Soldier at the Door(168)

Walickiah leaned back and analyzed the corporal. His forwardness and friendliness were, again, not what he was expecting.

“Not a problem,” he answered casually. “I understand the race was very close.”

“Oh, it was,” Zenos nodded. “I’ve never run so hard in my life. Right now I’m feeling every muscle, and each is complaining loudly!” He chuckled pitifully. “Fortunately Shin scheduled me to have the next few days off so I can recover. I should’ve won that race, Walickiah. A few things slowed me down, though. The first was an unexpected kiss at the village green.”

Walickiah smiled half way. “Heard about that. I understand a few soldiers offered to take your place when the rest of your disappointed admirers didn’t get their opportunities with you.”

Zenos smiled. “The second,” he said, focusing on a mug in front of him and turning it slowly, “was an unexpected man in the forest.” His voice was barely audible above the dull roar of the soldiers around them talking and eating. “I had to tag a tree on the edge of it, and there he was. You know what that man said to me, Lieutenant?” Zenos looked up into Walickiah’s eyes with a piercing glare.

Walickiah swallowed. “No one else mentioned seeing someone in the forest, Corporal.”

Zenos nodded slowly. “No one else noticed. Too caught up in the race, I suppose. But that man seemed to be expecting you.”

Walickiah’s eyes grew large. “This is not the place to speak,” he hissed.

Zenos looked around at the noisy mess hall and gave Walickiah an easy smile. “No one can hear anything,” he said quietly. “I’ve tested it many times. But I agree. I have a better place for us to speak.”

He stood up abruptly and walked out of the mess hall.

Walickiah followed him a moment later. He stepped into the hallway and saw Zenos walking stiffly out of the main reception room and towards the darkening compound. Walickiah maintained his gait several paces behind Zenos as the corporal headed out the quiet and darkening northeast gates.

The lieutenant glanced around before following. No one paid him any attention.

Outside the gates Zenos didn’t slow down but continued to head for the forest. Walickiah trotted to catch up to him.

“Zenos,” he whispered loudly, “where are you going?”

“Where no one else goes,” he said as Walickiah caught up to him.

“Because if you saw a Guarder, you should’ve reported it immediately. It didn’t matter if it was a race, the safety of the village is more important—”

Zenos stopped and spun to face the lieutenant. “No one can hear us. You can drop the act. I know who you are and why you’re here. Now follow me. I know you’re not afraid to.” Zenos took off again in a march, as quickly as his exhausted body would let him, to the fresh spring at the edge of the forest.

Walickiah glanced around again, saw no patrols nearby, and caught up to Zenos who headed straight into the trees. The lieutenant followed him into the forest without breaking his stride.

“Look, Corporal, I’ve been hoping for an opportunity to speak with you. I’ve been assigned to help you with—”

Something clamped onto the lower half of his face. He couldn’t even yank at it, because his arms were pulled roughly behind him, and a thick rope tied his wrists firmly together. The enormous dark brown hand holding his face suddenly let go, only to shove a piece of cloth into his mouth, then secure it with another rope around his head. It wasn’t even possible to kick, because something was wrapping tightly around his lower legs.

Zenos stood calmly at the edge of the spring watching as six large men in green and brown mottled clothing rendered Lieutenant Walickiah, in a matter of seconds, immobile and silent.

The corporal nodded once at the lieutenant who lay on the ground stunned, but growing furious.

“Sorry about this. Really not in my nature. But then again, that’s what I told the last man sent to interfere. Shin’s mine, and I don’t need any assistance. You’re resigning your commission as of tonight.

“You really are very sloppy,” he said, taking a step closer. “There was no man at the edge of the forest. That you fell for that so easily demonstrates you’re not ready for this assignment. Tell me honestly, has Shin seen your handwriting?”

Walickiah stared at him for a few moments until what the corporal was saying made sense in his mind. Finally he shook his head.

“Any messages sent to him? Anything in your permanent file?”

Again Walickiah shook his head, now baffled. He was resigning?! There had been another man? And who were these men?!