Citizen Service

 

Kyllen was a baker's apprentice. The only blades he had ever handled with any skill were found in the kitchen. Even then, he managed to cut himself - somehow - at least once a month.

Yet, here he was, walking the sunset ramparts with other untrained men and women called to service by the Duke's latest dustup with a cave full of pissed-off Gargs.

The letter bellowed out by the town crier and nailed to the castle gate had said...

By the DUKE

A Proclamation

For

Protecting Our Beloved Subjects

And

Ancestral Properties

Whereas our Sovereign Lands have been defiled by bloodthirsty Gargs having no respect for our Laws and our Ways and,

Whereas by their many Disturbances and Slaughters of our subjects, our livestock, and properties have shown to be our Enemies and,

Whereas enmity has forever been their lot against our peaceful people and,

Whereas our recent enforcement Action against them has depleted our Soldiers

We therefore declare that all Men of ages 18 unto 50 and all Women of ages 18 unto 30 without small children

Shall be called upon for Service to the Duke for a period not less than One Month.

Our Gallant Citizens shall muster upon the Castle Green on or before the first day of October to receive a bounty of two Silver Coins, Arms, and Assignments for Duty

In order that Officers may have their several quotas immediately furnished, and sent on to Duty Locations, for the service of the ensuing Troubles.

So Kyllen stood in line most of a day to receive two long daggers, a haversack, and a slip of paper promising to pay two silver coins "at a later date." His assignment was to the castle itself under Serjent Pondra, a scarred woman as big and frightful as any man.

The daggers were of foreign manufacture, maybe even from Elvenari smiths.

As he walked the ramparts on his fifth night of service, he smelled a terrible odor. It was like body odor mixed with raw sewage. He heard a yell that was suddenly muffled, followed by silence.

Then his daggers started to glow.

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