First Watch

As Fred is tired, Checkers offers to take the first watch. She pours a thick, pitch-like substance in the bottom of the little lantern, borrows a firestick from Fred, and lights the lantern. Fred lies near the lantern, basking in its warmth. A heavy, pungent, but mildly pleasant kerosene- like odor hangs in the air, and Fred watches the flickering tongues of flame until he falls into a dreamless sleep.

Fred wakes up. Although there is no sure way to know in this cavern, Fred suspects that more than the alloted time for the first watch has passed, and that Checkers has been giving him extra time to sleep. Most of the aches of the previous day are gone, although there is some stiffness in his joints from sleeping on marble. The swelling in the ankle has been greatly reduced, and most of the pain has gone away. Fred tries to put his weight on it, and a pang of pain makes him stop. Checkers has removed the spearpoint from her spear, and offers it to him as a crutch. Fred is able to move steadily, although he cannot run. Fred smells the some sort of meat, and sees that Checkers has cooked a savory, if unusual, breakfast. She stretched the stringy meat of one wallhugger remarkably far.

"It is my turn now," Fred says.

"Fred, I won't be able to get to sleep. I feel that there was something just beyond the light, beyond this cavern. It wasn't like a wallhugger, or something like a bear. I didn't feel like it would cut or crush us. It felt worse in some way that I can't describe." She looks away, ashamed. "I don't normally feel this way, not without something more than what I am telling you. I would just feel better if I were awake, and ready."

"Checkers, my mentor, the Marshall of Suffex, often told me that 'trying to be constantly alert is the same as not ever being alert.' Rest mends many things besides ankles and wings. In addition to your skill with the spear, you have shown me good sense and courage. If you do not get rest, the edge on those two valuable weapons risks getting dulled."

"In this chamber," Fred continued, "I can see clearly, and I have a good sharp sword and a clean conscience. While I can easily imagine mightier weapons, I have to trust these. Please trust me, as I have trusted you."

Checkers nods reluctantly, and extinguishes the little lantern. Fred fiddles with his makeshift crutch. The feathers on the end appear to be from a large bird. The wood in the spear is unusually light, although quite sturdy. Over most of the spear length are shallow spiral grooves. At the top, toward the feathery end, are some carvings. At the very top is an etching of some sort of pig with four vertical lines. Below that is a carving of a bear, with one line. Below that is an image of a dragon, with a smooth space beside it.

Fred looks down on the marble toward his companion. She has her hands over her head, and knees tucked up against her stomach, allowing her wings to cover most of her body. She breathes at the slow and steady rhythm of someone who is sleeping. "She doesn't look like she weighs more than six stone", Fred thinks. "If those markings mean what I think they mean, she is a lot tougher than she looks - and she is definitely going after the dragon. That can only be good. I wonder how she is able to survive alone, though, as she appears to have done. Well, if things go the way I expect, I should find my answers as we advance into the dragon's lair."

1. The second watch passes without incident.
2. Fred sees a vision.
3. A lone figure enters the room.

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree