Fragments Gallery
Just Another Step
Camulus cursed as his foot slipped out from under him, causing him to put a gauntleted hand down in the icy stream. The man gasped as freezing water immediately leaked through the tears and gaps in the thick leather holding the steel plates of the gauntlet together. The cold liquid bit at his skin and he gasped again as he regained his footing and pulled his hand from the water, this time exposing his wet hand to the chilly air. His companion up ahead turned at the sounds and then grinned as he saw Camulus's predicament.
"You clumsy fool!" Cried out Aran jokingly, there was no scorn in his tone only mirth, "I thought I told you that we weren't trying to go swimming today. We'll save that joy for deeper waters and warmer weather!"
Camulus ignored the remark as he strode from the stream. As he stepped out of the water he looked around. The pair of them were far from any civilization. They were high up in the mountains on an old deer trail heading towards an old outpost that had long since been abandoned by its original builders. The village from which Camulus and his companion hailed from now used the structure for a training area, a proving ground, for their young soldiers. Around the mountain path they followed the trees and rocks were snow covered. The smooth surface of the snow was only marred by occasional animal tracks. The green of the pine trees and the red cloaks the companions wore were the only spots of colour in the desolate sea of white and grey.
“Come on Camulus,” Aran called out as he moved on ahead after watching Camulus cross the stream without further mishap, “We’ll get you warmed up when we reach the outpost. Once there and inside we can build a fire and dry everything off. We won’t begin until tomorrow.”
“Very well,” said Camulus and he did his best to shake the droplets of water off of his gauntlet.
Upon hearing the lack of enthusiasm in Camulus’s voice Aran turned around to regard the younger man.
“Aren’t even a little excited to be here?” He asked, “Most young ones have waited their whole lives to be deemed fit enough to come up here. To be considered ready.”
Camulus shrugged. It was just another step in his journey. Camulus brushed by Aran as he continued to walk up the path.
“I can see the end of my journey now,” was all he said.