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[color=aa0505]"Attendere qui,"[/color] Nicomede muttered to his horse, patting the faithful creature on the neck. He got a toss of the head— a little cheeky, Nico thought— before his steed walked patiently a short distance away and took up station. [color=aa0505]"Gratzie."[/color]

Mayon's light wasn't nearly the comfort he might normally have found. The situation was just too strange; a fort such a short distance away, a messenger run to death, and not a single sign of distress. Not a single sign of anything, really; a gate ajar and nothing else. On his own initiative he would have chosen to make camp for the night. Set a watch, keep going a fire and investigate the fort come morning. Whatever happened here was long over and the night was not their friend. Not [i]this[/i] night, at any rate. Close to towns, cities, and well-trodden roads there truly wasn't much to fear from the night. Civilization, with the guidance and aid of the Goddesses, pushed back what might lurk past the light of a torch. This wasn't one of those places. Not anymore. It was something he could feel deep in himself, a [i]certainty[/i] that this place was not safe. 

But the Captain gave instructions, and it was their— [i]his[/i]— job to carry them out faithfully. Not that he was taking any chances tonight. The lantern shield on his left forearm for once lived up to its name, carrying at its end a flickering light that made the long shadows dance. His blade was already in hand when he took up station himself, aware— physically and magically— of the canteens of water affixed to his sword belt. 

Dame Tyaethe's remark did nothing to dispel his notion about [i]this[/i] night in [i]this[/i] place.

[color=aa0505]"Soggy boots at will,"[/color] He said to Serenity as she passed, nevertheless turning a few degrees to show the preparations at his hip. There was real reassurance behind the little joke, a promise that he would uphold his end. He fell into a matching pace once she had taken a few steps past him, bringing him into formation just behind Gerard and Serenity.

[@HereComesTheSnow] [@ERode]