It was the Tenth of Slate. I remember the day clearly. I'd wandered into the fort, Schmutz behind me, and had reported to the duchess.
I had knocked on the door. "Come in," came the reply, and I entered the room. In the course of my service, I'd met plenty of dukes and duchesses, mayors, counts and countesses, barons and baronesses, and even the princess once or twice. Most of them are lazy, useless. They don't work, just living the lifestyle. The few of them I have met who weren't incompetent usually turned traitor, and a couple of times led to very narrow escapes for yours truly.
The duchess here wasn't lazy, didn't seem about to turn traitor, but she had a bunch of paperwork on her desk. I winced inwardly. One of the very few parts of being a noble I don't envy. At least with the Commissariat I could foist most of my paperwork onto Schmutz, who took to it with the same enthusiasm he had for every task, considering it right next to a direct order from the Sisters.
"Commissar Anias Abel reporting for duty, ma'am." I said, playing the dutiful, obedient war hero to the hilt, standing at full attention and with the red sash clearly visible. "Oh, yes. We've been expecting you," came the tired reply, and I could see the bags under her eyes. Maybe she was more focused on her duties than the others.
"Sorry about the mess," she said. "Just had a trial. Everything from daemon possessions to the dead coming back to life. It's a mess trying to clear it all up." Inwardly I winced once more. Not the calm, carefree outpost I'd thought it would be, but at least there were no diomedians. "And the Diomedians have continued to give us trouble," she went on, not noticing the wince at the prospect. "Well, I'm here to show those Diomedians that the Princess won't take their constant raiding lying down," I said, bravado in full stride. "But I think the military you've got here already does that well enough."
"Quite. Well, Commissar, I don't want to keep your from your quarters..."
"Nor I yours, Duchess. The Sisters Protect!" I said, and bowed out of the room. As I walked quietly through the corridors, I saw that same filly I'd met earlier walking with a downcast look on her face. She was heading outside, and I knew better than most ponies that the outside isn't as nice and peaceful as the pictures say it is. I followed her stealthily enough, my caver childhood keeping me well unnoticed. She eventually ended up outside, and lay down to sleep.
Slowly I walked over her, then lifting her up gently, I lay her on my back. No sense telling the diomedians we were here and ready to be easy targets, eh?
Slowly, not waking her, I took her indoors and to the quarters Schmutz had managed to scrounge up for the both of us. Without question he accepted the filly on my back and lay her on the bed, before grabbing one of the numerous spare blankets and going to sleep on the floor. I took another and sat on the chair. With any luck, it would be more comfortable than the bed.
I sat down and went to sleep, Schmutz's familiar aroma lulling me into unconsciousness.
Author
Topic: My Little Fortress. Glitterglen. (Read 280798 times)