A day after settling into the furnace bay, the dull rumble of the city’s earth-fire artery resonated through the basalt floor, vibrating gently beneath Kaelen’s coal sacks.
It was like sleeping on top of a massive purring cat.
Kaelen pulled the rough burlap over his shoulders and closed his eyes again. With four feet of lead-stone shielding him from the world, the afternoon was shaping up to be wonderfully productive.
Then the iron corridor outside exploded with shouting.
A heavy bronze gong clanged twelve times in rapid succession, sending piercing metallic echoes bouncing down the stone hallways.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
“Up, you filthy mongrels!” a harsh, grating voice screamed down the corridor. “First shift begins now! Move those shovels or feed the slag-trenches!”
Down in Bay Six, a dull thud was followed by a terrified yelp as an iron baton struck a recruit’s ribs.
