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  ‘That’s the spirit!’ voiced Brunick.

  Just like Brunick said the watchtower was unguarded and empty tonight. It was a lonesome building on the outskirts of the barracks, its top the best vantage point for many miles. From almost anywhere in the streets one could see a stone-built lit lamppost peaking just over the top of the battlements.

  Inside the tower they started circumventing the stairs, Cid growing at ease as he spoke of simple things with Brunick, Brunick electing not to tell him of a wandering Stelinger. At the top they walked onto the balcony and rounded the exterior stairs and… there she was.

  Alex and the tankard of ale was nowhere to be seen. Instead standing there and facing them was the one woman who called upon every ounce of love Cid could have for another.

  Elmira.

  Her face was slender and beautiful among a brown curtain of hair, her features illuminated delicately in the lamplight. She wore a dark purple gown and covered her shoulders with a thin black shawl.

  ‘Cid…’ she announced, barely loud enough for him to hear. Brunick quickly backed away, disappearing down the stairs again with a smile on his face.

  Stunned, Cid approached, his arms starting to spread and beckoning.

  She closed in on him, embracing. And they kissed. Lingering…

  Elmira broke the kiss, remaining in his arms.

  ‘Surprised?’ she asked playfully.

  ‘I really was and still am, although Brunick had me suspecting that something was afoot,’ said Cid laughingly. He could not hide his happiness.

  ‘Well, he did keep quiet until now which is…’ said Elmira.

  ‘Astounding,’ offered Cid.

  She smiled.

  ‘So you came all the way with Alex?’ asked Cid, trying to piece together how tonight had conspired.

  She nodded. ‘His scouting drill was perfect; me and mum were visiting the family at Ralna. At first I hoped to sneak along with the supply caravan to the barracks, but they cancelled it for some reason. So when I heard Alex would be passing by I arranged that he come and pick me up on the trip returning.’

  ‘I should thank them later on,’ said Cid in amusement.

  ‘You should, they both agreed to help out immediately,’ said Elmira.

  They grew silent and she rested her head against his chest. Cid could still not believe she was here and could feel nothing but gratitude as her warmth melted away any petty army politics that had troubled him earlier. They stood in bliss, but it did not take long before something else came to mind, now that Cid had indeed pieced tonight together.

  ‘Elm, I’m really happy that you’re here and all, but you knew that I was coming home soon, and you knew I was going to ask…’

  ‘I had to get away… I don’t want you to worry about that, it is nothing okay, we will be happy together, father will understand in time, I’ll talk to him some more,’ she said, her voice was growing weak and Cid picked up distress in her tone.

  ‘Elm, what happened, what’s going on?’ whispered Cid, trying to search her face.

  She lifted her head from his chest and met his gaze. Her face was a mask but a twin trail of tears had already stained her cheeks.

  ‘Father, he and that Fredrere, they already made an agreement on a date. They want to an arrange a marriage.

  Cid was crushed. Again he had expected this, but the reality was hard to shake. Even as he stood there he could feel the tug of the world pulling Elmira away from him.

  ‘When?’

  ‘Ten weeks from now,’ she breathed, burying her face against him.

  They grew quiet again and time slipped by.

  Elmira looked up, ‘don’t get lost on me soldier,’ tapping Cid lightly on his temple, ‘I didn’t come here so that you can plan your next chess match.’

  Cid forced a smile, ‘sorry.’

  She broke away entirely and stepped back while wiping at her eyes with her palms.

  ‘We can’t sulk like this,’ her voice thick with held up sorrow. She swallowed hard and looked intently at Cid, her hands fists at her side.

  ‘You were going to ask me, so ask me,’ she said, her voice firm and clear this time.

  Cid sighed heavily. ‘Elm, this is not the time or the place. We are at the top of a rustic military barracks and we have no one’s blessing, least of all your father’s. What’s more is that even if I do propose it’s not going to make any difference; no person or law will accept it.’

  ‘They should accept it, and you’re wrong; it’ll make a difference to me. If you propose, I’ll be happy. I want to be your wife Cid, more than anything.’

