Iron Blooded

Twenty Four: The Hunt

"Good," I said, as I strode the line. "Again."

The soldiers before me brought their spear shafts up and stepped forward, thrusting high and then low.

I stopped my pacing before Jorgen and pushed his spear higher with my hand.

"Maintain stance," I told him. "Again."

One of the soldiers down the line swatted at the flies buzzing around his head. He gave me an irritated look and let his spear shaft dip.

"Forgive me Sarge," he said, "but why the hell are we out here drilling while the other companies get to rest? Not even the rest of the 3rd are practicing drills during designated leisure time."

I noticed a few of the others nodding their heads in agreement.

"A fair question," I conceded, rubbing at the back of my neck.

"Jorgen, why do you think we're drilling?"

Jorgen glanced up, looking positively alarmed at being called on to speak. He stood at attention, hand twisting nervously around his spear shaft.

"Because we're under-leveled and under-equipped sir- er I mean Sergeant."

I nodded.

"That's the crux of it but there's more to it." I gestured to the man who had spoken.

"Hade is it? And what was your profession before you joined the 3rd Auxiliary three months ago?"

Hade scratched at his beard, looking a bit sheepish.

"I was a grocer Sarge," he said.

"A grocer. And you Jorgen?"

"I was a farm hand before the Army," he admitted.

"Right," I said, thinking of my retail job back on Earth.

"And I was a…shop assistant."

"But for one reason or another, you were levied into the Army and the option to choose a soldier class appeared to you - as it did to me. That makes us different than them,"

I gestured towards the rows of wagon supplies, the polished high-quality armor, and the well-rested men now lounging near the tent of Lord Blackthorne.

Hade followed my gaze, frowning doubtfully.

"But Sarge, we'll never catch up to them. They're real soldiers - men at arms that is. And we're…" he trailed off.

"Well. We're us."

I shrugged and pulled my canteen from my belt, downing a gulp of water. They weren't technically wrong. Most of the companies in service of a Noble House looked down on the 3rd for one reason or another. It had been a fact of life for most of the Auxiliary and accepting it was simply common practice.

I aimed to change that and it would be no easy task.

"You'll have your work cut out for you," Gills had told me. "But you have my support in this."

The men glanced up, and I turned in time to see what I'd been waiting for.

"If you make me do anything like this again, I'll have to kill you." Wheezed Kato as he and Draxus hauled over a set of heavy wooden crates. Kato set his down in the grass and groaned.

"I swear my back will never be the same."

Draxus set down two crates with a heavy thump, rolling his eyes at Kato.

"The order you requested." He said. "This should be all of it."

"What did you trade the Smith?" asked Kato. "Your soul?"

A shit ton of teeth and a favor was the real answer, but I kept that to myself.

Stooping, I pulled my hunting knife from the sheath in my boot and used it to pry open the lid of one of the crates. Hade whistled as he looked over my shoulder.

"That's a good quality spear that is," he said appreciatively.

"I'm glad you think so."

I lifted one from the box, testing its weight. Then I tossed it to him. He was so surprised he had to drop his own spear to catch it.

Item: Reforged Steel Spear, Common, Upgraded

Hade made a few swipes through the air and smiled appreciatively. When he made to hand it back I shook my head.

"It's yours now," I said.

Thirteen pairs of eyes blinked at me in surprise.

"We can't afford these," said Jorgen. He patted the flat purse at his belt. "I have barely 2 silvers to rub together, and I can't be the only one."

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"They are already paid for," I said. "They belong to you. As do these."

I pried the lid of the second and third boxes, letting them fall to the grass.

Item: Padded gambeson, common

Item: Chain mail Hauberk, common

"These are for us?" asked Hade, eyes wide. "But they're brand new. You can see the Smith's mark and everything."

The soldiers of my squad began to chatter excitedly as they pulled out the new equipment, examining each piece.

In truth, it was far from the best gear. It was accessible in mass and more importantly, it hadn't cost me an arm and a leg. Still, it was better quality equipment than any squad in the 3rd could expect. Or at least it had been.

Nestled amongst the armor was a cloth bundle, marked with a note from the Smith.

I pulled out the bundle and unwrapped it, examining the contents with a careful eye.

Item: Steel Bassinet, common, upgraded

Item: Reforged Silver-Steel Bastard sword, Rare, upgraded

I stood and pulled the helmet onto my head. There was no doubt that there was a better fit. The inside had been padded with dark fiend leather, and the eye slits in the visor had been reshaped for better visibility.

I drew the sword and studied it. Sure enough, as I turned it in the light I could see the sheen of crafting magic. The newly forged Silver-Steel gleamed in the light of the sun. The hilt was the same wrapped leather but the pummel had a new detail.

I ran my thumb over the engraved letter B and smiled. I was a soldier now, and it was high time that I embraced that fact.

"Wash and eat," I told my men. "Then gear up and be ready to move by noon. We're going to earn our dinner tonight, boys."

***

"My Lord Dacon," I said, wrapping an arm around my waist and bowing in the fashion of the North.

"It is good to see you well."

The Count's Son turned in his saddle, grinning to Ser Robert who sat stoically beside him.

