Day 208

Day 208

Full moons shouldn't be this quiet.

Or maybe that's normal in the middle of winter.  The reptilian ones certainly shouldn't be out in this.  But then, I'd also heard that they didn't care about the cold as much as humans do.

I can't complain, though.  The all-nighters are always unpleasant, but watching my breath fog up and staring at the starry sky is a pleasant reminder of more peaceful days.  The other students would get steadily worse and worse with their practice as the days got colder.  A chuckle escapes my lips as I remember James' sword shaking in his hand, his teeth clattering as he informed me that I had to've been cheating somehow.

I wasn't.  He just didn't know the trick of ignoring discomfort yet.  We were all taught that, but some of us had already been trained in the field, in a sense.

I wonder if he's cold.

I take a turn and start heading toward the beach.  I don't know why – the monsters don't go there to hunt, I don't think.  Who knows, maybe the aquatic ones will be around, and I'll have work to do.

---

It's easier to think out here.  The scent of the ocean seems lesser – muted by the cold.  The moonlight reflects off of it, lighting up the horizon.  The still, pleasant scene is enough to clear my mind and let me relax in spite of myself.

I am alone with my thoughts, as I am so often.  As is the person further down the street.

The figure is just standing there on the side of the road.  It seems to be staring out toward the water.  If I weren't looking directly at it, I'd swear I must be wrong.  A man wouldn't do that for long in this cold., and a monster?  It could be still in ambush, but why would it just stand there, and why wouldn't it face where men might come from?

I approach, and with every step I'm more certain that it's humanoid.  It shouldn't be, though.  I'd remember if I'd passed a statue along this route.
“It's a nice evening,” she says.  It says.  I can't tell yet.
And then it turns, and I can.  “Good evening, young paladin,” it offers.  I can't say what it is – but I know from experience.  Humans have flaws, asymmetries, scars.  Our hair doesn't fall like that constantly, nor our eyes reflect the light quite so well.  It's all obvious, if you've seen it a thousand times before.
“Good evening.”  The response is more reflex than intention.  My throat aches slightly – more from being newly healed than from any remaining damage.  It must have assumed by my stance what I was doing, or else it senses magic.  Either way, it's more of a threat than the others I've seen tonight.

“You seem stressed.  Are you cold?”
“No.  I do well in the cold.”  I slow to a stop as I near it just enough to make out colors.  Blond hair and blue eyes.  Both sharp, like they're just a hint too intense.
I can make out the smile on its face.  “I don't.  I never could stand the cold.”  It lets out something between a tired sigh and a bitter, joyless laugh.  “Hardly seems fair, does it?”
“It does to me.  I'm wearing clothes and am comfortable, and you are neither.”

“Don't you dare joke about this.”  The voice is quiet, but serious.  “After you all took the warmth from my life.”  It turns, dragging something off of the barrier separating the road from the beach.  Something long – a quarterstaff?  No.  The moonlight glints off of the tip of it.  Its voice slowly builds into a scream as it asks “Why do you get to be fine while I'm so damned cold!?”

It moves, then, as do I.

---

I feel the deja vu as Erlinson slowly walks over to me.  His expression is severe this time.  It slowly relaxes into something as a smile as he gets closer.
“Victor.”
“Sir.”
“Odd case.”
“Yes sir.”
He slows to a stop, resting his hand on the handle of his mace.  “Monster tries to kill a paladin,” he starts.

“It wasn't attempted murder.  It was death by paladin.”

He's silent for a moment.  “There's no way to really tell what it was planning.”
“I know.  I fought it.”
“It didn't say-”
“I know.”
For a while it's just him and me, relatively silent as we watch the handful of human officers handling identification with a pair of paladins guarding.  It strikes me that I can see his breath in the cold air, but it's completely silent.  “Well, if that's how it has to be,” he finally says.  His voice sounds defeated – more than it ought to.  “I was hoping for some good news tonight.”
“Sir?”

“Someone infiltrated the Caithness embassy.  Killed diplomats, staff, guards – everyone.  Took the flag down and put it back up after soaking it in blood.  Someone just went to a lot of effort to start a war.  I imagine they might've succeeded.”

I should feel something about that.  Instead, I simply wonder if I'm going to turn this blade against men.

I feel his hand clap on my shoulder.  “We've got a few more hours until daybreak, Victor.  Duty calls.”

“Yes sir.”

I rise, shivering in the bitter cold, and continue my rounds.