Chapter 110
The rescue continued long into the day.Hour after hour, rescuers emerged from the mine with exhausted miners supported between their shoulders.
Some stumbled into the sunlight before collapsing to their knees.
Others simply stood there, staring at the sky in silence.
One elderly miner slowly removed his helmet.
His weathered hands trembled as tears rolled down his soot-covered face.
"I never thought..." he whispered "I never thought I'd see the sun again."
Beside him, another miner fell to his knees and kissed the ground, "Thank You...Thank You for bringing us home."
Nearby, physicians moved quickly from one injured man to the next.
"Broken arm."
"Smoke inhalation."
"Severe dehydration."
"Get him onto a stretcher."
Soldiers worked tirelessly. Stretchers were lifted. Bandages were tightened.
Water skins were passed around.
One by one, the wagons began their slow descent down the mountain toward Emberforge.
Yet there was no celebration.
Because everyone knew...there were still miners trapped underground.
Brian wiped the sweat from his brow before pointing deeper into the tunnel.
"We keep moving."
Charles immediately nodded. "More support beams!"
Isaac raised his voice. "Don't move another stone until it's secured!"
Anton directed another group of soldiers. "Bring more timber! We're reinforcing every section."
Owen picked up another shovel. His sore body protested with every movement.
He ignored it."My people are still waiting. No one stops digging."
The men answered as one, "Yes, Your Grace!"
Hours passed.
Every swing of a pickaxe echoed through the mountain.
Every beam was carefully placed.
Every stone was removed with painstaking care.
Then...
Brian suddenly raised his hand, "Stop!"
Instant silence.
Everyone froze.
He frowned, "Listen."
Nothing.
Then...
Bang.
A faint sound echoed from somewhere beyond the collapsed wall.
Bang.
Another.
Someone was striking the rock from the other side.
Charles looked up, "Did you hear that?"
Isaac's eyes widened, "There!"
Then voices.
Weak.
Desperate.
"Help!"
"We're here!"
Several soldiers instinctively rushed forward.
"Wait!" Owen commanded.
Everyone stopped.
The Duke stepped closer to the collapsed wall.
His heart pounded so loudly he could barely hear himself.
He placed both hands against the rock.
Then shouted, "This is the Emberforge rescue team!"
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Then...
Voices erupted from beyond the stone.
"We're here!"
"We're alive!"
"Please!"
Several rescuers covered their faces.
Others openly cried.
Owen closed his eyes for just a moment.
"They're alive..."
When he opened them again, his voice carried through the tunnel.
"We're coming! Stay where you are! We'll get every one of you home!"
A cheer answered from the other side of the wall.
Brian immediately pointed toward the debris, "Carefully! No mistakes! ..............If this collapses again, we'll bury them all!"
Every rescuer nodded.
Hope had returned.
Now they simply had to reach it.
Far below the mountain...
The first wagons finally rolled through the gates of Emberforge Medical Centre.
The sound of wheels and galloping horses echoed through the streets.
People waiting outside immediately stood.
Mothers clutched their children tightly.
Wives searched every wagon with desperate eyes.
Old parents whispered silent prayers.
No one knew whose loved one was returning.
Or who was not.
The gates opened.
One wagon.
Then another.
Then another.
Aurora stood waiting with dozens of physicians, nurses and soldiers.
The moment she saw the first wagon stop, she raised her voice.
"Everyone to your stations!"
The doors opened.
"Stretchers!"
Soldiers hurried forward.
The first injured miner was carefully lifted down.
Aurora was already examining him.
"Fractured ribs."
"No internal bleeding."
"Ward Three."
Another patient.
"Burns."
"Fresh dressings immediately."
Another.
"Collapsed lung."
"Prepare the treatment room."
The Medical Centre became a whirlwind of controlled chaos.
Doctors rushed between beds. Nurses carried steaming water.
Fresh bandages disappeared almost as quickly as they were unfolded.
Families waited outside the gates, praying to hear a familiar name.
Aurora never stopped moving. She stitched wounds. Reset broken bones. Checked breathing.
Comforted frightened children.
Encouraged exhausted miners.
Hours passed before the flow of patients finally slowed.
Emily quietly appeared beside her carrying a cup of water, "My Lady."
Aurora accepted it without looking away from her patient, "Thank you."
Only after the last miner had been settled did she finally allow herself a single deep breath.
The hall had grown strangely quiet. She slowly looked around.
Bed after bed was occupied.
Doctors continued their rounds.
Nurses whispered reassuring words.
Most of the rescued miners had finally fallen asleep.
Only then...
Only when every patient had been cared for...
Did another thought force its way into her mind.
Turner.
Her heart tightened painfully.
She turned toward one of the nurses.
"...Did Captain Turner come in with this group?"
The nurse frowned thoughtfully, "No, My Lady."
Aurora forced a small nod.
Perhaps...
Perhaps he had remained on the mountain.
That had to be it.
She approached one of the rescued miners who had just finished drinking water.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better, My Lady."
She smiled gently, "I'm glad."
There was a brief pause.
Then she quietly asked, "Did you happen to see Captain Turner?"
The miner's smile slowly disappeared.
He lowered his eyes, "...No...I never saw him after the second collapse."
Aurora thanked him before moving away.
Another miner.
The same answer.
Another.
Again.
"I don't know."
"He wasn't with us.
"I thought he was helping another group."
Each answer made the knot in her chest tighten.
Emily quietly touched her arm, "My Lady..."
Aurora shook her head gently, "He's still out there."
She wasn't sure whether she was reassuring Emily...
...or herself.
Outside...Another convoy of wagons slowly approached the Medical Centre.
Aurora looked toward them.
More survivors. More wounded. More lives to save.
She straightened her shoulders, "Prepare for the next group."
No one realised...
The final wagon carried the miners who had last been with Captain Turner.
And among them...
Were the men who knew exactly what had happened after he disappeared into the forgotten shaft.