Sweat beaded on Caedal's brow almost faster than he could wipe it away with his sleeve. He had never in his life pranked anyone and it was proving to be more stressful than he had been led to believe. The hushed chuckles and hidden smirks from his fellow soldiers following a particulary impressive prank seemed far removed from his current predicament.
Were they get caught? Have I been set up? Am I early? The thoughts ran roughshod through Caedal's mind as he fought the urge to bolt. An elderly servant passed by and Caedal's heart shot up into his throat as his hands reflexively sought out the package secreted in his breast pocket in fear. The servant seemed not to notice his behavior, continuing past Caedal as if he were just one of the Grey Tower's furnishings.
Caedal let out a breath he had not intended to hold as the servant rounded a corner. Being in the Dedicated quarters was not against the rules for a soldier, but Caedal doubted he could concoct a suitable explanation for his presence if questioned by a curious Dedicated—or, Light forbid, an Asha'man. I will wait five more minutes and then I will leave, he thought, knowing that it was not true. He had been waiting for an opportunity to improve relations between himself and his fellow initiates at the Tower for weeks and involving himself in this escapade was the first that had presented itself.
Pranks were a tradition at the Grey Tower; an outlet for initiates to escape the pressures of the Tower in—usually—less destructive ways. Caedal had heard as much from soldiers, novices, and drin throughout his stay at the Tower. But that didn't make him any less apprehensive about the whole thing. Punishment was still a very real possibility if they were caught, and Caedal did not relish the thought of explaining the situation to the Master of Soldiers.
The thought of punishment brought the panic once more to the forefront of Caedal's mind and he silenced it by once again running through today's plan as if it were just another lesson. First, obtain an oilfish from the Hama Valon markets. Caedal patted the package in his coat, grateful that he had also been able to find a sack that wouldn't let the fish's oil leak out and stain his coat. Second, bring the oilfish to Dedicated Nathaniel Carridus' quarters. This part of the plan worried Caedal the most because it had been up to another member of this little conspiracy to learn exactly where those quarters were. Finally... do something amusing. Another questionable aspect of the plan, for none of the hopeful pranksters had been able to agree on what to with the oilfish once they had it in hand. Eventually they had agreed to decide once they were in Nathaniel's chambers where, hopefully, opportunity would present itself.
Lost in thought Caedal didn't even notice the approach of another.
Were they get caught? Have I been set up? Am I early? The thoughts ran roughshod through Caedal's mind as he fought the urge to bolt. An elderly servant passed by and Caedal's heart shot up into his throat as his hands reflexively sought out the package secreted in his breast pocket in fear. The servant seemed not to notice his behavior, continuing past Caedal as if he were just one of the Grey Tower's furnishings.
Caedal let out a breath he had not intended to hold as the servant rounded a corner. Being in the Dedicated quarters was not against the rules for a soldier, but Caedal doubted he could concoct a suitable explanation for his presence if questioned by a curious Dedicated—or, Light forbid, an Asha'man. I will wait five more minutes and then I will leave, he thought, knowing that it was not true. He had been waiting for an opportunity to improve relations between himself and his fellow initiates at the Tower for weeks and involving himself in this escapade was the first that had presented itself.
Pranks were a tradition at the Grey Tower; an outlet for initiates to escape the pressures of the Tower in—usually—less destructive ways. Caedal had heard as much from soldiers, novices, and drin throughout his stay at the Tower. But that didn't make him any less apprehensive about the whole thing. Punishment was still a very real possibility if they were caught, and Caedal did not relish the thought of explaining the situation to the Master of Soldiers.
The thought of punishment brought the panic once more to the forefront of Caedal's mind and he silenced it by once again running through today's plan as if it were just another lesson. First, obtain an oilfish from the Hama Valon markets. Caedal patted the package in his coat, grateful that he had also been able to find a sack that wouldn't let the fish's oil leak out and stain his coat. Second, bring the oilfish to Dedicated Nathaniel Carridus' quarters. This part of the plan worried Caedal the most because it had been up to another member of this little conspiracy to learn exactly where those quarters were. Finally... do something amusing. Another questionable aspect of the plan, for none of the hopeful pranksters had been able to agree on what to with the oilfish once they had it in hand. Eventually they had agreed to decide once they were in Nathaniel's chambers where, hopefully, opportunity would present itself.
Lost in thought Caedal didn't even notice the approach of another.
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