Corporal Staten, sir. He was the one reported missing this morning sir".
He heard a faint muffled murmuring behind him. He turned and saw two guards turned towards each other and whispering. They caught his gaze and quickly stood to attention. He took a look up at the statue. It did look like a guard, the uniform it was wearing was correct down to the standard issue boots. It had it’s sword drawn in an outstretched arm, but it’s face was the only strange part. It was contorted into a strange expression, not one of proud solicitude, or even one of joy. It looked more like, fear? Anger? Surprise even?
He cast a gaze over his men, and the still watching crowd. Most eyes were one him, but a few were looking up at the figure of the man on the fountain and whispering to their neighbour. He caught the eyes of the guard still in front, staring up at him.
"Are you sure about your observation Ms Alsen?" he said finally, after some quick mental processing.
"Lance Corporal Ashen sir, and I'm absolutely sure sure. I had only found the ones in the fountain, but when I noticed, I knew immediately it was him sir. He had been my patrol partner sir."
"Perhaps someone simply wishes to show their appreciation of such a valuable member of the guard!" he announced to the square around him. Some guards gave a small chuckle, but the silence of the rest overwhelmed them and they stopped quickly.
"Hmpf, that it all I see, unless you can offer a better explanation". He bent down, so that his face was on the same level as hers and stared intently. Her face did not move.
"There have been some reports of unnatural behaviour sir, strange shapes appearing on rooftops, people vanishing without a trace, and most recently a large amount of crates seemingly floating in the air sir, as well as other unexplained activities." She finished and remained silent while waiting for a reply.
He stared, his eyes narrowing slightly. After a few second he straightened up and his grin returned.
"Well, it all seems very mysterious certainly, but these are just rumours, gossip, unreliable in every sense of the word. I see no point in taking this any further. I would appreciate you not wasting my time again in the future, Lance Corporal Ashson." He had just turned and started to walk away when a voice came from behind.
"I believe this is because of magic sir."
He turned around, slowly and face the guard behind him.
"Magic you say? And, why would that be Lance Corporal?"
"I grew up here sir, before it was completely wiped out, and I saw what it could do sir.
He heard a faint muffled murmuring behind him. He turned and saw two guards turned towards each other and whispering. They caught his gaze and quickly stood to attention. He took a look up at the statue. It did look like a guard, the uniform it was wearing was correct down to the standard issue boots. It had it’s sword drawn in an outstretched arm, but it’s face was the only strange part. It was contorted into a strange expression, not one of proud solicitude, or even one of joy. It looked more like, fear? Anger? Surprise even?
He cast a gaze over his men, and the still watching crowd. Most eyes were one him, but a few were looking up at the figure of the man on the fountain and whispering to their neighbour. He caught the eyes of the guard still in front, staring up at him.
"Are you sure about your observation Ms Alsen?" he said finally, after some quick mental processing.
"Lance Corporal Ashen sir, and I'm absolutely sure sure. I had only found the ones in the fountain, but when I noticed, I knew immediately it was him sir. He had been my patrol partner sir."
"Perhaps someone simply wishes to show their appreciation of such a valuable member of the guard!" he announced to the square around him. Some guards gave a small chuckle, but the silence of the rest overwhelmed them and they stopped quickly.
"Hmpf, that it all I see, unless you can offer a better explanation". He bent down, so that his face was on the same level as hers and stared intently. Her face did not move.
"There have been some reports of unnatural behaviour sir, strange shapes appearing on rooftops, people vanishing without a trace, and most recently a large amount of crates seemingly floating in the air sir, as well as other unexplained activities." She finished and remained silent while waiting for a reply.
He stared, his eyes narrowing slightly. After a few second he straightened up and his grin returned.
"Well, it all seems very mysterious certainly, but these are just rumours, gossip, unreliable in every sense of the word. I see no point in taking this any further. I would appreciate you not wasting my time again in the future, Lance Corporal Ashson." He had just turned and started to walk away when a voice came from behind.
"I believe this is because of magic sir."
He turned around, slowly and face the guard behind him.
"Magic you say? And, why would that be Lance Corporal?"
"I grew up here sir, before it was completely wiped out, and I saw what it could do sir.