  ‘You should know that I’m already on my knee, begging you for your hand, but… what if we wait, wait until we are at the city garden, under the stars and with this whole mess behind us?’ said Cid.

  Elmira paused for a moment. ‘Wait until everything is perfect?’ she offered.

  Cid nodded. ‘Yes, until everything is perfect.’

  ‘That’s not going to happen, you know that!’ retorted Elmira in a swift change of tone.

  Cid frowned, lost for words.

  ‘We are under the stars now Cid, and you used to say that any barren desert or frozen tundra could be marvelled under a night sky of stars and then be perfected by my presence,’ said Elmira, playing the man with his own words.

  Cid glanced at the sky and then at Elmira again, deliberately admiring the situation.

  ‘I did say that,’ admitted Cid softly, reaching into his vest pocket.

  Elmira looked on in disbelieve as Cid held a small flat square casing in his hand.

  ‘You have the ring here!?’ she asked, a huge smile nagging to break onto her face.

  ‘The safest place; my vest pocket,’ patting his chest, ‘guess it worked out pretty well, me having to dress up for Bennam and all,’ he said with a smile.

  He stood closer to her. ‘You know, you really do take the wind out of my sails,’ he stated mockingly, ‘I was supposed to court you, and surprise you, and make a bit of a hunting trip of it really and…’

  ‘The hunt is over soldier, from here on we meet each other in the middle, we’re in this together now,’ said Elmira fondly.

  ‘Well then.’

  Elmira nodded, a smile etched on her face. Cid went down on one knee, presented and opened the casing. Inside was a thin band of gold, with a sizeable sapphire stone embedded into the ring. Elmira immediately knew that the ring cost but fractions of the collective jewellery Fredrere had already sent her, but the fool didn’t know her and would not have bothered to ask her what she preferred and disliked. Cid however knew, he always knew, and made sure he got her exactly what she would want.

  ‘Elmira, my love, would you honour the house of Rogana, and the heart of this soldier, by taking my hand in marriage?’

  ‘Yes, I will,’ said Elmira, blinking fresh tears from her eyes.

  Gently Cid took Elmira’s hand and slipped the ring on her finger. Elated she inspected the ring, appreciating it in the starry light the night had to offer. Cid rose and Elmira embraced him in a fierce hug again.

  ‘One more thing,’ murmured Cid.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘No more crying tonight, okay?’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ she said wiping her new tears away.

  Cid was in a fit of happiness and was about to grow silent again. Elmira noticed this.

  ‘Before you drift away, I have more to say,’ Elmira pressed with a smile.

  Cid met her gaze, showing her that he listened.

  ‘I’ll be staying the night and Alex will return me tomorrow morning.’

  ‘I had assumed that to be the case, I would have been crushed if you had to return tonight,’ answered Cid.

  ‘As would I. I can’t survive another unpleasant horse ride,’ said Elmira.

  ‘I will arrange a carriage for you in the morning. It won’t do to have my lady worn out and bruised,’ said Cid in playful chivalry.

  Elmira sighed. ‘That would be
great, but I’d rather remain unnoticed. Neither father or mother can know about me being here.’

  Cid nodded.

  ‘So do you at least have a decent room in this place?’ asked Elmira.

  ‘Well, it’s small, and it’s the same for everyone except the Commander’s chamber obviously, but I’d wager that my room is better off than most.’

  ‘Would be hard to picture you as a sloth,’ answered Elmira.

  They left the tower, Cid cherishing every step he took alongside his wife-to-be. Down in the street Cid took hold of her hand as they moved in and out of faintly casted specks of lamplight.

  ‘So did anything decisive happen here yet?’ asked Elmira.

  Cid shook his head in disbelieve at the situation. ‘You picked some night to show up, I just had a talk with the Commander and he warned me pre-emptively that Stelinger will be announced as the new Commander.’

  Elmira’s face instantly turned to disappointment, ‘Cid, I’m so sorry… there have been talks in town but I didn’t seriously think they would consider Stelinger.’

  ‘Wish I could say they were making a mistake, but Stelinger has a way of adapting to whatever the situation.’

  ‘So do you,’ answered Elmira firmly.

