Deliah tied down a satchel filled with her personal effects on her horse’s saddle. The camp had been bustling with movement since the day prior. Akkroans darting here and there, gathering the supplies needed for the trip. Her body was weary from the road, but the sooner they embarked, the less likely something unexpected could happen that would delay them any further.

“Master.” Mel’ah said, walking up behind her with several pieces of parchment and a scroll. “Here is the roster you requested.”

Deliah took the papers and started doing her best to read the human characters. She sighed in frustration, her lack of skill at reading it painfully obvious. Damn, she thought. I’ll be able to get through it eventually, but this will take forever. She looked up and started to scan the surrounding area. “I must speak with the centurion, Mel. Do you know where he went?”

Mel’ah pointed toward one of the buildings near where the legionaries slept. “I believe he’s speaking with his officers in there. Last I saw him at least, Master.

“Come.” Deliah said as she began walking toward the building she identified.

As she opened the door, she could hear the deep voice of Centurion Lucan explaining something to his junior officers.

“These are the fundamentals you all must learn.” Lucan said, dressing them down.

“Yes, sir.” The group barked, in unison.

Deliah approached from behind them, clearing her throat.

Lucan turned to meet her eyes, along with his five junior officers, who still stood at attention.

“Ambassador,” Lucan said, bowing his head. “How can I help you?”

“Centurion, I wonder if you could spare a moment to assist me with something.” As she spoke, she saw all the human’s collective eyes widen with surprise. No doubt due to how fluent she spoke their language.

“I…” Lucan regained himself. “Of course, Ambassador. How can I assist you?”

Deliah held out the scroll Mel’ah had handed her. A detailed roster of the cohort. Along with the organization and structure of the unit as a whole. “I believe there is some mistake here. When I spoke to Senator Cleamon, He mentioned that my warriors were to be added to the watch roster. Ordered by the centurion of the cohort; You.”

“I did, my lady.” Lucan nodded.

“And why is that?”

“Well.” He started. “Your men seem quite capable. And seeing as how the senses of the Droug far exceed that of a human. Especially in an environment like the forests we will be travelling through. Not including people who actually live in those environments in the scouting or watch roster would be foolish.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “To withhold such a resource could put lives at risk. In the most likely case, my legionaries. It is my goal to bring my men home, Ambassador. I will use every resource at my disposal.”

“It is highly irregular, centurion.” She huffed. “To procure the services of a foreign people, without the permission of their commanding officer. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Lucan turned around slightly to look at his officers. “To be honest, Ambassador. I wasn’t sure I had the authority to speak to you. Which is why I asked Senator Cleamon for permission. And he granted it. I assumed the two of you would hash out the details of it all.”

Deliah took a breath, glancing down at the parchment. “Your logic is sound, centurion.” She conceded. “But do not be afraid to ask me directly next time. Of course, I will do everything I can to ensure the safety of your warriors.”

Lucan bowed his head. “I thank you for your consideration, Ambassador.”

“Since I have you here.” She handed the scroll out, offering it to him. “I am curious as to the organization of an Akkroan cohort.”

“Ah,” Lucan said, taking the scroll and opening it for her. “The cohort has a very simple setup. Each cohort consists of at minimum, five Pularii.” He pointed back toward his officers. Each of them leads a century. Which consists of ten shield squads. Each shield squad is led by an Optio, and consists of ten legionaries.” He held his hands up. “See? Very simple.”

Deliah nodded. It was extremely efficient and orderly. Nothing like the individualized structure of her own military. Which glorified and promoted the prowess of single warriors. “I am starting to see why the Akkroan legion is so feared in these lands.”

Lucan bowed his head, but said nothing further.

“Thank you, centurion.” Deliah turned on her heels and exited the building, Mel’ah in tow.

“They seem more like a colony of ants.” Mel’ah joked, walking beside her.

Deliah chuckled. “I can see the similarities, but ants are part of a hive. The Akkroans have the distinct ability to shift from a hive mind in battle, to an individual outside of it. It’s quite remarkable.”

“I suppose we shouldn’t poke fun at their culture.” Mel’ah sagged. “I am surprised you acquiesced to the centurion’s plan to use our warriors in his operations though.”

“He impressed me.” Deliah said, bluntly. “It shows true consideration and wisdom for a leader to examine every resource. It also shows that he is at least partially aware of the advantages our people have over his own. So, I am impressed that one so young has the capacity to do so.”

