Staring down at his tray, Grinne can not help but lick his lips and slightly dance his shoulders. The stew is a mass of unidentifiable gray and the bread and cheese are both rock-like with staleness he is sure. But he figures that’s just how it goes with the bread and cheese, especially when you eat dinner so late. As for the grey stew, he finds it much more filling and just as palatable as his mom’s famous onion skin soup. Ultimately he joined the City Defense to get these consistent meals and a place to sleep, so as far as he is concerned everything's coming up Grinne.

He even scored a nearly perfect assignment, one where he does not have to deal with all those horrible recent terrorists. Not that he is scared or anything even like that, it’s just that he, well he doesn’t want to go up against someone who won’t play fair. His job as a guard is much better because the rules are clearly defined and everyone follows them. Grinne is in charge and as long as the general follows his orders, there can be no issues. After doing it for so many weeks, each shift goes smoothly to the point it is almost like visiting a friend, but more formal. He sighs looking at the members of the sparse cafeteria, all hunched over and eyes down. They need to be a bit more grateful for the perks of this gig Grinne thinks, he’s never had a job this generous.

Taking his clean plate and tray back up to the line, Grinne faces the workers and tries to be as nonchalant as possible as he passes them his tray to be filled with seconds. Getting more helpings is not against the rules, in fact it’s not even frowned on, however it is pretty unusual. Especially when he takes the full tray, thanks the servers, and then walks straight out the exterior door of the cafeteria into the night. Grinne does not have time to think about the faux-pas because he needs to make his way to the cells.

Outside he is greeted with a wall of wind, which sends him and his tray stumbling backwards gracelessly. Recovering from his surprise, Grinne is able to stand upright with the stew and cheese, after snatching the falling bread just as it hit the ground. Bracing himself against the wind he starts towards the cells one slow step at a time, and thinks of the two men within.

Technically there are thousands of men, but Grinne is only paid to care about exactly two of them. The first is his partner Conrad, he guards the general through the day, while Grinne takes the night. They are also roommates which is convenient because it’s like they each get to have their own room in the bunks since they work opposite of each other. Conrad is his best friend, but Grinne can’t remember the last time they actually spent time together besides relieving each other's posts. It seems Conrad is ready to be relieved as usual because when Grinne approaches the cells he sees his blonde counterpart already waiting outside the door.

Conrad’s blue eyes meet his, and a flash of his bright smile follows.

“Right on time as usual! Tha-ank you!” he comments as his hand glides above the tray. Conrad first grabs the bread and then after a moment of inspection, drops it and opts to go for the cheese. Another flash of a smile and he’s off into the windy night. Grinne notices his friend is not headed in the direction of their bunk but instead towards the cafeteria. He figures he should probably stop letting Conrad skim off the general’s plate if he’s going to get dinner anyways.

Grinne turns and pulls the main door open, and strides into the lobby of the inn. It is so eerie in the lobby, because it ruins the illusion that this isn’t a working inn. There is nobody working the desk, nobody sitting in the public spaces, and just a corner of empty bookcases where the small library had been. They say the books and the inn owners disappeared a day before the inn was commandeered, and Grinne thinks that’s a shame. Imagine how much gold the Circle is paying to use every room! Those innkeepers are going to come home to a fortune when they do return.

He walks up the exposed staircase that leads to the second floor of the inn, where the majority of the rooms are located. From there he finds a door tucked out of the way where one could easily mistake it for a broom closet. Instead it is another, smaller set of stairs that lead to the top floor of the inn. The third floor is a lot smaller than the others, only having five total rooms, though they were considered the nicest in the place. The stairs lead into a small hallway lined with the doors to the suites, each fashioned with a padlock on the exterior. Grinne walks to the far left one and begins to fish the key from his pocket, while balancing the tray of food with his other hand. He isn’t sure who is in the other rooms, but he has to assume that they are as important as the general to be placed up here.

He manages to get the door unlocked and opened, and takes in the familiar scene in front. A bald man sits with his legs crossed and his back to the door, papers and books covered every surface around him. Stepping through the cluttered room, Grinne is careful to not disrupt any of the apparent mess, and makes his way next to the stout man, who does not look up or acknowledge that he is no longer alone in any way. It takes Grinne plopping down next to the general, with a loud clatter of plates and utensils for the man to jump and notice him.

“Ah, Mister Grinne, you mustn’t sneak up on me like that!” His long white mustache slightly bounces as General Boyd laughs deeply. Grinne does not believe he will ever understand it, they say General Boyd is the most perceptive commander in the New Lands, and yet he sneaks up on the man nearly every day! He can’t imagine that someone so easily distracted in person can be such a brilliant battlefield tactician. Sometimes Grinne yearns to see the general in action, but then he remembers who the man would be acting against.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

“Any news from the South, my friend?” The tone is as unassuming and friendly as the words themselves, and Boyd absently begins picking at the food on the tray as he speaks. But this is a familiar game to Grinne, and he has grown accustomed to knowing when the general is eager for information.

