Page 82 of Fate of the Sun King

He shivered against the bite as it nipped at his nose and fingertips, but he refused to pull up his hood to shield himself. He craved the discomfort as a reminder of what they might lose if this continued. He was a king, and it was his duty to ensure the power and position of his legacy.

“Your Majesty,” came a voice, stirring him from his reverie. “They’re ready for you.”

Herric peered up at the sky again, hoping someone would answer his calls. Maybe tonight they’d receive the miracle he’d pleaded for over and over. Where had the lights gone? Why wouldn’t they come back? What had happened to cause this?

Finally, he turned to face the cave entrance, squaring his shoulders, maintaining a confident set to his posture. His people were relying on him, and he would fix this. Somehow.

He nodded and marched towards the line of his waiting inner council. They shuffled out of his way as his boots crunched over the snow, his fur-lined, leather-clad legs protected from the chill.

He’d been avoiding this, but it had been weeks, and the emerging reports had become increasingly alarming. This was a problem he couldn’t afford to ignore any longer.

“Follow me, Your Majesty,” their guide said as he turned around and led them further into the mountain.

Herric picked his way over the small pebbles and rocks that littered the path, pressing one hand against the wall to maintain his balance. The temperature dropped the further they went, winding deeper and deeper into the mine.

On a normal day, he would have heard the sounds of activity. The clink and echo of metal hitting stone as the workers chipped at the bedrock, digging up the emeralds, rubies, and diamonds that grew here in abundance.

Or had grown, until the northern lights disappeared. He was sure these phenomena had to be connected.

When it had first happened, it was curious. Sometimes the lights were invisible, but that was normal—if it was cloudy or the conditions weren’t right. But those days were usually sporadic and occasional. When three nights passed without the barest hint of color in the sky, Herric started worrying. When another week passed, he truly wondered if something was wrong.

But that had been minor. After all, while the lights were beautiful, their absence didn’t pose a threat to his kingdom. Or so he thought.

It was a week later when word surfaced from the mines. Something that had the potential to ruin everything.

A line of torches lit the way, casting their surroundings into shadow. Herric took another step, his hand landing on a small cluster of faded stones that crumbled beneath his fingers. He stopped and studied the remnants in his palm before closing his fist, feeling each grain give way under the gentle pressure.

They were jewels. Or rather, they had been jewels once. Now their color had leached out, leaving behind not even stone but this frail mass of decay that dissolved at the merest touch.

“It’s what we told you about,” his guide said, apology and maybe a hint of admonishment in his tone.

“Is it like this everywhere?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

The guide swallowed and linked his hands behind his back.

“Not yet…” He paused, as if debating what to say next. “But it’s moving quickly.”

Herric nodded. “Show me.”

The guide nodded and turned on his heel, leading Herric and his retinue deeper into the mountain. Finally, he caught the distant strains of axes against stone. As reports of the disappearing jewels flooded in, he’d ordered them to dig deeper and further. Surely everything hadn’t been affected.

Eventually, Herric and the others entered a massive cavern, the ceiling arcing high over their heads. In the center sat a crystal-clear pool, the bottom of which had once been lined with thousands of sparkling jewels.

It was forbidden to mine from the water—plenty of gems were available elsewhere, and the pool’s beauty was far too precious to ever consider destroying.

But what once had been a glowing circle of light, reflecting with a million facets, now sat dull and dark. The crystal-clear water allowed them all to see straight down to the monochrome bottom.

The only reasonable explanation was that the jewels’ presence was a direct function of the northern lights. But they were gone, and Herric had no idea how to bring any of it back. They would have to keep digging. They couldn’t give up.

“They’re still digging deeper,” his guide said as if reading Herric’s thoughts. “Trying to mine what they can, but the rot… It travels faster than they can move.”

“You have every able hand working?” he asked, and the guide nodded.

“Of course, Your Majesty, but the progression is rapid. And appears to be traveling faster with each passing day.”

Herric stared at the pool.

Without the mines, his kingdom was in peril. They lived at the base of the mountains, where the climate was too cold for them to grow much, the ground rocky, and the soil thin. Their precious jewels were coveted by all the realms, offering his people the opportunity to trade for anything they desired and needed. It put them in a position of great security and power.