Sitting atop his chestnut stallion, Pacer, Captain Jason At’lal observed the scene before him with a deep frown stitched on the insides of his lips. The call had come earlier that day that the Red Army was poised to cross the river and take the fight to the enemy, the accursed blue devils of Dynaor.
His soldiers had begun unfolding tents and grooming their shaggy horses one last time in preparation of the deadly battle to come. Good riddance thought Jason, the two armies had been maneuvering around each other for days, each unwilling to make the fatal strike that would start the battle. Even more irksome to the soldiers who would do the fighting, was the constant ferrying of diplomats on either side of the river.
Presumably they had been trying to settle a peace treaty but everybody knew that was not happening. Scratching his head Jason tried to figure out once again what the point of the war really was. The two armies were as different from each other as day and night. He couldn’t help but recall the words of his tutor back home when they were on the subject of history between Dynaor and Filos.
“The city states of Dynaor and Filos had been blood enemies since time began,” the old man would rasp in his peppery voice. “The Filosians were hot tempered and deadly folks, much like the deities they worshipped both in war and in everyday living. Their mountainous lands provided capable men and women used to living in harsh weathers of all kinds. Their love of singing and ale were widely known throughout the seven kingdoms of Karelion as well as their most infamous weapon in war, the longships. “
“Tell me about the blood raids and the wars Master, please tell me,” he would plead. Jason couldn’t help but chuckle how naïve he had been when he was younger. He had thought war was a noble and chivalrous battle between two armies fighting under the laws of honor and chivalry.
The songwriters and ballads never told the real story behind each battle, how truly horrific and relishing it was. Some soldiers went insane with bloodlust while others just snapped and killed themselves in various odd methods. Jason continued to digress into his memories further.
“Will you let me finish, Jason,” he would snap with a hint of a smile on his weather beaten face.
“Sorry Master, please continue.”
“The Dynaor folks were more of trader folk than they were warriors. Their lustrous coastal city attracted more sailors and merchants than any other city in the whole of Karelion. The hot summers of Dynaor were more than a match for the harsh winters of Filos. Enriched by the never ending flow of trade ships, it boasted one of the biggest merchant guilds in the world.”
It was at this point that the battle hungry young Jason started fidgeting and squirming in the hard seat of his chair. Who needed merchants when a good raid made a man rich and still had some money left over to spend on his young and beautiful wife?
With a bemused smile the Master would change topics and talk about the why and where offs of each battle between the two rival kingdoms.
“The raid on Dalia led by Captain Ytrieg was one of the most successful raids because it---,” Jason was jolted from his trip down memory lane by his second in command and best friend Sergent Niale. Deadly waves of irritation radiated from the easygoing cheerful Sergent as he stalked up to his Captain.
“I swear I’m gonna quit this damn company of hooligans and idiots if it’s the last thing I do!”
Cocking his eye with an amused look on his face, Jason dismounted from his mount with an air of casualness. He knew from experience that once Niale got angry nothing could calm him down until he finished what he had to say.
So he quietly listened to his friend rant about the mess his soldiers were making on the camp. Following the wildly animated gestures of his friend Jason at last observed his surroundings properly. He paid careful attention, for this was his first assignment as head of a company.
The pelting torrents of rain last night had made the already muddy ground even more muddier which led to piles of mud stuck in every soldier’s boots. Looking down at his feet, Jason observed the same smeared brown stuff coloring the leather soles of his feet.
Most of the tents were done being packed and the few remaining ones were fumbling around endlessly with the clasps and ropes. Seriously thought Jason, soldiers have been using the same type of tent design for over five hundred years. Couldn’t the tent designers have come up with a better tent design other than the cumbersome one that was standard among all soldiers? Moving on, he noticed a circle of soldiers huddling around two men. Probably up to no good he mused as his gaze traveled farther down the unfolding scene.
The leafy canopy forest had protected most of the supplies from getting thoroughly soaked and he watched the army followers hard at work already packing them unto the pack horses. His riveting blue eyes next fell upon another group of soldier’s practicing their swordsman ship under the steady gaze of Selia, his personal guard, and girlfriend.
Her sharp green eyes never missed a chance to correct somebody on their posture, or a give a hint to the right way to swing a sword. Her graceful movements had seen her through many battles by his side, and the way she moved her hips had men drooling over her tent day in and day out. Most commoners went years, maybe even decades without a promotion but unpredictable, savvy, and charming Selia had risen through the ranks faster than any commoner in the history of the Filosian army.
As he peered at her through his helmet, an emotion rarely ever seen surfaced to the Captains weathered face, love. “Are you even listening to me, Jason,” shouted Niale. Jerking his conscious back to reality Jason looked at his friend with a sheepish grin on his face.
“Yes, Niale, I am and yes you are right, we must enforce the rule of law upon these despicable ungrateful peasants who call themselves the soldiers of the Red Eagle Outfit.”
Looking at the baleful expression on Niale’s face Jason knew his friend didn’t believe him at all. “You would’ve believed that if it came out of Selia’s mouth,” he muttered under his breath.
“What, what’s that you said Captain Jason,” Niale craned his ears with a dark look in his eyes.
Hastily putting his hands up in surrender Jason replied hurriedly, “look Niale, me and you just got transferred to this unit, and I know that you dearly missed Griffin Company, but General Darius has transferred us here because this company is the laughingstock of the entire army. Can we please work together to make them better? It will be me and you pal, just like old times. What do you say? You in?”
Looking down at the offered hand Niale’s juggled his miniscule options with narrowed eyes. He could abandon the Red Eagles or as they called themselves Eagle Company and his friend and cozy up to Griffin once again or he could stay and endure the sallow faced green soldiers that he found himself in command off. With a huge sigh he took the offered hand and grudgingly accepted his fate.
“You’re becoming a very good diplomat Captain, a very fine one indeed.” Chuckling inwardly Jason turned around and surveyed the camp once again. If his Master saw the scene before him he would have been shocked and speechless beyond words.
Shaking his head to clear the amusing images of his Master teaching his company about the history of Filos and Dynaor, Jason saddled his horse and rode to camp with the weight of his armor adding to the weight of the responsibilities to come. It was time he taught some sharp lesson to the so called Eagle Company.
Niale’s deep thunderous voice rang throughout the camp as he called the soldiers to attention. As they made their way to the small grassy clearing the place was used for target practice, Jason couldn’t help but wonder at the raggedy way the company shuffled towards them. The gaunt hollow looks and the sunken cheeks were all the prove Jason needed to know Eagle Company had its fair share of battles in the accursed war.
Their tattered armor made up of loosely intact chainmail, stolen from the dead more likely, was tightly clasped under the standard issue of the red tunic which displayed the coat of arms of the Filosian army. His sharp observant eyes fell upon the armament of weapons ranging from long swords, heavy maces, longbows, and crossbows, and to the deadly axes that were the preferred weapon of the Filosians, which the soldiers wielded.
Though nothing could compare to the amount of daggers the company had. Some were cleverly concealed under the folds of their red uniforms, while others were displayed more openly in belts and knife sheaths.
A commotion fell upon the group as a burly man with a jagged scar running down the length of his left eye pushed his way through the crowd of soldiers. His massive size and the greatswod protruding from the folds of his back made the disgruntled men less inclined to argue with him further.
Here comes trouble.
From the corner of his eyes, Jason saw Niale fingering the pommel of the long sword strapped to his left hip. Before Jason could warn Niale on the dangers of provoking a giant, the man stepped out of the crowd and calmly walked up to the pair.
“Who are you to call the soldiers of Eagle Company to attention,” the man asked them.
“Who are you to question the new commanders of this… this Company,” Niale fired back in a scornful manner.
Before things could get out of hand, Jason stepped between the two and introduced himself, “I’m Captain Jason At’lal, and this is my second in command Sergeant Niale, what is your name and rank, Soldier,” he replied with his authoritarian voice.
“I’m corporal Darius, sir, the commanding junior officer of this company and we are honored by your presence, especially since we have heard so much about your success in the war,” and with that Darius pounded his chest with his right hand and saluted the two commanders.
Hiding his shock at the polite manner of the giant, Jason brushed past the Corporal and addressed Eagle Company in a loud, clear voice hands folded behind his back.
“I have heard a lot about Eagle Company, most of it extremely bad, and the good ones barely above slanderous jokes about what a disgrace this company has been to the army,” pausing slightly he continued, his eyes sharply observing the reactions his words had on the soldiers, “I have heard that this company is full of thieves and cowards, it is said that you’re mascot should instead be a scared chicken rather than the noble beast of an Eagle.”
The angry and sour looks the soldiers were shooting at him pleased Jason profoundly.
They’re still prideful of their mascot, and their company. Good I can work with that he mused quietly to himself.
“If you want to get your pride and honor back, then you must earn it, by becoming the greatest company in this army. I will work you to exhaustion if I must. But I will not tolerate my company to be the laughingstock of the whole army. I will not tolerate my soldiers to be laughed upon for being part of this company.” Replacing the sullen looks on their faces was hope. They knew what he was talking about, they couldn’t go anywhere in the Filosian army camp without soldiers from different companies taunting them behind their backs, or even in some cases right to their faces.
“What can we do to make that change happen, Captain?” inquired Darius with his polite low voice.
“First you shall split yourselves into four equal groups each consisting of two dozen men, Corporal,” the surprised looks on the soldiers faces were washed away by eagerness, they really want change.
“Each group, lets name them name them squadrons for now, each squadron will be commanded by a squadron leader of my choosing. After splitting yourselves into four equal squadrons, you then shall split each squadron further into another four equal squad sized groups. Niale, Darius, and Selia, you are the squadron leaders. Got it? Go!”