“There continues to be no news regarding when Governor Warren will be back to deal with your men, since that is what you are asking.”

The general sighs and shakes his head, before taking a deep breath and meeting Grinne’s eyes with a soft, slightly exasperated gaze.

“I can only repeat it so many times, in so many words. While I am imminently worried for the release of my company and myself, we came here to see the Devil Himself put back below. So if there’s no news from the gracious Governor, how goes the fighting?”

“Well we have yet to lose a skirmish, the Imp’s armies are on the run, and we expect to finish our victory by the end of the year. Thank you for your concern,” responds Grinne. He does not mean to be patronizing to the other man, but the truth is short and sweet in this case. The older man’s face flashes a look of something like sad confusion, but he quickly replaces it with his usual temperate, cheery attitude.

Grinne is conflicted, the General has stuck to his story from the very start, and it’s honestly almost convincing. Everyone knows the Everen’s follow His Words, so it makes sense they would want to join in the Culmination. Every conversation he has with the man further cements the truth that the general and his men are truly devoted to seeing the Promises through. But that doesn’t change the hard fact they marched on Ravha with an entire army, while they were seemingly defenseless! If he said that to the General, the man would respond that it was simple geography, the Culmination is taking place past Ravha, and the main road goes through the heart of the city. Grinne finds that story awfully convenient. If not for the shrewdness of Governor Warren, they may have lost two wars on that one day. Grinne still does not understand how the man held two fronts against two foes, each outnumbering him surely two to one, but it’s a time for miracles after all. Every battle won is further proof of the Promises being fulfilled, it just has to be.

“You seem to not be in the room with me, Mister Grinne,” General Boyd gives him a small touch on the shoulder as Grinne’s thoughts return to the present. “It’s quite alright, I myself would be anywhere else, if at all possible,” Boyd chuckles.

“It just doesn’t fit,” blurts Grinne, frowning as he searches Boyd’s face for hints of the truth, “Why did you do it?” Boyd looks slightly taken aback, as this is probably the most straightforward Grinne has been in their many months sharing the space. He figures it’s about as straightforward as possible really. Boyd straightens his spine and then leans slightly back from his papers and food. He is clearly considering the extra meals and books that Grinne has been supplying, while formulating his answer. Grinne brings those because the General is an overall pleasant man, and really wouldn’t hold those back based on the answer, probably, so he tells him as much.

“Sometimes, the explanation really is the simplest. I was a bit naive, Mister Grinne. My scouts heard that Ravha was facing the Culmination, and we came like every man on the planet should have. We just didn’t consider we would be ambushed by the very men we came to aid. Pardon me, but borderline dastardly behavior if you ask me.” Boyd speaks pointedly with a small, smug smile.

It’s the same story the general has colorfully given to every last person that interrogates him, and it’s the same basic story every single captured soldier will repeat. Grinne used to scold himself every time he considered that they may be telling the truth, now it keeps him up at night. Or up in the morning? Working the night could be confusing. Conrad says the truth does not matter at this point, that it’s the history books that should be worried about. Grinne’s not sure what he means by that, but then Grinne also hasn’t read a history book yet. Conrad is actually very well educated and knows all about books and he used to be wealthy before his dad…

“Why do you think I came here Mister Grinne?” Boyd’s eyes are home to more than a spark of amusement as he gives another small tap.

“You came to take the city. No offense General, but everyone knows it.” Grinne struggles not to believe Boyd’s story, but reality shows the truth. “You and all your men were imprisoned for attacking us, otherwise you would be on the field aiding the Culmination as you claim to want. If you were actually coming to aid us, the governor would have accepted it, there’s simply no reason not to!” The silence that follows reminds Grinne of many of his mornings.

“No. There isn’t.” agrees Boyd finally. Grinne finds it hard to believe the Everens would take advantage of the Ravhan’s fight with evil to seize their city; there's never even been more than skirmishes between the neighboring towns. Grinne has heard some of the more brazen guys in the City Defense barracks claim that the entire military might of Everen could not hold the people of Ravha anyways, unless they wanted to be held. Grinne doesn’t have any way to know if that statement is true or not, but he can’t believe that the governor would imprison friendly troops, not while the real fight is still raging so hotly. Someone has to be lying, but Grinne can’t see a reason for the governor to lie. It makes sense for Boyd to change his story after such an embarrassing loss, but coaching every single soldier so well is truly a feat.

Grinne waits, hoping the other man may elaborate, but after a beat the General shrugs and returns to reading and eating. Maybe the hardest part for Grinne is that Boyd has such a pleasant disposition, and makes great conversation. There’s never even been the hint of an escape attempt, with Boyd saying that it would ‘threaten his honor.’ Grinne supposes that is true, it seems unlike the General to flee for freedom with his army held captured.

Still, it will be good to know the truth of the matter when the Governor finally returns. Plus a new assignment may let him finally spend time with Conrad again. Boyd is absorbed in his reading, no longer touching the food, or holding the conversation. Grinne considers picking a book up himself, but he knows his responsibilities, so he just leans back and settles in for another mundane night.