Silverpine, End of Second War
"What?"
"Let's go. We're going to see if our guesses were right." Hekter glanced around again, then started moving quietly down the hill into the dark. I can't believe he's going to trespass onto the farm. Surely Uldor didn't want me doing this... He couldn't have! I'm a squire, I made oaths not to lie or sneak about or... He realized he was being left behind. He ran up to the edge of the hill, and was immediately pulled down roughly by Hekter.
"Don't stand on any hill or edge where your silhouette will be seen. Always crouch or crawl over them. Now come on, quietly." Loem followed the near-silent scout down into the farm's only field.
"Too bad they don't have corn or wheat. We'd be able to hide in it." Loem commented, barely whispering, but Hekter heard, as he turned back and nodded, a slight smile on his lips. He used military hand motions to indicate they should move for the barn. They skirted around the edge of the field near the fence to the barn, the doorway open just enough for them to slip in.
"This farmer is too used to peace and quiet." Hekter whispered quietly, just inside the door. He then pointed to the wall and Loem followed his finger to see several tools hanging there. Several sickles, hoes, and pitchforks, along with tack for one horse and a harness that no doubt attached to a plow or wagon. Hekter was right... and my guesses weren't far off, either.
With his finger over his lips the dark-clad soldier crept forward, Loem right on his heels, to peer around the corner into the barn proper. An old, swaybacked mare stood snoozing in a nearby stall. More wool was caught on the rough planks inside, and sheep droppings littered the straw-covered floor. The sheep were nowhere to be seen, and Loem realized that Hekter was right again, they had to be off in a nearby field. Hekter moved forward swift but silent, motioning for Loem to stay near the door.
He moved in a way that made it nearly impossible to see him, even for Loem, who knew he was there. As he made his way around the barn, Loem glanced around, trying to take in all he could see, now understanding that Hekter wanted him to learn to take in a lot of information at once and sift through it later. He did his best to memorize the inside of the barn as Hekter finally stopped at a tarp-covered pile of what Loem thought might be extra hay.
Hekter reached out and lifted the tarp, revealing a huge pile of newly-sheared wool. Loem smiled, but then jumped when a dog barked outside, followed closely by the bleating of sheep. Hekter's answering smile was erased immediately as he rushed back to the doorway and peered outside.
"Alright, Loem. New exercise. You're about to be spotted by enemy combatants, and you're alone. If you attack, there are dire political consequences. Get out of enemy territory, don't be seen, and make sure you keep this safe." With that, he pushed the rolled up tarp into his hands and bolted out the door, silent as the shadows he blended into.
Loem was alone in the farmer's barn, holding... What? Oh, gods, it's some wool! He never said anything about stealing! Loem was breathing hard now, confused and scared of getting caught. He wanted to leave the wool here, but Hekter had definitely given it to him for a reason. Okay, first things first, gotta get out of this barn.
He looked out the door and was almost spotted by the boy that was working to get the sheep back into the barn. Damn! Hesitated too long! What to do, what to do? He moved back into the barn, quiet as he could, the tarp filled with wool under one arm. In the shadows of the barn, he was hard to see, but he knew he wasn't as good as Hekter and would no doubt be spotted. Racking his brain for ideas, he heard the barn door creak open behind him. Out of time! He nearly panicked until he remembered seeing a ladder leaning against the wall. He rushed for it, clambered up as quietly as he could and settled onto a rafter, praying to the gods it would hold his weight.
The shepherd and the sheep were loud as they poured into the barn, after the silence that had enveloped Loem and Hekter for the time they were inside. He used the sound to move through the rafters to a nearby window, hoping the boy wouldn't look up or that the dog wouldn't see or smell him. Luck seemed to be on his side, as he reached the window without being seen by the boy who leaned lazily on his shepherd's hook, obviously tired.
He stole a glance out the window and nearly lost his footing. He was facing the farmhouse and there was a figure in the window... a woman. Did she see me? Did she know I was- A screech from the house left no doubt. Yes, she spotted me. Loem could hear a clattering in the farmhouse and yelling. It sounded like the woman was yelling to her husband.
"Thief! Thief in the barn!" The door of the farmhouse burst open to reveal a disheveled farmer in his pajamas, his frightened wife right behind him in a gown, screaming. It would have been funny if Loem didn't also notice the large gun the farmer was carrying and the angry look on his face. Light poured from the doorway from a lamp in the house and Loem knew he was out of time. He made a leap through the window, twisting in air to land and roll as he had been taught, but the farmer was nearly there, and Loem could hear him cocking his rifle to shoot.
Damn. He turned to get up and run, but the barrel of the gun was right in his face. Loem's eyes followed the barrel up to a very angry-looking farmer. "Thought you could steal from Old Gerard, eh, boy? Maybe this'll teach you." He cocked the hammer back and Loem winced knowing what was coming. But it didn't come. He risked opening his eye and his heart skipped a beat.
Hekter had been there, watching the entire time. His hand was on the barrel of the gun, pulling it away, his other hand steadily holding a dagger at the farmer's throat, the silver shining in the moonlight. "Now, now oldtimer, you don't want to hurt my little friend there. He's small fish." Loem was surprised at how menacing Hekter sounded, and how naturally and calmly he held the dagger to the man's throat. It was frightening to watch, and he could only imagine how the farmer felt.
Once he had the gun in his possession, Hekter pulled away, the dagger disappearing into it's sheath in his belt again without leaving a mark on the frightened farmer. "Get up, Loem." He obeyed, blushing a deep scarlet, thankfully hidden under the black makeup. Hekter came over and brushed him off, making sure he was unhurt. The farmer still stood there, confused, his hands slowly balling into fists, ready to fight. Hekter noticed and smirked for Loem to see, then turned his attention to the farmer.
"My apologies, oldtimer. This was just an exercise that went rather badly." Hekter reached into his pocket for a pouch which he presented to the farmer. It clinked heavliy as he held it up and Loem realized it was full of money, probably gold coins from the sound. "Payment for your loss of sleep and the scare." The farmer, interested in the money but still distrustful, reached out slowly. Hekter tossed it the rest of the way and turned back to Loem. "You can give them the wool back as well. Oh," and he turned back to the farmer, now flanked by his son and wife. "You should really lock your barn up at night. Had it been me, all your wool would be gone by now." He chuckled and grabbed Loem by the shoulder, walking away down the lane, leaving the dumbfounded family in their wake.
Loem let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. I wonder how much trouble I'm in.
"You did well." Hekter finally said and Loem snorted in surprise. "Truly. Perhaps you waited a bit too long in the doorway, but you saw the ladder and made your way for an alternate exit. That was quick thinking." Hekter patted him on the back.
"But... but I failed. I got caught. And that farmer would have shot me if you hadn't been there." Loem looked down, embarrassed again.
"Well, that's true, but that's also why I was there. Uldor would've had my head if I let you get shot." He grinned. "You might have gotten away with it if you hadn't stood directly in the window. The wife saw your silhouette. Turn around and look at the barn again." Loem did so, barely seeing it through the trees. "See the window? It's actually a pass through so they can use the area above as storage for hay with an easy way to get it in and out. That barn was in disrepair, or was never actually finished. There are two windows there, though, so she could see you, perfectly framed. Always stay to the side of windows."
With that last bit of advice they made their way back to camp where the soldiers were all sleeping. Loem wiped off the black makeup and crawled into his bedroll.
I'm going to be so sore in the morning, he thought as sleep finally took him.
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