The Silver Seer

Chapter 29: A Prayer For Pain

Reyes walks towards where Switzerland's and Germany's borders meet, glancing up at the sky every now and then as if the stars will suddenly disappear if he blinks even once. Though the colors of the sky are changing from black to a mix of pink, orange, and yellow as the sun will begin its ascent into the sky very soon.

He doesn't quite understand why Felix sent him on the mission to ask something of the Army General of Germany. Did Felix even tell the teenager what he was going to ask the General for? He runs the recent events through his head and tries to dig up anything that will give him a reason to continue this currently pointless trip.

Yet the sight of what appears to be tents on the horizon pulls the boy from his thoughts. He cocks his head to one side and wonders the purpose for the tents. Patrols don't use tents. Are these on Swiss soil? If they are, does that give Reyes full rights to slice the occupants apart if they're Russians? What if they're Germans? If they're aggressive, he'll happily stab them. If not...he probably won't. Probably.

Slowing down his pace to exercise caution, he looks at the surroundings of the tents to glimpse any flags or other items that may give away the owners of the tents, at least in terms of a country. He would bring out his rapier and summon the white flame, as it's still somewhat dark, but he knows that may draw unwanted attention to him, so he instead just grips the handle with his left hand.

As he gets closer, he spots both the flags of Russia and Germany near many of the tents- about ten of them. His eyes scan the area and find no stray soldiers up and about. The landscape is rather bare, with only a layer of snow blanketing a ground dotted with bushes and a few patches of wildflowers.

Reyes walks further into the camp, paying close attention to any sound of crackling firewood or smell of smoke. He also listens for any soldiers who may be speaking and turns his head to look at a tent to his left, where he can hear someone clear their throat. Curious as to what he may hear from the occupants, he quietly runs to a nearby pile of firewood and ducks behind it, straining his ears to listen in on the conversation.

"So, any news on what times are the best to engage in combat? Specifically, those ideal for ambushes?" A female voice comes from within the tent.

A male sighs before replying. "Bern's going to be impossible to infiltrate with us alone, but I hear there are some officers within that canton willing to turn against their superior. Anyway, the cantons that will be easiest to attack are Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, since the commanding officers are absent."

The female's voice holds curiosity in her next question. "Absent how?"

"One committed suicide and the other got taken away by the knights, or so that's what I've heard from our spy." Reyes' eyes widen at the mention of a spy, most likely within Switzerland's ranks.

Who is it? Does Felix trust them? Are they already dead? Will they turn against Switzerland as a whole, or is being a spy already a sign? Were they forced to, or was it a choice? Reyes' head swarms with questions, so many that he has a hard time continuing to listen to the conversation.

"Get...combat...kill...soldier...?" The female voice is distorted and difficult to decipher.

"Yes...glory...must...whoever...way." The male voice isn't any easier.

Irritated and annoyed, Reyes begins to look around for any further indication of occupied tents or waking soldiers. If he stays here for any longer, he risks being spotted, and-

"Злоумышленник! Eindringling!" A soldier from several feet behind Reyes yells, in two different languages. The boy assumes it's probably the same word.