A spring was in my step. It was my first shift as an officer of the Citadel Watch. It was nearly unheard of for a royal guard not of noble birth to rise this high. Yet there I was. Proud of my achievements with a bright future to come.
In fact, everything in my life was going well. I had my sweet Tiffany, my new bride, a noble-born beautiful rose. Add to that a lovely villa within the King's citadel and two fairly-paid servants to tend to it. I was thankful for it all.
My life was the ideal of honest, chaste, refined civilisation.
My new officer's position had come with a magnificent set of armour and an officer's tabard of glorious white with gold-woven trim. I modelled it for Tiffany when preparing for the shift. She had veritably swooned, exclaiming how handsome I looked. I was a little embarrassed by all her attention, but as Tiffany said, 'Refined people take the time to celebrate their success.'
I strode through the barracks and every soldier I passed saluted dutifully. My presence in my new livery commanded respect, and after so many years of working hard to attain this position, I was revelling in the perks.
I reached the assembly point to find my shift-mates mostly ready. However, three men were arguing about something. Two younger recruits and an older, experienced watchman. I approached and they ceased their quarrel, saluting me.
'Watch officer, sir.'
I looked them over, saw unease on all their faces. 'Ready for the watch, lads? What's this spat all about?'
One of the younger ones said, 'It's Denning, sir. He's not shown up and he looks to have let down his duty. No one's seen him.'
The older watchman interjected, 'Denning is not here, sir, but to say he' let down his duty is to go too far. Denning's friends were the four that disappeared on the last full moon. He's not been right since they vanished. He fears the moon, sir. Just like we all should.'
The other young watchman made a dismissive gesture. 'Out of here with your wives' tales. Ain't no spookies or ghoulies going to take you on the full moon.'
The experienced watchman said patiently, 'Heed my words, lads. Disappearances can always happen on the full moon. For years we seem to have had a reprieve, but its started back again. Denning's missing friends are proof. We need to be careful out there on watch tonight or any one of us could be hauled away by a monster. The citadel scouts have said they've seen lamia and goblins prowling outside the walls.'
This elicited jeering from the other assembled watchmen. One of others shouted out, 'If you can't handle a four-foot goblin then you should not be taking the watch, Baris.'
The group laughed. I raised my hand to call for silence, which is exactly what I got. This respect for my command was almost intoxicating.
With all eyes on me I said, 'No time for fighting amongst ourselves, watchmen. Whether it be rumour or not, I too have heard of the increased monster activity. Monsters are supposed to be stronger with the full light of the moon. Such tales may just be hokum, but let's use it as an excuse to stay sharp and keep a high vigil. Yes?'
In unison the men shouted back, 'Yes, Watch Officer.'
I was doing brilliantly.
'Alright, then. Good. Let's us all get out onto the walls and relieve the current watch. Keep yourself and your watch-mates safe. Serve our King with dignity.'
The men filed out to the citadel walls, and I followed them.
The night was cold and passed uneventfully for the first few hours. No serious incidents were reported, though a few of the men had seen movement beyond the wall, which was not unusual and nothing that concerned me.
The talk of monsters, disappearances, and the significance of the full moon echoed in my head though. Had Denning really abandoned his watch? Did he know something about tonight that the rest of us did not? It was undoubtably strange that those four watchmen had not been found last month. Not even a sign of blood from where they disappeared.
I was walking a section of the wall alone when a noise drew my attention. It was coming from an auxiliary barracks that connected to the wall through a short passage. I took a torch with me and went to investigate.
As far as I was aware this auxiliary barracks was supposed to be empty. Such structures dotted the wall and could be used as resupply areas in times of war, but this was one of many that had been closed down. Anything inside of value would have been removed save for some basic weapons. Even if there were something in there to plunder, the door of the barracks leading to the citadel would have been barred from the inside. Unless some burglars had taken the entire barred door off its hinges, the only way to gain access would be from the wall itself. Impossible for a citadel burglar, but not impossible for a monster that may have climbed up from outside the wall.
