The Worst Night of My Life

General Summary

It had been raining for a week. I used to, before the war, enjoy rainy nights. There’s nothing so calming as falling asleep while the rain pitter patters on your roof. Not so in a tent. The first night you are relatively dry. The second night, the continual dripping inches from your face irks. The third night, and every night thereafter, you are drenched. Of course, if you had to march the day before this is all much worse. We had marched four days prior and had finally joined the min encampment. The Captain reported to Colonel Avery and we pitched to. Not that there were dry places to set up. That night the storms intensified. The winds howled so I thought they were alive. Next morning the watch spread tales of strange visitors talking with the Captain and the Colonel. As I finished breakfast the Captain approached, “Gather your things. We are to ambush a group of rebels intelligence gave us news of.” I grabbed my pack and stowed my bedroll, falling in behind. The attack was quick and brutal. The rebel’s mage assaulted us with foul magics, but I snuck in as a mouse and neutralized him. After that they fell quickly. As we rode back the rain’s intensity increased. The Captain glanced over his shoulder and hurried our pace. “Aeiea,” he muttered. Thunder rattled behind us quickening our already rushed pace. We thundered into camp, throwing the reins to startled watchmen.
Only to hear silence.
The rain had stopped and the forest stilled. Not a branch or a twig stirred. Out of the quiet stepped the most regal lady I had ever seen. Captain stepped forward, “My Lady, what brings you here?” “I would speak with your Colonel,” she commanded. “Of course, I will take you myself,” he head jerked and I fell in as an honor guard of sorts. As we walked conversation ceased and eyes stared at our guest. She accepted the open looks of desire and adoration as her due. The Colonel welcomed her in with a dismissive nod to us, “That’s all Mac, you can go.” I could see the alarm and dismay in the Captain’s eyes, but he obeyed, waving us to stand guard some distance away. I do not know what was said in the tent that night. As I stood there that night, the sky grew darker, and if I thought it was raining before, now it was as if the heavens had torn open and Aeiea herself was attacking us. Lightning tore open he ground around us and horses bolted in terror. Men erupted from tents as sodden tents burst into flame as lightning struck it. With a quick desperate glance back at the Colonel’s tent, the Captain called us to order, “Corporal lead a fire squad, get those fires out!” I saluted and pulled the other men with me. I heard the Captain shouting other orders for the camp to be struck, a new site to be found, and the many other orders you hear when the world has turned upside down. I fell to smothering fires knocking down tents, and generally getting ready to rabbit. I was sure the lightning was going to hit me at any moment. Within an hour the camp was struck and the Captain had the whole regiment marching uphill. We fast marched for two hours to the clearing our scouts had found. The Captain kept glancing up at the sky worriedly. The storm hadn’t moved the entire time and showed no signs of abating. “Corporal, grab the squad, and let’s return for the Colonel.” We set off downhill, and had travelled only a few miles back when a rebel detachment set on us. With a great cry of frustration Captain McAllister set on them. I have never seen anyone move like that before or since. It was as if he moved to an unheard of song and before the rest of us could react they were all down and the Captain stood there unharmed. He blinked and looked around him at the fallen soldiers and his sword dropped from his hand. Lightning flashed in the distance and thunder belatedly boomed its response. “We wanted to help ya’ Cap’n, but we wasnna sure how to help withou’ hurtin’ ya’,” said one of the soldiers. “That was a sight to behold. I’ve never seen anyone move like that sir.” Lightning cracked in response. “I see,” and I saw him pull back within himself and change. It was as if he saw a possibility and it scared him. “Carry on. Corporal, scout ahead as much as you can in this Creator-forsaken s storm. I need to know if anyone else is there.” No one else was. We returned to our old campsite, and the Colonel’s tent was neatly packed up along with all his gear. His face was set in stone. The Captain took one look at his friend, squared his shoulders, and waved us to the waiting luggage. Over the campfire, many a soldier from y regiment will tell tales of when Aeiea called on the Colonel. They all calm up when the Captain or the Colonel come close. Me, I don’t say a word. When storm clouds gather I find myself glancing over my shoulder expecting to see a stately, but coldly angry Lady. The Captain won’t say a word about that night.

Report Date

21 Dec 2021