TGC 02 In which we enter the mines

My mother was on me in an instant, crouched in front of me and pulled me close to her. “Listen to me now. Father Leiter is going to take us through the mines. Hold my hand and whatever you do, don’t let go.”

I nodded. I tried to speak but there was a lump in my throat. I could feel hot tears running down my face. Father Leiter threw his hands at the wonky old door of our home. With a bang, it cracked into a thousand splinters that exploded out into the street. Crouching, he stepped out into the cold night air; Mother dragged me behind her and Brother Dezent and Sister Gutig followed us out of our home.

I didn’t realise then that it would be the last time I would leave our home. I would like to have taken one last look at the armchair, which used to be orange, that my mother had sat in every night knitting some friend or neighbour a jumper or a pair of gloves or a scarf. I would like to have taken one last look at the wonky ceiling, which had turned black from all the smoke that had gathered there. I would like to have taken one last look at the chair that I used to sit in - the chair which only had three legs, so the other leg was always propped up on a pile of books.

I would like to have stayed in our home.

But - as I said – I didn’t realise then that we were leaving our home for the last time so I let myself be half-led half-dragged after my mother through the shouting and the bangs and the explosions of spells.

Once, I thought we were done for. We stepped round a corner, straight into the path of two elves dressed all in white and gold. But before they had a chance to throw a spell at us, their attention was caught by a gang of goblins across the street all heaving huge cobblestones from the roads and hurling them at the pair of elves. I thought I saw my friend Tyrann – who lived two doors down from us – but I didn’t stay to look; mother’s hand was dragging me on again.

Finally, we reached the mouth of the mine. I turned, looking around me. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of goblins were creeping into the mine. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who’d had the idea of escaping Ruraux through the mines.

Father Leiter turned and we all gathered close around him. “Listen, we’ve made it to the mines,” His voice was low and urgent. “But that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Now there’s fighting – they’ll be after all of us.”

“Surely, they won’t follow us down into the mines.” Brother Dezent spoke – his voice had a faint pleading note to it. “They fear the mines,” he paused, then added in a desperate voice, “don’t they?”

“They do,” Sister Gutig said quietly. “But their Shlangunds don’t.”

“Gutig’s right,” said Father Leiter, raising a hand to silence the pair. “And even if she isn’t, it’s better to be prepared for what may happen than to hope for something that may not. Scheren” He turned to look at mother, “If they come, I’ll hold them off. You and that one.” He nodded at me. “You keep going. No matter what, you understand. You keep going. You get to Nirvaasan and you find Lehre.”

Lehre. We were going to see my father. Remembering this, I smiled. I was going to see him again. My smile grew wider and I felt my mother’s arm fall around me and pull me close to her.

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