Chapter One

Watching the horizon drain of colour, Zeal turned his back away from his home. It was time for him to take his place on the wall. As a guard of Zarkaria, it was his duty to help protect the community.

Heaving up his gear, Zeal headed to his post. Waving at people as he walked along. He loved his job, though it was boring. There were times he wished something would happen. Anything. 

"Ah Zeal. Good to see you."

"Am I late?" Zeal asked the man. He placed his gear on the ground and stared at the two men infront of him. Zeal looked between the men.

"Heavens no. You are early as usual. I have a job for you." The man responded. The man looked at the other guy. "This guy here wants to train to be a guard. I figure you two should get along"

The other man smiled as Zeal nodded his head. "Yes sir." With a salute the man left leaving Zeal and the other man alone.

Zeal turned and looked at the man. "Zeal" the other man held out his hand "Casper." Nodding his head once again and shaking Casper's hand Zeal let go and reached for his gear. "Come along. We have to climb some stairs and head to that tower over there."

Casper looked over his shoulder where Zeal was pointing. Sighing Casper picked his gear up and followed.  "Is this the only way to the tower?" Casper asked curiously.

"For this side yes. Those stairs ahead of us are the only way up. Each side of the wall has one set of stairs up. The wall is of course all connected. Sometimes when I leave I have to take the west side stairs."

"What stairs are these?"

"These stairs are called the north side stairs."

"Is that because this is the north side of town?"

Zeal rolled his eyes at the questions. He really wanted to answer sarcastically with a no it's the east side however he decided to just answer the questions. "Yes this is the north side." The pair remained silent as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Ok let's head up."

Slowly the pair climbed the stairs. The stairs weren't straight up no they would go up a few feet then switch another direction, and so on until they reached the top. "Whoa." Casper said as he looked out over the edge. Zeal smiled as the memory of his first day up on the wall danced across his vision. "Everything is so black." Casper whispered in awe.

Blinking a few times Zeal agrees with the man. "You get used to it. Come we have to relieve the person at our post."

Looking back at Zeal "I thought Dane was the man."

Zeal shook his head. "No Dane is one of the leaders. It is his job to organize all of us. Actually we are relieving his daughter, Thea."

"A woman?" 

Zeal took a step closer to Casper "yes a woman. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No sir. I am only surprised is all."

"Let's get going." Zeal's clipped tone signalled Casper not to say anything else. Casper knew he was annoying the younger man with the constant questions. In truth Casper didn't like the silence. He had no choice in being out here. His son was drafted until the guards realized that his son had passed away in a accident. They were going to pass on his family wait for the next generation to come of age. It was law that at least one male member of the family serve as a guard. Now Casper learned that even the women could be drafted.

The tower came closer into view it was at least another five feet above the surface of the wall. "About time you got here Zeal." A woman's voice said. Soon a set of feet came into view. "Sorry Thea. Your father has given me the task of a new recruit."

The woman came fully into view. She was small maybe five feet inches tall and couldn't weigh anymore than a hundred pounds. "Oh that is wonderful. I take back my sharp tone." She looked at the man beside Zeal. "Thea"

Taking the girls small hand in his Casper told her his name. "As much as I would like to stay and chat awhile I am afraid I must head home. My mother wants me to help her plan the New Years party with her."

"Ah yes this year is a special one if I am not mistaken."

"Yes. Five hundred years."

"Tell your mother I say hi." Zeal says as he holds out his arms. With a quick hug Thea leaves the pair.

"Now what?" Casper asked

"Head up the stairs. Everything we need is up there."

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