T

 
he stone wall was cold against Longshanks's cheek. He stood stock still, one with the shadows of the dimly lit alcove, and watched as two figures stalked purposefully by.
      His palm was wet with perspiration; fingers loosely curled around the hilt of his shortsword. The two figures, faceless from his vantage point but well armoured in chain hauberks and bearing long, wicked pikes, were obviously walking sentry-go through the long, dark corridors of the keep. What armed guards were doing marching in the corridors of a supposedly impregnable stronghold he didn't know and wondered at, but he wasn't about to linger and find out. He had almost crossed paths with more guards than he had arrows in his quiver, and the prospect of being discovered by any of them set his nerves on edge. He'd nearly ground his teeth into powder at the thought of it. After all, suppose they didn't take kindly to trespassers proving just how easy it really was to break into said impenetrable fortress –then break out again no

 
 
less– right under everyone's noses! A wry smile twitched the corner of his mouth as he pondered what his excuse might be for the trespassing, but then again, now was not the time for idle bemusement.
      He exhaled slowly. A bead of sweat trickled down his face to disappear into the short, greying beard that adorned his square chin. He watched the sentries round a far corner, then heard two voices speaking to each other, then two more join into the conversation. "Thor's goats!!" he swore silently, "This place is all a-crawl with troops!" He relaxed a moment as the voices echoed away into nothingness, and the heavy footfalls faded from his ears. Believing caution the best choice of tactics in this case, he waited a few moments more before deciding it was safe enough to proceed. Stepping out into the passage, he motioned with his other hand at those who stood behind him.
      A largish man was Ayrn Duril, nicknamed "Longshanks" by his Brethren, for the length of stride he took, and called "Tall" by others who knew him as friend. His enemies called

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