As the day drew to an end, all the new cadets were marched back into the barracks for

dinner, at least, what they presumed was supposed to be dinner.

That night as they settled in, there was a commotion at one of the tables. As Nico looked

over from his bunk he noticed a few men were in a heated discussion. Suddenly one of

the men hit out at another. The blow didn’t seem to have much effect however for the

one that was attacked quickly raised his fist and punched his attacker back, sending him

across the floor, crashing into a bed.

The fight drew the attention of everyone in the room as they turned to see what was

happening, others merely turned over and tried to get to sleep, and as Nico looked on, he

could observe events with interest. The victor of the disagreement, a solid brute by the

name of Grunth, was built like a house and could obviously throw a fist. He didn’t

appear to be much a thinker however, though when you are all brawn, who needs brains?

thought Nico to himself wryly.

Another fellow whispering to Grunth went by the name Sylud. A convict, he had

complained loudly since his arrival that he was wrongfully accused, but as to the nature

of his crime, Nico had no inkling. Sylud appeared to be quite the opposite of Grunth,

simply put, he appeared to lack a backbone. His apparent lack of courage however

appeared to be made up for by his wit, cunning and persuasive charms, a potentially

deadly combination of traits. It seemed fitting that these two opposites had attracted one

another.

As Nico rolled over to catch some well-needed rest, he noticed another man, also quietly

watching Grunth and Sylud as they cleaned up the mess made by the unfortunate who

still lay unconscious upon the floor. He went by the name Lothar. A quiet man like

Nico, he kept to himself and only spoke when spoken to.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The following morning the entire barracks was woken early, “I only thought it was on

the farm where you were awake before the morning sunrise” thought Nico to himself as

he stumbled from his bed. Every man was ordered to ready himself and proceed to line

up on the parade ground. As they all gathered outside the company commander came out

from his quarters…

“Right you thugs, there has been an ‘accident’ overnight, which we are still investigating.

It seems that a member of your barracks became critically ill. Unfortunately, this man

died a few hours ago from his injury.” The captain paused and looked around at the

assembled cadets.

“Right then!” he yelled. “Which one of you bastards is responsible for this?” He began to

pace up and down in front of the silent men. “I see…nobody knows what happened

then?” he asked. The continued silence was his only reply. “Well since no one heard or

saw anything, then nothing happened here today” and with that, the company was

dismissed for morning drill. This became the routine for quite a spell, as the cadets were

taken through drills and training. The exercises were not too demanding though they were

very physical, but since Nico was very fit, he was able to cope.

After several weeks of training Sergeant Gelak addressed the company. “Who amongst

you lot of trash can read or write?” he asked. “I can sir” replied Nico. “Right soldier,

you are now the company quartermaster. You are now responsible for ensuring the

company is properly supplied” declared the sergeant.

“You soldier! Get your ass over here” he yelled as he pointed to Grunth. “I understand

you have worked as a stable hand?” “Yes sirr!” slurred Grunth “Right then, you are the

new company Ostler. You will eat, sleep and shit with the animals. Do you hear me?”

“Sirr yes sirr!” responded Grunth.

“Lastly, have any of you sorry lot ever worked as Miners, Masons or Woodcrafters?”

asked the sergeant. Lothar spoke up and said, “I’ve worked as a miner sir” “Very good,

you are now the company Sapper. You are to oversee camp construction every night and

its disassembling every morning. You will receive training in addition to your normal

duties…Do you understand me?” he yelled. “Indeed I do sir!” replied Lothar.

“Right listen up you girls. Tomorrow we are marching out of Coranan and into the forest

to the north. Every man is to have his equipment readied. Rations will be allocated to

you in the morning, that is all! Dismiss”.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dawn appeared over the horizon as the company of Legionnaires marched out of Caer

Coranan and down the main street of the city. They approached the northern gate and

marched on through heading out into the countryside.

As the march continued the company turned east at a junction and headed towards the

distant forest. Not long afterwards they reached the treeline. “Get your swords and

hatchets out men and start cutting a track through!” ordered the sergeant. As the sergeant

rotated each squad through the task of carving a path through the dense bush, thoughts of

haymaking flowed through Nico’s mind as he hacked away at the undergrowth whenever

it was his squads turn up front.

When it grew darker in the sky, the order was given to make camp for the night. Lothar

using what skills and knowledge he had began to issue instructions for the construction of

the encampment for the night.

On the first night Nico’s squad was put on watch. He was partnered with Lothar, whilst

the ‘odd couple’ Grunth and Sylud were partnered on the other side of the camp. Lothar

and Nico didn’t talk much through their watch, being content merely to get acquainted.

At some time during their guard duty however Lothar did tentatively ask if Nico could

teach him to read and write, to which Nico readily agreed. It was the start of a long

friendship.

As the sunrise approached, the company was awoken and readied to move out with

Lothar overseeing the disassembling of the campsite. Just before the unit was ready to

move out, one of the senior legionnaires spoke with the captain. Captain Ostardas was

obviously angered by the report and then addressed the men.

