The Affairs of Mortals

Chapter 1

Vero was not quite to the top of the hill, but she could already see the top of the stone tower ahead of her. She was too jaded to be excited at the sight. The tower had become visible every time she was near the top of one of the damned hills, and each time the summit revealed a descent followed by yet another godsdamned hill.

This time however, as she crested over the top, she saw a broad flat plain stretch out between her and Kaer Longus. Or at least it initially appeared to be a flat plain. On closer examination joy turned to despair. Vero could see the light of the setting sun reflecting off small pools of standing water. Thick vegetation covered the surface well, but when she drew closer, she could identify nymphaeales, aquatic flowering plants.

She sighed as she realized that the entire length, from the bottom of the hill all the way to the outer walls, was a massive marsh. Past the marsh was the tower, jutting up out of the midst of a walled city. Finally, just barely visible on the edge of the horizon, she could make out the flying banners and tents of the Marquis de Fer's encampment. The city was not yet under siege from what she could tell, though with the army camped so near the threat was clearly implicit.

The sun would be down by the time she crossed the swamp, and the city gates would be closed. She had considered scouting the city before going to the camp, but the timing of her arrival settled the question for her. She had left the road to travel cross country for haste, and the mistake had probably cost her at least a day's travel, if not two. She took a swig of water from the skin on her belt and began hiking the rest of the way down.

The trip through the marsh was misery. She slowly slogged through the tepid stagnant water in the late summer sun, while being eaten alive by mosquitos. Her master had once told her that he knew a warding spell against insects, but he never taught it to her and she never saw him use it, no matter how badly they were beset by pests. She considered it just another of the lies he had told her. That list was already long enough that another late addition did not appreciably change her opinion of the man.

The sun sank and at last Vero was nearly free of the muck. The Marquis had set down his men on relatively solid ground. His troops were in the process of erecting a wooden palisade around the site, but it was not yet completed. They must have arrived only recently since, from what she had been told, the Marquis was not a man to neglect the defense of his camp. One of the soldiers on patrol challenged her as she approached.

"Who goes there?"

Vero held up her hands to show she posed no threat. "A friend, I am apprenticed to master slayer Aquinas. I came here over rough terrain in response to the Marquis' urgent request for aid."

"Remain where you are, boy." The patrolman departed back into the camp, but two other crossbowmen had arrived and kept her in their sights.

She used the lull as an opportunity to sit on the shore and drain the water from her boots. The swamp had come up to her waist and her pants clung uncomfortably to her body.

Another soldier arrived, he seemed to be a sergeant, and he waved for the others to lower their weapons. "Follow me lad. Milord wishes to see you as soon as possible. He has ordered fresh clothes and a bath for you, then you will join him for his evening meal."

"That sounds wonderful."

Vero was starving. She had not eaten anything all day beside a few strips of dried meat at noon. She had run out of money to pay for hot meals, and although she set snares whenever she camped, hunting had been very scarce.

She also felt filthy from her trip through the swamp and looked forward to prospect of a warm bath, despite the difficult explanations her undressing would entail. The soldiers had taken her, with her short hair and trousers, for a boy. Although she would never have overtly lied if pressed, it was certainly the impression she meant to give. She had serious doubts that the Marquis would hire a woman as his agent, and she desperately needed the employment.