After a long walk and several dwarf jokes about farts, the two travelers find their destination. A large partially blocked hole in the mountain side. Several figures are working on clearing the rubble from a recent cave in.
"Ah I am home! At long last.", Gecel breathes deep and smells the air. The scent of soil is very prevalent. A shorter dwarf runs up to Gecel and whispers in his ear. Gecel seems saddened by whatever the dwarf told him as the short dwarf points to a cart.
In the cart lies a dwarf miner fashioned out of stone. A look of fear on the statues face. The other dwarfs appear to be burying the statue at the base of the mountain. As the travelers arrive.
"Master Grandhelm." An old dwarf says in a booming voice. The work stops as everyone within earshot listens intently. "The time has come, We must leave this shard, whether with ye or without. We have lost too many to this most recent problem. Were ya able ta get any help from tha townsfolk?"
Gecel cringes at the sound of the old dwarf's voice, standing at attention Gecel allows the old dwarf to speak before saying anything. "Mason Stonegate." Gecel bows, "I was not able ta garner any assistance fer the problem. I be need'n more time. Surely ya can wait fer tha next span ta..."
Mason Stonegate cuts Gecel off,"We cana wait. We cana risk closing tha rift alone. And our cave in failed ta do tha job as you promised it would. We lost another this morn, only ten of us now stand. We must leave tonight." Mason Stonegate turns to walk away, his hands knotted behind his back. "Will ya be come'n son?" the master mason asks as he looks over his shoulder.
Gecel looks wounded by the sound in his father's voice,"You know that I can not. I must stay and teach tha townsfolk, lest they die by what we have left behind." Gecel looks down, avoiding his father's gaze.
Mason Stonegate turns his back on his warrior son, and walks into the mouth of the mine. The other dwarfs follow and leave the two standing outside. A simple marker made in haste stands beside the freshly covered grave.
Gecel mutters to himself as he looks upon the headstone."Curse this shard."