Snow fell lightly on the foothills of Mount Arrai where a small army was camped. The camp was so small that many would not even classify it as an army, though numbers are not everything. Strike force might be a better term, a group with a single goal as opposed to drawn out battles or war. The sun had long since fallen beyond the horizon, and a single figure strode purposefully through the paths between tents.
There were few fire pits among the quiet tents, and they were dispersed evenly throughout the camp. There were no hearty evening conversations here, no jovial laughter. The camp was as dead and cold as the frozen trees on the flat Northland behind them.
The figure noted the oppressing quiet with satisfaction, he hired them for their swords not their camaraderie. His cloak blew behind him in the breeze and his hood hung on his back as if winter’s chill did not exist. He walked silently to a large tent near the center of the camp and stopped in front of the two guards on either side of the entrance. Well, not exactly standing, the untrained eye would call them inattentive at best, half asleep at worst. The dozing guards’ eyes snapped open when they heard the approaching footsteps and their hands strayed to the swords at their hips. When the tall man came into view, the guards snapped to attention, and he smiled.
There were few fire pits among the quiet tents, and they were dispersed evenly throughout the camp. There were no hearty evening conversations here, no jovial laughter. The camp was as dead and cold as the frozen trees on the flat Northland behind them.
The figure noted the oppressing quiet with satisfaction, he hired them for their swords not their camaraderie. His cloak blew behind him in the breeze and his hood hung on his back as if winter’s chill did not exist. He walked silently to a large tent near the center of the camp and stopped in front of the two guards on either side of the entrance. Well, not exactly standing, the untrained eye would call them inattentive at best, half asleep at worst. The dozing guards’ eyes snapped open when they heard the approaching footsteps and their hands strayed to the swords at their hips. When the tall man came into view, the guards snapped to attention, and he smiled.
