Even mercenaries have their traditions.

They don’t light candles for the dead — they light lanterns to keep the shadows at bay.
They don’t remember the fallen, but they’re more superstitious than anyone you’ll ever meet.

Tonight, the Company would probably be sitting by the fire, passing around a bottle, pretending not to notice the shapes moving beyond the light. To keep their minds off the demons of the past, they’d start scaring the new recruits with every ghost story they know, and they’d keep going until someone screamed like a maiden.

This year, I decided to paint one of these demons.
Meet my Halloween guardian — a scarecrow who’s seen too many battlefields and still finds the time to smile.

Happy Halloween, everyone.
May your lanterns burn bright.