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!'