The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel
Page 38
About a quarter mile from the Guardians’ post, Gwynn tied her horse in a heavy thicket of trees. Then she removed her sword and leaned it against a tree, knowing her dagger would be her only defense if she encountered a problem. The fading light played eerily with the shapes in the forest as dusk slipped into darkness. The snap of a twig sounded louder and crisper in the dark so Gwynn stepped lightly as she approached the compound.
A six-foot wall defined the perimeter of the Guardians’ property and the wooden gate was closed. She crept low, as she approached the wall, and slowly stood upright to peer over. It was taller than her so she reached up with her hands and pulled herself high enough to catch a glimpse of the compound. Light emanating through windows in the buildings, as well as lanterns placed at intervals along the wall, allowed her to observe several people walking into a building. Soon, more people walked into the same building and, based on the time of night, she assumed it to be their dining hall. She turned to her right and looked near the gate but didn’t see any movement.
She could easily hoist herself over the wall but wasn’t sure she could do it as quietly as necessary. She scanned the compound again and watched for another moment as more people entered the dining hall. Then, she lowered herself back to the ground and crouched low while she crept to the gate.
The gate was shorter than the wall and she gazed over it as she wrapped her fingers around the handle. She started to pull it open when a loud bell clanged and she nearly gasped in surprise. She ducked down and looked in all directions, including behind, to make sure she hadn’t been seen. The bell rang again and she decided it was probably the final call to the evening meal.
Gwynn stayed low for a moment and listened. She felt her heart beating fast and noticed that her palms were sweaty. Maybe she wasn’t as neutral about this as she thought. A subtle warning tried to reach the forefront of her thoughts and get her attention but she wanted that journal too badly to notice it.
She wiped her palms on her cape and slowly rose to peer over the gate. A head popped up, not two feet in front of her and she held as still as a statue. In the dim light, she wasn’t sure whether she was face to face with someone, but after a moment she realized the person was facing the opposite direction, toward the buildings. It was a man, and he reached his arms upward as he gave his body a good stretch and let out a sigh. Perhaps he had been napping on the ground, against the gate. Gwynn slowly lowered herself below the level of the gate and didn’t dare move.
The sound of his footsteps in the dirt indicated he left his post and was heading to the dining hall. Gwynn stayed in position until all was quiet again and then stood. There was no sign of life inside or outside the compound. She pulled on the handle and opened the gate just far enough to slip inside. She closed it and stayed clear of direct lights as she sprinted toward the buildings.