The rain carried on falling harder onto the roof of the Sheppard’s Arms and the wind

thundered like a battering ram against the shutters. The door crashed shut with a

resounding slam as one of the young cadets reconsidered venturing out into the night.

“Somehow I don’t think we’ll be leaving in a hurry lads” he muttered. “It’s damn

near a snow storm out there”

“Well lads, looks like you’ll be stuck here like me” replied the old man. “You might

as well ask the Innkeeper for somewhere to bed down, or if you’re really lucky some

empty rooms.”

“So since we’re going to be here for a while, why don’t you carry on telling us about

this Legionnaire Nico?” asked another young man. “And I’ll see if we can’t get any

more Ale out of them barrels eh?”…

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

After six months of hard and gruelling training, Nico and the others were finally

Legionnaires. On their final day they were all given orders detailing which province

of Tharda they would be posted to. All four of them, Nico, Lothar, Sylud and Grunth

were given green cloaks with yellow trim and a small copper cloak brooch in the

shape of a hunting horn, the insignia of the Gerium Legion.

Except for Sylud, the squad was being sent to their home province, a common

occurrence in the Thardic Legions. The thought of going home excited Nico, he

looked forward to being able to see his family, especially his grandfather Belorn who

he admired the most.

The next morning, as dawn rose over the city of Coranan, the three companies of

newly trained Legionnaires awoke and prepared to march. Captain Ostardas

addressed the men one final time before they left for their various posts throughout

the Republic.

“Good-bye and good luck” he murmured to all the men, and with that he simply

walked away as Sergeant Gelak’s voice boomed out!

“Right you lot, move out” he ordered. “And on the double, March” The squad

marched hard all day and the city of Coranan soon disappeared over the horizon

behind them, which brought a mournful look from Sylud.

That night they stopped and rested in the town of Noru, but they had to spend the

night in the open for there was not enough room in the keep. So, following the

doctrines of their training, they made an encampment in a field nearby.

“Right then!” said the sergeant whose job it was to accompany them to their

destination, “See you all in the morning”, and with that he wandered off to spend a

comfortable night in the keep. As Lothar and Grunth started pitching the tent, a

legionnaire from one of the other squads approached.

“So who is getting us our food and drink?” he asked. “Who is the quartermaster?”

“Well I am a trained quartermaster, so I s’pose me” replied Nico. “Alright then, I’ll

go get rations for everyone” he said as he headed off.

“I’ll join you Nico”, said Sylud following. They walked into the courtyard of the

keep and headed towards the cook house where they met a burly cook with a wooden

spoon in hand stirring a stew.

“Leave the talking to me Nico, I’ll get us some grub” murmured Sylud. As Nico held

back, Sylud chatted away with the cook. Moments later Nico and Sylud were heading

back with twice as much food as was needed and a small keg of beer to quench

everyone’s thirsts. By the time they got back, the camp was set and a fire had been

started so, with all the extra rations a good meal was had by all.

But then trouble raised its head.

“Well now where is that keg of Beer?” asked one of the legionnaires from another

squad, “Come on crack it open!”

“All in good time friend” replied Sylud as he leaned down and picked it up off the

ground. Then he began to pour out the beer to all three squads, except for Lothar who

did not drink.

“Hope that was tasty lads, there is still a little bit left for those who would like

seconds” said Sylud, “And lets see, for a ha’penny perhaps?”

“Say what?” cried another of the legionnaires, “You isn’t gonna swindle me ya

bastard. Give that barrel here” he growled as he moved towards Sylud. At that

moment Grunth watching the commotion saw what was about to happen and lashed

out with his boot, kicking the unfortunate legionnaire in the crotch, upon which the

complainant fell to the ground and stayed there for quite a while.

“That’s another one you owe me Sylud” muttered Grunth.

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

“Bloody hell, that Grunth don’t mess around does he?” asked one of the young men.

“Oh indeed boy, indeed” replied the old man with a grim smile.

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

The next day the three squads set off again, the sergeant again setting a hard and fast

pace. From Noru they travelled all the way down the Thard until they reached

Geshtei, a welcoming sight to Nico, for he knew he was close to home. As they

arrived they marched on up towards Caer Geshtei. Once there, the commander of the

watch addressed them.

