Chapter 4: Ch 3.5 The Road That Lies At The End Of War

* Prior to the summoning, elsewhere in the universe *

I awaken abruptly from my sleep over the thudding at my room's door, the hinges creak and strain with every beat upon it. I feel terrible, looking around my room the early dawn rays are sneaking through my rags for curtains tell me the reason I feel so miserable is due to my double shift had only ended moments previously.

"Watcher!," Whomever it was at my door was being insistent, though not knowing my name told me that it probably was someone who outranked me. This put a bit more speed into my step as I went to respond.

Opening the door a crack, I was ready to present the sleepiest response that I could muster. It should not be too difficult to display how tired I was after pulling a double guard duty shift. Hopefully, they'll leave me to rest after my quick presentation.

I stumbled to the door and just as I opened it a crack the belligerent person on the other side knocked the door practically off the hinges.

"Watcher, you've been reassigned to the main throne room. Go. Now!"

...

I probably soiled myself on the spot. The person giving me orders was a royal guard. He was huge and muscular in stature. A lot of things started to race through my mind, though all I could manage at this time was a "Who? Me?"

The initial shock of the reassignment took the edge off of how drowsy I was. Nothing made sense right now. Here is a royal guard in his nice fitted leather and chain armor, fastened to his muscled frame and all the other guards were similar, frankly the appearance itself was a necessity. Yet, I did not even look the part, being 5'2" and probably half his weight when soaking wet.

The royal guard must have caught my dilemma, though what he said made my current thought train go from impossible to even worse.

"Look son, you have been promoted and better get to your new station, now, as we are short on manpower due to the queen having most of the royal guard in attendance executed."

You are reading story Grimoire Knights at novel35.com

Now I was panicking. "Why? H-how!?" I blurted out, yet I knew the latter portion of that question was rhetorical.

He let out a heavy sigh, and I finally realized how tired he looks.

"She had her general do it for some absurd reason. The kitchens took a hit too, so from what I heard, real quick, is that she was choking on something in the first light feast and none of the guards responded quickly enough, so she ordered them executed for insubordination."

I could feel my face pale and start to go clammy at hearing this. It was all too much.

"Report to Overseer Leon at the east service entrance before the sun is fully up. I'm off to go find another thirty candidates for the royal guard, try to keep your head on your shoulders watcher."

With that, he continued down the northeast wing of the barracks of the castle leaving me stunned in the entranceway to my room.

I looked back into my bleak and empty alcove of a room towards my window. The pre-dawn light showed in the sky as I momentarily thought about running. That thought was quickly pushed away from my mind as I recalled what the royal guard said about the executions...

I wanted it to all be a lie, I ruse that was being played on me by a royal guard with too much time on his hands. Though I knew better than to tempt my luck, I was just drafted to the most dangerous job in the world just now.

I hurriedly got dressed into my only rough leather armor and made my way quickly to the central tier of the castle.

I used my measly dash skill as that was all I've been able to get, not even a decent charge upgrade, as I went through many of the side corridors.

---