“So young?” Mel’ah giggled. “Master, he’s not so young for a human. They only live around seventy or eighty years.”

Deliah couldn’t help but chuckle. Mel’ah was considered quite young for a Droug. Only being forty-two, she was nearing the end of her adolescence. She would spend the next thirty or forty years in Deliah’s service as an apprentice, then most likely find some stately occupation to carry her into full adulthood. “It’s true, humans develop much faster than we do. But that is the advantage of being such a short-lived race.”

“Ambassador!” she heard a voice call from behind her.

Deliah spun around, only to see a young Akkroan skid to a halt before her. He crisply brought his fist across his chest in a salute, standing up straight. “Centurion Lucan has requested a detailed accounting of your people’s capabilities, my lady. He feels it will give him a better idea where they could be best utilized.”

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A small smirk crossed her face. Very wise indeed, she thought. “Very well, Pularious. I will have my apprentice send one to him shortly. We will get to it immediately.”

“Ma’am!” He saluted again, spun around and darted off, back to the building.

~

“Centurion Lucan!” John yelled, skidding to a halt before him.

“At ease, Pularious.” Lucan said, “What’d she say?”

“She said, she would have a list sent to you shortly, and would work on it immediately.” John saluted.

“Excellent.” Lucan slapped john on the shoulder as he walked past him. “You all know what needs to be done. I expect everything completed by mid-morning, and the cohort ready to move. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” John said, along with this fellow Pularii.

Lucan left, and almost immediately, Thomas and Damon approached John, laughing.

“How’d it go?” Thomas asked. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. A dark elf who can speak common, it’s incredible.”

“You think it’s true what they say?” Damon asked, glancing at the door. “That they live forever?”

“Of course.” Simon said, gruffly. “My Da told me all the elves live forever. He met one at the Roquelion World Fair in Drisqle.”

John looked at Simon wearily. Since the first altercation with the young man, Simon had been nothing but hostile toward him. But, as John’s reputation and station within the training cohort increased, he became increasingly challenging to antagonize. So, Simon redoubled his efforts. Gaining prestige of his own, and building his reputation. Clearly it paid off for him, as being one of the four legionaries to be selected for the junior officer’s rank was only given to the men who had proven themselves worthy.

“I don’t know what to think about it,” John said. “Maybe we’ll have a chance to ask some of them during our mission. We’ll be working with them after all.”

“If only Da could see us now, John.” Thomas grinned. “Officers in the legion!”

“This rank means about as much as the shit we clean out of the outhouses.” Simon scoffed. “It’s a temporary billet, you dolt. Once the mission is completed, we’ll be sent back to the legion as rank in file.”

“You think so?” Thomas deflated.

“Officers need to go to the Officers Candidate Academy.” Damon chimed in. “In Akkroa, in order to earn their commission. They don’t normally just hand out ranks like this. Field promotions are temporary.”

“Thank you,” Simon smirked. “Seems backwater villages like Barret’s Field don’t teach much about Akkroa.”

“You’re wrong, Simon.” Thomas clapped his hand on his shoulder. “They don’t teach us ‘anything’ about Akkroa.”

“True,” John said, stifling a laugh. “They keep us bumkins in the dark. Too much knowledge is dangerous for people like us.”

“Causes headaches.” Thomas smiled, tapping his finger on his head.

“You people are too stupid to fail.” Simon shook his head, then proceeded to walk toward the door.

“Success and being smart is overrated, Simon. Being dumb and lucky is way better.” John called after him, laughing.

~

Just as Centurion Lucan had requested, John and his fellow Pularii organized the logistics of their travel. Food, supplies, medicine, extra gear, fifteen carts with horses, and a very young medic from the nearest village. All in all, John was quite pleased with their work. They’d done everything the Centurion had asked, and more. Now, whether that would be a good thing was put into question. According to their mission briefing, they were to travel all the way to Volkus. The capital city of the Dark Elf forests. A nearly fifty-day trek through the dark, monster, and goblin-infested forests. There was a strange mix of excitement and fear that churned John’s stomach. They were legionaries of Akkroa now, but not part of a legion. They had no standard, no crest or guidon to honor or carry into battle. They were just, the bloodstripe cohort.

