I settled on my new vantage point, the roof of the canteen. I knew there was no danger from the drakes at night; due to the Watch being a hive of activity all day, I doubted the reptiles would look near for quite a while.  

The last of the soldiers slunk into the barracks, exhausted, while others slept under canvas shelters. Higher ranks shared a total of three huts, one of which was the Commander's private accommodation. 

Alarii called to me, but I stayed put and simply cawed 'goodnight'.  She smiled,  then went indoors. 

I remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the Commander's hut and the one in which Alarii and Dana rested.

After some time had passed, I glided down to the window of her hut. I was quiet, making sure she did not notice me. I could see her bunk and that of Dana's which ran adjacent to Alarri's. 

Dana was sound asleep; she snored lightly. I craned my neck as I saw a flash of light from behind Alarri. The mirror. I focused on the reflection.

Just as Dana had said, the Night Elf busied herself sketching a small portrait of the Commander. She was quite the artist. There was no doubt who the man in the drawing was; the dark shaggy mane, the hairy-face, although she had made him smile; a hint of teeth showed under the black mass. 

Watching her draw struck a note with me too. Not that a bird could sketch of course, but there was something personally meaningful about this ritual Alarii had adopted every evening. I shuffled a little around the ledge as I saw her closing her book and storing it under her bunk. She then pulled the netting around and extinguished the lamp.

Again, I bade my time, waiting until I heard her soft breathing fall into a steady rhythm. 

Confident both occupants were sound asleep; I jumped down inside the hut. Carefully, I hopped across to the edge of her bunk, my talons clicking on the wooden boards. I stilled as I heard her turn. She did not wake, but those few moments allowed time for my eyes to adjust to the gloom.

I lowered my head and peered under the bed-frame. After a while, I could make out the book. I hunched down so I could reach underneath, and using my beak tried to grip the book cover. 

It took a bit effort, but I managed to pull it out far enough so I could then try and open it. That, at least, had to be easier than dragging it forward. 

I wedged my beak under the cover, but it wouldn't budge. I pecked and prodded before I realised a leather thong bound it closed; this was going to be trickier than I had thought. 

Halting long enough to ensure the females were still sleeping, I tried again—this time I used both beak and claw to loosen the leather binding. After a few attempts, it gave way. 

I nuzzled my beak under the cover again, and this time it opened without any resistance. Thankfully, the pages were loose sheets.

I grabbed a few pages in my beak, and half hopped, half waddled across to the window before I flew onto the ledge. I surveyed the courtyard to make sure the way was clear; my destination - the Commander's hut. 

His lamp was still lit. I risked a glance behind me to ensure Alarii was still asleep; then I took flight. The paper rippled and ruffled in my beak as I flew across the courtyard. 

Landing atop the three steps in front of his door, I waited - more to gather courage than anything else. 

A little nervous, I visualised the door opening and a booted foot lashing out at me. I sincerely hoped the man would not be so impolite. 

Light bled out beneath the door and through the netted windows.

It was now or never.

I pecked at the door a few times and listened for any activity inside. 

Silence. 

I tried again, careful not to crush the sketches. This time I heard movement. I braced myself, stepping from one foot to the other, ready to fly in once that door opened, and hoping I would not be brutally ejected moments later; or worse. 

Heavy footfalls approached. Then I heard the dry creak of the door opening. Before I had time to think anymore, I flew past the Commander's shoulder, into the room. 

"Oi!" he shouted, more from the surprise I think, than an annoyance.

I landed on the table at the back of the hut where a tall jug with steam coming from it sat next to a smaller metallic container. The rich aroma was faintly familiar, but I did not linger, for I saw Jevon striding purposefully towards me. 

His black hair and weathered brown skin accentuated his piercing eyes, making him look very menacing indeed.

Bare-chested with muscular shoulders and strong arms, I could tell he was a powerful man. I quivered as I thought how easily he could wring my neck.  Keeping the pages in my beak as prominent as possible, I backed up.

"What are you up to, you black devil!" he snarled. "You stealing people's things now, are you?" 

I saw his hand coming towards me, and I immediately dropped the sheets on the table, afraid if he grabbed them from my beak, he would ruin them. 

He came to a sudden stop. "What's this?"

He cocked an eyebrow when he saw the drawings. Carefully, he picked each one up and examined it closely. I noted the hair on his face twitching; I hoped he was smiling. 

He looked at me, his brow furrowed. "Where did you get these?" he demanded. He looked back at the sketches. A glint of teeth - he was smiling. "As if you'd understand!" he scoffed, shaking his head then running his fingers through his hair.

Tentatively, I moved to the front of the table and hopped to the floor. I skipped across to the door then turned to see if the Commander would follow me. 

He stared; disbelief cutting across his features. I skipped a few more steps and turned again. Clasping all the sketches, he started to follow. 

Out I scuttled across the courtyard, not daring to fly for fear he would stop following. 

I reached Alarii's accommodation a few feet ahead of the Commander, then I flew up onto the window ledge and disappeared inside. 

The hut was shrouded in darkness, but the light from the moon kept the courtyard lit; well enough for me to see where the Commander stood.

He was glancing at the drawings and then at the hut. 

I made my way to the book and collected some more sheets then hopped to the window and waited. He mounted the steps, reaching out, slowly, and took the sketches from my beak. 

He pointed to the pictures then looked at me. "Alarii?" he asked. He still bore a bewildered expression. 

I then answered with a loud series of squawks.