Midst

In the midst of this army, Kenion had never felt so alone. The companions he’d met over the last few months of summer he knew were fleeting. As fall came to a close, this company would scatter like the leaves. Kenion had to stop the analogy there, the leaves were dead and their death was never lamented. He expected nothing different for himself.

The dying embers of the campfire popped and he became aware of the chill of the predawn hours in the woods. Erol shifted across the fire from him. The movement of The man’s massive frame roused Kenion from his singular focus on his dark thoughts. One more turn at watch. Just make it through this one and he was free again. Maybe one more. But he couldn’t think of that now. One step at a time.

He rose with Erol as well one and they wordlessly donned their swords and checked their muskets. The firelight was unnecessary as they prepared for the watch as their inexperienced hands had become mechanical in the endless practice of this campaign.

Outside the camp, the forest made Kenion strangely comfortable. Frost covered the fallen leaves giving each step they took in the forest a dull crunch. Each breath forming a pale cloud like an offering to the moonlight.

His offerings failed. When they reached the lookout hide site, it was deserted. The store of powder meant to be lit as a warning to the camp had been dumped. Discharging his weapon would only sound like a hunter found his prey.

Erol frowned but said nothing. Each man knew what needed to be done; the captain must be warned. Either a raiding party was lose in their lines or the others had deserted. Either way, there was nothing two men could do in the dark. Kenion’s heart began to pound, no one deserted this close to the end.

Exiting the hide point the wind had picked up. A few half-frozen leaves rustled and the bare branches began to wave as if the trees were fidgeting like children. After a few steps, the gust picked up and the trees became children waving to get attention of a playmate. It became disorienting.

This wasn’t natural. The answer was all too apparent, someone wanted to disguise their approach through the dry leaves.

Erol’s rough hands pushed Kenion to the ground as blade whirred above his head and the wind went still.

Erol’s first shot popped, shattering the silence and burying the ball in an attacker’s skull. There was no telling how many more were in the woods.