Regret

Chapter 6 - The Empty Barracks

Chapter Six

THE EMPTY BARRACKS

She left the sanitarium well after darkness had settled in.

Uptown streets were deserted, the rain having driven all but intrepid souls indoors. All up & down its clean cobblestone streets were well-built homes, their fine masonry & terracotta roofs framing warmly lit windows. Families & friends gathered together, their shadows milling about behind curtains. King Korrin's abduction had left many unsure of their country's future.

Even this close, she couldn't see the palace ruins. It was just as well.

The guardsman barracks were ahead, behind a short wall.

They were plain brick & mortar, no exceptional design, and if not for the King's crest would've seemed just another warehouse. They reminded her of servant's quarters inside the palace.

She approached a wrought iron gate adorned with a gilded flying serpent coiled around a sword – the royal crest. Emblazoned around it, in the old language, "Neir Adenarr Culsare". Senha had told her once what it meant, but she couldn't remember now.

A faded bronze plaque with a knocker hung from the brickwork besides the gate. On the plaque "Cheverr Otunre". Guardian's Quarters – at least, that was the rough translation.

She knocked three times. A gatekeeper was always on the other side, in a small post. Hopefully he hadn't been dismissed, seeing how the building was largely unused now.

Nothing.

Damn it all, they haven't given me a key-

"Who is it?" A tired man's voice, nearly slurred but not quite. Dornishauer. Soldier, midnight gatekeeper. Was it midnight already?

"Valye."

"You come at the worst times. Where's your key?"

"I'm not privileged with one," she said. They hadn't given every guardian a key, to reduce their chance of theft. Usually they were passed around per request or order.

He grunted. "Passphrase."

Hard rain pelted over her cloak. "Lord Nolin plays a joyful tune, as he chases after the moon."

The gate unlocked.

"Make sure to get a key," he said.

"Much obliged." She bowed. No matter that I'm now soaked through. I miss Norrow, she would've recognized me immediately.

But Norrow was gone.

She couldn't see the path before her, but knew it by heart. It wound past the gatekeeper's post, through a grove of towering bushes – there, their shadows towered before her – and then turned to the building's entrance.

Valye hurried under the beckoning shadowed fronds, the bushes rustling, swaying - back, then forward after the wind relented, and back again. It reminded her of the fishermen of the eastern shores – the Pale Strands – pulling in their haul.

The building's form, veiled then solid, loomed out from the rains. She stood before the double doors, her hand felt the old wood's grains.

I don't want to go inside. She hadn't returned since she left a week ago – Barrentz, Master Inquisitor, had seen to that. Her heart felt, should she turn the handle, she'd be greeted by Muin, smiling, jesting about being caught in the rain. Boran, insisting she dry & drink with the others. The nightly loyalty rituals before rest, with Senha leading the Guardian's Oath. Her heart felt, if she didn't open the door, that world could still be.