The Sentry

The Sentry

By Cyrus Cowan

        There once was a sentry who stood as still as stone. He stood atop a castle wall, and a sleeping kingdom lay behind him. Though he was old and gray, he stood tall and stoic, like a monument to kings of old. The creases on his face resembled the scribbles of a small child, and his gray and white hair reflected the moonlight. He would not close his eyes for a second, despite the late hour, for it was his duty to keep the kingdom safe through the night. Though others thought it a dreadfully dull and unimportant position, he saw the night watch as the most important of all.

        There was another man with him, the old man's nephew. His brilliant blond hair cascaded down his shoulders and then spread at the ends as if on an invisible surface. His complexion was radiant, and his arms and legs were strong with youth. He was not so understanding as his uncle, nor as wise. He would take the watch with his uncle every night out of kindness and sympathy, but he despised the job. He asked his uncle once why he had taken such a dreary job, but his uncle just smiled at himself and said nothing.

        One night, just as ordinary as any other, the old man leaned over to his nephew and whispered, “I must go for a little while to fetch some medicine for your cousin. I asked the Warden, and he gave me leave, but you best keep watch until I return.”

        He left in a hurry so as to get back to his job as fast as possible, but the youth just sat down and looked out at the now brightening horizon. He wondered how his cousin was doing, if she was going to be okay, and how much he would like to be with her and not out here. A nightingale sang melodiously, and he imagined it sounded like her voice speaking softly in his ear. He eventually dosed off without so much as a thought to the creaking sounds coming from the gate of the castle.

        He woke with a start as horns blared and trumpets sounded the alarm. He stood steadily and looked out over the wall. Below him, thousands of enemy troops marched into his city, bringing with them fire and sword. He then looked at the kingdom behind him, and cried out in agony. There was his peaceful home in flames, people fleeing in every direction from the massacre the soldiers wreaked.

        He wondered how they had gotten in without him noticing. Then an icy chill raced down his spine and through his toes. Suddenly his uncle appeared with sears and grime tinging his face and armor.

        "Look my nephew, look at what has happened! I trusted you with the most important position in this kingdom for only a little while, and what did you do? You fell asleep out of negligence and laziness! And now our home is gone and our city destroyed. You once asked me why I took the night watch. Well now you know, because without it, there would be no kingdom!"