Flying Lancers

Written by George Sanders

You know how that abandoned farm house in the woods or the dark shop with an entrance only in a dark alley causes your gut to get tense? The fourth floor of the town hall in Etonia has that same feel.
There are no offices on that floor. No one is allowed to enter the floor. The stairway up is blocked and the doors at the top are locks. We know because back a few years there was a drunk sailor that tried the door on a dare. The city guard drug him off to the constable's office to sit in one of the jails for a week.
A few people have asked questions to the council in public meetings about the floor. They say it is used for training, storage, and personal use for the council. However, most of the guards haven't been on the floor and even some of the council don't have access.
At night there are lights on the floor and people can be seen walking around. And, if you watch carefully you will occasionally catch those people walking around on the roof. They carry long lances and many in the city have see winged figures on cloudy nights soaring above the city. They aren't like bat wings or devil wings- the city would be in an uproar over that. They have bird-like wings so most people prefer to think of them as angels watching over us.
As far as I'm concerned, we have the city guard and those knights in the church for protection. If the council also wants a secret unit of flying lancers that protect the city, it's probably a little overkill. But, they keep the taxes low and fund most of the city themselves so I'm not going to complain. Now, didn't you say the next round of drinks were on you?