Ash 39
Morning always came early for Myles.Even when he slept in he still rose before the sun could color the sky. Be it from routine or the waking nightmares that often made his rest fitful Myles was used to being awake in the odd hours before most others rose. He’d grown to cherish the quiet and calm that it allowed him. Having returned from his venture with Brenner only a few short days ago this morning would mark his return to active duty. Having gotten with Jonah the day prior he’d heard from his second that Terra had been taking extra shifts in hopes of encountering the mages they had fought with at the forge district burglary. Myles regretted that he’d allowed her escape but recent events hadn’t allowed him to dwell on it like they had the young markswoman had been. Deciding that her predicament was in several ways his responsibility. Still he didn’t think that she was the sort to respond well to admonishment on the subject.
Pondering what to do he dressed himself for the day in the moonlight that cracked through his windows. Myles still refrained from lighting flames where he could avoid them. Leaving the barracks in the wee hours of the morning Myles made his way to one of the few places that opened as early as he woke, the bakery. Down from the barracks a small bakery that specializes in pastries and breakfasts had flourished. Night watchmen coming off shift found it open just in time for their “dinner” shortly followed by the rest of the populace’s breakfast. It was one of those places you could smell before you saw it. In the still dim light of the moon the glass face of the bakery grinned with warm light illuminating the street in front of lit like a beacon to the tired and hungry. The scents of baked goods and coffee wafted through the air making the hungry famished and helping the full find room for desert.
Myles stepped into the bakery and was greeted by all the sensory pleasure the establishment had to offer carried tenfold by a warm puff of air. Stepping into the line of those who’d been awake all night and those who’d just risen to order Myles pondered just what he was desiring for breakfast. A new dish caught his eye and his stomach in a single glance. Apparently they’d made a sweet roll that had chunks of caramelized bacon worked into the batter. Swallowing the saliva that threatened to drown him Myles stepped forward as his time to order came forth.
“How many of those Bacoramel rolls do you make at a time” the woman hearing his question instead of an order blinked a couple times not entirely sure of what he was asking. Blushing as he realized he’d possible said something stupid he rephrased. However as he opened his mouth to speak the woman turned and shouted his question to the back. A muffled “two dozen” made its way from the back of the shop. Nodding thankfully Myles let his explanation go with a short sigh. “I’d like to buy the entire next fresh batch” Myles spoke with some authority even as he made what he hoped wasn’t too ridiculous a request. Thankfully the woman shrugged and said “you’ll have to wait a hot minute or two.” Shrugging Myles counted out the coins wishing the social part of his brain would wake up with the rest of him and start filtering his phrasing.
Enjoying the age old hobby of people watching as he waited on his order Myles found himself marveling at the periodic fat watchmen he saw. Those who were too connected to be removed from the military but too useless to do anything useful found themselves on nightwatch in cushy spots with few crimes. It was hard not to resent those who coasted on their names for Myles but he’d be a hypocrite as his name had no small part in his own career placement. As he pondered his order was finished and a steaming hot box was given to him waited with sweets that smelled of caramel and salty bacon. Resisting the urge to eat one now he made his way back to the barracks. He’d bought far more than he alone would be able to eat but with his return to the barracks he figured he could shower his men and friends with the extras. Making his way to the bunk room that Terra slept in Myles crept into the room only Terra and a few other heavy sleepers remained most others already having gone to the training fields or to their duties. Standing over her for a moment he debated waking her then and their but decided to briefly appreciate her sleeping visage. He chuckled inwardly thinking on how rare it was to see Terra in any form that wasn’t emitting bloodlust. Deciding the smell of breakfast would be enough Myles sat at the foot of her bunk and opened his box of rolls and grabbed one for himself relishing in the still sticky soft coating the warm treat had. It’s taste matching it’s maddening smell Myles was immediately lost as his sense of taste briefly told all his other senses to be silent as something amazing had happened.
Morning always came early for Myles.Even when he slept in he still rose before the sun could color the sky. Be it from routine or the waking nightmares that often made his rest fitful Myles was used to being awake in the odd hours before most others rose. He’d grown to cherish the quiet and calm that it allowed him. Having returned from his venture with Brenner only a few short days ago this morning would mark his return to active duty. Having gotten with Jonah the day prior he’d heard from his second that Terra had been taking extra shifts in hopes of encountering the mages they had fought with at the forge district burglary. Myles regretted that he’d allowed her escape but recent events hadn’t allowed him to dwell on it like they had the young markswoman had been. Deciding that her predicament was in several ways his responsibility. Still he didn’t think that she was the sort to respond well to admonishment on the subject.
Pondering what to do he dressed himself for the day in the moonlight that cracked through his windows. Myles still refrained from lighting flames where he could avoid them. Leaving the barracks in the wee hours of the morning Myles made his way to one of the few places that opened as early as he woke, the bakery. Down from the barracks a small bakery that specializes in pastries and breakfasts had flourished. Night watchmen coming off shift found it open just in time for their “dinner” shortly followed by the rest of the populace’s breakfast. It was one of those places you could smell before you saw it. In the still dim light of the moon the glass face of the bakery grinned with warm light illuminating the street in front of lit like a beacon to the tired and hungry. The scents of baked goods and coffee wafted through the air making the hungry famished and helping the full find room for desert.
Myles stepped into the bakery and was greeted by all the sensory pleasure the establishment had to offer carried tenfold by a warm puff of air. Stepping into the line of those who’d been awake all night and those who’d just risen to order Myles pondered just what he was desiring for breakfast. A new dish caught his eye and his stomach in a single glance. Apparently they’d made a sweet roll that had chunks of caramelized bacon worked into the batter. Swallowing the saliva that threatened to drown him Myles stepped forward as his time to order came forth.
“How many of those Bacoramel rolls do you make at a time” the woman hearing his question instead of an order blinked a couple times not entirely sure of what he was asking. Blushing as he realized he’d possible said something stupid he rephrased. However as he opened his mouth to speak the woman turned and shouted his question to the back. A muffled “two dozen” made its way from the back of the shop. Nodding thankfully Myles let his explanation go with a short sigh. “I’d like to buy the entire next fresh batch” Myles spoke with some authority even as he made what he hoped wasn’t too ridiculous a request. Thankfully the woman shrugged and said “you’ll have to wait a hot minute or two.” Shrugging Myles counted out the coins wishing the social part of his brain would wake up with the rest of him and start filtering his phrasing.
Enjoying the age old hobby of people watching as he waited on his order Myles found himself marveling at the periodic fat watchmen he saw. Those who were too connected to be removed from the military but too useless to do anything useful found themselves on nightwatch in cushy spots with few crimes. It was hard not to resent those who coasted on their names for Myles but he’d be a hypocrite as his name had no small part in his own career placement. As he pondered his order was finished and a steaming hot box was given to him waited with sweets that smelled of caramel and salty bacon. Resisting the urge to eat one now he made his way back to the barracks. He’d bought far more than he alone would be able to eat but with his return to the barracks he figured he could shower his men and friends with the extras. Making his way to the bunk room that Terra slept in Myles crept into the room only Terra and a few other heavy sleepers remained most others already having gone to the training fields or to their duties. Standing over her for a moment he debated waking her then and their but decided to briefly appreciate her sleeping visage. He chuckled inwardly thinking on how rare it was to see Terra in any form that wasn’t emitting bloodlust. Deciding the smell of breakfast would be enough Myles sat at the foot of her bunk and opened his box of rolls and grabbed one for himself relishing in the still sticky soft coating the warm treat had. It’s taste matching it’s maddening smell Myles was immediately lost as his sense of taste briefly told all his other senses to be silent as something amazing had happened.
