Tajo’s arrival to the palace

- You, with me.
They were sounds indiscernible to Tajo, but the person who uttered them looked directly into their eyes and touched their chest, something no one had done since they had arrived at the mine. The street was full of merchants, walkers, mendicants, people of all ages and conditions dressed in shades of grey, bone, and earth-colored robes. Every once in a while someone wearing flashier reds made of finer fabrics. The orange dust on the floor formed a low cloud, dirtying the bottoms of all clothes and everyone's feet. The group of mine workers had stopped in front of a relatively rich gate, with signs similar to those on mine gates. They were about fifty. Although Tajo had taken a good look at all the faces during this time (thousands of people worked in the mines) they did not recognize any face.
Someone else came up and untied Tajo's hands, who was the only person separated from the group. Tajo was scared. The rest continued the march through the streets of the city. Tajo was ordered to sit in the crack of the door. They gave them water and bread. Two foremen watched Tajo.
The one who had said "you, with me" came back. They were wearing one of those robes of the finest red cloth. They scrutinized Tajo carefully. Their legs, arms, torso, face, feet and hands black and red from digging the rock to extract the mineral, their black hair and discoloured skin grayed by the mine. They brought with them a bag and hung it around Tajo's neck. Without a word they told them to follow them. They surrounded the building with the gate with signs resembling those on the mine gates, and began a long journey through endless dark alleys in the silent part of the city.