John knew that they had a long and dangerous road ahead. And now, having just turned eighteen, was expected to lead men into battle. Thankfully he was given leave to promote and assign people of his choosing for his small unit leaders. He, of course, immediately promoted his friend, Flint, to First Decanus of his century; his second in command. Centurion Lucan hadn’t objected to any of his appointments in fact. Which couldn’t be said for his fellow Pularii. Thomas was forced to replace almost everyone he had chosen initially. Damon, just two. And Simon, only one. The cohesion of their unit was yet untested. Still, John felt confident that they were at least partially prepared for anything that would be thrown at them.

After the first day’s travel, they set up camp in a large field just outside the border of Akkroa. They were at the northern tip of Albus but should be entering the deep forests of the east by the end of the next day. After that, their travel time would slow down significantly.

Upon entering the thickly wooded territory, the mood of the cohort immediately shifted. Before, they played flutes and sang marching songs of the glory of Akkroa, and its victory over its enemies. Now, the only thing that could be heard was the crunching of twigs and shrubbery underfoot and the occasional curse and clatter of armor of a legionnaire who didn’t see a root.

When they halted to lay to rest on their first day in the forest, Lucan called for the Pularii to assemble at the head of the column. John ordered Flint and his Optios to get the men situated and ready to bed down. Then hurried from his position in the rear, all the way to the front. The position they chose to rest for the night, could barely be called a clearing. Certainly not suited for five hundred men and all their gear. But they would make due.

John found his fellow officers, with Lucan, Ambassador Deliah, and another dark elf woman he didn’t recognize. Skidding to a halt, John saluted and fell in beside Thomas, who nudged him in greeting.

“Right, we’re all here now.” Lucan began. “I won’t waste any of your time, lads. You and your men need rest. But We needed to have a quick brief before tomorrow’s march.” He pointed forward, where their path would continue the next day. “We are entering goblin territory tomorrow.” He paused, looking at each of them. “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the little bastards, but they’re more dangerous than the stories make them out to be. Raiding parties or the occasional slippery bastard that escapes our notice and murders some poor traveler are nothing. In their territory, where they live, and are commanded by a competent chief, they are deadly fucking monsters.”

“You must all be on your guard,” Deliah spoke up. “Starting tonight, we will triple our watch. And sleep at half-ready.”

“Which means,” Lucan continued for her. “Your boys are all sleeping in their armor. With their weapons close at hand. No mistakes, lads. These fuckers will sneak into camp, slit your throat, and wear your skin into battle against your fellows the next day. I want everyone ready for anything.” He took a deep breath and glanced at Deliah. “It isn’t a matter of ‘if’ they will attack, lads. But when. We can’t show any weakness either. They will probe us first. See how dangerous we are. If they think we are an easy target, they’ll keep at it. We need to show them, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are the masters of this land and theirs. We need to slaughter them so entirely that they will think us too dangerous a target.”

“Yes...” Deliah said, eyeing Lucan suspiciously. “Goblins aren’t the only threats within this forest either. This forest is known as Aranitor’la Frot’ulna. Or, in the common tongue of man, Forest of spiders.”

“S... Spiders, ma’am?” Thomas asked, his face going pale.

“Spiders,” Deliah confirmed. “And they are quite large and quite deadly.”

John shivered at the thought. How big is ‘quite large’?

“So, tell the men to always travel in groups.” Lucan shook his head. “Even if it’s to take a piss. No exceptions.” He turned to Deliah. “Did we miss anything?”

“Goblins and spiders.” She said, shaking her head. “For now, that should cover it.”

“Very well, lads.” Lucan clapped his hands. “Get to it.”

John and his fellow officers began to walk back to their perspective centuries, their pace morose.

“Spiders.” Thomas croaked. “I bloody hate spiders.”

“I’ll take a goblin any day of the week.” Damon agreed. “Gods, I don’t know if I can do it, boys. I’ll likely shit myself the moment I see one.”

“Maybe the smell would deter them?” John joked. Doing his best to mask his own fear of the creatures.

“That’s what I’ll tell the centurion.” Damon laughed.

“We shouldn’t joke about it,” Simon interjected. “These things can get as big as a horse.”

“You lie...” Thomas said, his voice nearly a whisper.

“My Da said they can get that size.” Simon shrugged. “Which is why we need everyone at their best.”

“Spears,” John said, his thoughts churning. “We should equip the watch with spears, just in case.”

Saying farewell to his peers, John briefed his men on the dangers they were to expect and the precautions they needed to take. Needless to say, many of his legionaries were shaken by the revelation. One thing was for sure, though, the watch would never be more vigilant than this night.