บท 346: Down Below

Arran had little difficulty adjusting to life in the mines.

While he missed the freedom to go out and wander around the camp, he was long used to the darkness. And while the cramped tunnels were uncomfortable, a few days of carving through the dense rock provided him with quarters nearly as large as the ones he'd left behind.

Yet although the change of surroundings only briefly interrupted Arran's training and studies, the troops did not adjust nearly as well.

The oppressive darkness and cramped quarters soon caused a feeling of gloom to descend among the mercenaries. They still performed their tasks without complaint, but when they spoke among themselves, their words carried worry — even fear.

Of course, they'd been told that their predicament would only last a few months. But only few of them failed to realize that the Rangers had no intention of honoring the deal the captain had made.