dical Group 1-5: West Tents
dical Group 6-10: North Tents
dical Group 11-16: South Tents
East tents are on patrol in the morning, all groups should begin their daily maintenance for East platoons in the afternoon as they finish with their assigned duties. dical groups without current tasks should report to Central Admin for reassignnt!
Note that our stocks of heavy protective gear are temporarily in use for special assignnts. Teams on rotation in section North 3 should attend to priority cases only, and reserve regular maintenance for only those soldiers tasked to ice manufacturing or other essential camp duties.
South and West tents are all on duty tonight, please prioritize those quadrants over North if there is a need. It is essential that both on-duty groups be brought up to a high standard of readiness before tonights operations.
Lunch in the ss today is schnitzel with Esroun-style bean salad.
- Daily Bulletin for Waning 2, 693, Stahm Camp C
It was late afternoon by the ti they made it back to the port. Michael made a beeline for the harbormasters office, marching past rows of posters with his fathers leering face until he reached the rickety, salt-marked door. The clerk inside greeted him with an unimpressed stare.
Im looking for passage to Calmharbor for sixteen, he said. Any ships available?
A slow blink from the clerk was his only response. Glacially, the man reached across his desk to take a sheet of paper marked with titables; he studied it at length. Michael would have almost thought his presence had been forgotten, save that he could feel the amusent bubbling away behind those disinterested eyes.
Michael stared in mild disbelief at the clerk as he continued to pretend at studying the paper. Our titable is rather strict, he said, keeping his voice even despite a steady swell of irritation within him. If there is a fee for expedited processing-
Tomorrow, the clerk said. I dont have any more ships setting out today, not for Calmharbor. There is a freighter departing just after midday that has so free stowage; if you wish to inquire with the captain I can direct you to him.
Michael opened his mouth to thank the man, but the clerk raised his hand.
For a fee, the man said. Five crowns.
Michael glared at him; the sum was tantamount to robbery. The clerk seed unbothered by his expression, though, leavening his amusent with slight anticipation for the money.
The mans smug entitlent spurred another flare of irritation. Lives hung in the balance while this milquetoast bureaucrat held up their course for a bribe, sapping their limited funds. The impulse ca upon Michael to do anything but pay the man to seek elsewhere for information, to talk to captains directly, to stalk up to the desk, grab the infuriating little man by the neck and see how he resisted a question asked in Sparks voice-
Michaels eyes slid closed, and he took a breath. What was wrong with him? The port town teed with restless emotion, yes, and his own day had been trying thus far, but there was little call to contemplate violence against a man who was, although admittedly annoying, not harming anything save for his pocketbook. That it had co into his mind so readily disturbed him. He took another breath, long and slow, letting the light within him spread out to every corner of his being. It was warm, solid; it felt as though he was fixing himself more firmly into the world.
After another mont he opened his eyes to see the clerk looking at him.
If you are unable to pay, the man said, I will do my best to provide the information, but I cannot guarantee when I might find such a captain. The delay could be extensive.
No, Michael sighed, reaching into a pocket and withdrawing five large coins; he placed them on the desk one by one, pressing each with his finger until he heard the wood creak. His smile grew. Im sure the fee reflects the quality of the service Im about to receive.
The clerk paled; the paper slipped from his hands. His eyes flitted to the coins on the table, then back to Michael. Slowly, he picked up one of the coins, his attention lingering on the slight indent they left in his desktop. I may have spoken in error, he said quietly. Theres no need for a fee-
Rules are rules, Michael said cheerfully. Even if they mandate a steep fee. Wouldnt want to get you in trouble, would we? Now you said there was a ship tomorrow afternoon that we might make use of?
Let check my files, the clerk said, licking his lips. There might be an earlier departure I can direct you to.
Michael clapped his hands together sharply; the clerk flinched. Excellent, he said. Im confident youll find sothing appropriate. He waited by the desk as the clerk rifled through folders with barely-restrained nerves, looming only slightly.