"Who taught him that? I dare say Blackbriar, if I was a woman I'd be thoroughly charmed."

"His ascension from country bumpkin to courtesan is something to behold, My Lord," Said Kato from beside me. He sketched a bow of his own.

"I believe Courtier is the word you're looking for," said Draxus

Kato tapped his chin.

"Nope," he said, slapping me on the shoulder. "Will did, after all, whore himself out for a new set of armor. Tell me again what you promised?"

"Will of Blackbriar and his squad have agreed to accompany me on my hunt," said Lord Dacon. "Truly, I couldn't be in better hands."

Ser Robert looked dubious, but other than shooting me a look of evident dislike, he said nothing. Jorgen's eyes widened when he spotted the Count's heir mounted on his armored courser.

He tried to bow, helmet nearly slipping off his head.

"Your grace," he said. "It's an honor. I've never met a member of the nobility before.... Er that is, I never thought I would."

Dacon raised his eyebrows.

"Who is this fellow? Looks a bit young."

"Jorgen's a good sort," I said, dropping a hand on his shoulder and giving It a fond shake. In his ear, I muttered.

"Dacon is a Lord. Only Duke's are referred to as your grace."

Jorgen's cheeks burned.

"So my Lord, are you going to tell me what it is we're hunting?" I asked the Dacon. The Count's son gave me a sly smile.

"Only if you can keep up, Blackbriar."

Ser Robert took with him six mounted knights to serve as Dacon's guard. Behind their horses, my men marched double time.

I strode briskly beside Dacon's courser as he rode, thankful that I had managed to raise my endurance stat.

"You've heard the rumors about the bog no doubt," said Dacon.

I grunted in agreement and Dacon sighed.

"Not at all exaggerations I'm afraid. The swamplands of the south have long been an odd place. One that cultivates strange natural magic. I would have liked to have a Magus with us, but it's my understanding the last one has yet to be replaced."

I recalled the first battle I had ever been in. It had been a desperate night against the Goblin Horde and the war riders. When the Rock Troll showed up, I had thought that was the end.

An Image of the Mage's broken body lying twisted in a tree flashed into my mind and I shook my head to clear it.

"Why is it that a replacement Magus hasn't been sent to the front lines?" I asked.

"We'd lose less men if we had the support of a magic user."

Dacon adjusted the reins in his gantlets.

"My guess is that it's simply too dangerous. Strange thought, I know. But those born with magical affinity inherit a life of status fairly early on. By the time they get to the academy, their lifestyles are often comfortable, lavish even. A Magus who makes a name for himself has very little reason to want to go to war. Why leave such a nihilistic way of life?"

He glanced at me, shrugging.

"In a way, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. There was a time during the God King's ascension when all Magus of the academy served a term in the service. It bred discipline, if nothing else. But things have… changed since then."

"I see."

Several paces ahead one of Ser Robert's forward scouts made a signal. Lord Dacon slowed his horse to a walk. Behind me, the men of my squad formed up, spears at the ready. Draxus came to stand beside me.

"What's the hold-up?"

"The Count's man thinks he's spotted some Montser sign. Might give us a better idea of what we're dealing with."

Lord Dacon dismounted and stooped to examine the furrows in the ground. I scanned our surroundings for any potential threats.

The trees were stark and low-hanging. lichen hung from the branches, covering anything in a blanket of light green. Frogs and insects chirped a steady rhythm.

After a moment Dacon rose and followed the markings twenty paces until he ran into a tree. The bark was rough, scraped clean as if by a deer's antlers.

Then again, the scrape marks were at least ten feet high.

Dacon returned to his courser and swung back into the saddle.

"There had been rumors circling in the border towns," he said.

"Rumors of a beast that's been haunting this bog and killing anyone within a several-mile radius. At first, it was only travelers and merchants who frequented the main trail. But recently, they say this creature has been terrorizing the local villages. Lord Blackthorne has tasked me with hunting this beast. That is why I asked for your aid."

"And you'll have it, my Lord," I said. "A deal's a deal."

We returned to the path shortly after, but this time Dacon let the horses walk. All the while he scanned the surrounding area, searching for signs.

"Any idea what it might be?" I asked him.

Dacon bit the inside of his lip.

"It's hard to tell. By the marks on the trees, I'd guess the beast was horned. It could be a minotaur, though they are usually found in colder climates."

As we rode deeper into the bog the path became narrower. The stagnant swap water seemed to be the perfect breeding ground for insects that liked to bite. I slapped a mosquito that had managed to reach me through my trousers and grimaced.

Preoccupied with the mosquito, I failed to watch where I was going and managed to lose my footing. I stumbled, throwing out an arm to catch my fall.

"Is this a new method of bowing?" asked Kato. "I rather like your style."

I scowled at him and was about to shove to my feet when I caught sight of what had made me stumble. I had stepped in a hole several times the size of my boot. Or more accurately, I had stepped into a footprint.

A large one.

"I'm no tracker," said Draxus. "But I believe Blackbriar just stumbled into exactly what we've been looking for."

Dacon reigned in his courser and gazed down at the tracks. Beside him, Ser Robert made a noise in his throat.

"My Lord," he said. "I do believe you'll get the hunt you had been hoping for."