I entered the passage. I could see light in the main room ahead. The braziers had been lit.
I should have taken someone else with me. I should have called for one of my men. Maybe it was my pride in my new station that caused me to think I could handle it alone.
When I crossed into the main room I could hear faint voices. The light from the braziers was not terribly effective, but even so there did not look to be anyone--or anything--here.
The room had a large store off to one side where weapons or gear may have been kept. The wide door to this was ajar. I advanced with my torch held out. The faint voices seemed to be coming from in there.
I attempted to keep quiet, but even so my approach was detected. The voices went from careful whispers to hissed instructions, and then silence.
'Who is there?' I asked, unsheathing my short sword. 'I am armed and I am an officer of the Watch. Come out.'
A few more words were hissed before silence once again fell.
I crept forward and used my sword to swing open the door. The light of my torch illuminated three shabbily-dressed goblins. It looked like I had caught them in the process of taking the basic armaments that were kept in the barracks store. The three of them just stood still and quiet, not making a move, even when I beckoned them to come out.
'Out, I say!'
Nothing. They seemed to be testing me.
The store was fairly deep and the three goblins were at the back. I would have to fully venture into the room to apprehend them. Still, in my hubris, I did not think to call for help. Three little dirty goblins, whom I was led to believe from my education were dim-witted things with no motivation beyond basic thievery and rutting amongst themselves. I was more than a match for them with my training in swordplay.
I entered past the threshold, my sword held out threateningly. When I was inside the store something jumped down onto my head, impacting me soundly. A fourth goblin had been perched on a set of shelves.
I had felt the impact and heard my sword clatter. Everything went fuzzy and dark for a moment, and I was vaguely aware of my body being shoved and pulled around.
When I regained my senses I was on my back, arms stretched up over my head and bound to one of the shelving structures. My short sword--and all the weapons in the room for that matter--were kicked well away from me. The torch was seated in an alcove, and the door was closed.
I tried to say something imperious and commanding to them, but a filthy, rusted knife was quickly shoved against my throat. I got the message and shut my mouth.
'Good boy,' said the largest of the four, a male who was standing by my legs. 'He's got a head on him. Smart little boy. Pretty too.'
The one with the knife to my throat leaned into view, a female. Being so close, I could smell her body odour. It was warm, and musty, and not unpleasant. 'This couldn't be more perfect,' she said. 'He's an officer.'
The other two crouched down beside me. They were males. Not as big as the one I judged to be the leader, but just as mean-looking. They both had the same gangly limbs and overly long noses. Brothers, perhaps?
The leader grunted. 'Alright. We should go put out those braziers. No sense getting more caught in the trap. You right here, Bessy?'
Bessy nodded, moving the knifepoint deftly over my throat without cutting my skin. 'Yeah. But let me just give him a good smell first.'
Bessy handed the knife to one of the brothers. He squatted and kept it near my ear, making a couple of jabs with it to let me know I was in peril. The brothers both seemed to just be wearing stained jerkins. When the one with the knife had squatted down I caught a glimpse of his manhood. He was not wearing any underwear. I quickly looked away, but unless I missed my mark it looked like he was swelling up with excitement.
Bessy sauntered her petite frame around to stand over me, one foot on either side of my hips. She looked down at me, her eyes glinting prettily in the faint torch light. She was wearing a skirt that was cut scandalously short--not something my pure and demure Tiffany would wear. Above the skirt was a little laced up shirt that just barely covered her ample, round breasts.
The more I stared up at Bessy, the prettier I thought she was. It was as shame she was born a monster, because she was almost enchanting. Particularly the way she smelled. It was wild in a wonderful way. I had to fight to try and keep myself in check. I was stirring uncomfortably in my leggings.
'Do you have a wife at home, Officer?' Bessy asked.
I nodded.