“Men, there appears to be a deserter from our unit” Nico’s eyes flicked towards Sylud

who had being going on about leaving the company for days. “He has left a trail and will

be hunted down like the dog he is. Senior Legionnaire Hapat, take one squad with you,

fully equipped, and hunt down this deserter!” ordered the captain. “You have two days

before the unit turns east to resupply”

“Already on our way sir!” replied Polus. “You four ladies, get your gear and follow me”

he said as he pointed towards Grunth, Sylud, Lothar and Nico. Grabbing their equipment

the four hapless recruits followed him at the double into the woods.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Marching for hours until nightfall the patrol set up a campsite and got some much needed

rest. After what seemed only minutes Polus woke everyone even though it was still dark.

“Get up you lazy bums, we march out in five minutes!” he ordered. As the group moved

through the morning until they found signs of a campsite where the fire was still warm.

A short distance further on they came upon bits of armour lying on the ground.

Eventually as they crested a ridge line, there in the distance could be seen a man

stumbling through the woods, the deserter.

Suddenly from out of nowhere, a massive bear came roaring out of a dense part of the

bush and charged at him. He screamed in terror as the bear just simply ripped him to

shreds. “Quick men, charge the animal before he kills us all” ordered Polus, but Nico

simply turned around and ran for his life with Grunth close alongside. They ran and ran

until forced to stop for lack of breath.

Looking at each other they realised they had abandoned the patrol, so slowly regaining

their composure the pair headed back towards the others. Upon arriving they saw that the

bear was gone. Sylud and Lothar were standing over the bodies of the deserter and

Senior Legionnaire Hapat.

“Where’s the bear?” asked Grunth. “I scared it off” cheered Sylud. “It was no match for

me!” “Polus is dead though” said Lothar. “And the deserter, but then he deserved it for

leaving the unit”

With no officer to lead, and a dead deserter, the four soldiers gathered up what they could

and started heading back the way they came. They soon realised that their woodcraft

skills weren’t as good as Polus’ had been and they soon found themselves lost with night

approaching. They made camp, and took turns on guard.

Later that night during Nico’s watch, as he sat there in the middle of the woods staring

into the darkness, he could hear a sound of heavy breathing. It was Grunth snoring quite

loudly in his makeshift bed. After a short while, Nico realised there was an echo to

Grunth’s breathing. “Surely he can’t be that loud” thought Nico to himself, so he got up

and began to make his way over to his squadmate.

Without warning the massive grizzly stood up in the nearby shadows. “BEAR! BEAR!”

screamed Nico at the top of his lungs, causing a panic amongst the rest of the group. The

bear then crashed its way into the camp narrowly missing Grunth. Lothar and Sylud

quickly armed themselves with spears and began attacking the bear as Grunth scrambled

from underneath its jaws along the ground to safety. His weapons to hand, Nico swung

his sword but missed. After a short confrontation, the bear fled off into the darkness and

the squad could hear branches snapping like twigs as the grizzly raced off.

“Lets chase the bloody thing” yelled Sylud “Or it will just keep chasing us” “The idea is

good Sylud, but not in the dark” replied Lothar. “We must move on, and it’s almost close

to sunrise, I think?” Waiting for the sunrise they waited. Even though the day was

cloudy, and they were amidst the trees, eventually they were sure from which direction

the sun was rising and they headed off in that direction.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Why is that old man?” asked one of the young men. The old man at the table raised his

eyes from under greying brows and replied “Because that’s east, or thereabouts”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The four would-be legionnaires walked through the woods for miles, hoping that they

were heading east when suddenly they could hear growling coming from behind them.

They looked back and could see the bear in the distance. “Quick run!” called one of

them, though none could recall whom had spoken, and they all sprinted off, only to find

themselves at a steep embankment.

“We have no choice now, we have to attack the bear!” shouted Sylud. “Okay then, lets

do it” replied Grunth and Lothar. As all four soldiers readied their weapons in

anticipation, the bear came charging through the foliage and saw them waiting.

“AAARRRRGGGHH!” they screamed their defiance. The bear unphased by their loud

challenge reared up on its hind legs and roared. “ROOAAARRRR!!!!”

Nico panicked, and ran off to the right, the bear giving chase, unbeknown to Nico, this

actually gave the rest of the group an advantage. As the bear headed off after Nico, the

others all attacked the beast. The Bear roared again and turned around to attack as Nico

carried on running.

Losing the pursuit Nico calmed himself down and catching his breath, he realised the

bear had stopped. He then turned around and headed back. Moments later when he

located his comrades he saw a joyful Sylud dancing on top of the massive carcass of the

bear. “I killed it, I killed it” he yelled.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“So they survived?” asked one of the young men “And then what happened?” “Oh

nothing much.” Replied the old man “but the roasted bear meat that night tasted really

really good!” “They ate the bear?” queried another lad. “Why of course they did my boy,

good solid piece of meat that is!” said the old man.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After another day in the woods, they returning patrol came across the company’s trail,

which they followed and eventually caught up with the following day, and after a detailed

report to the captain they were all given that night off to recover…

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next Story.

Written By: Kane Mokomoko (aka Nico of Leyon)