"The Trevanium Mines haven't changed a bit," I said to myself as I entered the tiny encampment that encircled the caverns themselves.

There were no houses; all the people who lived there lived in tents. Mining equipment littered the ground. There were still smoking fire pits here and there. The camp had been deserted for a few days now. I wandered through, admiring the majestic mountains that towered over my head.

"Hey kid!"

I jumped. I looked around for the male voice I had heard, wondering if it had been my imagination.

"Over here!" a second, less demanding voice called.

I looked toward the entrance of the largest cave. Two men sat on stones; one burly and tough looking, the other spindly and trembly. They had shovels and picks laying at their feet, along with some bags and wheelbarrows, a lantern or two; typical things for a miner to have. I walked over to them.

"Hello, sirs," I said politely.

"Hello, child," the spindly one said, a natural tremor in his voice.

The other did not answer. He just picked up a pick and began to sharpen it with a whetstone. "Why are you here, kid?" he asked briskly.

The spindly miner cleared his throat and laughed nervously.

"What my friend is trying to say, is that, well, all of the families and most of the miners have left. So - "

"Are you the only ones left?" I interrupted.

"Yup,'' the burly miner grunted, still sharpening his pick. "Everyone else, they left. They left 'cause of the parasite that's in the caves. The one that put them out of the job. They also feared the dragon; that their tents, maybe they, would be burned to a crisp."

"You aren't afraid?" I asked, almost admiringly.

"Nope. Not us. We're tough. Sharp as steel and nerves of trevanium. We want our jobs back. Yep. That's what we want. Our jobs."

"Maybe someone will come and help us," the spindly miner added helpfully.

He fiddled with a handheld shovel. I stood up as tall as I could. I held the Staff of the Land in my hand for emphasis.

"I'm Talia Tekana," I said confidently, "and I was sent by Princess Zipporah to liberate these mines of the parasite that plagues them."

The spindly miner smiled almost pitifully; the burly miner just chuckled.

"Such big words for such a little girl," he said.

"Not that there's anything wrong - " his friend started.

"So, Talia," the other one said, "do you really believe that you can do what the princess sent you to do? That is, if she really sent you to do it."

"I do," I answered without hesitation.

He grunted and continued, "Such a strange solution to a big problem."

He thought for a moment.

"Then again, maybe times are comin' where we'll need strange solutions."

"Heroes," the spindly miner chimed in.

" Huh. Yeah," the first said, "heroes. You got the talk kid. Now let's see if you can do the walk..." He glanced at his friend, who just shrugged in return to his look. The burly one looked at me and continued,

''But first, I want to give you something."

He put his now sharp pick next to his seat and stood up. It was then I noticed that he had the Layrucian soldier badge on his jacket.

"Sir, were you ever a soldier?" I asked.

The man nodded.

"I was once, when I was young, until I injured my leg. Never did get back into the army. Besides, I found this place. Home. That's what this is. Home."

He had a faraway look in his eyes. I remained silent. Suddenly he looked at me, cleared his throat, embarrassed, and continued, "Anyway, I have something that was made for soldiers. Something I don't need anymore."

He took his shield off his back and held it up for me to see.

No way, I thought. All the dignity left my voice as I said weakly,

"Is that a... a trevanium shield?"

"Sure is," he replied, "it was given to me by a friend a long time ago. Protected me in many battles. But it was made for soldiers, not miners like me. Soldiers, warriors; maybe even a hero."

I held out my hands and took it gingerly. I ran my hand over the surface. I felt every scratch and dent under my fingertips, but it was still beautiful.

"I - I can't repay you."

The man chuckled again.

"Kid," he replied, "you go in those mines, you get rid of that parasite so that my friends and family will come back; that's all the repay I need."

His grey eyes shone with a new light. He stuck out his hand. I took it and shook, a look of understanding passing between us. I knew he was counting on me. The spindly miner handed me a lantern.

"It's, uh... all I have to give," he said sheepishly. I nodded and smiled. I turned and faced the dark caves, that greeted me with a daunting glare. I lit the lantern, took a deep breath, and walked in.