The last few months of training whirled by in a blur of repetition. Sword drill,

formation drill, spear drill. Sylud had to admit to himself that the regular food and

hard training had changed him. He was filling out and looked the picture of health.

At their last parade in Caer Coranan even he was surprised to find himself feeling

proud, especially once the plain cloak of a mere recruit had been traded for one of

Gerium Legion green. He was especially proud of the way Captain Ostardas had

stopped in front of him and said “well done Legionnaire”. Although, if he admitted it

to himself, that feeling didn’t last much longer than the march out of Coranan.

So, Sylud and his companions had marched from Caer Coranan with orders to head to

the Legion fortress of Fobin. Sylud took in as much of the city as he could see,

knowing that it would be four long years before he would be back.

“I won’t miss bein’ a recruit”, he said to his squad mates, “at least at Fobin I might

find someone willin’ to gamble wi’ me”

For two days they marched down the Thard, eventually coming to Geshtei. Sylud had

been there once before although he could remember little about it other than it was a

hick castle town in the middle of nowhere. Apparently Grunth came from here, which

didn’t surprise Sylud in the least.

The good thing was that they had several days rest at Geshtei and no duties. While

Lothar stayed at the legion castle cleaning his sword, the rest of the squad had gone

into what passed for Geshtei town. Grunth had told them that he used to work at an

inn here so they would get good service. He wasn’t wrong.

Sylud booked himself a room at the inn and enjoyed a couple of nights of sleep in a

room of his own, without the snores, complaints and noises of a barrack full of

soldiers keeping him from his repose. He did notice how Grunth came across all shy

and retiring around the serving girl. He obviously had the hots for her . Her name

was Halene , or something like that, and she was quite pretty so Sylud flashed his

smile and said the right words to ensure that he had female companionship for the

night. The only surprising thing was that Nico got himself uproariously drunk. He

sank ale faster than Sylud thought possible. They had to carry him home, and as it

turned out, it was not going to be the first time. The only other highlight of the visit

to Geshtei was thrashing Lothar in a match with wooden practice swords. He said to

the others afterwards that Lothar had “too much spit n’ polish an’ not enuf’ speed”.

Taking leave of Geshtei they marched to Fobin, from whence they were dispatched to

their home for the next four years. The place was called Sitarny, and sat on the border

with Kanday and Rethem. The nearest neighbours were some Agrikan fighting order.

Sylud determined that he would stay clear of them. The company headquarters was

an old converted manor house. As they settled in, Sylud looked around, feeling

somewhat despondent. There wasn’t a proper building in sight and he felt very

lonely. He had one thought, “’for my sins. I ‘ope Peoni is happy!”

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

Next Story.

Written By: Brian Smaller (a.k.a Sylud of Maladon)