During the days we spent travelling within the borders of Normandie, we’d usually get half our provisions from nearby villages. The rest we hunted, and because of that the corps had grown quite fond of me since Ligothe could easily track down our next meal.

But that carefree life couldn’t continue forever. Eventually we reached the County of Main’s border.

“Here, things will be different!” The captain spoke up for the first time since he’d introduced us to the corps.

His attitude was always dramatic. He’d always stand in the back of our formation, overlooking our sixty men with little care of what we were doing. Even when we ran off to take a bath in a nearby stream, he’d sit back and watch the rolling clouds. The only time we’d see him do anything productive was at dawn when he called the various SQ’s into his tent to discuss the next day’s procedure.

I didn’t know what he discussed with them, but every time they left that tent, they did so with fiery eyes.

But it wasn’t just them…

Every time we passed another squad, whether they be the light cavalry relaying information or various groups of foraging infantry men who had wandered a bit too far from their camps. The captains and SQ’s were always full of vigour and more than ready to die for the duke. It was almost as if they were knights heading off to fight for the holy lands.

Why such emotions when we were just interfering in another estate’s family matters? I couldn’t imagine, but sometimes I wondered if we would later march to the Polish plains or Anatolian hills--

“We are rangers!” Exclaimed the captain, snapping me out of my daze. “We are the eyes and ears of the duke. We are to exercise upmost vigilance, to not leave a single hint of the enemies’ location un-investigated. Now, I have explained each squad’s role to your respective SQ’s. However, I believe that if the common soldier knows, at the very least, where he is heading and why, that his steps will be firm, and his mind sharp.

Of course, there are things I cannot tell you, for I cannot be sure none here are agents of the enemy; however, I’ve been observing you all and I can see that I’ve been blessed with moral, and valiant men. The type of men to serve our duke Fabien de Normandie.

And so, I must preface this, in the good manners of a noble, with a little introduction.” Although the captain’s monologue was running long, his relaxed tone, and the composed pace at which he spoke kept us attentive.

Raising his hand, he continued, “Since the fall of Rome, oh so many centuries ago, the rule of law and peace has steadily been eroded.

First came the Germanic invasions which precipitated the fall of Rome. Although this led to the founding of Charlemagne’s Empire, the realm soon shattered, after which countless wars ensued. And just as things were beginning to stabilize, the Northmen came down from the frozen north to ravage our churches and lands, pillage our villages and burn our cities.

Now, although most have converted to the true faith and have stopped their pagan ways, what will come next? We cannot continue to live in this cycle of crisis and brief respite. It needs to end!

But how can this be done, who can achieve this, how can it be sustained?

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

I believe we have the answer.

Fabien de Normandie, a young man who inherited the dukedom at the unimaginably young age of ten. Who since then has invented countless tools you have surely come to know. Who has worked to solidify the written law? Who has worked to both reduce taxes and increase public works? And most important of all, to value the skills of nobles just as much as that of commoners. Look.” He pointed to use. “Have you not been working hand in hand, nobles and commoners without strife?

Do you think those are things that would happen in any other court? No! The answer is no, and I served as a sword for five different lords in these past thirty years. But, Fabien, when you come to know him, you come to realize that you are witnessing a hero, one not lesser than Augustus.

Now, you might not believe me for now, or at least question my words, but moving forward you will see the difference between a noble, and our Lord.

I expect you all to swear allegiance to his majesty by the end of this campaign.”

Silence ensued.

We had not expected such a speech, not from that silent captain, nor from any noble of this dukedom or any other estate.

Although what he had said wasn’t news to me, I could see the sparks fly in the newly enlisted commoner’s eyes. They now stood straight and clung to the pommel of their cheap metal swords.

Even if they themselves did not believe the captain’s words, they wanted to believe it.

Taking a few steps forwards, the captain walked up to a small boulder. Passing his hand over it, he cleared it of moss, revealing a short inscription I could not read.

“This here is one of the many stones demarcating the border between the dukedom and the County of Main. Although we are invading, it is not out of greed, but good will. For the lords of other estates, use their wealth to embellish their mansions and buy jewels for their mistresses.

We will use it to build hospitals, reinforce the rule of law, and give you and your family a better life.

We will not plunder in Main, we liberate; now we march!”

The SQ’s cheered, then everyone joined. They stomped their feet, rattled their blades, and screamed. Shivers ran down my spine, I don’t know what it was, but I joined as well.

#

It had been a day since we’d crossed into the county and although he hadn’t encountered anyone, we were being more than vigilant. Each crack of a branch, each screech of a dying bird, each echo of silence was taken seriously and investigated.

Our corps had been commanded to scout the peripheries of our main forces’ path.

There were two others in the corps with classes, one had a general status buff which let him stay awake days on end which made him the head of the night watch and my SQ. The leader of the first squat had a sight sharpening class.

I had no doubt the captain also had a class, but he kept it to himself.

As such, it fell onto my and Ligothe's shoulder to do most of the reconnaissance.

Most of the time, I had him fly in circles around our group as we advanced, however, today the rain was heavy.

“Hey, it’s been a while.” Luc had run over from his tent to mine. There wasn’t much to do on stormy days like these. “I can’t believe they don’t let us intermingle even though we’re in the same corps.”

“I don’t know either, but there’s probably a reason.” I didn’t know much of military tactics, no, I was supposed to be learning about them right now. I shouldn’t have abandoned François that day.

“You’re right.” He looked up to the tarp covering our heads. Water drops had started to leak though but compared to the constant tud-tud-tud, it was much better. “War is complicated, all we have to do is do as told.”

I couldn’t agree with that. Perhaps if the duke hadn’t told me I could be a commander. “Maybe,” I didn’t know what to say exactly.

“How long do you think the war will last?” asked Luc.

“I don’t know, but you’ve lived longer than me. We should be home for winter, there’s no use fighting then.”

“That’s true, I think I’m just too stressed. Here.” He pulled out a small satchel filled with sunflower seeds. “It’s a gift from my squat, we wanted to thank you for the gargoyle, without it we’d probably have to do a lot more running around.”

“It’s no problem but thank you.” I took the bag, but just as I was about to take a seed my artifact jumped up and down on my chest.

“Is something wrong?” asked Luc, I must have let my expression slip.

I waited a second more just to make sure the movement wasn’t a mistake on Ligothe’s part, but no. “It seems he’s spotted the count’s men.”