The Beacon
The Watchman
A lone figure approaches from the east. Sam spots him first. A Freeman from the eastern tribes, no doubt. Come begging for food, most likely. Sam hates being posted out on the cold, harsh frontier, beyond the Kingdom’s borders, guarding the Pyre Hill Beacon. Technically he was guarding Pyre Hill Camp, the small military outpost at the base of Pyre Hill. The beacon was a large unlit bonfire, right at the summit of the Hill. If lit, it would be visible for miles around, warning of the coming of the Enemy. But it has been nearly 50 years since the last reported sighting of any Enemy, and Sam doubts if they really ever existed at all. All Sam has ever seen out here were uncivilised Freemen. And it was cold. Sam hates the cold.