Prologue
The sun went down just a few hours ago, but the sky still seemed illuminated; almost an eerie glow. It's quite cold tonight for mid-summer, the gate guard thought as he pulled his cloak a little tighter. As he walked, his keys gently clanked against the hilt of his sword. He peered out over the edge of the watch tower's walls, just as a gentle breeze passed through what few hairs he had left.
"Can't see a damn thing tonight…" he mumbled under his breath.
Darkness soon enveloped all but the edge of the horizon. The sand was pale with the glow of the moon. Just over the edge of the dunes, he could make out the glint of moonlight off the ocean waves. The stale air smelt of salt and sea.
He turned around and continued his patrol. As he turned, a stronger wind picked up, almost suffocating his tower's torch just a few feet away. He noted the sound it made; almost that of fabric on fabric, a kind of zipping noise. He soon became entranced with the flame… succumbing to his eyes need for sleep. He felt them ease closer and closer…
The strong wind had reached the bell tower, pushing it just enough to cause it to ring. It was enough to pull him out of this trance. Damn watch keeper. He couldn't even prove I was asleep! As he cleared his throat, he recalled to himself the "fair" and "just" trial he had received.
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"This man," the watch keeper explained to the crowd, "has dishonored our country and our government. To be asleep on duty weighs heavy punishments!"
"I wasn't asleep you stupid bastard!" the man replied, shackled to the floor of the cage he was in.
"Silence! Don't listen to the old man as he tries to fool you. This type of abandonment from duty can only be replaced by more duty! I am sentencing you to mandatory guard duty for the next four days. NO BREAKS! Fall asleep this time, and you won't just lose your dignity."
Cheers were heard from the crowd as their apparent bloodlust felt the urge to be filled. As the watch keeper passed the old man, he stopped and gently whispered into his ear. "If you didn't fall asleep… then how did you lose the roster and your keys?"
Shamefully, the old man replied, "I don't know… I can't explain what happened that night…" His eyes searched the crowd as though he might find a savior in all the faces… but he found none.
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His thoughts escaped him as he suddenly was jolted back to reality. I swear I saw that shadow move… He stared intently at the darkness, not sure if the two days of no sleep had taken its toll on him already. Almost praying for nothing to appear, he soon dismissed the thoughts from his head. It's all in your mind… just need to wake up a little.
He turned, preparing to head back to his post at the tower. The night had felt like an eternity, but for a man who hasn't slept in days, he still felt awake. Something about the stale night air made him feel nervous and concerned. When he returned to his tower, he gazed upon the moonlit sand once again. This time, he noticed something he had not before. In the pale moonlight, it was almost impossible to make out the footprints in the sand.
"No… this time I'm sure of it!" He reached for his sword, and his heart skipped a beat as he heard a soft, bone-chilling whisper in his ear.
"I, my friend… am the reason your precious roster and keys are missing…" The throaty voice was whispered right into his ear, completely petrifying his movements. His eyes searched for a face, but before he could say a word, he felt the cold of silver gently graze across his neck, and then…
The warmth of blood…
Just as soon as the sun could be seen coming up over the eastern horizon, the watch keeper started making his rounds. With a smile on his face, he walked casually towards the eastern side of the city. It had probably been the best night of rest he had had in months. With the accompaniment of his mistress, and no wife to the wiser, he had spent most of the night awake, but the sleep was certainly wonderful after.
"God, I love this job," he chortled, as he strode across the city walkway.
As he rounded to the western gate, he could see the old guard, half leaning against the wall. "Old man, you had better not be sleeping, or it'll be your head this time!"
The guard did not respond. Instead, it bothered the watch keeper that he didn't even move at the sound of his commanding voice. As he approached, he saw the stain of blood from the man's chin down to the man's cloak, and instinctively yelled "Intruder! All reserves to the western gate!"
It took just moments for a number of reserve guards to arrive at the gate and take up positions to begin a search for the murderer. It looks like the old man has fallen asleep on guard for the last time, he thought as he slowly lead a group of guards following the blood trail.