The fire crackled loudly against the quiet night time sounds, illuminating the dark sky with flecks of the embers drifting from the firewood. The fireflies blending into the scene, flying peacefully around the crouched figures trying to use the heat of the flames to full capacity.
There were a few tents pitched up on the outskirts of the shadows, silhouettes casting there movements from inside. Some were fast asleep while others hung around waiting for something to happen. The camp was made up of about twenty men, littered all over, everyone going about their business. There was very little talking, a somber mood gripping at them with the cold night air.
Everyone that was awake and around the fire tensed up at the rustling in the nearby bushes, preparing themselves for a possible confrontation. Everyone settled down when they saw three familiar faces.
"Ah!" Began a man with a wisp of a beard, "Looks like the band of misfits have returned at last!" A few threw their arms around the newcomers shoulders, passing drink and food over. "Where are you three been all this time? We thought something bad had happened?"
"Well we got in a bit of a situation along the way." Alistair began explaining.
"But then there be somebody's girlfriend that decided to be the heroine and let us free." Delbert offered, poking at Braden's side.
"Oh?" The beard man looked at Braden oddly. "And who be this mysterious lover girl you've never told us about?"
Braden rubbed the back of his neck, smiling at his own embarrassment. "First off she's not my girlfriend. Secondly, I grew up with her, we were childhood friends."
"Were?" Another man, ginger hair springing up at odd ends asked confused.
Braden looked him dead in the eyes, smile and humour gone in an instant. "The night our village got attacked ten years ago and burnt down, the Nobles home was the first to burn down. We found two of the bodies and assumed the third had been cremated beyond discovery." He went quiet, swallowing down a lump in his throat. "She was supposed to be dead."
The beard man took hold of one of Braden's shoulders, squeezing it in a supportive gesture. "But thank the gods that she's not." From there he clapped his hands and moved towards the fire. "So tell me, what exactly happened?"
"She's working for someone, we're just not sure who." Alistair stepping up to let Braden compose himself. "Along the way we discussed that the uniform looked familiar to that of the Tenebris Miles, but not quite. Probably because they are lower down in command, which leads us to think there is a hierarchy amongst their numbers."
"Ai, but there be some confusion as to where she falls in to place." Delbert added a little theatrical hand gesture.
"Indeed." Alistair throwing a glance at Delbert and following his thought pattern. "There were two others with her, assuming they weren't girls as well, were following her instructions even though they were of the same level of power according to their uniforms."
"Hmmm." The bearded man stroked the wisp of hair on his chin as he thought. "So either she has influence or power in the ranks, possibly both."
"I'd go with both." Braden finally piped up, all business now. "Knowing her she's work hard and smart to get to where she is now."
Suddenly the beard man pointed a finger at Braden, not angrily but quite threateningly. "Don't get your head stuck in the clouds now boy. After so many years in the service of the Tenebris Miles could have corrupted her beyond recovery. She may have both power and influence, but nothing says she didn't do it in a sneaky and conniving way."
"But she isn't like that Connor." Braden began to protest.
"You can't say that." He clutched Braden's shoulder again in reassurance. "You don't know what kind of person she has become. The only thing we can hope for now is that she hasn't been corrupted and be a helpful ally to us."624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTzCzhWuPE
"Yeah I understand." Braden pulled away from the crowd and headed over to a tent.624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbcQWuNGxh
"Remember Braden." Connor called after him. "Do not trust her."624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkLyQ3qsqZ
and then Add to home screen.