The Slender Soldier (5)
As I strolled leisurely, I spotted the guard squad just starting to climb the ridge line through the mist in the distance. At the front of their single-file formation, alert to all sides, Sergeant Illian held a map, scanning the surroundings. I followed behind them, sauntering into the mountains like it was a casual walk.
The Vurn Mountains were rocky, but not entirely sheer cliffs from top to bottom. The peaks were sharp summits capped in snow, but the lower slopes were thick with underbrush—like forests reaching up to a person's shins. Depending on the terrain, the woods could climb to waist height or barely brush the ankles. Meltwater from the snow cascaded down the mountain's contours, forming small waterfalls. Where these falls spilled into the forested mid-slopes and caught the sunlight, they painted beautiful rainbows. The gathered streams joined to form little brooks that fed into the Buren River.
Walking along with the sound of rushing water, spring wildflowers bloomed in abundance, and small wildlife like squirrels and mountain birds scattered at my approach. Kali, who had gone ahead with the guards and looped back, spotted me and bounded over, tail wagging furiously.
"Wanna come with?"
Whether he understood or not, Kali fell in beside me, matching my pace. What a smart hunting dog. I should take him out hunting sometime. Adding "Today's Freshly Hunted Bird or Rabbit" to the menu would be a hit. Stewed soft, or just salted and grilled—either way, it'd be delicious.
As I ambled along leisurely, the sun rose over the mountains across the river to the east. The mist, kissed by sunlight, began to dissipate. Dew from the weeds underfoot sparkled in the light. With the fog clearing, the guard squad came into full view ahead.
"There they are, Kali."
"Woof!"
He even answered. The squad had entered an open clearing and was shifting formation. Sergeant Illian's commanding voice rang out. She was following yesterday's plan perfectly: through the clearing, skirting the nameless waterfall, back onto the ridge. Then a diagonal right toward the unnamed hill, leading to the groluk habitat.
"Four-directions alert!"
"Four-directions alert!"
The squad members, swords drawn, formed a circle, scanning all around. In the center, the sergeant knelt on one knee, map in hand, conferring with one soldier—probably the senior private. They cross-checked the map with the terrain, pointing to a spot. It looked roughly like the direction I'd indicated for the groluk den.
"Move out!"
Led by the sergeant, the squad pressed on. Time passed, the sun climbed higher, and the mist clinging to the mountainside evaporated completely. Now, under the full light of a spring day, the squad huffed and puffed their way up the quiet forest paths. Me? I just strolled up with my hands behind my back, like a neighborhood walk. Kali showed no signs of fatigue either—true to his hunting breed.
Hours of climbing brought us to a massive sheer rock face. Natural fissures in that cliff were the groluk nests that had plagued Rosens for years.
"There it is. That's the groluk nest."
Relief flooded the sergeant's voice. Last night, she'd been tossing and turning, worried about finding the path. Now they'd reached the target. Even the legion dispatched from the capital had been wiped out without touching this area—a natural fortress. Yet here was the guard squad, standing before it.
The females and young lived deep in the caves, while males guarded the entrances or lived outdoors entirely. Thus, the fissures fronted a trash heap: piled bones, rotting corpses, looted city goods, filth, and dung. The guards, confronting it for the first time, pinched their noses and grimaced.
I climbed the slope and watched from a high vantage. The sergeant ordered half the squad to guard the exterior while she led the rest inside. I sat on the ground, fiddling with Kali's scruff, waiting. Suddenly, shouts erupted from within.
I stood just as three squad members bolted out.
"Groluk!"
A groluk limped after them, one knee half-severed, shin dangling loosely. It was the one I'd wounded yesterday, barely escaping with its life.
"Fuck...! Squad leader, what the hell is that?!"
"That's a groluk...? It's fucking huge...!"
"Squad leader! What do we do?!"
"Retreat?!"
When real danger hit, they all turned to their leader. They cursed officers in peacetime, but in crisis, they hung on the commander's every word.
Sergeant Illian stared up at the groluk, backing away before snapping to and shouting.
"Encircling formation! Encircling formation!"
"Let's retreat, squad leader!"
"No! We'll get caught! A groluk can run fast on one leg! Encircling formation!"
The guards drew swords and surrounded the groluk at intervals.
"Shieldbearers forward!"
Two shield-bearing guards rushed to flank Sergeant Illian.
"Hold it in front—flank and rear attacks in the gap! Cut its legs off!"
Before more orders, the groluk roared and charged her.
"Uwaaak!"
The shieldbearers screamed, raising shields to block. They held against the fist, but the beast's immense strength forced them to their knees. The groluk gripped a shield, trying to crush it. Illian leaned in, stabbing its wrist hard. It swung its arm, sending her flying with the embedded sword; she tumbled across the ground.
She rolled up, gripped her sword, glared, and yelled.
"Attack!"
"Waaah!"
The rear guards charged with battle cries. Killing that adult groluk would've cost half the squad their lives. I picked a fist-sized rock from the ground, gauged its weight, and hurled it at the groluk's head with full force.
Whoosh!!
The rock nailed its head perfectly over the guards. Struck dead-center, the groluk staggered and toppled backward.