  ‘Still, he is the Commander now, not me.’

  ‘Hey, you will be Commander, just not yet. Trust me, with Stelinger off his leash he’s bound to impulsively compromise the army. You just have to hang on till the Kingdom realizes that Stelinger is a menace,’ said Elmira reassuringly.

  Cid smiled, nice to hear someone else sharing his view on the man. He however could not be bothered now by Stelinger or anything else, he was where he wanted to be.

  Cid squeezed Elmira’s hand and as her eyes rose to his, he said, ‘I love you…’

  Later that night Cid woke. Even in his sleep he was aware of the beauty he held in his arms, snugly pressed against him on the single bed. He knew instantly that she was fast asleep and far detached from the worry that threatened to envelope him.

  His proposal, and Elmira’s acceptance, no matter how pure would not survive a court ruling should Elmira’s hand already been offered to another man, especially one of Fredrere status. Elmira had been right, proposing had done much to brighten both of their moods, but beyond that it didn’t mean much.

  Just a gesture.

  It was hard not to panic, hard not to look at her and think about how she could be lost to him forever.

  Chapter 3

  Meet of War

  The following morning Cid and Brunick went out to see Elmira off. True to their arrangement they all rose very early to meet at the barrack’s stables. At the time it could barely be called dawn, but Elmira remained adamant that her family must be oblivious for now and therefore she needed to return as soon as possible. Cid for that matter was also well aware that if he was discovered having a woman over at the barracks he might as well resign before being discharged.

  Brunick carried and held up a big old lantern to guide their footing, sunrise and first-hour still awhile away. Cid assumed that Brunick had told Alex about his meeting with the Commander last night, for he did not ask anything upon the matter.

  Rather, on their way to the stables Alex noticed the ring on Elmira’s finger, both he and Brunick congratulating the couple excitedly. It bolstered Cid a bit, knowing at least someone approved, and then felt somewhat sullied again as Elmira took it off to hide it, knowing that parading with it would bring on unwanted attention in Ralna or Lanston.

  Cid was sure that he had something to say to her as they walked side by side, but his notions would not form words as the stroll to the stables didn’t seem long enough.

  Inside their good-bye was hurried and on Cid’s part clumsy, much courtesy of the helpless feeling he was nurturing. The kiss was brief and his hug reluctant. Cid murmured a few words but could not get what he had to say out properly. By the time Alex and Elmira were on the gallop Cid cursed himself, knowing that his distraught feelings had spoiled the parting. He felt an eerie sense of failure as he saw their outline going out in the darkness of the land.

  Whatever was going to happen at Lanston now he would not be a part of it.

  I will be back before they can force her to marry Fredrere, Cid reassured himself. Eight more days to go then we’ll be done with this place.

  Cid wandered back into the stables, specifically towards his own chestnut horse; Cilverhoof. The animal stood aroused with its head over the cabinet door, peering expectantly at Cid, snorting to hurry up its master. The barracks stables held only a small number of horses, so it was immediately noticeable that some previously empty cabinets were now filled up.

  Have the outriders returned then?

  Lingering on the thought Cid checked Cilverhoof’s food and water, which as he knew it would be, was well attended by the barrack’s stable master. Rather he went on to stand at the beast’s side, scratching its cheek and running a stroking hand gently across the animal’s back, horse and man finding mutual comfort at each other’s touch.

  Cilverhoof was in his prime, but he had not always been as strong and steadfast horse. Many years ago, Cid had received the foal as a giveaway because of a fracture in the hoof, which had become infected. Not many owners would want to care of, and others would have killed the horse even. The traders who gave the horse to Cid certainly wanted to so and could not understand why a young Cid would want it. They relinquished the horse into his care, glad that they did not have to sit with the ordeal, convinced Cid would have to do sooner or later what they wanted to.

  Cid however had heard of a pharmacist who used minute traces of silver in his salves to fight the dangers of infection. He had followed his example, and applied such a mix to the struggling and sickly horse's hoof. Cilverhoof had gone from not treading on the leg to running wildly in the pastures in no time at all. He was a good horse, special even, and had carried Cid through some of the toughest battles. It was the application of Cid's remedy however that had gained him the name, Silverhoof, yet with Cid being Cid, he had spelt it with a C rather than an S.

