Markus was called by Segeric to the imperial palace after a couple of days.
"So, my father told me you want to take on the people's state of Spade for us?" Segeric inquired.
"Well yes. Has the emperor agreed on this?"
"He has and he has even given you an army. Follow me."
~~
The core of the imperial army lay in their professional soldiers also called the varangians. They all had the same standardized armor, training and weaponry. Chainmail that covered their faces along with a helmet. The weapon was a large ax-like halberd that could cut through wooden shields with ease.
The other important part of the imperial military was their cavalry. The horses were covered in armor and the soldiers had long spears. Their charge was in many ways comparable to the black yaks.
The nobility of this mighty empire was reduced to simple officers that were reduced to follow orders of the royalty and the imperial family. Even if a noble was strong individually, but didn't have the intelligence or mindset to lead men he had no chance of getting higher in the ranks. It was not uncommon for a peasant to rise from the ranks and command the nobility.
~~
Markus was taken to the barracks of the capitals. Inside there waited a ragtag group of soldiers given rusty armor and dull weapons.
They looked and seemed like varangians with all their equipment, but in many ways, they seemed somehow off.
"These are your men that you are to command in the invasion of Spade," Segeric explained.
"You've got to be kidding me. They smell like the rotten bread inside the dungeons," Mona said with her hands crossed.
"Well I guess that is true since they just came from the dungeons," Segeric said.
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"What do you mean?"
"All of these men have been trialed to be executed. They were given a chance. Die fighting for the emperor or die in the dungeons. Most people chose the noose."
"This is suicide. They are not soldiers. It would be better if we went just by ourselves," Mona yelled.
"Well until now you are worth less to us than your average soldier," Segericus proudly explained.
"This will do juuuuust fine," Markus said while looking at his new criminal army.
~ ~
Markus, August and Mona were given time to get to know their new soldiers before they were to march north to be shipped to the nation of Spade.
"August, you have been in the army right. Might you be so kind as to get them in line," Markus asked.
August nodded and went to stand in front of the soldiers who were sitting on the ground.
"SOLDIERS! FORM IN LINE!"
The criminal soldiers looked annoyed and slowly started to wobble into formations. They barely had any motivation and even less respect for Mona, Markus and August.
"This won't do at all. They would just slow us down," Mona said.
"Not necessarily. Mona, do me a favor. Kill the first person who talks back at me," Markus whispered.
Markus walked to the soldiers.
"Soldiers. I am Markus Jacob. I am in charge of you from today onward."
None of the soldiers seemed extremely enthusiastic with some looking like they hadn't been fed in days. Some of the criminals looked like your basic thieves that had lived their life through malnutrition. Some looked like they had been part of a gang by the tattoos they had on their bodies and faces.
"We have been given an important task by the emperor. We are to invade the people's free nation of Spade and we are to hand it to the emperor on a golden plate. Does anyone have any questions about this simple task?" Markus asked with a bright smile.
The soldiers looked shocked and horrid.
"Are you retarded. That nation is a hellhole for anyone bearing the colors of the empire. Fuck that shit. You can just put me back into the cell," a soldier yelled out and dropped his weapon.
Mona then decapitated the man right in front of everyone. The soldiers stepped back as the body and head fell to the ground with the blood coloring the sand of the barracks.
Markus then used his divine power to use the soldier's blood to create his humanoid blood monster. The soldiers looked terrified as the monster was created and then stared right back at them.
"This is my power. If a soldier is less useful than this creation of mine I have no use for him. If you feel like not participating please raise your hand. My associate here will help you become useful to me," Markus explained threatening all the soldiers.
The humanoid soldier walked toward the soldier and then turned around and stopped in front of a training dummy. It then turned its fingers into blades and cut the dummy into pieces.
"This is what my creation can do. If I deem one of you is worth to me more as one of these you will become one. The decision is yours," Markus explained to all the terrified soldiers.
Markus had out the fear of him into all of their souls. There was now faith worse than death waiting for them if they failed.
"We leave tomorrow morning. Do not disappoint me," Markus said and left with August and Mona.
"Oh....and before I forget. I have a name for us all now. We are the black company."