„Now that was a proper brawl, wasn't it Philip? We must have held the line for bloody ages and still those shits on the left routed. Fucking cowards, those Hardwell boys, the King never should have drafted them. Should've left them back home to pick berries and fuck boys like they do whenever we're not marching.“ Said a man covered in mud and blood while squatting down to defecate

Philip grunted in agreement. Obviously too tired to do much else.

„Maybe you're not so different from those Hardwell boys yourself Borcha, I don't know if you like to pick berries or fuck boys but I know as well as you do that you ran away just like the left flank.“ Said Flavi mockingly

„It's not the same“ responded Borcha in a serious tone, rising and pulling up his pants

„We held for Mother knows how long, but those half-men ran away as soon as they stepped one foot into the mud. They're scum, fucking scum Flavi. What'd you think how many mudbrain Hardwell men died today, not many at all I reckon, I think they routed as soon as they were given the chance just so they could save their necks and put the rest of us in harms way.“

„It doesn't matter Borcha, we ran, we abandoned our duty and we put others at risk just as the Hardwell regiment did to us.“ Flavi responded with a more serious tone

„I ran, Philip ran, but the rest of my regiments' fucking dead Flavi. Dead because those mudbrains couldn't hold the line for one afternoon.“ Exclaimed Borcha in anger, followed by a grunt from Philip who was cleaning his halberd with a dirty rag.

Borcha and Philip had both been in the thickest of the fighting, right in the center with the 3rd halberd regiment of Ralabecland, the rest of their regiment is either dead or routed, the Morrs take no prisoners of low birth. Too many mouths to feed already in their horde.

„Captain we ought to keep moving while there is still some daylight left“ I interrupted them while there was still a chance to prevent an argument.

„No Arthur, we're done for the day, we need to start a fire and tend to our wounds, traveling like this won't do.“ Responded Flavi as if he had already thought of all the possible scenarios.

„Captain? He's not a captain anymore boy! He's a deserter, just like you and just like me“ Bellowed Borcha, still prickly over the Captain's remarks.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

„There's still a chain of command, even if we are deserters “ mustered Jeremus nervously, a young camp follower who mostly worked in the kitchens.

„Oh shut up boy, you'd be dead if me and Philip hadn't found you cowering in the mess tent“ Borcha gave him a look and Jeremus looked down at his feet.

„Enough!“ yelled Flavi „You do as you like Borcha, but us three are resting here for the night, so you can either start gathering firewood or bunk with Philip for some warmth.“

At that remark, Borcha's face changed hues and just as it would appear that the tension would boil over a laugh by Philip broke it apart.

„Alright, alright captain. Let's go find us some branches for the fire, I don't want to be bunking with Borcha tonight.“ Said Philip with a wide grin.

Jeremus, Favi and I all chuckled, but Borcha's face and mood remained the same.

We got to work finding whatever little we could to start a fire, it had been raining for a while, ever since the first engagement that's for sure. Finally, we got enough for a small fire, it was really a pitiful bonfire. The little heat that radiated from it, was snuffed out by the cold of winter. Why did the Morss have to attack during the winter, couldn't it have been during the spring when there's no chance of freezing to death. As I looked around the bonfire I began to inspect the features of the men that shared it with me. Some features are strange, while others are familiar and welcoming. Captain Flavi for example was a man whose features he had seen a thousand times over. Flavi was the captain of the Rooster sword regiment, the very one I was a part of. His hair was grey and beginning to thin out, he was clean shaven just like all officers, with big dark circles beneath his eyes and a thin nose. He had a strong build, made all the stronger by the steel breastplate and shoulder pauldrons he had, a privilege only afforded to officers. In stark contrast to Flavi stood Borcha, whose beard had gotten so out of control he almost looked like one of the half-men. Borcha had a breastplate as well, but his was obviously of lower quality and made to be a lot thinner and lighter than Flavi's officer-tier armor. Arthur had only come across Borcha today, but his features were as familiar to him as Flavi's were. He had seen them in hundreds of halberdiers on the front lines, Borcha was broad and strong, what he lacked in height he made up for in sheer width and strength. Even with the unkempt beard hiding away half of his face, what could be seen was not pleasing to look at. A big bumpy nose and a forehead marked with a nasty scar. One of his eyes was looking a little red too, hopefully, it was just from filth. Night was beginning to set in now, it's a good thing they decided to set up camp when they did or they would have been traveling in the dark. The faces of Philip and Jeremus were harder to see now, less light to work with and Arthur was dead tired from the battle and the running and ..ugh it had been a hard day.

„Arthur and I will take first watch, you three try to get some sleep, “ said Flavi

And with that order, he made my already hard day even harder.

„Thank you captain“ Jeremus said with glee

„Don't thank me yet, boy. You'll be taking next watch“ said Flavi followed by a laugh

Even Borcha smiled at that.

We had made camp in a small ditch, with an oak tree's canopy serving as our shelter. It was not much, but the three men fell asleep with ease and soon after I joined them too.