The Wait

One night while waiting...

Eric looked out the window to across the courtyard, passed the towers and into the forest on the other side of the wall. He knew that it would be almost time for the raiders and the battle to begin. He also knew that it bothered him greatly that his friend had not returned.

 

“Is it time yet?”, Eric asked Alfred for the fifth time within the

past hour.

“No, you know it’s not time yet. John has not return”, answered Alfred from across the candlelit room. Three candles shone brightly on a low table, one for each of the friends.

“Now sit down and have something to drink. I got wine if you want wine”

 

But Eric would not sit down. He couldn’t. His nervousness made him too anxious to sit or relax. He paced instead and looked out the window. He would have had the wine, but he was sure that if he did his stomach would unsettle and that would shame him in front of his peers before the battle was won. Or lost. This time there was too much at stake.

“Where is he, Alfred, where is John? He should have returned by now,” he

said in a desperate voice, “do you think maybe he was delayed because-”

“Will you PLEASE SIT-”

Just then there was a knock on the door and both men rushed to open it. John had arrived.

“Sorry, guys. They messed up the order and I had to stay while they redid

our pizzas”.

“Well, just remember if New England wins, you pay”.

“And if the Raiders win you do. Now, turn on the game and damnit,

Alfred, put out those scented candles before the place burns down”.