The Glass Fortress-- part one

In the lookout tower on the Castle of Love, one of the watchmen held the high powered binoculars to his eyes and slowly scanned the desert waste that spread out before him right to the distant horizon.

“Do you see any activity?” The young soldier at his side asked.

The watchman handed the binoculars over to him and pointed. “See that little group at just slightly less than one-oh-five? They seem to be wearying of the way.”
“Shall I send a dart? One of cupid’s darts?”

The watchman shook his head. “No, not yet; hook up the sound waves and we will see if we can catch what they are saying.”

“Sir?”

The watchman was intently scanning the desert once again. He looked over the glasses. “Yes?”

“I recorded the conversation. It is rather faint and staticy in places, but see what you think of it.”

The watchman adjusted the earphones and turned up the volume, and this is what he made out.

“Look, everyone, I think there is a castle over yonder.”

“Sorry, Fiona. That’s just a mirage. There are no castles in these parts.”

“But what if it was. Just what if! Then we could find rest and shelter.”

The watchman whipped off the earphones, eyes shining; “Shoot a dart, shoot one of Cupid’s darts,” He cried, “But aim true!”

Daniel’s hand trembled as he shot not once, not twice but three times! Others crowded around and watched in breathless suspense as the darts glistened and soared in the dry summer’s heat.

One dart had hit its mark; Fiona’s breast. They exuberantly clapped each other on the back while Daniel snatched up the ear phones and someone else the binoculars.