into near-total blackness.
“I’ve never seen a place so void of light.”
Kieran clears his throat and places a hand on my back, guiding me into a musty, humid tunnel. “Imagine if I didn’t have this lamp. You wouldn’t see your own hand in front of your face. Now imagine you’re expected to make your way out from a distant tunnel without a light.” He brings his free hand to a rope running along the wall. “That’s why I had this installed throughout the mine. It’s always on the right side, in every tunnel.”
“Good thinking. Were you ever in the dark alone?”
I can barely make out his head shake. “If I were, I wouldn’t be with you today. Not many made it out if they lost their light. Some were lucky, but more often we’d lose a miner and not find them for a week or two. The darkness is disorienting, and the tunnels are endless.”
I want to cling to him, to erase the painful memories from his mind. He’s endured so much here, and yet instead of turning his back on a place that hurt him, he’s worked to make it better for those who remain.
More lights appear ahead in the tunnel, and we walk toward them.
“Blackwell!” a man calls. “Didn’t expect to see you this far underground again. Missed us that badly?” He laughs, slapping Kieran on the back with dust-covered gloves.
“Just providing Princess Genevieve with a tour. She’s here to inspect the mines.”
Around us, the miners bow and murmur their regards. I don’t want their deference—not here, not after seeing the conditions they’d endured. These men and women are above giving me their respect.
“Please, don’t mind me,” I say. “I just want to better understand what it is you all do. You’re making a difference in so many lives as helachite technology advances. You have my gratitude.”
“I want to show her what raw helachite looks like,” Kieran adds, resting his hand at my back again and leading me toward where the men are working.
