Micky carried Maymay like a princess to their next destination. Occasionally feeding her mana, mouth to mouth. She was becoming more stable as they traveled but not enough to start feeding her mana potions instead. These would be much harsher than feeding her on a mage with intricate control with their mana. Though for some reason Micky didn’t allow another mage to do so, even though many were much more qualified.

Princess was currently keeping track of everything needed to move throughout the day and night. The line was so massive that they could have the centuri march in a staggered formation so that they could give the mounts some time to rest as they moved past. However most of the time was marching at a steady, plodding pace. This was a long hall not a short sprint. At least not any more, not after what Maymay gave up.

The rear of the line was still a battlefield however. As well as the forerunners the scouts were setting up to secure the rear for a quick meal on the go, or cutting down any monsters that may have cropped up. The army should have been maintaining the approach and culling the monsters regularly, especially since Amelia could have almost single handedly held the frontlines. They did not, big surprise. Micky was aware that he probably couldn’t have done a better job, it was the arguing of a grunt that they were a grunt and not a chieftain. It didn’t stop the thoughts from coming through though.

There were many thoughts on his mind, like killing those traitorous cowards, or ripping into the legate, or having his way with Ame… nope! Not going to think about such things…

Patting Cerus, his quilin mount he knew she was tired from having to keep two riders. However, she was stubborn and wouldn’t admit defeat. It was a very ‘noble’ trait… though that often wasn’t a good thing.

He had spent more time with her this march than he usually did, and it allowed him to catch up with her more about things. After all she was his mount, and he doubted that they weren’t going to spend a lot of time with each other on campaign. Since that was the case, he decided to make the attempt to get to know each other better. It was very different from his other bonded monsters. Even Mags was much more vibrant than the others she couldn't compare to the mind of Cerus.

Casper the friendly land lizard on the other hand couldn’t care less about life. Micky could tell it had a deeper mind than he could peer into, yet it was more than content to simply let it drift. The lizard simply wanted what it wanted from life and was more than happy to earn it’s rewards and pleasures. And Prin was more than happy to spoil them. Mags tended to stick to either riding the mount into battle then hoping off towards glory only to latch on again on another pass or to try to stick close to Micky.

It seemed that everyone was trying and failing, to keep themselves entertained and their minds off the imminent threat that was looming like Death’s scythe. But things were moving along rather nicely if Micky were to comment. Which he unfortunately did, since he had to maintain reports even on the road. Luckily he still had his personal scribe, a young soldier boy that was far too anxious to die ‘honorably’ on the battlefield. But even he was feeling the pressure of death on his shoulders. If his newest acquisition with an indomitable optimist personality could be dampened by the situation then it was absolutely catastrophic.

Micky shifted Maymay a little bit and continued his conversation with Cerus. “And that’s how you can tell the freshest tastiest grass. Oh and don’t get me started on grain. Stop trying to give me that shit that you give to every other fodder mount. I only accept the finest grain grown on a spirit mountain...” Well, Micky wasn’t that interested but he was trying to be social. He also knew she was speaking absolute bullshit because spirit mountains were absolute miles away, halfway across the kingdom. And even then, they were surrounded by other mountains that housed the most ferocious of monsters that would even give dragons pause… also probably dragons, and phoenix, and plenty of greater monsters with true bloodlines. But Micky was not about to point this out to the woman he was literally mounted on and caring him and precious cargo to safety.

Luckily Micky had other things to keep his mind occupied, and like any young man, had mastered the art of keeping enough attention on a woman to nod and shake his head appropriately and or grunt at the appropriate times. Meanwhile his mind wandered to the battle and how he was going to save everyone. Well, everyone he cared about. Well, everyone he had responsibility for. Mmm, that.

The answer, he probably wasn’t, they were so screwed, but basicaly, retreat as fast as possible and regroup with the legate’s forces. The line was most likely broken if two centurions were already running from the battle. At least this side anyway. What Micky could do was slow down the advance as much as possible. That he could think of a few ideas. And he had the resources in order to do so. It would be expensive, but the more cargo he could drop now, the better he would be able to maintain the speed advantage.

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Considering, the enemy couldn’t have too much supplies. They had already burnt up their own villages, so they too would need to resupply. That meant that Micky’s supply line was a priority target for capture, preferably in it’s most pristine shape. Well, that couldn’t be a more obvious target if he built it out of bullseyes. So how was Micky to take advantage of that. Oh, this was going to be fun.