The hesitant soldiers were quickly wheedled into action by Darius, Selia, and Niale. After a considerable amount of time organizing themselves the soldiers then split again into sixteen mini-squads
Gesturing for Darius, Selia, and Niale to follow him, Jason started walking to the small hill overlooking the camp. The soldier’s enthusiasm for change was intoxicating the young Captain. He was already planning battle strategies using the flexibility of his squad’s tactic.
“What are you planning Jason, what is this ‘squadron’ business? We need to teach these men discipline and order rather than playing at parading techniques?” Niale exclaimed with a bitter look once they got to the top of the hill.
“We need organization first Niale, if we just let them batter away at each other with their rusting swords and splintering shields, then this company is guaranteed to lose a third of its soldiers in the battles ahead,” Jason replied, and continued with an irritated voice “And Niale, I know you miss Griffin, but can you please try to help me here? We’re Eagles from now on, try to keep you’re unsympathetic comments to yourself. If you want to be a Sergeant in this company, then try to act more like a Sergeant and less like a sullen child!”
The dumbfounded look on Niale’s face was all the reassurance Jason needed to know that he had gotten his point across. Turning his attention to the other two, Jason couldn’t help but notice the way they tried unsuccessfully to hide their amusement.
“What are you two laughing at?” he questioned the pair in an angry voice, “You guys are as much trouble to this outfit as he is. I told you to organize the soldiers into four equal squads, and it took you more time than it should have to split the soldiers up into four equal squadrons,” the amusing smiles quickly disappeared behind smooth hard faces.
“Glad we are on the same page! Now, moving on, we need names for the four squadrons, and Darius I need you to recommend a leader for squadron four, I plan on overseeing the whole operation and therefore I won’t have time to lead squadron four,” seeing the nodding heads, Jason continued, “the last thing we need to do is to get proper armor for the soldiers.”
“We have asked the supply Sergeant for armor many times, Sir, but each time he turns us away with vague explanations as to why we haven’t got the armor we need. Most of the armor you see us wearing have been scavenged off the dead, and the ones that haven’t are rusting remarkably fast in this humid weather,” Darius explained with quite dignity.
“Really now? We shall have to configure that conniving evil despot after this meeting,” exclaimed Jason in disbelief.
“Do you guys have any names for the squadrons?” asked Jason as he looked back at the fidgeting soldiers behind them. After the trio exchanging glances, Selia finally voiced their thoughts out loud, “We think we should let the men decide what their squadron names shall be, Captain. It would be better for moral if they have a part in the command of this company.”
Giving his assent, the meeting broke up and they headed back to the practice range. Jason couldn’t help but notice the way Selia’s red hair billowed around her face as the wind picked up.
“Selia, Darius, I want you to come with me to go talk to this Supply Sergeant about the armor we need, Niale, go tell the soldiers to prepare themselves for battle, if there ever is a battle Eagle Company shall be ready to do their share of the work. Don’t forget to inform them that they can choose their own squadron name. We will come back shortly.” The sullen look returned to Niale’s face and with a big sigh Jason continued, “Can you accomplish all of that Sergeant, or can you not?”
With a hard voice Niale nodded and walked away towards the camp with a stiff back. Shaking his head Jason turned to Selia and ordered her to fetch their mounts.
When they were finally alone Jason asked the giant standing next to him “Who would you promote to lead the fourth squadron” as they stared at the camp below them. Like ants the soldiers were scurrying around under the booming sound of Niale’s voice.
After a few minutes of thinking, Darius finally replied “Her name is Riley, a remarkable soldier really, smart and thoughtful. She saved Eagle Company many times throughout the war as our ill fitted commanders made tactical mistakes that could’ve gotten us all killed.”
“She sounds…. Like a very good leader. Why was she never promoted?”
Turning towards Jason, Darius responded “When you are in Eagle Company, if you achieve Corporal, you count yourself lucky.”
Looking into his black eyes, Jason replied “This I promise to you Corporal Darius, we shall make Eagle Company the envy of this army, we shall become the glowing jewel that all companies rally around in the heat of battle. We shall equal the majestic accomplish of the once famous Dragon Company.”
With a dubious look Darius opened his mouth to reply back but the neighing of horses distracted him as Selia walked up to them with the horses. Darius gigantic black horse was a fitting match for the bulk of the warrior.
Any soldier had a right to be afraid of a charge from that black beast and his rider.
Selia’s white mare looked like a pony next to the black beast, and Pacer shifting brown eyes matched his owner’s observant ways towards everything.
“Mount up, we have a tyrant to uproot today,” commanded Jason as he mounted his horse and slid his feet on the stirrups. Selia and Jason did not notice the cold glint of darkness that sprouted from the giant’s eyes as they rode to the main Filosian camp.
Questions, Questions, you always ask questions-Teacher
Why sir, questions are the basis of human intelligence-me
[This message has been edited by Khalidbinwalid (edited 11-11-2012 @ 04:50 PM).]