By habit and a series of nightmares, I awoke at the crack of dawn. I tried to move, but the once-cold cot beca a cozy entrapnt to my body. For a few minutes, I sat in paralysis, internally battling with myself to leave the comfort of the cot.
Though it took ntal effort, I willed myself out of bed and proceeded to the tent's entrance. When I stood up, a bout of dizziness assailed my mind. I stumbled and had to stabilize myself by placing an arm on the bed.
My mind pounded, and my stomach painfully squird with nausea. 'Damn alcohol,' I griped.
My stomach rumbled with hunger on my way out. The only thing I'd consud the day prior were several servings of that gut-burning alcohol and so small bits of bread. If I wanted to be at all useful, I had to get sothing in my stomach.
In my pursuit of breakfast, I pushed the tent's flaps forward, revealing the warm embrace of the day's first light and the sight of two stationed guards.
'That's right...I'm under watch,' I sighed, rembering my conversation with Furuya. 'Well, I guess it's a chance to make a good impression.'
I stepped out between my two guards. Upon hearing , they cocked their heads toward and glared. Both were ard with shortswords and makeshift brown leather armor.
Their armor had clear differences, but the sa couldn't be said for most of their physical features. They both had hair as golden as a adow of wheat and green eyes that rivaled eralds with their depth of color. Finally, their cheekbones and noses were symtrically chiseled down to the last curve.
Their only differences; one sported long wavy hair and a beard, while the other was clean-shaven with short hair.
"Good morning," I nodded, trying to maintain so semblance of friendliness.
The two looked at each other, then nodded to without saying a word.
Seeing their unfriendly response, I waved uneasily. "I'm just off to find so food," I motioned to my stomach and awkwardly chuckled.
At the ntion of food, the bearded one broke his deanor of seriousness. His eyes widened, and he let out a large grin. "Food?! Alright! I'm hungry too budd-"
Interrupting him was the other. He shot the bearded one a look of annoyance and growled. "Shut up, idiot! We're on duty!"
The bearded one slunk away and flashed a twitchy smile. Finally, he cleared his throat and straightened his face. "That's fine," he said, trying to maintain a serious tone, "we'll show you there."
From there, they led through the settlent. Probably due to the early hours, my path had little contact with others. I was grateful for it since it made my walk relatively peaceful.
That is until the bearded one spoke up again. "Hey! So if we're guarding you, we should get to know each other!"
I turned to match his gaze; he was childishly grinning beneath his beard.
"Idiot!" the short-haired one said. "Focus on guarding, not friending!"
The bearded one glanced at the other and stared for a mont. He, then returned his attention to . "So anyway, my na's Alan and he's Joseph. We're brothers, born to the Traunt family!"
I was glad one of the two was talkative; it made it easier to read his intentions. "It's good to et you, Alan. My na's-"
"Oh, General Furuya told us both already. You're so badass soldier from another world, right? That's so cool! Can you te-"
"ALAN!" Joseph snapped. "Just focus, would you?!"
Alan motioned his mouth to protest but was cut off by Joseph's pressuring glare.
"Okay, okay... I get it," Alan replied and held his tongue in silence.
After our conversation died down, I noticed a familiar rhythmic clanging. I'd heard it when we first arrived at the camp.
Over and over, it repeated, getting louder with every step I took. Eventually, the origin of the sound was revealed; it was the blacksmith, already hard at work.
Now that sunlight illuminated him, I could glean more details about his appearance.
Half his face was hidden beneath an unnaturally large, frayed gray beard. Like his hair, strands of his beard were twisted into a braid held by ornantal bands that snaked down his chest.
His most notable feature was his body's unique proportions. He was on the lower side of average height, and his chest was oddly bulky compared to his legs. Furthering the image of a "grizzled blacksmith," his burn-stained arms bulged with muscle. On one was a snaking pattern of tribal tattoos.
Alan raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, Barik! Working hard, I see!"
The blacksmith grunted back and projected a fierce look. He then returned to hamring away at the blade in front of him.
"Friendly as ever, I see," the bearded escort joked to the other.
