Outside the Inn, the weather grew worse, the wind blowing hard against the southern stonewall

while the rain poured, landing like pebbles on the clay tiled rooftop. Inside, the Innkeeper was kept

busy with a group of young men, would-be cadets eager to sign up for the Legions, listening to an

old man sitting beside the great fireplace embedded in the Inn’s fine stonework. “So old man, what

did these four soldiers do besides chase bears?” one of the young men asked? The old man looked

up, his eyes clouding as his mind drifted back to the past…“Well boy, I’ll tell ya...”

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After the Cadet’s returned to Coranan they were kept within the walls of the Castle, not permitted to

leave the training compound, and train is all they did, every hour of every day. Nico kept himself

physically fit and trained with the new range of weaponry that were made available, the Spear,

Javelin and of course the Sword with which he was already very familiar thanks to the teachings of

his grandfather. Also during this time, Nico was kept busy teaching his companions Lothar and

Sylud how to read and write as well as dealing with his extra duies as the company Quartermaster.

Eight weeks later, their Captain paraded the company. “Today men, we will be marching out to

Esuron. We will be taking supplies there so prepare yourselves for the journey, you have ten

minutes. MOVE!” and with that booming voice the Company was equipped and ready to march out.

Wagons appeared loaded with boxes of supplies followed by Captain Ostardas on his steed. “Move

out” he ordered, and the unit headed out of the courtyard and into Coranan itself. People looked on

as they marched down the main street towards the city gates and then out into the countryside

heading north. The day went by and as night fell the Company made camp under the supervision of

Lothar. With squads set to guard over the encampment, the night was unevetful until the sunrise

when the men were stood to and the camp dismantled.

By that afternoon the Company had reached the township of Esuron, the provincial capital. The

Captain showed his papers to the garrison Commander and then ordered the company to unload the

wagons. “Right men, we are here to stay for the night before marching out in the morning back to

Coranan. Every man is confined to the courtyard of the Fort. Find yourself a spot and that’s where

you will be sleeping, dismissed!” he ordered. For Nico the night was quiet as he slept all the way

through to the morning stand to, not being required to stand guard duty.

The next morning the Company was readied to march back to Coranan having delivered their cargo.

The wagon only had a few boxes left to transport back, however one box was solidly built and well

padlocked. “Why’s that old man?” asked one of the young lad’s. “Lad, that chest was a payroll

chest containing the garrison’s wages” replied the old man. With their cargo ready, they marched

off back to Coranan. After a days march they made camp, once again with Lothar organising the

construction of the company camp. That night Nico and Lothar were paired up for guard duty, along

with Sylud and Grunth. They stood their watch before waking the next squad and then getting some

much needed rest.

At the morning stand to all hell break loose, for when Nico and the others were awoken, the money

chest was discovered smashed open and the contents removed. The Captain was notified and he was

furious. “Find that money!” he ordered. A search of the camp was ordered. “Where are the guards

that were on duty at the time?” yelled the captain. “Sir!” yelled a soldier “one man is missing!”

“WHAT!” screamed the Captain as he stormed into his tent in a furious rage. He returned armed and

readied.

“Right men, I want you all to search the camp perimeter for tracks. We are not leaving until we find

the traitor and the money!” Nico and the others checked the perimeter fence a few times but there

was no break in it, nothing to show where the thief had gotten away. The perimeter fence was still

intact. “Well I don’t know about you guys, but there are no tracks leading out of the encampment”

observed Lothar. “Yea, I’s noted nuttin,” replied Grunth. “Well he may have covered his tracks”

mentioned Nico. “I’m going to carry on and try and search outside of the encampment in the bush

line” “You know, maybe it wasn’t that guy that ran off, perhaps it was the other two on guard and

they’ve killed their sqaudmate?” said Sylud. “They are convicts you know!” “You’d know Sylud”

quipped Nico as he headed out into the bush. “My thoughts exactly Sylud” responded Lothar. “And

they have buried them and the money underground where their tent is…”

But time was crucial, the Company had to be back in Coranan by nightfall and time was growing

thin to the point where the Captain ordered camp to be broken and that every man be ready to march

out. Taking the opportunity Sylud and Lothar decided to head over to where the tent occupied by

the missing mans squad had been positioned. They found that the ground was loose and soft and

after a little effort discovered the corpse of their missing comrade.

“Sir, we found the missing man” yelled Lothar. “And the money” echoed Sylud. With fear in their

eyes the dead man’s squadmates tried to make off, but to no avail. They were quickly chased down

and captured. Nico hearing the commotion came rushing out from the bushes near the campsite.

“Hang them!” ordered the Captain Ostardas. Moments later they were dangling from tree branches,

their feet twitching, as the Company marched off along the road back to Coranan.

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Next Story.

Written By: Kane Mokomoko (a.k.a: Nico of Leyon)