"Wha—?! It's falling! Back up!"
A heavy thud echoed as it hit the ground.
"Kill it! Sever the neck!"
Swords plunged into the fallen beast. The guards hacked wildly, like pounding a mortar. Blood and flesh sprayed; its limbs twitched feebly amid them. It was long dead, mangled beyond recognition. Panting, they backed off, like butchers dismantling a cow.
"It's... dead...?"
Sergeant Illian approached the head cautiously, prodding the neck. No reaction.
"Seems dead."
"Fuuuck..."
The guards slumped, muttering curses. Covered in blood, they heaved ragged breaths.
"Why was that thing here...? They all fled..."
"Looks like it got left behind, injured."
The sergeant wiped her face, sitting.
"The leg looks sword-cut... Someone hunted it...?"
"You idiot. Who'd hunt something like that?"
"Yeah, if there was someone that badass, they'd be a general by now."
Such a badass was an innkeeper, not a general.
"Anyway... No casualties, glad we got it. Good command, squad leader..."
The senior private spoke; others murmured agreement. Illian just nodded, speechless. She seemed as baffled as they were. But whatever—it was her command that mattered.
Situation resolved. Time to go.
"C'mon, Kali. Let's head back for food."
Kali slid joyfully after me down the slope. The guy found joy in everything.
I beat the guards back, prepping lunch: creamy risotto packed with meat and onions. As the milk, meat, onions, and rice bubbled, Kali barked outside, followed by the squad's footsteps. Perfect timing.
I heard the sergeant debriefing post-mission. I ladled her portion into a separate pot, grabbed the whole thing, and headed to the hall. As I set it down, the bloodied squad entered.
"Ooh, smells amazing!"
They swarmed the pot.
"Looks like baby food, but smells killer."
"Idiot, ever seen baby food with this much meat?"
"Wash your hands first. Water barrel's in the yard."
They rushed out to clean up. Alone with the sergeant, she eyed me.
"Good trip? Any success?"
Blood-soaked, she nodded.
"Yes. Found the groluk den, killed a straggler left behind injured."
"Handled without casualties. Even wounded, groluks are deadly monsters."
"Luck. It suddenly lost balance and fell..."
I smiled, dismissing it.
"Luck? Nah, your command."
She mumbled denials.
"Wash up."
She hesitated, then went out.
They devoured the risotto. Loaded with meat, no picky eaters. Illian finished her bowl fast, timidly asking for more. As I went to refill,
"Th-thank you. We completed the mission safely thanks to you, boss."
"Glad. Report back that Rosens is plenty safe."
"Yes..."
She hesitated. I waited by the table. Finally,
"Last night and during the search, I kept thinking... If I'd met someone like you sooner, things might not have gotten this bad."
Her low voice cut through the soldiers' chatter.
"Not too late. Bright future ahead, right?"
"No... Not that."
She smiled sadly.
"Maybe I didn't have to become a soldier..."
Didn't enlist willingly, then. Some backstory. But she hadn't shared yesterday either, and I wouldn't pry.
She looked wistful.
"Anyway... Thanks. The squad looks at me a bit differently now."
"Don't get down."
"Y-yes... Um..."
She faltered, then clammed up.
Post-meal, the squad packed, hitched horses to wagons. I handed out jerky for the road. They seemed reluctant to leave—back to slop and cramped barracks. This was like vacation for them.
The sergeant approached, leading her horse, wagons parked.
"Boss..."
"Safe travels."
"Thank you... I'll visit sometime."
"Always welcome."
Her eyes sparkled—tears welling.
"Not empty words... I will... come back..."
She roughly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, hiding from the troops.
"I will come back...!"
She vowed with a pretty smile.
"I'll wait."
"Take care."
She mounted and rode off, wagons following. Soldiers waved.
"We'll come on leave!"
Mounted atop the fence, she kept looking back. I stood till she vanished.
After cleaning, I tended the barn: fed livestock, checked straw for eggs. Squeezing milk on a stool, I heard footsteps behind.
"Whatcha doing?"
Administrator Hildeva peered over the fence. Kali wagged, pawing her leg.
"Milking."
"Guard squad leader said they ate like kings."
"Treated 'em so they wouldn't gripe back in Bue."
"Good."
She seemed pleased.
"Oh, any luck hiring waitstaff?"
"Posted notices, but no takers. Harvest season—everyone's busy."
Guess I'd scout other cities. Groluk news might've spread, drawing workers. Hunger blinds to monsters.
"Anyway... Thanks. The guards got a good impression of our city thanks to you, Bertrand."
"City thrives, I thrive."
We chatted about town mood. Citizens buzzed about the mysterious outlander innkeeper but steered clear—rumors of unlimited pass, gold abyss coins, multiple buildings bought. Whispers of hidden prince or duke's bastard.
Made sense for misunderstandings.
"Gotta treat the townsfolk big sometime. Or it'll seem like a vampire's castle—no approach."
She chuckled at the joke. After she left, I packed light. Off to Bue for hires and traveler intel.
"Guard the house."
Kali sat stubbornly on the porch steps, as if understanding. I spurred southbound.