The fenced yard was full of horses, most milling about outside the small stable.A little girl wound through the horses under the watchful eye of a large soldier who leaned against the fence.A veer of flight showed movement approaching from the center of the compound.
Land here, let’s observe,she said.
Ereven followed her request, landing quietly on the roof of the stable.
Selecting a bay mare, the girl stopped to pet the horse and work a halter onto the animal, whose head dropped low to accommodate her short stature.A loud whistle split the air as a lean man arrived.The little girl stiffened as the man came into view, stepping back to disappear amongst the horses.
“Lieutenant Devryn?”the newcomer called as he approached.“You’re needed at the keep.”
“What for?”Devryn asked.
“Problem with some of the brats.Hayes wants you in his meeting with the captain.”
“Alright, I’ll head over.You just coming on duty?”
“Yes, sir, perimeter watch.”The man glanced toward the horses.
“Go ahead, then.”
The messenger nodded and jogged off, continuing away from the direction of the main building toward the perimeter wall of the fortress.
Lieutenant Devryn waited until the soldier had disappeared into the fog before turning his gaze back to the horses and the hidden child.“Come out now.”
Squeezing between two horses, the girl gathered the lead line and walked quickly over to him.
“Finish getting the horses ready,” Devryn ordered.“And remember the rules.”
The child shivered and nodded obediently.
Stay or follow?Ereven asked.
Let’s follow the lieutenant.
The outer edges of the house were crumbling.Old, shutterless windows gave them easy access to various areas.It took a few tries before they found a gap that lined up with the room the lieutenant was in.Perching in a tight gap near the ceiling let them peer down into the room without being noticed.
The man they’d followed was conversing with two others.One standing, with the look of a battered soldier.And one seated behind a desk with a distinct air of authority.
“So, interrogate them again,” the authoritative man waved his arm like the suggestion should have been a foregone conclusion.
“Captain Darrett, we’ve already punished them twice in as many days.They’re still claiming that the younger girl is sick.”
“You don’t think she’s faking?”Devryn asked.
The solider shook his head.“Kid is out cold.We can’t wake her up.”
Captain Darrett cursed and leaned back in his chair, glaring harshly at the man who had given him the bad news.“We’re already below our quota.”
The soldier looked distinctly uncomfortable at being treated as if it were his individual fault that they were behind.
“Did you gather any other useful information when you interrogated the others?”Devryn asked.
“They claim she needs to be outside, in nature, to recover.That’s why we were convinced it was a prank.But she’s not faking being unconscious.Not for two days straight.”
Captain Darrett made an annoyed face at the solider and nodded toward Devryn.“What do you think?”
Devryn shrugged.“She’s more valuable healthy than in her current state.Worth the risk to try it.”
“Fine, handle it,” the captain said.“But isolate one of the others any time she’s outside.I don’t want them thinking they can get away with anything.They can be accountable for her behavior if they’re so keen on saving her.”