“Welcome to Caer Geshtei, you will remain here for three days, therefore you have

three days off duty” he said. “At the end of the three days you will be assigned your

postings. You can make camp over there“ he said indicating a corner of the castle

courtyard.

Camp was set up and once again Nico went to get the rations from the mess hall.

There he found a senior legionnaire in charge and snapped a salute.

“Sir, I need rations for one company for tonight” said Nico.

“Here you are soldier…” he said passing Nico a bundle of rations for the night. “Sign

here please” he said passing Nico a ledger and quill. Later as the men enjoyed their

hearty meal a captain accompanied by the sergeant came marching towards them.

“Who is Legionnaire Nico?” asked the Captain.

“Sir I am sir!” said Nico standing to attention.

“How many men in this unit soldier?” asked the officer.

“Sir, we are a company of twelve men sir” replied Nico.

“And where are the other eight then?” he demanded.

“Sir, I have no idea sir” replied Nico.

“No idea eh? You will be fined a month’s pay, do you understand?” he yelled.

“Sergeant punish this man”, and with that the Captain turned and walked away.

The Sergeant looked surprised at Nico and muttered, “You can do guard duty all night

tonight.”

“Sir yes sir!” replied Nico.

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

“What was all that about old man?” asked one of his listeners. “That’s not like Nico”

“Yes lad, I know” replied the old man. “But it gets worse from here, much worse”.

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

On the first day at Geshtei Sylud suggested they go to town and have a look around.

Grunth was keen because this had been his home, this was where he had worked and

lived for a while. Nico felt just as eager. He had spent time working on the docks

here in Geshtei. But like most men, after wondering around town, the four

squadmates ended up in a local Inn.

“Barkeep, ale’s for me and my friends here” called Nico. And whilst Nico was

getting the drinks, Sylud was eyeing the serving girls. By the end of the night, Nico

unused to so much hard liquor, had drunk so much that he had passed out and Grunth

had ended up carrying him back to the castle. The same thing happened the next day,

and the next day. By the end of the three days, Nico had spent most of his money on

drink. Grunth was getting sick and tired of carrying Nico back to the tent. Lothar

also was clearly not impressed with Nico’s behaviour.

On the morning of the 4^th day, a Captain of the garrison issued the squad’s orders.

“Right you men, when I call out your names I will also call out where you are going

to be stationed for the next three months” said the Captain.

When he read out their names however, Sylud, Grunth and Lothar were busy

wondering why Nico had not returned from the night before. So, after the Captain

had issued their orders, Grunth and Sylud headed into town searching the Inns,

looking for Nico. They soon found him, totally drunk and unable to walk. When they

approached him, he passed out and fell to the ground.

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

“Holy Halea!” said one of the young listeners. “Three days on the drink?”

“Yes lad!” replied the old man, “It was a real shock to his squad mates I kin tell

you…”

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

The following dawn, the squad broke camp and prepared to march off to Sitarny.

That was where the four of them were going to be stationed. Nico was as sick as a

dog, and the odor’s he had created in the tent were not too favourable either. The

others were not at all happy with his drinking binge of the last three days. Needless to

say, Nico found the going tough all the way to Sitarny.

Upon reaching Sitarny, they were directed to the garrison headquarters and met by a

sergeant.

“Welcome men, I am Sergeant Kethad. I will introduce you to the Captain” upon

which they were lead through a hall and to a room. There sitting at a desk was fort

commander, they promptly stood to attention.

“Greetings men, I am Captain Sosaldas. You will be here for the next three months so

I suggest you get to know your fellow legionnaires and the garrison.” Captain

Sosaldas continued, telling the four of the area and the importance of the road linking

Tharda and Rethem.

Sergeant Kethad showed them to the barracks, allocating them beds and blankets and

to the mess where most of the company was having dinner. A quick introduction was

made with the other members of the fort, but it was obvious they were the “new boys”

and for now were left pretty much on their own.

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

“So did they see any action while out their old man?” asked another young cadet.

“Well son” as the old man stood up. “Let me get one more and then I’ll tell ya…”

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

Next Story.

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