MIDNIGHT EYES

The camp fire thrust the tree's shadows outwards creating a harsh circle of light and dark fading into the otherwise black night. A deer carcass roasted on the fire while the soldiers watched it with hungry eyes, a result of the afternoon's hunt. The watchman yawned near the horses, leaning on his spear. The crackling of the fire and alluring odour of roasting meat accompanied the camp's easy silence.

A soldier's head snapped around. A scuffling noise was coming from near the packs. "Wolf I'd say" he grunted as he rose after a nod of approval from the camp's captain.

He drew short sword and advanced towards the disturbance. The others rose. There was movement at the edge of the firelight. He gave the packs a wide birth to avoid any noise. He was almost upon the dark shape now. He lifted his sword, ready to strike. Then, as his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he realised he was mistaken. It was human. With a growl he grabbed it from behind. The intruder shrieked and flailed, trying to escape.

It was pitifully light. He grimly carried it into the camp. The light of the fire revealed a small girl with a tangle of black hair ending at her waist which flung about as she twisted. Her clothes were torn and filthy. She clutched at a stolen pack while she already had a piece of dried meet ration in her mouth.

"It's a girl-child," another soldier observed, surprised.

The captain advanced towards the child the other man now held by the scruff of her torn garment. She devoured her morsel quickly.

"Give 'er some meat, capt'n. She's skin 'n' bones!" A soldier geared from his place near the fire.

"We gut her through you oaf. Can't let her run an' tell our whereabouts," another soldier rebuked, cuffing the other.

"Silence!" The captain roared and walked towards her for closer examination. She lifted her gaze defiantly. Only then did he notice her eyes. Globes of infinite depth stared back at him the same deep blue shade as the night sky above. They held her fear and courage in equal measure. Even though there was nothing obviously wrong with them, her eyes unnerved him. It was as if she looked into his soul.

In one swift movement he cut the length of her hair. Released of the confines of her shoulders, it danced around her face. He held up the hair. "For the meat you stole." He smirked. When she did not reply his eyes hardened and his voice changed to harder tones. "Where are you from little wench?" She kept gazing at him in silent defiance. "Speak!" He roared it in her face. Again, she did not. When he tried to grab the bag of supplies back off her she uttered a string of what he guessed were curses, but in a language he did not know. He scowled.

"Is she of Tortall?" Asked the soldier holding her, hoping someone knew common.

"It doesn't matter," replied the captain. "She's not ours, she can't live. She'll squeal." His eyes were hard. He nodded to the soldier holding her.

The soldier turned her with difficulty. This duty repulsed him, but it was necessary. He held held her tighter with one arm and redrew his sword with the other. He'd sheathed it for a better grip earlier. The girls eyes flashed fearfully between his face and his drawn sword. She started yelling in her tongue with her eyes wide in her grubby face. For the second time that night, he lifted his sword.

A force impacted with his body. He was flying, then falling. A burning sensation licked at his limbs. He hit the ground hard. Stars blurred his sight. He lay disorientated. He could now make out the camp, but barely. The men where on the floor, as him. They'd been knocked down as well? The girl was nowhere to be seen. His last coherent vision he could recall was those deep, burning-blue eyes.

"What happened?" The captain demanded. He had gotten to his feet a few metres away, recovering faster than his men. It took a moment for the soldier to realise he was talking to him. The soldier tried to find the words he needed to explain that he didn't know. They didn't come. He shook his head. Something in the corner of his eye caught his attention as he did so. Turning slowly, he saw that the deer carcass was reduced to nothing but seared bone and the fire was no longer it's natural colour, but had become the very same midnight blue as the girls eyes.

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... And thank you for reading! This makes more sense (to me) in 1/2 view mode, try it xD *is picky*. I dunno, it looks more like a novel. So, what do you think? Please tell me when you finish reading however many chapters you're going to. I'd love to know how you find the story so far!

I thought it would be interesting to write a mage instead of a warrior girl in Tortall-verse. Can you tell I'm hanging out for Numair's books to come out? Anyway, I shant keep you longer. Next chapter~!