  ‘I’ll let you out when time permits. Maybe we’ll take a ride by noon,’ Cid spoke softly to the horse.

  Brunick wandered back to see where he had tarried, and swiped impatiently at Cid’s shoulder, ‘come on, let’s go breakfast!’

 

  There was a healthy gossip in the barracks by the time everyone was up and going. Cid caught enough of it to hear that the Commander was expected to make his announcements today. It wouldn’t be the first time the Commander leaked information on what was supposed to be a surprise assembly. At the moment though, only Cid and some others knew that it was going to happen for sure. I wonder if Stelinger knows? Maybe the Commander met with him privately also?

  The rest of the soldiers habitually shot the gossip down amongst themselves, discrediting the rumour to calm their nerves. They don’t know how right they are today…

  By the time they were seated in the dining hall Cid knew that the soldiers were picking up on some signs though. The men here were all of rank and most of them quite wily, their experience telling them that something would happen today.

  ‘Hmm, the porridge is bland… do you think something other than the announcements might be up?’ asked Cid at Brunick, who was stuffing his mouth without pause.

  Swallowing his mouthful Brunick gave half a laugh. ‘How do you figure that one?’

  ‘The other men seem to think along those lines. Apparently some of the outriders reported in yesterday and it’s got at least a few of the soldiers revved up.’

  ‘Since when do you bother yourself with gossip?’ asked Brunick, determined for now to keep his sentences short so he could focus whole-heartedly on his sausages.

  ‘It’s the butter Brunick - we don’t have butter for our porridge. We have an easy supply line from Ralna, meaning we get a compact amount of fresh goods every week. We’ve hit our fourth week marker assuming we really are staying here for e
ight more days, yet we didn’t receive any more supplies. Elmira told me yesterday she wanted to come in with the caravan, but then had to change the plan because the supplies were cancelled.’

  Brunick frowned, ‘so?’

  ‘It means we’ll be getting a mid-week restock from Lanston in all likelihood, coinciding with the rumour that we have a regiment of men coming along as well for our next skirmish at the border,’ said Cid.

  Brunick lifted his left eyebrow, his mouth bloated with milk and porridge which he drank from the bowl rather than shovelling it in with his spoon. Wiping his mouth clean he voiced, ‘you know, you’d actually be doing yourself a favour if you didn’t see patterns to everything all the time.’

  ‘I’ve kept us alive a couple of times by being observant,’ retorted Cid with half a smile.

  ‘Yeah, and I’ve always watched your back while you were dreaming up your little plans,’ said Brunick.

  ‘I wouldn’t dare forget it, my friend,’ said Cid.

  ‘Hey look! The Commander decided to come out of that shell of his. He’s sitting at the head table!’ said Brunick. Cid looked up to his right, seeing Bennam and Piatil seating themselves amongst the men.

  ‘I told you something’s up.’

  Brunick grunted and waved away Cid’s notion, focusing on carefully cracking his boiled eggs.

  Cid almost wanted to admonish Brunick for pigging out like this, but he knew that if a border call-up was imminent it would be the last opportunity for a soldier to eat a well prepared meal. And as a soldier you never knew when you’ll be having your very last meal. It would also implicate that if Cid was to go on active duty any time soon he would not have the chance to sort matters with Elmira’s family. The possibility put him on edge and he finished his porridge in silence.

  Afterwards Cid wandered the barracks alone. He was inclined to go to Commander Bennam directly and ask him straight out whether or not there would be a call-up soon. But then again, if the Commander knew of a possible border threat surely he would have told him last night? Of course Bennam had remarked on Cid and Stelinger’s potential past the border last night, but that was not a hint of a war lurking, was it?

  Either way he felt a bit estranged from the Commander, knowing he had chosen Stelinger over himself, and wasn’t at all up to talking with him right now. Instead he chose to ask around, trying to determine if he had grounds for being worried. Recalling the newly stabled horses this morning Cid queried if anyone knew the whereabouts of the outriders, which the men were quick to answer to.