Part 16

Greza strapped on her breastplate over her chainmail and then put her helmet on.  A chainmail veil hung down from the sides and back of the conical helmet.  It was all very different than the armor from the Empire. 

The last thing she put on were her old Cestus.  There was no rule against wearing them and she could still hold her shield and other weapons. 

“You look like a real soldier,” Burana said.

Greza went over and helped Burana strap her armor on.

“We’re going to have to do this every day?”  Burana asked.

“While on campaign, I’d imagine so.”

“Is it wrong to look forward to battle?”

“Depends why,” Greza said.

“To test myself.”

“You’re religion?”

“Mostly.”

Then they heard the sergeants shouting from the other room. 

“Time to go,” Burana said.

They all hurried out to the courtyard where other units were forming up.  Half the Company was participating in today’s training. 

“There you are, little sister,” Ox said and slapped her on the shoulder as she ran by. 

They got into formation and went to attention.  A few minutes later Lt. Tezana came out.  By all accounts she was an ugly woman and not in the best of shape.  Her chain mail armor bulged out in the middle too much and she looked as if she couldn't outrun a two legged cow.

Her small eyes looked them up and down before she began shaking her head.

“Pathetic,” Lt. Tezana said.  “I’ve seen recruits do a better formation.  I watched you and you’re slow.  You’re sloppy and your armor isn’t polished.”

Greza glanced around and saw that everyone’s clothing and armor were clean.  If the Lt. was trying to motivate them to perform better, she was going about it in a very poor way.  If she actually believed what she said then she was even worse. 

Lt. Tezana sneered at them before turning to face the 1^st Company’s captain.  They did roll call and then the captain stepped forward to address the 1^st company.  The other companies were doing the same.  Five out of ten companies of five platoons each were participating.  That was a lot of soldiers.

She had never seen so many gathered together.  It was in impressive sight and it had to be intimidating for an enemy to see marching at them. 

The captain began telling them about the day’s exercises.  Mainly, they were to practice large unit movements and unit cohesion.  Sounded like this was mainly practice for the sergeants and officers. 

As the captain talked on and on about the importance of the day’s exercise, she saw movement coming from the right.  She looked only with her eyes and saw Duke Verin and his entourage enter.  They were all mounted except the giant minotaur who was in full armor.  The small, dark haired woman rode beside Verin.  They were talking but they were too far away to hear. 

She couldn’t take her eyes off the Duke.  He was an intelligent man.  She could see by the way he examined everything around him and always paused to think before speaking.  He was handsome, but it was so much more than that.  He was powerful, but not in a physical way. 

She couldn’t explain it but she couldn’t stop looking at him.

But she did make sure to keep her head facing forward. 

She wanted to get to know the Duke and find out who he really was, but she was just a grunt.  Maybe if she did something spectacular she’d meet him long enough for him to pin a medal on her chest, but that was about it.  She knew that nobility avoided the common people the same way they avoided pigs. 

Unless they wanted something.  Then they’d just take. 

She wondered if duke Verin was that kind of man.  She hoped not.

Then the Lieutenant barked orders to the sergeants and they began to march out of the fortress.  They went by order of company and platoon. 

The spent the day marching around and getting into position as quickly and accurately as possible.  Then they’d have to turn the entire army without breaking rank.  Most of the work seemed to fall on the lieutenants and sergeants to keep everyone together. 

By the end of the day the soldiers knew what to do without much instruction.  Some of the newer human recruits complained about sore feet.  She wondered what it would be like to be so weak.  She felt sorry for them.   

Perhaps there was a way to help them.  Maybe during the marches she could carry some of their things in her own pack. 

At sunset all the units went back to the fortress for supper.  There was a long line and most people ate out in the courtyard.  The cafeteria wasn’t made to take everyone at once.

She got her tray and went outside to sit beside Burana.  She just sat on the ground with her back against the stone wall. 

“That was a lot of marching,” Burana said.

“It was good practice.”

“For parades to impress the Duke.”

“No, for battle.”

“I don’t think battle will be anything like that.”

“The basics, yes.”

Then Ox came over and sat down beside her. 

“What’d you think of all that?”  Burana asked.

“It’s important, Bur,” Ox said.

Burana rolled her eyes and went back to her meal. 

“You get the hang of it?”  Ox asked.

“I’ve read about these formations, but being in them is different.”

“You can only learn so much from your books.”

“I’m starting to see that.”

“Where’d you learn to read, Grez?”  Burana asked.

“My father taught me.”

“I can’t read.  My pa can’t read.  His pa couldn’t read,” Burana said.

“I read a little,” Ox said.

“I can teach you,” Greza said.  “There’s nothing more enjoyable than a good book.”

“I can think of a few,” Burana said.

“I thought you guys were about suffering,” Ox said.

Burana shrugged. 

“None of us are perfect.”

After they ate Ox went off to participate in some wrestling contest.  Burana and she went back to the barracks. They stripped off their boots and armor and laid down.  Burana rubbed her feet.

“They hurt?” Greza asked.

“Yeah, they do!  Marching around all day kills me.”

“Sorry.” 

“Grez, how come you don’t speak more?”

“Huh?”

“You’re obviously educated and smart, but you don’t show it.  You hiding it?”

“Not on purpose.”

She didn’t want to hide it.  If she could have shown it she might have ended up as a scout or something besides a targeteer.  A front line brute. 

There’d be little chance for her to prove herself capable of more.  She was good at fighting and that’s all she’d be able to do.