White Death

Prologue

                              Prologue

The wind, a cold and biting gust, whips through the air, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea. Aric leans against the crumbling stone wall of the fort, his eyes scanning the horizon. He can just make out the tops of the tall, swaying grasses that dance along the shore, the pale sandy beach stretching out for what seems like an eternity. A seagull cries out overhead, its wings catching the wind before it plunges down towards the water below. The ocean, a deep and endless blue, seems to go on forever, its restless waves crashing against the jagged rocks that jut out from the shore. He takes a deep breath, the salty air filling his lungs, and wonders if he'll ever see home again.

It's been weeks since he was stationed here, at this Godforsaken outpost in northern France, overlooking the sea. It’s what feels like an eternity; a lifetime away from the green fields and gentle hills of his homeland in England. The others, his comrades, have grown used to the isolation, the endless waiting. But Aric can't help but feel a sense of unease, a creeping dread that something is about to happen. Or perhaps his longing for home is getting the better of him.

Aric, 21, a seasoned soldier in the year of 1822, found himself posted at this fort overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. The salty breeze caressed his face as he sat on the battlements, gazing out at the horizon. The sun was just beginning to peek above the waves, casting a warm, golden glow on the sea. His mind drifted away from the routine of military life and back home, to the memory of his beloved sister, Anya. She was the only family he had left, her soft brown hair and her gentle laugh. He remembered the times they had spent together as children, running through the fields and chasing each other around the village. He missed her terribly, and yet he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for being away from her for so long.

The thought of returning home filled him with anticipation and joy. He could almost taste the freshly baked bread and feel the soft embrace of his sister's arms. He had been away for far too long. His last leave had been a year ago, and even that had been cut short by the demands of duty. Now, he could almost feel the weight of the world lifting off his shoulders as he imagined walking through the familiar streets of their village, hearing the laughter of the friends they had grown up with.

He wondered how Anya was faring without him. They had been so young when their parents had passed away, and he had always felt a responsibility to protect her. He imagined her now, tending to the small garden, perhaps cooking a meal for two of their elderly neighbours. The thought warmed his heart.

As if responding to his unspoken yearning, a gentle breeze brushed past him, carrying with it the faint scent of lavender and seaweed. It was on the tip of his tongue, the feeling of being home. He couldn't help but smile, despite the weight of duty that bore down on him. 

The fort was built on a small, rocky outcropping, its high walls surrounding a courtyard where the soldiers trained and bartered. Despite it being so late in the evening the air was still filled with the sounds of marching feet and clanging swords, the smell of sweat and leather. Aric often found solace in the quiet moments just as the day drew to an end, when the world was falling asleep and the only sounds were the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore.

A familiar voice broke into his thoughts, startling him back to the present. "Aric!" It was his friend, Marcus, grinning broadly as he clapped a meaty hand on his shoulder. "You look like you're a thousand miles away. What're you thinking about?"

Aric forced a smile. "Oh, you know, just daydreaming about home." He gestured vaguely at the ocean. "Been a long time since I've seen the village."

Marcus nodded sympathetically. "Aye, I know what you mean. I miss my family too. It's tough being away from them for so long." He sighed heavily. "But we signed up for this, didn't we? Duty calls, and all that."