FrivYeti/CalinPg2
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"Where is that boy?"
Garamond Silas looked out along the road, a deep frown creasing his face. Cracking his knuckles, he shook his head, turning to the man next to him. "What time do you make it, Theron?"
Theron Markus glanced at the sky, and frowned. "At least half past noon, I'd say. I could go inside and check the clock."
"Not needed." Silas frowned even more deeply, turning back to the road. "It's quite late enough. Arsman Cassus should be here by now."
"Well, sir, Adar has always been a bit... um... moonheaded. Perhaps he was just delayed." Markus followed Silas's gaze, not certain despite himself. Everyone was aware of Silas's prodigious temper when it came to breaches of orders, and it wasn't like any of his soldiers to be half an hour late. After a moment, Markus sighed. "Should I get a few of the boys together to look for him?"
"Couldn't hurt." Silas turned to his lieutenant now. "We can spare three or four, after all. The garrison runs fine on twenty-five. Who's supposed to be heading back?"
"That would be Bryce... er, Armsman Garamond, sir."
"Hrm." The captain nodded after a moment. "Very well, then. Send him, along with, oh, Arsman Shandy and Armsman Rabalais. They've got good heads on their shoulders. And it's probably nothing, anyway." He smiled then, his stern features dissolving into a more pleasant expression. "The boy probably started getting some of those leaves together for the fishmonger and lost track of time."
Markus laughed. "It wouldn't surprise me. I'll go tell the boys they've got something to do."
"Aw, man." Garamond Bryce leaned back against the wall, shaking his head. "Do we have to go? Adar's a wandering fool. He probably went to the south garrison by mistake." Reaching up, he brushed red hair from his eyes as he looked around the room, an expression of annoyance on his face.
"Hey, look on the bright side, Bryce. We get some excercise, and it's a lovely day." Rabalais Brewan grinned, reaching up to pat the taller armsman on the shoulder. "Beats being cooped up in the fortress."
"Easy for you to say, you've got another eight hours to go. I was supposed to head back to town half an hour ago." Bryce made a face. "I told Amanda that I'd meet her at the Beech for lunch, you know? She's going to be furious."
"Well, she can bring it up with the Captain." Markus shook his head. "Think of it this way - the sooner you find them, the sooner you can go eat." He nodded to the three armsmen. "Any other questions?"
"No, sir." Shandy Redman, who had remained silent to this point, nodded to the other two. "Let's go."
"Bet you a koku we find him sleeping on the side of the road." Bryce continued to grouse as the three filed out.
"No bet!" Brewan laughed. "I like my money in my own pouch, thank you, and the odds are too far in your favour." He smiled, letting the others take the lead. Markus watched them go, shaking his head. He hoped that their easy attitudes were right, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on.
With a final shake of his head, Markus left the courtyard to do a quick patrol. Dragons willing, the young men would be back shortly, and there was nothing more to be done about it. Besides, they were probably right. What was the chance of danger striking within the safe side of the garrisons?
