What a mess, the riders told us the battle was a victory. Judging by the state of the garrison that was definitely a lie. Hundreds of men who had shared our folly were located there, some had been given beds and shelter, while others were not so lucky. Just outside the walls, makeshift wooden cages that looked more like animal pens were surrounding the entire garrison. In them were men who wore the same colors as we did, only covered with more shit and mud and Mother knows what else.

"This is victory?" I murmured to myself quietly, yet a rider next to me overheard.

"Not your victory, deserter, and if we deem it you'll be in one of those cages soon enough." a rider dismounted and grabbed hold of me.

Borcha and Philip saw what happened and came to my side.

"If you want a scuffle, we'll give you one." Borcha was eager to punch someone, the embarrassment of fleeing a winning battle had left him displeased.

"Leave them be, initiate." Came a commanding voice from one of the riders.

"Of course sir, I was just."

"Doesn't matter initiate, back on your mount and to the stables."

Hmm, initiate.. Were these riders that came to our aid a knightly order? Knightly orders usually had their own colors, but these ones just had the Kingdom's black and gold.

"You lot, you'll be needing to get sorted" the knights' commander pointed us to a long queue.

We waited and waited and finally, it was our turn. The first one up was Captain Flavi.

"Rank?" Questioned the clerk

"Captain." Flavi responded in a soldierly manner.

"Regiment?"

"Rooster Sword regiment."

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"Right, I'm putting you in to reinforce the Sword Brothers regiment. They need commanders there. You'll be reporting to Sword Brother Nathaniel. No disputes with being in a clergy regiment, captain?"

"None at all."

And with a nod he was dismissed, if it was this simple we'll be out ouf trouble in no time. Looks like we won't be executed after all.

"Next" the clerk exclaimed and Borcha stepped forward

"Rank?"

"Veteran Halberdier of the most notable halberdier regiment in all of Ralabecland."

"Ahh, so Ralabecland halberdier regiment."

"Damn right, me and this lad behind me too." Borcha pointed to Philip

"Then you and him can both report to captain Helmut, you'll find him the mess most likely. He's the captain of the new halberdier regiment made out of all the survivors."

"What!? New regiment, piss on that. Put me and Philip in the Ralabecland regiment."

Philip sprang up "No, we'll be just fine in the new regiment, thank you quartermaster sir."

With that, he pulled Borcha aside and moved away.

Odd that two swordsmen had pulled up next to the clerk when Borcha had refused the offer, it looks like they weren't too eager on us joining back up into the army after all.

I was next and I stepped forward without being called.

"Oh we got a smart one here." Said the clerk mockingly.

I didn't respond as not to anger him further.

"Rank and regiment, soldier."

"Conscript, Rooster sword regiment. That was my captain you just sent out into the clergy."

"Well, you'll be joining him then. As long as you don't mind fighting with the Mother's men." He pointed me towards I should be going.

"See you around then, Jeremus" I told my companion who was in the queue behind me.

"Good luck in the clergy regiments, sir. I heard they can be real zealots at times." He said to me as the clerk called up the next person in line and he was pushed forward by the man behind him.

Mother, I hope he is wrong about that. I waved and went on my way, but not even a few steps after I heard a commotion from where I just was.

"A camp follower? Not a soldier then, just a follower and you still ran. Still ran even though you weren't even close to the battle or the chaos." Said the clerk in a accusatory tone.

"The soldiers who ran from battle told me about it, I just went with them I promise." Jeremus pleaded

"Went with them and plundered half the camp while you were at it." The clerk instructed the two men beside him to search Jeremus.

Pieces of beef jerky and a waterskin was all they found on him.

"You make these strips of meat yourself then, boy? Take this dog to the pens outside, let him freeze a while." The clerk's face was grotesque now.

"What!? No! You can't be serious, I didn't... i" One of the men behind him struck him in the back of the head.

I stood there a couple of meters away from the scene in shock, clutching the thin piece of jerky in my vest pocket for which I could have easily ended up the same as Jeremus.

Two men carried Jeremus away and I was powerless to stop them.