But Joseph wasn't amused. "Would you act like a guard for once?" You're going to get us scolded by Hearth again."
Alan laughed and turned to Joseph. "It's fiiiiineee; you worry too much, bro."
As he scowled back, a visible crease in Joseph's forehead ford.
The two then bickered for the next several minutes.
Eventually, we arrived at our goal; a large, tented ss area fitted with makeshift tables, wooden log seating, and a cook's section.
Within the space for the cook was a large, dark gray cast iron cauldron suspended over an already roaring fire. It was surrounded by various wooden shelving and chopping tables. Completing the ensemble was a young man.
He sported a dirtied white apron over a pair of simple brown trousers secured with a rope belt. His tattered beige shirt added to his "peasant-like" appearance, while his deep brown eyes and hair complented his natural look.
We stepped closer, and the man looked up from his task of smashing a slab of red at. "Oh! If it isn't the Traunt brothers! Hello!" he lifted his hand and waved it, revealing the hamr he'd gripped for tenderizing at.
"What's up, Johnny!" Alan cheerfully waved back, much to Joseph's displeasure. "What's there to eat?"
The question made the cook grimace as he solemnly looked at his cutting board. When we stopped next to him, I could see why.
Given this was an area for cooking and eating, I expected to see steaming vegetables, boiling ats, and simring stews. But that wasn't the sight awaiting when we arrived. Instead, it was pitifully bleak.
Barring a few stale loafs of bread and thin gruel, the shelves and tables were mostly barren. There were a few slabs of dried ats, but nothing that supported the idea of a long-ti thriving settlent.
'Their food supply really is this bad?' Though I saw the ledger, I couldn't believe the settlent was in such dire straits.
Alan tried sneaking aside and picking off a chunk from one of the bread loaves. However, his hand was stopped when it was gripped by another's.
He looked up, and sheer terror sprawled across his face.
Joseph brought a hand to his forehead and mumbled the word "idiot." I could almost see his urge to disown Alan as a brother painted across his face.
Curious, I led my eyes up the arm attached to the hand, gripping Alan to place the face to whoever ambushed him.
Unlike the delicate hand grabbing him, its owner's expression was sadistic and evil. Within her silver eyes was the glint of murder.
"Try it, Alan... Try it and see how far you get," she squeezed down on his hand, causing him to wince in pain.
Alan nervously laughed and removed his hand away from hers. "Hearth! Very nice to see you! I was just...well," he sighed, knowing there was no way to explain away his actions, "I'll admit it. I'm super damn hungry!"
"We all are," she pulled her hands back and crossed them beneath her chest, "you need to deal with it, just like the rest of us."
"You're right! I'm very sorry!" Alan bowed. "We only ca here because Sato said he was on death's door without food!"
'What the hell?' I was taken aback. Never had I said anything along those lines. Sure, I said I wanted so food, but I wasn't dramatic about it. Was this guy trying to throw under the bus?
Hearth cast a quizzical look. Seeing my own, she must've discovered what was truly happening. "Huhhhh," she shook her head, "I'm delighted you lied, Alan! The latrines needed to be cleaned. Seeing how I'll be taking charge of Mr. Sato now... I guess that makes the two of you free for the job!"
Alan whined, but not more so than his brother. "Goddammit, Joseph! I told you we'll get in trouble!" he threw up his arms in a fit of frustration.
"Off you go!" Hearth said with a deceivingly sweet voice. Seeing her depraved look of satisfaction at the brother's misery, I decided it'd be best not to get on this woman's bad side.
Once the two were out of sight and their very loud arguing beca faint, she cast her gaze on .
She tore off a chunk of bread from a loaf on the table and handed it to . "General Furuya wants to see you. I'm only letting you have this because you'll need it. You ready to go?"
I knew I hadn't had a choice in the matter, especially if she sacrificed a chunk of their precious food for .
I could now see why the two brothers feared Hearth so much; she was a mischievously cunning fox. Her every action seed calculated to entrap those she interacted with.
So I smiled through clenched teeth and replied in agreent. "Absolutely!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)