Free 03 - Call to Arms by Mitchel Scanlon - (ebook by Undead) Page A

wandering around it for days without ever finding anything.
    It was hard to judge time surrounded by the mists, but by Dieter’s estimation
several minutes passed before he noticed an unsettling development. From the
first, the forest had been quiet. The Scarlets were under orders to move through
the woods as stealthily as possible, but even so it had been possible to catch
the break of twigs and crunch of leaves underfoot as the soldiers passed through
the woodlands. Without any warning, Dieter suddenly realised he could no longer
hear those sounds.
    In its place, the forest was eerily quiet. Turning to the man silhouetted by
the side of him, Dieter realised to his horror he was looking at a tree, its
shape disguised enough by the mist that he had mistaken it for one of his
comrades. Appalled, he scanned his surroundings and saw that none of the
silhouettes around him were moving. With a sinking heart, it occurred to him
that he was alone.
    His first impulse was to cry out, but he remembered his orders were to
maintain stealth. Stifling his cry, he considered his options.
    He was no great huntsman, but he had lived his whole life in the country,
giving him a wealth of skills to draw on. Cautiously, he moved to the nearest
tree and rubbed his hand over the bark. Determining which side of the tree had
moss on it allowed him to roughly estimate the compass direction. Coupled with
the fact he knew the Scarlets were supposed to be moving north-west, he headed
off in the same direction, reasoning he would likely cross their path sooner or
later.
    At the same time, the temptation to shout out in the hope of attracting his
comrades’ attention was almost overwhelming. Resisting the impulse, Dieter
reminded himself they had been sent into the woods to scout for greenskins. If
any of the enemy were nearby, his call for help would draw them like crows to a
carcass. Besides which, he was proud. It was his first duty with his new
regiment, and he did not want it to be remembered as the time he got lost and
endangered their mission. It was not in his character to accept such humiliation
lightly.
    Telling himself he would give it another quarter-league before he stopped and
took stock of his situation, Dieter continued on. Wary of the fact he was on his
own, he had drawn his sword. He moved carefully forward, his senses alert,
listening intently for any sound which might give him warning either of the
Scarlets’ presence or an enemy’s.
    Spotting a bulky shape further ahead in the mists, Dieter altered his course
to move closer toward it. Intrigued, he wondered as to its nature, until the
mists suddenly parted for a split second revealing its identity.
    It was a small hut, of the kind used by woodsmen, charcoal burners and others
who made their living in the forest. A light was burning beneath the window
shutters. Advancing to within hailing distance, Dieter briefly considered
calling out to its inhabitants. Thinking better of it, he crept over to the
front door.
    Transferring his sword to his shield hand in a blade downward position,
Dieter made ready to push the door open. It was another of the tricks his foster
father Helmut had taught him. Rather than sheath his sword or discard his shield
to open the door, he relied on his forearm to control the shield while his left
hand held the sword, giving him a free hand to ease the door open quietly
instead of kicking it down and alerting whoever was inside to his arrival. If
trouble occurred, he could quickly swap the sword back to his right hand and
take up the proper grip on his shield, ready for action.
    Gently lifting the latch, he opened the door. Inside, he saw two men in the
uniform of the Scarlets, standing with their backs to him. They were both
hunched over a shape in the middle of the hut floor.
    “You wouldn’t think her bones would be so strong,” one of them said,
straining at something. “Wait a minute… I think I’ve got