Border Patrol
Yes I had my marching orders. But what I did not know was that it would take time to assemble every one that was marching to the border town. I should have filled my belly with that delicious smelling stew.
“Grab your gear. We’re off.” Came the command.
Every on packed up and set out. I was not until after noon that we finally did set out. But the time the sun almost setting I was getting odd looks. Well my stomach was anyway. It would rubble, loudly and quite often. But there was nothing to do about it, my food was packed away. We marched for an hour past sunset, to make up time.
Most every one pitched their lean-tos of the side of the road. Me? I just unpacked my blanket and the hard tack I was given as provisions. Then I set about softening it up by chewing it. An hour after we pitched camp I had eaten enough so that I could sleep. Not really enough so that I was not hungry but hard tact is a long meal.
The next morning we struck camp just before dawn. Every one was supposed to pack everything away but some of the veterans keep some hard tack aside, hidden pockets. I did the same. Along the march I relentlessly dug into my food. I was quite pleasant having something to take my mind of the drudgery of the march.
It went like this for two more days. Finally we made it to Brenach.
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Adventure? Was I was going
Adventure? Was I was going to get adventure by getting posted to the border? That was my thinking. Wow was I wrong.
The days pass in a haze. Well more a blur then haze. Each day I patrol. March back and forth. I thought the Black Dragon Empire was ever encroaching on ours. But as it is there is nothing happening. Those in charge seem to think that an attack is eminent. So patrols and guards have kept active.
Each night instead of collapsing into my bunk, I spend at least an hour practicing. Practicing with pole arms. Practicing with axes. Practicing with swords. Dramen are known for being smart, that is the reason my sister is a librarian for the Rathi. I am not as smart as Lyanez but there is no way I will admit that to her. But the second thing that dramen are known for is dead aim with thrown weapons or even a bow and arrow.
I did not even have time to visit the local tavern for a pint of ale.
Well one of the good things
Well one of the good things about being on patrol so much, it does not leave much time for being bored. So that was it. Patrol all day, practice with varying weapons and then collapse in to my uncomfortable bunk. Then one day I got the news that had the next two days off.
I grabbed what money I had on hand and stepped out. The locals recommended a tavern, the White Cask. It sounded good for the prices; also for the action. Though the bouncer, Whitman, would not allow any body to wreck up the place. So all the action takes place outside.
The White Cask is in a part of town that is not, well the best part and not the worst part. Since I have the day I spend some time wandering around the city. Other then Eairon I have never been to a city.
The day is pleasant, so I take my lunch outside. As the day progresses I make way to the White Cask. I am surprised by the fact that it is not a total dive. I pace myself; since I have two days off I don’t want to spend all my money. The night moves on but I am disappointed, no one wants to start some thing.
I stagger back to the barracks.
Then next day I am woken up, early. My head is pounding. It took me a couple minutes to figure out what was happening.
“Get up. You have duty.”
“Hey I have another day.”
“Nope. Something is happening, something big. Get you stuff and get ready.”
Something is happening but
Something is happening but no one will tell me what. This puts me in a foul mood. I do understand that I am just a solder but I had my day of leave cancelled and that frustrates me.
“Oh well.”
"What did you say Gilly?” Asked a guard I can't seem to remember
On top of it all that stupid name followed me here the Brenach. When I see Dain again I am going to wring is stupid neck! What makes it worse is that he is still in Eairon. It started three days after I made it her.
Well with the officers acting so skittish I redouble my weapons training. I need practice with bladed weapons. Well that and blunt weapons as well. But thrown and projectile weapons it is hard to improve, mostly because it comes so natural to me being a dramen.
So that is how it resumes. Long hours of patrol followed by some hours of weapons training and then collapse into my bunk.
“He’s
“He’s here.”
“Who? What are you talking about? Who’s here?” I ask, “Will some one tell me what is going on?”
I woke up to and the bunk house is hornet’s nest that has been hit by a malicious kid with a stick. Every one is running to and fro. Then the sergeant comes in.
“Get geared up. The Rathi Ahgjan has graciously decided to visit Brenach.” He glares at me saying, “And I will not be disgraced.”
I get geared up and take my assignment. It is no where near the Rathi. This I understand and accept as a commanding officer doing his duty, as he sees fit. Still it rankles me that he does not trust me at all. As the day passes on to evening I many stories, most are contradictory, but there is some consistence in them.
The Rathi was attack and found a dying dragon. Being the amazing and benevolent ruler he is the Rathi took in the poor wretch into his very royal tent. Seeing the situation was dire he ordered the royal contingent to Brenach. The injuries the valiant dragon suffered in defense of his Rathi were too desperate for field medics. All along the march to Brenach the Rathi himself does the healing magic that is required to keep the dragon alive. Three times he nearly looses the nearly fatally wounded dragon.
Being Rathi he probably has access to even deeper magic then I have ever heard of and that is why has was able to stave of death on the long, arduous, march to Brenach
With the Rathi in town,
With the Rathi in town, every one in the military is on high alert. I get stuck watching the gate. I understand this, with my failure back in the capital city, but it is still annoying. So I do my duty, as boring as it is. Then the next day the Rathi and he entourage leaves Brenach.
We spend the next day
We spend the next day recovering. Dubgaoth need to be sober for his meeting, that and with out a hangover. So we didn’t go out to the pubs the second night. On the third day I need to report to Breen’s shift. I have to be there the entire day and all of the night.
Nothing happens all day but it’s the night the gets interesting. Merchants mostly come to the city during the day but it is not unheard of for them to arrive after dark. Even though the gates are closed they camp out next to the gate. It saves money, not staying at an inn, and they have the whole day do get done what needs to be done.
The night wears on when a merchant comes rolling in. It’s to dark for me to tell who it is. I have been here to recognize most of the ones that come here. I give this no real attention, which is until I hear some noise from the wrong place, coming from the wall. Who ever it is could have used the small door to get out but they are coming over the wall.
My first thought is to catch the person but then I thing that maybe I should find out why they went through all this trouble. I take off all my armor and leave all but my dagger. I sneak as close as I can.
“… ny more interference. Just give me the flask.”
“I don’t…” This ones voice trembled. Silence. When she finally replied I could hear she is even more terrified then before, “Yes. Here is it is. Are you sure that your contact can get close to the Rathi?”
A hard slap followed by, “Shut up fool!”
That’s it. I spring out of cover. The women bolted for her wagon. The other bolted in the other direction. The woman is not important, though I mark her image. The one that came from the city is cloaked and I can’t tell what race it is. Then it drops some thing that smokes. In the confusion I loose him.
Since I lost him and I can't catch her the only thing I can do is report this to the commanding officer.