The Nightcrest Wight, Part 1
Year 683
Garrison Headquarters, Gilnas City
Jackson was nervous. This was going to be his first assignment outside of the capital, and he didn't want to disappoint. But he was standing in front of the Praetor right now, he couldn't show nerves.
"Nervous, soldier?" Praetor Zell asked. "You're shaking like you got hypothermia."
"N-no Sir!" Jackson stammered. Did he blow it already?
"Relax. It'll take you a few days to get there. Now. Optio Herydark, what do we know?" Zell returned his attention to the black haired elf standing next to Jackson.
"Praetor Sir, the only information we learned has been in the letter Prince Nightcrest sent you." Optio Elora Herydark stood at parade rest in front of Zell's desk, her gaze fixed forward.
"Yes yes, he suspects a wight or other undead of some kind." Zell waved his hand dismissively. "I want your thoughts on the reports from the Nightwatch that were included."
"I..." Elora paused. "...respect the Nightwatch." The words dripped with sarcasm.
"Go on." Zell raised an eyebrow.
"Twelve pages of speculations, a drawing of clouds, and not a single confirmed fact. The Praefectus Castrorum himself isn't sure what to make of the drawing. We speculate it's to show how 'wrong' they are."
Zell cleared his throat. "Herydark."
"Sir?"
"I want you to go along with Jackson. I'll pick two others. You leave tomorrow. Dismissed."
Elora stiffened. "Yes Sir."
---
Back in her quarters, Elora groaned. She didn't want to go to Nightcrest, those backward lunatics would have them on a wild goose chase for weeks. She turned her attention to the skeleton sitting on the chair in the corner of her room.
"Frederick, how do I deal with the Nightwatch?" She flopped on her bed and sighed.
"They're smarter than they look." The skeleton cackled after saying this.
"You say that about everyone!" She huffed.
The skeleton kept cackling. "Not my fault you all look like idiots."
---
Like most times when he had a problem, Jackson found himself on the pleasure pier at the Lake. Looking out over Lake Durdes, he watched the sun slowly set and the glow of the streetlamps appear.
"Thought I might find you here." A voice interrupted his thoughts. "Nightcrest, is it?"
"Yeah." Jackson was quiet. "I'm worried, Sam."
Sam laughed. "Ronald Jackson you were born worried!"
Jackson didn't look at him. "I told you not to use my first name." He half-whispered.
"You're overthinking this. Nightcrest isn't as bad as the stories say." Sam joined him, leaning on the pier. His fingers drummed on the wood, just a little too fast.
"I'm more worried about what the stories don't say."
---
The next day, Jackson and Elora were in the briefing room at the Garrison. Elora distinctly remembered Zell saying he was going to pick two others for the mission, so why was it just the two of them? And where was the Praetor?
"Has the Praetor ever been late before?" Jackson whispered.
"I've known him for over ten years and this is the first time." Elora remained standing, but looked at the empty chairs around the table.
Just as concern was starting to show on her face, the door swung open and Zell entered the room, flanked by two other soldiers.
"Apologies Jackson, Herydark." Zell was as jovial as ever, but there was an undercurrent that neither of them missed. "An incident at the Castle drew my attention this morning. Miller and Sandhammer will be joining you."
A male dwarf and a human woman entered as Zell finished speaking. Jackson recognised the woman as Sandra Miller, a former archer in the Royal Gilnan Army. She had transferred to the Garrison after the Veiled Pass incident. The dwarf though seemed unfamiliar.
"I don't think we've met." Elora said to the dwarf, her voice pleasant enough to pass for warmth. "Optio Elora Herydark."
The dwarf gave a nod. "Daelin."
Jackson noticed his armour wasn't standard Garrison issue. Too much gold, too many gem inlaid runes on the vambraces. If he was from the Empire he was a long way from home, but nothing about Tostein sounded like home to him.
"Herydark. You're heading the investigation." Zell got straight to the briefing, wasting no time.
The briefing was short and to the point, just the way Elora liked it. No fluff, no nonsense about staying safe, just realistic goals and threat assessments.
"Herydark." Zell said, as they began to leave the room.
"Yes Sir?"
"Take the Mule."
Elora was surprised. "Sir?"
"You know what the road to Tostein is like." Zell said, his tone dropping.
Elora nodded. What he didn't say came across very clearly. "Sandra, you good with horses?"
She glanced at Zell before speaking. "They tolerate me."