Hmm, is this connected with Standing Watch by any chance?
Disarming The Herald glared at the soldier, who stared at his feet. His boots were scuffed already and he was sure that if the Herald started shouting it would bring his Captain over, and then there would be observations about his boots and he'd get latrine duty. Or something similar. So he stared at his feet and tried to pretend that he was all alone there. "This is unacceptable," said the Herald. He was a broad-shouldered, broad-hipped man with a large beard and spatulate hands. He looked like he could fight a bull and have the bettors backing him. "Who said you could do this. I didn't." "You'll have to ask the Captain, Sir," said the soldier. He didn't want the Captain over here, but maybe the man would walk off and find him. "Well find him and bring him here!" "Not allowed to leave my spot, Sir," said the soldier. It was a lie, but he doubted that he'd be challenged on it. Even by the Captain, if he turned up. Behind the Herald there was a loud crack and he spun, remarkably quickly and stared at the building behind him. It was three stories high and had wooden scaffolding erected up two-and-a-half stories to allow the soldier swarming over to reach the heraldic crests that were mounted there. "Be careful!" screamed the Herald, and his barrel-chest gave plenty of resonance to the bellow. People nearby edged away. "Those are priceless!" Two soldiers carefully pulled a crest from the wall and set it on the wooden scaffolding they were standing on, and it wobbled alarmingly. "Heavy, too," one of them called back. "Of course they're heavy! They're solid go-- lead! Solid lead, you idiot!" "Is there a problem?" The Captain had appeared, somehow without the soldier noticing, and he immediately sprang to attention and attempted to hide both feet behind the other. In his struggle he stumbled, but the Captain had noted him briefly and turned to the Herald already. "Why are you taking down the coats of arms? They're a valuable historical resource, and they're mounted on the bloody College of Heraldry, for god's sake!" "Orders," said the Captain placidly. "From Lord Botswine." "That pustule? That jumped up little cowsnot? That --" "I'm supposed to report remarks like that, Sir," said the Captain. "But I think I must have gone deaf there for a moment. What were you saying again?" "I-- I--- argh! Did Lord Botswine give a reason for doing this, at all, Captain?" If the Herald had been a volcano the locals would have evacuating at top speed by now. "He said you needed disarming, Sir," said the Captain with a sly smile.
Greg - yeah, as in the stupid rat managed to disarm a trap without getting caught.
These three are quite the combo. I like the dynamic here, quite a lot. I find myself both feeling sorry for and impressed by the soldier. I think he did fairly well, given the situation!
2 comments:
Hmm, is this connected with Standing Watch by any chance?
Disarming
The Herald glared at the soldier, who stared at his feet. His boots were scuffed already and he was sure that if the Herald started shouting it would bring his Captain over, and then there would be observations about his boots and he'd get latrine duty. Or something similar. So he stared at his feet and tried to pretend that he was all alone there.
"This is unacceptable," said the Herald. He was a broad-shouldered, broad-hipped man with a large beard and spatulate hands. He looked like he could fight a bull and have the bettors backing him. "Who said you could do this. I didn't."
"You'll have to ask the Captain, Sir," said the soldier. He didn't want the Captain over here, but maybe the man would walk off and find him.
"Well find him and bring him here!"
"Not allowed to leave my spot, Sir," said the soldier. It was a lie, but he doubted that he'd be challenged on it. Even by the Captain, if he turned up.
Behind the Herald there was a loud crack and he spun, remarkably quickly and stared at the building behind him. It was three stories high and had wooden scaffolding erected up two-and-a-half stories to allow the soldier swarming over to reach the heraldic crests that were mounted there.
"Be careful!" screamed the Herald, and his barrel-chest gave plenty of resonance to the bellow. People nearby edged away. "Those are priceless!"
Two soldiers carefully pulled a crest from the wall and set it on the wooden scaffolding they were standing on, and it wobbled alarmingly.
"Heavy, too," one of them called back.
"Of course they're heavy! They're solid go-- lead! Solid lead, you idiot!"
"Is there a problem?" The Captain had appeared, somehow without the soldier noticing, and he immediately sprang to attention and attempted to hide both feet behind the other. In his struggle he stumbled, but the Captain had noted him briefly and turned to the Herald already.
"Why are you taking down the coats of arms? They're a valuable historical resource, and they're mounted on the bloody College of Heraldry, for god's sake!"
"Orders," said the Captain placidly. "From Lord Botswine."
"That pustule? That jumped up little cowsnot? That --"
"I'm supposed to report remarks like that, Sir," said the Captain. "But I think I must have gone deaf there for a moment. What were you saying again?"
"I-- I--- argh! Did Lord Botswine give a reason for doing this, at all, Captain?" If the Herald had been a volcano the locals would have evacuating at top speed by now.
"He said you needed disarming, Sir," said the Captain with a sly smile.
Greg - yeah, as in the stupid rat managed to disarm a trap without getting caught.
These three are quite the combo. I like the dynamic here, quite a lot. I find myself both feeling sorry for and impressed by the soldier. I think he did fairly well, given the situation!
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