Within the darkness: chapter 44

Wallkery had once again escaped, well, that is how she saw it. Everyone else saw it as being stubborn. Nonetheless, she had made it out of the hut and gotten away from everything. She was almost to the wood line when she realized that no one was stopping her. Finishing her journey to the tree line, she looked back scanning the gaping walls, and looked for a single sign of life.

After a quick survey, she determined that there wasn't a single person on watch, and grumbling to herself she slowly sulked back to the fortress. The pain had changed over the course of her walking, it was still very much there but she found it easier to ignore so her walk back was much shorter and she passed freely through the open gate. The fact that the gate was open was annoying and she wished she had her sword but had somehow misplaced it.

She eventually made it to the wall and scanning the studs she saw the gate guard and the watch slumped and asleep. Annoyed she found the water bucket used to prevent constant drips of water. Instantly she threw the contents on the two who woke suddenly and in a frantic state. The two woke up with a start and seeing Wallkery, they suddenly knew what was about to happen and snapped to attention.

Taking a few seconds to try and calm down, although it did not work too well, she smacked the closest one and in a hushed voice of cold anger, she spoke.

“ You are on watch, and I come to find not only are you asleep and failing your task but somehow you have failed to secure the gate in the very least and have put every person in here at the risk of having their throats slit in their sleep.”

“I understand sleep is necessary but both of you are asleep at the same time and the gate is open, had anyone else found you in this state they would beat you with the flat of a sword. The only reason I do not is because I can't find mine.”

“Now explain to me the schedule for the watch,” Wallkery ordered, the fatigue slowly slipping in.

The two hurriedly explained the system: two on each wall, one sleeps and the other watches, this was to be repeated on both walls.

“Well, it seems that you are not the only ones asleep so I will go deal with that.” Wallkery decided and turned to deal with the other wall.

Pausing she stood, and without turning she ended by saying “If I catch you asleep on watch again I will use an arrow.” And continued walking.

Wallkery dealt with the other wall in almost the same fashion, leaving four grown men rightly fearing for their lives, or at least their limbs. Then she slowly walked out the gate, which closed after her. Slowly she walked back to the tree and in extreme exhaustion, she fell asleep leaning against it.