Chronicle 5: Orders

As the sun continued to set at the gates of Avirdidatias a young lieutenant stood among his guards checking a cart that was entering the city. The cart was fairly large with two horses pulling it. The man who claimed to own the cart couldn't even name half the contents in it.

The man who owned it was extremely short. He wore a shirt that looked like it had been torn in two. He had fading white hair, and smelled like rum. He even looked like he had a rum stain on his shirt.

The young Xaklys starred at the man's papers. The papers looked official, but they also had blood stains on them. And they described the owner looking completely different from the man standing in front of him.

Xaklys looked up from the papers. He raised his eyebrow at the man and asked.

"Sir, may I ask your name?" The man looked at Xaklys and blinked a couple times. He looked like he was trying to think. He squinted his eyes and you could almost see his brain working.

"Uhh, my name is… uh Oric." As he spoke his speech sounded slurred. Xaklys could barely stand the scent of Alcohol on his breath.

"Well sir these papers say your name should be Dilan."

The man looked at him and frowned. He started to say something, but before he could get the words out he threw up at Xaklys's feat.

Xaklys looked at the heaving man and called his second in command over.

"Montague take this man to the checkout station. Get him checked for Alcohol." Montague looked at his leader and nodded. He called over two other soldiers and took the man into the city.

The Checkout station as Xaklys said, Is a station used to search and scan criminals with magic. They check for Alcohol, illegal weapons, illegal items, and any other violations.

Another one of Xaklys's men took the cart over to the side of the gate to be searched. They would take any use full supplies for the surplus stands that the kingdom had. The stands were used for extra goods the kingdom had. They sold them for a big profit and usually spent it on military weaponry, or city repairs.

As the cart was moved Xaklys called the next cart up. He checked their papers and waved them forward. This job was boring, but not as boring as guarding a gate that was never needed for check ins.

The day continued to go forward with only one other drunk, and two shure fire arrests, both being people attempting to smuggle in illegal ingredients that were said to cause blindness and deafness.

As the sun set Xaklys and his squad went to their barracks to rest for 1 hour. Every squad of soldiers got 1 hour rest time no matter what. Usually it being 3-4 squads at a time on normal days, but since it was The Night of the New Star only 1 squad rested every hour, and it was his squads turn.

The men walked into the small stone building. It was a two story building with the top floor being Xaklys's office. The bottom floor having a number of bunk beds, and a small pit for open flame cooking, even though most of the time the castle chiefs did most of their cooking.

The men slowly walked into the room hardly believing they could rest. Some went to their beds, some took their armor off and started to play cards, others went to the pit to cook something.

Xaklys was about to walk up to his office when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back and saw his battle-officer Amanda.

Amanda was a medium sized girl with green eyes. She had short brown hair that only reached her shoulders. She wore brown leather armor and a bow on her back. She was only 17.

"Sir may I ask of what our next orders are?" Xaklys looked at her. She had a neutral facial expression, but he knew she wanted to start planning for all the scenarios that could happen. He couldn't blame her that was her job.

"Yes let me check our next shift in my office, and ill report back to you." She smiled and nodded.

He nodded in response and again started to walk up the stairs to his office. As he walked he heard his men below talking and laughing. He smiled they were all enjoying their break. Another break meant another shift that you survived, or at least that was his commanding officers motto was.

While Xaklys thought he reached his wooden door to his office. The door was oak with a bronze handle. He twisted the knob and opened the door into his office.

As he entered he looked over his office. It was a fairly large room with a desk in the center. In the right corner he had his bed. In the left corner he had a chest, and a closet filled with his stuff. Next to his bed he had a dog bed, where his black lab bell slept.

She was a fairly young dog with dark black fur. He rarely used her to fight, he mostly kept her for a companion in his office.

He walked into the room and Bell came into attention. She opened her mouth and barked. She ran over to her owner and started to rub against his legs, and jump on him.

Xaklys rubbed her back and scratched her chin. He eventually started to calm her down enough so he could walk to his desk. He saw he had several pieces of mail, one of which probably had his orders in it.

He sat down in his wooden chair, and pulled out a small knife. He started to open the letters.

Most had basic updates on the kingdoms status. One had a report from his commander.

The report stated he was to obtain some fresh new recruits within the next 5 days. He sighed to himself, as that meant he had to choose 5 of his men to promote.

He continued to open his letters until he found the one he was looking for. It was sealed with the king's seal. He started to open it, as he guessed it was his orders. The seal broke and he read the letter.

Xaklys

You and your squad have been assigned one of the highest duties. You shall defend the castle square tonight when the ceremonies begin. You along with two other squads and one King honor guard squad shall be present. We expect the ceremony to go smoothly.

Signed,

Forlaz

Xaklys starred at his orders, and read them over and over again. He was shocked.

To defend the courtyard was one of the highest honors possible. He again read the orders again, he was stunned to his core.

He stood slowly from his desk and looked around his room. Bell was cocking her head at him, as if to say "What is wrong with you?"

He slowly walked to the door and down the stairs. He reached the bottom step and yelled for his troops to get at attention. They got up and stood in a line.

Xaklys looked over them and smiled. He then stated.

"Get ready men, were guarding the Night of the New Star."