Page 1 of A Shard of Ice

1

Kyrie

The horn blows, and I drop my pickax at my feet. With a twist, I arch my back, pressing my fingers into the base of my spine, which makes me wince. Groaning softly, I roll my shoulders. It’s been a long day. Then again, they’re all long days out here. I hold back a yawn, blinking my scratchy eyes against the glaring sun.

Sweat drips from my brow, and yet, it won’t be long before the sun goes down and it’s freezing cold. It is harsh out here. I look out into the open, and all I can see is sand. It stretches on and on in an endless expanse. From somewhere to the side, a camel bellows. There’s a string of them waiting to have the salt blocks we cut today tied to their backs. They will leave soon after sunup tomorrow to make the weeklong trip through the Bohab Desert.

“And?” Taylor asks me, barely out of breath, his eyes dipping to my basket. They narrow in concern.

I can’t answer for a few seconds as I breathe in deeply. I finally shrug, wiping my brow with the back of my hand. “I guess we’ll soon find out,” I pant out the words.

These fae bastards make us work hard for the meager rations we are provided. If we don’t deliver, we hardly get to eat.

“I doubt I made quota,” Zara says from behind us. Her hair is covered in sand, as is her right cheek. All of our clothes are caked in it. It somehow manages to permeate every orifice. My hair hasn’t been truly clean in many moons.

“I hope I made it,” Penny whispers. She’s a wisp of a lady and standing in front of me. I’m not sure what the fae were thinking when they brought her here. “I can’t go without a full meal three days in a row. I can’t.” Her voice breaks, and her eyes start to fill with tears. She blinks them away because crying in the desert is a messy business.

My heart breaks for her. For all of us.

I swallow thickly. “Maybe—” I start to say but am interrupted.

“In line!” the guard yells. He’s new. Came in with the party bringing the camels. There will be a change of guard when some of the more familiar faces leave tomorrow. I don’t care much which fae stay and which go. They’re all the same to me. I hate them all equally.

“All of you! Let’s go! One by one; you know the drill,” another shouts. I recognize his voice. It’s Hali, who has worked at this mine for as long as I have been here. He’s older, with hints of gray running through his long hair, and a mean bastard. Although I can’t blame him, I’d be mean, too, if I had to endure this place for years upon years. Two sun-cycles are more than enough. It’s two too many.

We get into line, shoulders slumped. Working the salt mines is draining, backbreaking work. My bones ache with fatigue. We have five more days to go before our rest day will arrive. It feels like an age. I try not to think about it. It is best not to think too far into the future. It’s the only way to cope mentally.

Taylor steps up behind me. I can feel his heat against my back, even though he isn’t touching me. I know he’s peering into my basket without having to look at him. I can almost feel his mind working. I know exactly what he is going to say before he says it.

“You should take one of mine,” he whispers.

Helping each other is not permitted. Either you’re making the quota, or you’re not. It’s as simple as that.

I give a quick shake of my head, keeping my eyes trained up ahead. I don’t want to make trouble for Taylor. If we get caught, he’ll get sent to his quarters without any food at all.

“You’re going to be short,” he says so softly I can barely hear him.

I swallow hard. I fear that he might be right. “I’ll pick up the pace tomorrow,” I whisper.

He gives a small snort that I am able to understand, since Taylor and I have been friends for so long. He doesn’t think I’ll be able to pick up the pace tomorrow without a proper meal in my belly tonight, and he’s probably right.

Thing is, Taylor is a big man. He’s just as tall and almost as built as the blasted fae who are holding us captive. The only difference is he doesn’t have pointy ears or those weird eyes. From behind, if you weren’t looking too hard, you might mistake him for one. Most of us humans don’t measure up, but Taylor does.

It’s a big help to him, considering the arduous labor expected of us, but there are downsides. Namely, when you’re that big, you need more food to sustain you. It’s a simple fact.

That’s why, if you increase your quota of salt enough, you get a bigger ration. You get more meat. It’s food this idiot man needs to maintain his size. Only, he never listens to me. I’m only his best friend. The person who knows him better than anyone. My opinion doesn’t count for much. Taylor’s heart is just as big asthe rest of him. I feel myself go all warm inside. He’s sweet for putting himself on the line for me, but as his friend, I can’t allow it.

“I’m fine. I don’t need much,” I whisper as someone gives a pitiful wail up ahead. I’ll bet their ration has been cut. If you don’t deliver the goods, you don’t get much in the way of food.

The wail gets louder, and the begging starts. I grit my teeth, shutting my eyes tightly.

“Move on!” Hali shouts. “Rules are rules.”

“Please, I—” the person wails.

There is a sharp slapping sound, the wail is cut off, and the person shuffles away, crying softly.

My heart breaks for them. It isn’t far. I hate these bastards. I drop the rope attached to my basket and take a step forward.

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