Fragments Gallery
Just Waiting
"See anything?"
"Not yet."
Gaul sighed, passed the feylens off to Gareth and then slid off the crest of the hill. Gareth pressed the device to his eye, squinting as he peered towards the distant crevasse. At the bottom of the hill Gaul joined Kel in the hollow they used to shelter from the unceasing wind.
She shot him a glance as he settled down and he shook his head in answer to her unasked question. They hadn't seen anyone yet. Her only response was to nod slowly and return to polishing her blade.
Great importance. That was how their mission had been described to them. It was a mission of great importance that if handled badly could have devastating effects on the empire. When they received their assignment they’d had no idea that they would spend the next couple weeks waiting out in the middle of nowhere.
"So who'd we annoy again? You know... to get us stuck with this sentry duty?"
In response Kel gave him one of those looks she was so good at. She had several that she frequently used as weapons; this one said "That's a stupid question and you know it”. He shrugged at that. Of course it was. If the commander said the mission was important then it was important. It wasn't for the soldiers to know why they were doing their tasks so long as they did as they were ordered.
Still he wished that reconnaissance, if that was what he could call it, missions like this one took less time.
He fidgeted for a moment before pulling a thick, oiled blanket from his bedroll to cover himself with. Kel spared him another glance but again said nothing. She sat on the side of the hollow more exposed to the wind and yet she didn't seem to feel the cold.
He shivered at the sight. Her sitting out there, unflinchingly exposed to the elements and calmly running an oiled cloth along her polished blade, drove a shiver down his spine. When she was like this she really fit the stories that were told about her.
She'd always argued that she was the same as the rest of them, just flesh and blood. But the things he'd seen her do… she was much more than a normal soldier. That he knew for certain.
Some of the stories about her had been blown out of proportion, but others he knew first hand to be the truth. The other soldiers in their company gave her a wide berth and they whispered those stories amongst themselves when they thought she could not hear. They feared her. Many thought she was a demon in human form, others claimed she was a mage of great power, and a few even claimed she was one of the lost angels.
The only thing he knew for sure was that she was a good fighter, probably the best he'd ever seen. He had seen the aftermath of that fateful day when she had single handily defeated a rebel strike force consisting of over thirty soldiers. She hadn't even taken a serious injury.
He'd known her for a long time and never had she given any indication she was more than she said she was. But still sometimes even he had trouble believing she was just another human.
The valley darkened as the sun sank between the nearby peaks. This far up in the mountains the nights got cold, especially now with winter looming upon them. If something didn't happen soon they'd have to leave their post. Else they'd be trapped on the mountainside by winter with very limited supplies. That wouldn't be a good situation.
"Up here," growled Gareth, his low voice focusing Gaul's wandering thoughts, "Someone is heading up there!"
Kel and Gaul crept up the hill, staying low against the ground, to get up to the crest. Sure enough they could barely make out a solitary figure approaching the crevasse. Wordlessly Gareth passed the feylens to Kel and after she took a look through she held the glass out to Gaul.
The man was on the short side of regular height, his dark brown hair waved in the wind as he stubbornly pushed through the wind on his way up to the gap in the cliff face. His armour was grey steel with a deep green tabard and cloak, where most soldiers wore house colours or crests he displayed none.
"Mercenary?" He asked.
"So it would appear," responded Kel.
"Any guesses why he's up here?" asked Gaul, already feeling as though he knew the response he would get.
"Doesn't matter," growled Gareth, "We were told to watch for anyone approaching that hole in the cliff. So we watch and wait for someone to approach that blasted hole."
Gaul shrugged; he hadn't really expected much of an answer.
"Do we follow tonight?" Asked Gareth with his eyes on Kel.
"Yes," She said looking up at the sky, "The path is like to be treacherous, especially in the darkness, but we can't let him get too far ahead."
"Very well, I'll continue my watch," said Gareth, "You two should break down the camp."
"It won't take us long," said Kel with a nod.
Together Kel and Gaul slipped back down to their hollow leaving Gareth alone on the hills crest. They set to stowing their gear in packs efficiently; they'd done this many times before.
"I still think we annoyed someone," Gaul muttered as he rolled up his bedroll, "This can't be because they like us."
"Just pack up Gaul," she laughed, "We've work to do."