The Echolone Mine by Elaina J Davidson

on their toes. It remains a red-light world, but rather
where we know it than underground, I say.”
    “True,”
Torrullin murmured. He did not dare look at Elianas.
    “Excelsior, by
the way, has commenced full nuclear disarmament.”
    “Excellent.”
    Quilla was
quiet, staring at Torrullin.
    “And now?”
Torrullin demanded.
    “Enchanter,
there might be something you can help us with.” Quilla tapped at
the table. “Seeing Elixir himself may sort them out and you do find
yourself at a loose end, do you not?”
    “Yes,”
Torrullin drawled.
    “I think
Tristan will be relieved if you take this one.”
    Elianas was
curious. “What is it?”
    Torrullin
glanced at him. “Watch out; Quilla’s casual purpose-induced
missions usually hide underlying tensions we could do without.”
    Elianas
grinned. “I like it.”
    “Thought you
might,” Torrullin muttered. “Fine, Quilla, what is the problem
Elixir needs deal with?”
    Lowen frowned.
“The mining thing, Quilla? We agreed to wait until we could
concentrate on it.”
    “You, Elianas
and Torrullin could do it now,” Quilla said, “and Cassy can add a
connection to her network there. It certainly needs one.”
    Torrullin
required details. “Tell us.”
    Quilla was all
business, sidling forward to place elbows on the table. He pushed
his wine aside to make room. “Ever heard of Echolone?”
    “Isn’t that
where shamans are trained?” Torrullin murmured.
    “Correct,
although they have not much influence in the spirit world.”
    “Which is why
we left them to it. What has mining to do with this?”
    “Prospectors
recently discovered gold, which brought geologists and engineers
in, and found coal seams, underground gold, and diamonds. Within a
year Echolone has been overrun by miners of every persuasion and
major delving has commenced.”
    “So? Beacon
does this all the time.”
    “Beacon is
involved, yes. Politicking is underway, bribing for mineral rights
and concessions, and we have a host of environmentalists’ swamping
the place to prevent damage to natural regions. Very tense, and
about to explode. The Dome could find a solution, compromises that
will not destroy Echolone as a society, or we could send the miners
packing without their riches. That is not the real issue. That is
background.”
    Torrullin
grimaced. “They found something in the rock.”
    “Yes. We do
not know what it is. We already made it known we do not sanction
exploitation, which has sent folk to the negotiation table, and we
continue to monitor. The situation remains tense, particularly
regarding environmentalists …”
    “Thank the
gods for green junkies,” Lowen interrupted. “They frequently alert
us to a problem with the environment.”
    “Agreed,”
Quilla said, “but they also periodically go overboard.”
    Elianas loosed
an exasperated sigh. “What did they find in the rock?”
    Quilla grinned
briefly, knowing he had their attention. “We do not know who made
it, but folk act peculiarly. Erin and Shedo paid a visit and came
away perplexed. Declan wanted to go in, and then there was an
uprising on Lax. Tristan suggested we deal with Lax first before
entering as a team to Echolone.”
    “But you are
concerned now ,” Torrullin murmured.
    “The miners
found a massive, sealed, underground door. Made of steel,
apparently old, and covered in glyphs.”
    “Valleur?”
Cassy demanded.
    Quilla shook
his head.
    “Egyptian?”
Torrullin asked.
    Again Quilla
shook his head. He pointed a finger at Torrullin. “It is unknown.
You are thinking, so what? There are civilisations built on
civilisations and cities have been rebuilt on ancient foundations -
happens all the time. A door in rock is a curiosity, a matter for
archaeologists, which, by the way, has added a new dimension to the
tension. Archaeologists dig in, preventing further blasting.
Torrullin, all those who see the door claim to have a vision after.
Erin had one, and so did Shedo.”
    “Erin is a
priestess,”