The Price of Duty

The Return

Soatha rested her foot on the seat in front of her rocking slightly while the sounds of the carriage rattled through the air as sunlight creeped in through the many holes of the canopy, she looked up from the floor around the carriage, they were a party of four when they left now, they were down a number, Melthos had lost his life in the endeavor to kill an Oathbreaker from a church of Helm, his body lay bound in red sheets in the centre of the carriage. Soatha glanced at Corporal Kruglov, the young man had seldom showed his face always wearing his helmet, visor down, on this occasion however, his helmet was on his lap, showing the burns on his face from a previous assignment his milky white left eye glistening in the dark confines of the carriage, Soatha did not linger her gaze on him for long. Sgt. Markos sat closest to the body hunched over head down, he and Melthos where close, and Soatha feared that this would break the man beyond help. There was nothing she could do now, however.

The carriage came to a halt and Soatha stood up her armor rattling as she did so, she pulled the canopy up and was greeted with a punch of sunlight, causing her to grimace and pull her hood up as she climbed out of the carriage, she pushed some strands of white hair out of her face then she stepped to one side and Kruglov and Markos joined her outside the carriage. As her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she could see the tall imposing walls of Ulentor Fortress, a smaller Fortress outside Baldur's Gate home to the Order of Judgement a militant sect of the church of Tyr, its walls were adorned with the Heraldry of the Order and smaller ones denoting the noble families of Baldur's Gate that supported the Order, such as the Tirans and Hulihees.

Kruglov had redonned his helmet and was standing silently as Markos carried Melthos body inside, Soatha watched in solemn silence.

Kruglov gave Soatha a salute his heavy gauntleted hand clanging against his chest and made his leave, she let out a long sigh and gathered herself, as she did so a young dark-haired elf approached from behind.
"Ser Soatha glad to see your safe return" the woman spoke with a slight slurring sound Soatha recognized this voice to be that of Hestia Beranta, she turned to face her. Hestia was a young woman with one blind eye marred with harsh red sclera and a soft silver eye and brown hair draped over her shoulder, she was draped in silver and black robes denoting her place as a cleric within the order a small dagger sat loosely on her hip, he calm presence juxtaposed with the harsh scaring on her face, earned many years ago but never quite healing.

"Yes, Hestia it was a rather long journey what can I do for you?" Soatha spoke plainly exhausted from her journey.

"Nothing that Tyr cannot provide" Hestia smiles revealing the row of teeth visible through her burns "How was the mission?

"We lost Melthos, he took the Oathbreakers sword to the heart, Markos hasn't said a word since."
"I am sorry to hear, I will try to speak to Markos" Hestia said looking towards the ground.

"I was also curious if you plan to observe the upcoming initiation of Mael Tiran?" she said.
"Ahh yes Mael..." Soatha said trailing off.
"You do not approve?" Hestia questioned
"It is not my place to give opinions on initiates Hestia" Soatha remarking sarcastically.

"Your word amounts to more than you think Captain even beyond this fortress" Hestia stated gesturing with a gloved hand towards Soatha.
"So, I am told, now do you require me, or can I make my leave?" Soatha said raising an eyebrow.
"Of course" Hestia said gesturing to the main door of the keep "I will see you at initiates training tomorrow?"

"Perhaps" Soatha said sharply making her leave.

As Soatha entered the fortress and made her way to her Chambers her thoughts lingered on Melthos' passing, could it have been avoided? Perhaps she thought but it is done now. The sun had started to set and Soatha wished to retire to her chambers for the evening, as she approached her room, she saw one of the young initiates sitting by one of the fortress windows a young human boy with blonde hair mired with dirt he was wearing a dark leather apron and was covered in soot from the forge rooms, she continued to her chambers and entered slamming the heavy door behind her sending a firm reminder that she did not want to be disturbed. She approached her armor stand and began to strip her plate off and placed it gently on the stand using a small cloth to polish the dirt off. She then removed her gambeson and trousers and stood in front of the mirror. She was heavily built for a Drow broad shouldered and muscular, and her body was covered in scars and burns from a century of battles within her time within the order, she glanced at a rather nasty scar that ran across her abdomen.