"Permission to ask you an important question, sir?"
Colonel Ironbeard smashed his mace into a target dummy one last time before turning to look at Muthkat, "Aye, lass? And I told you, there be no need for formalities."
Muthkat swallowed hard, "Why do we persist in putting down the dead, sir? Why not just leave them alone as long as they stay away from the walls, sir?"
The Colonel stared at her for a long moment before answering, "Because that would be admitting weakness, lass. And to give in to weakness would be a disgrace to Laltur and ourselves, and by extension the entire fortress."
"But... wouldn't it be to admit weakness than..."
"Then to die, lass? Is that what you're getting at?"
Muthkat swallowed hard again, "Aye, sir. Wouldn't it be better to admit weakness than die."
Colonel Ironbeard paused for a moment, then, in a low voice, said, "Walk with me, lass. I'm going to patrol the perimeter."
The two armored dwarves walked the perimeter of the walls, watching carefully for any sign of the dead approaching. A couple of birds unleashed horrific cries in the distance, but no other sound was heard but their footsteps. As the sun began to set, an eerie mist settled over the fortress, and in the mist dark shadows flitted through their field of vision. Finally, the Colonel spoke.
"You're scared, aren't you lass? Of this place, of dying, of the dead that stalk this land?"
Muthkat looked down at her feet, "I'm sorry, sir. I know soldiers shouldn't be afraid, it's just..." Her voice trailed off as the Colonel held up his hand.
"We all are, lass. Each and every one of us. You'd have to be insane not to be. So many have died, and many more still could. Do you not think that I don't go into every battle fearing that it will be my last?"
Muthkat's eyes widened. The Colonel never acted like this, never showed his true emotions. Ever since she could recall he had been a solid rock of the military, fighting against impossible odds seemingly without fear.
"But the trick, lass, is to accept that fear. To know that death is a possibility and fight on despite it. To laugh in the face of death, even though inside we want to curl into a ball and hide."
The Colonel paused, then continued, "We need to fight, lass, because if we don't we are finished. There is no safety net we can fall back on, nowhere we can go if we are overwhelmed. So we have to fight with all our strength, because if we don't then everyone around us will die."
A long silence fell on the two dwarves as they continued their rounds, before Muthkat finally said, "I understand, Colonel."
The Colonel spoke in a soft voice, "I'm glad. We should get back inside before the sun sets. Who knows what kind of horrors will be lurking in the shadows after that.
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Topic: Ivybolt - On hiatus until parts may be acquired. (Read 24870 times)