Chapter 14 - Mess Hall Gossip

Thankfully for Ash, the mess hall was still open. Not only that, it was completely packed and buzzing with chatter when he entered. Only for a strange hush that spread as head's turned, until the room fell into an eerie silence.

Why are they looking at me like that, panic swelled in Ash. His heart started pounding, but his stomach forced him forward to the food getting doled out. He felt a collective gaze burning into his back the entire way.

Gradually the noise in the room picked back up. But Ash still felt the scrutiny. The cooks were giving him double portions though. And when Ash questioningly looked up, they just gave him approving nods.

Quickly loaded up and grabbing a mug of cider, he sought out an empty seat. It was then that he heard a familiar voice calling out to him.

"Oi Ash, over here!"

It was Roland, waving him over to an empty spot at their table, surrounded by off-duty guards.

Maybe he'll tell me why everyone is staring, Ash thought.

He walked over, took the offered seat, and had barely taken a bite when Roland playfully slapped him on the back. "You really stirred everything up today, kid."

Everyone nearby nodded and offered their own observations. Ash listened attentively as he chowed down, the first bite tasting amazing after his long, eventful day.

It tastes sooooo good! He couldn't help it and started shoveling in.

"This is supposed to be the easiest posting in the Empire and I've never seen everyone here mustered like today."

"Yeah, this far from the borders, something like this usually shouldn't happen."

"Shame what happened to Vickers."

One of the nearby soldiers listening in raised a mug and shouted, "TO VICKERS!"

In unison, the entire mess hall, Ash included, raised their mugs and joined in, "TO VICKERS!"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

A brief moment of silence followed in remembrance of the fallen comrade. Then the mess hall came alive once more.

As Ash resumed eating, Roland leaned in. "So, how pissed was the General?" The entire table swiveled their heads to look at Ash.

The dragonboy, his mouth full, slowed his chewing as he understood their intent. Aha, this is why they had a seat for me.

Ash thought about it for a minute before respondly slowly. "He was pretty angry. Mostly at the night watchman. Watcher Johnson. Said he might have been the spy's helper and had him locked up. Besides that...yeah, he was angry."

One of the guards had a sudden realization and swore, "Oh shit, Johnson's in the brig?! No wonder he didn't show up for shift change."

"Wonder how long it'll take for him to get out?"

Ash was relieved when the attention shifted away from him. Finally, he could eat without interruption.

The conversation at the table meandered, and eventually, it steered toward the topic of the spy.

Apparently the infiltrator had been hanging around the ravine heading up to the breeding grounds. But he hadn't bothered the guards the guards had thought he was just some off-duty solder to ignore. At least until the General's alert went out.

When confronted at spearpoint, the spy had ran. But was cornered quickly when the cries of alarm had drawn more troops.

"He must have given up escaping, because I heard he used a death note before anyone could stop him! That's proof he really was a spy!"

The table hushed, and Ash stopped chewing, "What's a death note?"

The guards exchanged uncomfortable glances, but Roland offered a grim explanation. "A disposable death sigil. Instant death. A magic tool used by bad people... like spies. This one just used it on himself."

"Oh."

"Yeah, its something you only really find along the border. Or the big cities. Not out here..."

"Why not here? Isn't the Skyfort important?"

"I mean, it is, but its practically in the middle of the Empire. And its not like this place has changed in a long time. Nothing new to learn. Besides, whats the point of investigating this place when you can't do anything about it? Its impossible to attack with all the dragons. Hell, just reaching this place is near impossible."

Ash found the explanation sensible, except that someone had reached it. Then something Roland has said earlier struck him suddenly.

"Wait, you said the death note thing was a magic tool right? So was that guy a mage?"

"Dunno," a guard replied, "but if he was, he must not have been a good one. If he were any good, he'd be living like a lord in the city instead of sneaking around a fort."

Everyone at the table nodded in agreement, and the conversation drifted into other topics.

Ash listened attentively for a while longer, but his eyelids grew heavy, and his thoughts began to slow. He had eaten his fill, and tiredness was catching up to him. Realizing he was about to crash, he stood up and exchanged farewells.

It wasn't until he was halfway back to the dragonhouse that a realization dawned on him, brightening his mood.

No one had teased him today. Everyone had been acting differently. More respectful? He couldn't help the great big smile plastered across his face as he gingerly made his way down the darkened dragonhouse corridor.

It didn't even let up when he eased down next to Rasp on the haypile with a groan, the little guy only thumped his tail a single time.

No headbutting or nips. Looks like I'm forgiven..thats nice.

"Zzz..."