There was a disembodied chuckle by his ear. Youre horrible, Sobriquets voice said. The poor man.
Five crowns? Michael murmured. Im basically letting him pick my pocket.
To be fair, you look like you can afford it, she replied. If it bothers you that much, you could take the coins back. I dont think hed object at this point.
Michael hesitated, then shook his head minutely. No, he said. I need to pay him.
You really dont, Sobriquet said. We could use that money for-
Sera. Michaels voice rose a little more than he had intended, and the clerk looked up in alarm. He smiled and shook his head, gesturing for the other man to return to his work. Not going to use my soul here, he said, dropping his voice once more. Im going to pay the man, just like anyone else would.
When I said I wanted to break you of your aristocratic habits, this is not where I had imagined wed start, she grumbled. But fine; you do as you please.
She fell silent, and a few monts later the clerk handed Michael a slip of paper with a pier and a na noted. The captain should be there after first light tomorrow, he said hesitantly. The ship leaves before midday. Was there anything else, sir?
Michael favored him with a smile. No, he said. I think that will be all. Youve been very helpful. Perhaps the next ti I co through here, Ill seek you out again.
The clerk paled. I shall look forward to it, he rasped. Have a pleasant day.
And you. Michael gave the man a friendly nod, then turned to leave. Once outside, he walked back to join the others where they were idling in a disused corner of the quay, well away from pedestrians who might bump into their veiled figures.
Tomorrow morning? Sobriquet asked.
Thats what it looks like, Michael agreed. I suppose well have to find a place to rest in Stahm for the night. Voss, any suggestions?
The soldier looked up at hearing his na, startled. Not sure, he said. When I lived here, I had a house. Plenty of inns by the quay, though theyre not the most reputable.
Zabala snorted. Im sure well manage, he muttered. What pier is the ship leaving from? If were going to sleep in a sty, it may as well be close to our berth.
Looks like fifteen, Michael said, squinting at the clerks spidery handwriting. The mans hand had been shaking when he wrote, which hadnt aided matters. I believe thats north from here.
They proceeded north without incident, managing to locate a relatively clean inn across from the indicated pier. After so awkward negotiations with the innkeep and yet more of their coin, they were able to rent the top floor of the building. By the ti they managed to get everyone upstairs without colliding with the other patrons or arousing suspicion from the innkeep, the sun was mostly set.
Michael moved to his rooms sole window, peering through the smudged glass at lights kindling up and down the dock. People still moved through the market despite the late hour, vendors eager to unload product while the light was too poor for their custors to get a proper look at it. He watched for a mont, then turned as Sobriquet slipped into the room carrying two mugs in her hand and a small box of food tucked under her arm.
The n are eating in one of the other rooms, she said. If you wanted to stop by.
He shook his head. Not tonight, he said. Not in the mood.
Is it the camp? she asked. I know its troubling them too.
After a monts consideration, Michael shook his head. Maybe, he allowed. It certainly didnt improve my mood. I keep thinking about that clerk.
Sobriquet snorted. That weasel of a man? What, you want to go get your money back?
I almost didnt pay him, Michael said. When I realized he was going to ask a bribe, I got very angry. I dont know why, its not as though he was particularly unusual. Jeorg had to bribe the harbormaster when we caught Ottos ship to the continent, sa scenario. He sighed. In that mont I only saw a petty, venal little man stepping in my way, and I thought about how easy it would be to move him. How trivial to push just a little and make him tell .
Sobriquets jovial manner had slipped as she listened to the tone of his voice. So why didnt you? she asked.
Because I didnt have to. Michael looked up at her. I had another path I could take, one that worked as well. There was no need for violence and it would have been violence, no matter if he never showed a mark. Ive been too free with Sparks soul lately, too focused on Luc. I needed to practice moving slowly, going through all the right steps.
That sounds suspiciously similar to Lucs whining, Sobriquet noted.
