Check Out the Campsites

Emily headed down the slope toward the camp sites. As she approached the woodland at the bottom of the hill the sounds of activity became clearer and more distinct. She was looking forward to seeing what everybody was up to, how they were preparing for the fighting and events the weekend had to offer. There was no path through the trees here, but the woods were thin and it was fairly easy to follow the sounds. She could hear a song she recognised from the radio playing somewhere close ahead, and before long Emily approached the edge of one of the clearings.

‘Halt! Who goes there?’ came a loud voice apparently just behind her. Emily jumped and shrieked. The idea that somebody might be sneaking up on her just hadn’t occurred. She started to turn toward the voice but was gruffly ordered to face forward.

‘Who are you?’ the voice demanded.

‘I’m Emily.’

‘What is your business with the Holy Order?’

Damn, thought Emily, these people are playing the game. I don’t have any business with the Holy Order: I’m, like, their arch enemy. How was she going to get out of this? If she told them who she really was it could go very badly, or they could be stunned into letting her go. She could just try to run away, but fighting wasn't an option. Maybe she could talk her way out of this and get back to the staff tent to wait for Ted?

She had clearly spent too much time thinking. ‘Forget it. Step forward and put your arms around that tree. I’m going to search you for weapons.’