Of Whispers and Daggers ✓ [TLRQ #2]

Chapter 4.2 - Aster

Dedicated to Bam for designing 
adorable portraits for Aster and Sean

A guard tower sits on either side of the great, silver-plated gate. A wooden blockade has been moved to cover the gate, another layer of protection against the savages on the other side. Stone crenellations the soldiers and wizards use for cover top the gate, along with a stone walkway about ten feet wide. Walking toward the towers, over the empty cobblestone, leaves me chilled for more reason than the late autumn air. This place should be bustling with activity. There should be a few honored stalls near the entryway, encouraging castle visitors to buy their wares. There should be nobles coming and going. There should be life. Instead, the emptiness smells like death.

I pause at the door to one of the guard towers. It smells like death and smoke. I look up.

The sky is so overcast with thick, grey clouds that I hadn't noticed the faint motion in the air above the wall. The stone can't be on fire. Confused, I hurry into the tower and stop the first wizard I see. She gapes, but I wave away her shock. "Where is the smoke coming from?"

Her hands fidget in front of her. "The others saw no reason to leave the Kadranian bodies at the base of the wall, my lord. They set them alight."

Relieved, I nod.

"It's good to see you back, sire." Her tone tips up at the end, inviting me to explain how I'm here.

I only smile. "It's good to be back. I won't be going anywhere for a long time to come."

She gives a light curtsy, and I continue through the tower.

Burning the Kadranian bodies. That must be a double-blow to the savages—that there are bodies to burn at all, and that we're disposing of them in the Morineause manner rather than their disgusting burial. It's not as if the Kadranians would be able to retrieve them, though. Anyone that came into range of our archers would just as soon be another body to collect.

I make my greetings to those who recognize me, but most of the people in the tower are either resting or eating with their fellow fighters, pretending chaos can't break loose over their heads at any moment. I push out onto the wide walkway. Soldiers sit with their backs to the crenellations, and wizards sit against the back of the wall, facing the places the Kadranians come through. Facing the Kadranians, to watch them.

The wind is worse up here, but blankets would be hazardous once discarded for battle. At least the moving air helps keep the wall clear of the smoke below. A few of the soldiers engage in a hushed game of bones, the faint clatter of the pieces one of the only sounds here above a whisper. I planned on moving among them and talking to them, but something occurs to me, and I go back down.

When I return, some off-duty wizards accompany me, and together, we distribute hot tea in wooden mugs to the soldiers and casters. I make a point to speak with each wizard up here. I'll talk more to the ones down below when I'm done, if they're not sleeping.