Not everything he said was wrong. There is a danger in letting your soul guide you down the easy path every ti. Michael took a drink from the mug of ale. I need to set limits.
Surely no harm would have co from denying that man his bribe. Sobriquet opened the box and took a piece of cheese, which she ate. As you said, it was extortionate.
Michael turned to her, frustrated; she t his gaze. You dont worry? he asked. You know what I am, what Im going to be in the coming years whether I like it or not. I cant beco accustod to using my soul for every task, because soon enough it will encompass every task. Everything around falling into place as I desire, and I worry that at the center of it there will be no space left for .
She did not answer imdiately, finishing her mouthful of food unhurriedly before turning towards him. I dont worry, she replied. Mostly because you do, and do it enough for the both of us. But more than that, theres no place in you that loves power. Most of us do, at least a little bit; youre one of the few n Ive t who downright hates it.
Yes, well I saw what benefit my father gained from all of his, I suppose, Michael muttered.
Sobriquets brows drew together; she moved closer to him. Is that whats bothering you? she asked. Those n we caught earlier, they were planning to kill him.
Michael considered for a mont, then shook his head. I dont think so? he ventured. At least, that piece doesnt trouble as much as all the rest. Its not as though I was looking for any sort of reunion with him. I should never like to see him again, and thats much the sa as death. He frowned. Better, even, since even in death Ill likely have to deal with him one last ti.
Sobriquet said nothing in response; for a ti the two sat and picked at the contents of their al. When the food had gone and the mugs along with it, Michael rose and strode towards the window once more.
You havent been sleeping well lately, Sobriquet observed. Ive noticed.
Havent felt a need to. Not sure why. A few hours feels like a full night these days. Michael shook his head. Im feeling a bit lancholy tonight, is all. Dont let keep you up. I can walk outside-
Get in bed, you idiot, she said, throwing one of their understuffed pillows at him. Im not going to leave you to mope around outside like so cow.
Michael tossed the pillow back and sat on the bed. I wont be able to sleep, he noted.
Then dont. Lie in bed and mope there, if you must. She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, then stretched out on her side of the mattress. Werent you just saying how its good to live your life as if you didnt have your souls power? She pointed at the bare half of the bed. Lay down and act like youre a normal, reasonable person.
Well, when you put it like that, Michael laughed, doing as she asked. She smiled at him, then closed her eyes; Michael did the sa, though he only did so to focus on his sight as it lofted high over the city. It was surprisingly bright, for all that it was past dark. Lanterns hung from buildings and carriages, and along the docks so forward-thinking councilman had arranged for a lovely row of gas lamps. He admired them for a mont more before letting himself drift through streets and alleys, inspecting the tops of buildings and their dark, cramped basents.
Eventually, though, he let his vision turn back upwards toward the stars. They twinkled high over the rooftops of Stahm, obscured only by a few wisps of cloud. It brought to mind the vast river of souls, streaming high overhead as they cycled back from death to life once more.
Even up here, he could feel the steady warmth of Sobriquet lying next to him, could hear the soft noise of her breath. It was another mooring, one that brushed away his tenebrous feelings of distance and solitude. There was at least one person who remained there, and close, and the thought of it swelled his heart with warmth. Michael felt a smile on his face as he listened to her sleep.
He turned his attention back to the stars.
His smile faded. There were fewer of them than there had been monts ago, the clouds gathering to shroud the bright sky from his view. More sward overhead as he watched, turning the night to darkened murk. People on the street clutched at awnings and bags in a sudden wind. His heart beating fast in his chest, Michael swung his vision about wildly; scanning across the city.
In the distance, there was a bright flare of light, casting the buildings in sharp shadows and throwing the clouds overhead into unnatural relief. People on the street began to shout, and screams echoed in the alleys; Michael stood abruptly from the bed. Sobriquet had already risen, grabbing at her coat.
Sothings happening, she said, her tone clipped. Cant tell where-
North side of the city, Michael said, feeling a deadly calm sweep over him. Hes here.
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