While Micky was still making plans, the latest one being to create a fission reaction between the mythical element ‘atoms’, hilarious, the depot finally came into sight. Micky had a few sun spans of time between now and when they finally caught up so he had to immediately rest and prepare.

“Halt! Identify yourselves!” Screamed the guard on duty. Micky stared at them aghast. Panic set in and his face started to go pale. Shit, did the enemy slip past them and already take the depot? Did those traitor take over his depot right under his fucking nose. Those basterds were even still flying his flag! Those absolute monster fuckers. They would sell their own mother to monsters and cook her in stew. He was going to skin them alive if he got out of this.

“I am Centurion Micky Anderson, your commanding officer, do you not see my flag soldier?” Screamed Micky. He was so screwed. They already had his depot! He didn’t have time for this, should they go around? The enemy was already catching up!

“Can you prove this?” Micky pointed to the damn flag. Not to mention what self respecting soldier of his didn’t know his fucking face. Micky marched forward after passing Maymay off to waiting hands. He would at least die trying. He ordered them to start preparations to move around the depot and prepare for battle.

“Will you go through shifter identification procedures?” Said the soldier. Micky furiously pulled out his dagger and ran his knife over his outstretched hand. He let his red blood flow quickly. This showed he was both red blooded, and that he wasn’t under an illusion that was damaged. The flowing blood would stop if he wasn’t a highly trained shifter. He would pay those bastards back for this humiliation. To be identified in front of his own depot! He could hear their laughter now!

“Alright, prepare for entry into the gates for further identification!” yelled the soldier. A small platoon of soldiers rode out to meet Micky and bring him into the gates. Meanwhile Micky signaled to start the move around the depot, they didn’t have time to stop and wait. They needed to move and all the time they gained would be lost if they had to segway past the depot.

Micky entered and was further tested that he wasn’t under shifter powers including having his hand sliced again. He was thrust off of his quilin Cerus and she too was put through shifter identification. Micky’s own Id was also inspected to make sure it wasn’t fraudulent. This humiliation would be paid back 100 fold. He will be avenged!

The man that Micky recognized as the commander of this small depot, though he didn’t know his name gave Micky back his Id. “I must apologize centurion Micky. There were two unscrupulous centurions that passed through here recently and I was forced to make sure of your identity. They commanded me as a superior officer to join them and abandon my duties. I almost smacked them in the face, but that would just give them pact lese majeste over me and the ability to force my command.” He said saluting with and open hand, then clenching that hand and slicing it across his stomach. Micky nodded as he started to calm down.

“And my missive, did you get the orders I sent? What of their own missive?” Asked Micky, still slightly panicked.

“It was slightly late for my own depot, but I sent a missive ahead and it should reach the next depot in line before them. They should find themselves forced off the road by ‘patrols’ and waylaid by procedure. Not to mention that it was in time for me to know not to allow those two scum into or near my depot! This was also why we had to make sure it was yourself centurion Micky. Again, I must apologize.” Stated the commander.

“No, you were more than right in what you did. I must apologize for overreacting. Those traitors have gotten into my head and I am now even doubting my own loyal soldiers. It is unbecoming of a commander. I can doubt anything, by not those loyal to me under my command!” Said Micky. The commander had a twinkle in his eye as Micky stated this, and his back stood a little straighter. But he did not show it.

“No, I need to signal my soldiers that it is safe, then we must rest as fast as possible and abandon this outpost. There was one thing that they did tell the truth. The frontline is lost. Even now there are two star centuri and two centuri bearing down on us and we can’t allow them to take us with our pants down. Are you prepared for retreat and to regroup with the legate?” Asked Micky as he moved to one of the towers. He quickly signaled to he own division that it was ok and that they should come forward. Part of him was screaming that this was a tactical mistake. That he would be betrayed again. He shut it up with a mental smack. These were his soldiers not theirs. They were loyal to him.

After a quick rest and watering the horses Micky took every last soldier and supply, valuable or not, out of the depot. The depot itself looked abandoned and decrepit. Having its doors bust open and damage set for recapture should it be necessary. Of course that was if the enemy could capture it in the first place after he was done, Micky thought with a cackle.

No sooner then they had all left and the mages had ran well past Micky and the rest of the soldiers. Imagine, siege mages running, Ha! The depot erupted and a mountain appeared from inside its walls. Soldiers and wagons well on their way were already cleared of the blast zone but lumber was still flying through the air. Well, Micky didn’t clear the structures he built but he would think of that next time. Of course, he would think of dodging now! *Thunk, thunk, thunk*