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Message: <blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 2231767" data-attributes="member: 3192">[Session 6][DAY 19 – Sunday, Juna 8th, CY 81]– [DAY 24 – Fastday, Juna 13th, CY 81]The second week of waiting out the storm was no more successful than the first. Mirel had received many orders throughout the week. Most were the same thing: watch this person, listen in on these two, see what you can learn from the soldiers. She felt responsible for the whole encampment, especially her favorites – those she went down into Quesquaton with. Going over the list in her head she tried to remember everyone’s activities for the week. The soldiers mainly drilled and scouted out in the circle surrounding the tower. The bushes and brambles that lay cut on the sides had been pushed completely away from the tower now. Mirel had helped out with this. Over 100’ of clear space circumscribing Xavier meant no one could sneak up on them. And the pigpole-stuck trench meant attacks could be defended before enemies could reach the walls. Still, the soldiers patrolled out into the edges of the surrounding forest. Igor went with them more often than not. He was the one who she saw least (and it only made sense that he was the one asking her for the most information about others). Spying was such a dirty word.  The outpost militia was still keeping its own watch separate from the soldiers. Mirel knew their faces now as they sometimes were on the same chore duties as she was. She was glad the night watch duty on top the tower was not assigned to her though. That was hard with the constant wind and rain gusting into the open third floor. Another ten of the men were being trained by Dalin to work with polearms and shields. Mirel didn’t much care as she had learned how to use a shield fairly well from him the last time. But it was fun to watch them run into each other. Afterwards Dalin played cards with the men. Mirel thought this must be how he exacted payment for his drill instruction. Dram was busy, busy, busy. Pounding away with the other smiths in the bottom of the tower you would have thought he was happy lifting his hammer. As if that were not enough, he went hunting with bow and arrow in the woods at dusk each night. Mirel thought this might be how he became so fast and strong. “Very useful”, she thought. “I best keep up on my own chores before they decide to throw me out.” In the evening she spied on Kayla, though she was already spying for her as well. It wasn’t terribly exciting as Kayla spent all day lounging around reading her books and rarely helping Mirel sweep, or muck the stables, or count the eggs, or cook the food, or any number of things. What was interesting was when she met with people. Darius was often inside questioning her on what she read. Once Mirel heard, “I can’t find anything about this weather at all!” come out of the room. Other times she spotted Kayla sneakily entering into Elion’s tent at night. Darius went with her sometimes too, but Mirel had enough common sense not to listen in. Grown-ups often did strange things at night. Brother Ben was gone of course, all week to the Keep for training. “Why go through all that work if you’re only going to have more because of it?” thought Mirel. She preferred the life Pendra and Certa lived; only no one had seen them for over two weeks now. On the other side of things was Darius who never stayed in the same place. He was the one Mirel shadowed most of the time as he was always doing something different than before. She had much to keep track of. Sometimes he met with the soldiers, sometimes with the militia, but then there was also Kayla, Elion the Elf, the other troupe members, and even herself. What was he thinking talking to her? Darius was an important person now. It was simply poor manners from him to speak with someone as small as herself. What he did do regularly was watch his plants in the turned soil along the back wall of the tower. Small buds of green had appeared and they seemed very important to him. “They are just some silly plants from that tree-woman who nearly killed us”, thought Mirel. Darius also spent time examining the map he found in Zelligar’s library. He didn’t think anyone had seen him palm it from the wizard’s desk, but Mirel had ways of not being noticed when she did not want to be. The new map Darius drew was bigger and he would often take it with him when he stared out from the top of the tower into the rainy haze. On the day before Brother Ben was supposed to come back Darius called all the corporals together at the bottom of the well. Mirel went too. Reports were given and Darius told everyone to expect another day of exploration after Brother Ben returned on the morrow. Afterwards Mirel heard the strangest thing, while she climbed up the well’s side. The others always took the rope up which she felt was too easy. Igor was speaking alone with Darius below. Igor reported having lost all the books he had borrowed from library. He believed it happened while at the Keep when they had traveled there to heal Dalin. Darius asked kept talking asking on about a dagger, but Mirel did not hear him. She was too angry, but made sure to cover her expressions before exiting above. She hated that the wizard Zelligar’s books were “borrowed” by Igor and other others. How would she feel if someone took her favorite broom? She was so angry she didn’t even stop to think of why Igor’s strange new packsack was not taken during that same trip. </blockquote>

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