Midgate - Aressan Wall Border - Dawn
Rain fell hard over the Midgate Fort, leeching into the gold-hued Aressan stone and making the sentries on the outer walls shiver in their uniforms.
The blue and silver griffon flag had become limp and listless in the driving storm, but it had in no way dampened the activity of the...somewhat unwelcome foreigners within the fort.
Soldiers jogged about beneath the roof overhangs of the large courtyard, and from time to time a dark-cloaked inquisition staffer might be glimpsed flitting about between the buildings.
At the gates a small group of soldiers stood, ones holding a lantern aloft and peering into the rain.
Captain Taron, head of the garrison, blew onto his number hands and watched as three black horses cantered up in the direction of the gate.
Two days since Inquisitor Arvis had been laid in the ground a little outside the walls and one since the boys had had to crack some heads when they found the local peasantry desecrating the gravesite. Arvis had been a cruel and vitriolic officer. Consumed with a vehement hatred for Aressans, Taron could not help but imagine that that grave was disturbed enough by him turning in it as being interred in the soil of this Kingdom, without the locals adding their own interference.
The Empire was sending a new officer to take charge of Midgate. He was surprised not to see anyone promoted...but had learned it best not to ask too many questions where the dark-coats were concerned. They were a law unto themselves. He'd rather have as little to do with them as possible, if he were honest...but orders were orders.
A flash of silver through the rain. The griffin emblem. These were the people he'd been expecting... though admittedly the individual who rode up and slipped down off of the horse with practised ease, surprised him a little. Flanked by two lower-ranking guards in black, the one who appeared to lead the group, and who wore the Inquisitor colours, was a woman, and young one at that. Her hood was, as yet drawn up, and scarf pulled over her face... though no-one would dare wear a silver-lined coat and a griffin emblem in Midgate without having the authority to.
"Inquisitor Kovera?" he asked.
The woman gave a short nod.
"Captain Taron, I assume. "
"Yes my lady, I've been instructed to meet you on arrival, ensure you're provided with anythin' you need, and to show you the lay of the fort. If you'd like to rest after your journey I'd course be happy to inform-"
A slender hand, wrapped in a black calfskin glove was lifted to cut him off.
"That won't be necessary. I wish to see the fort as soon as possible."
She then turned and waved off her accompaniment, who led the horses through the gate to be stabled.
If there was any youthful hesitance, she'd given no indication of it, and Captain Taron was...he supposed he should have been impressed, but the correct word was...disturbed. Slightly disturbed. Arvis had been a nasty old git, but was most certainly quite human in his actions. You could easily work out how to work round him. This one was hard to get a read on.
"Right-o. We'll cover the prison first of all seein' as you got your boots dirty already.."
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