TNL 47 – Preparation Part Three

Morris has been on the road for seven days. But despite delays due to a huge thunderstorm, he is now finally within sight of his hometown of Linh. He quickly urges his horse to go even faster. His cavalrymen have trouble keeping up with him.

It's been quite a journey, Morris thinks. He and his men have ridden all the way around the wilderness, mainly because it is almost impossible to ride on horseback through the dense forests of the wilderness. Despite the great detour, they have saved a lot of time.

When they could see the ancient forest in the distance, they were very happy that they didn't have to go through it. Taking shortcuts pieces through the wilderness is possible at some places, but that is not the case with the ancient forest. The ancient forest is impenetrable right from the edge. The smallest trees are already more than twice as large as the largest trees in the wilderness. In addition, the space between the trunks of the trees is completely overgrown with shrubs, spines and other plants. There is literally no path that gives access to the ancient forest.

A little later they arrive at the city. Memories flood Morris. It's been years since the last time he was here. Usually he stayed near the barracks or the army camp during his leave. And during the few times he could, he went to the capital. But his hometown? That was a while ago.

Yet everything is so recognizable. The gates with the street behind them, the statues on the squares and even the barracks. When he arrives at the barracks, Morris reports to the guard on duty. "I come for the commander of the garrison. Is he here?"

"Yes, sir, I'll see if he has time for you. What is your name and why are you here?"

When Morris has given his identity, they can continue.

Moments later, Morris stands in front of the commander's office as he reads the warrant Raidon has given Morris.

"Hmm... So... Yes, I see it. This is a very interesting document," says the commander, after which he looks at Morris. "Unfortunately, I can't help you. Great that you have permission to take people, but not from my city. Linh is in danger of being attacked, as is the entire southern province."

Incredulously Morris says:

"But the people of the city can't even fight! They are not warriors!"

"Even then, as long as I'm in command here, I want to keep everyone safe inside the city."

The commander cannot be dissuaded from this point of view and a little later Morris comes out empty-handed.

Since it is impossible to talk sense into the commander, Morris decides to visit his family. His parents died years ago, but he still has three brothers living in the city. His family was never very rich, but they had enough to buy Morris' equipment so he could join the army. Since it is a family visit, Morris leaves his escort in the barracks. To put so many people on his family's doorstep at once is a bit of an imposition.

A little later he is at the door of the family business. His brothers now manage the business with the three of them, with eldest brother Gerard at the head. When Morris knocks on the door, Gerard is the one who opens it.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Gerard, I know it's been a long time, but you have to recognize your own brother, right?"

"Sorry, sir, you know my name, but my brothers are all working inside."

"Maybe I should beat you first in a game of wrestling, just like I used to?"

"Is that a threat? Maybe I should call the city guard after all. Or maybe I have a better idea."

"Oh yes?"

"Absolutely." Gerard turns around and calls in to ask for help.

"Guys, come and help. We have an obtrusive guy at the door!"

Within moments, the other two brothers come rushing out to help Gerard.

"Morris, is that you!?" they shout.

"Yes, idiots, let me in!"

Within a few minutes, Morris is surrounded by family. Not only are all three of his brothers there, but also their families.

After dinner, Morris discusses the problem with his brothers.

"And that's the situation," Morris ends his story.

"So if I understand correctly, the Empress has personally instructed you to protect us here, but the commander does not want to cooperate?" asks the eldest brother.

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"Yes, that's about it. Remember that we cannot help right away, but that that help lies in the future. So the commander does not go directly against his orders."

"Well, fortunately we normal people have no orders to hold us!" shouts the youngest brother. "We're going to help you, brother, and let that commander try to stop us."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea. He would probably arrest you quickly."

"Ha! Fat chance. We just tell your problem to the neighbors, asking if they know any people who want to help, and then it goes around on its own. Just wait and see!"

Three days later, so many people have already indicated that they are interested, that Morris has to decide who he will and will not take with him. Morris' brothers try to help pick the best people. While they sit around the dining table for this, there is a knock on the door.

"Open up! This is the watch!" is shouted.

Morris and his brothers look at each other. "Shit!" Morris' brother opens the door. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"We have reports that you are organizing an illegal meeting here."

"No, sir, as you can see, we do not have a meeting here. Only me and my family are here."

"Don’t be a smartass! I said organize! I hereby inform you that if I notice that you are continuing with your illegal practices, that I will throw you all in jail. Be warned!"

When the guard has left, Morris and his brothers look at each other.

"Well, apparently we have to be a bit more careful."

"Well, or we have to change the location. Leave everything to me. If you find out who you want to take with you, I will indicate to your candidates where they have to go and when. Morris, you're already suspect anyway. Go back to the barracks and try to persuade the commander again. That's what he expects from you. I will have someone report where the meeting is."

Morris has little to argue with. That is why he leaves for the barracks.

Two days later, Morris receives a note from a waitress at breakfast, stating that he must be on a hill a bit out of town around noon. That's why Morris and his men leave as soon as possible. Without attracting too much attention, they manage to saddle their horses and leave the barracks. At the gate, however, they are stopped by two guards.

"Show me your orders. I don't think there are any extra patrols planned."

Morris expresses another deep sigh. "Soldier, we are not part of the garrison. No one has to give me permission to go wherever I want. Open the gate now!"

The guards look at each other for a moment.

"I'm sorry, but our commander has ordered to keep everyone at the gate from leaving. Even the merchants are not allowed to leave without written permission."

"Great, friend, but I also have to carry out the orders of my commander. For that I have to leave the city. You get that, don't you?"

"As long as you don't have permission from our commander, I really can't let you through." The guard, meanwhile, has become quite surly. Who does this guy thing he is? That he wants to set aside the commander's orders.

Morris realizes that he will not get any further by arguing. That is why he takes a different approach. He decides to tell the guards exactly who he is.

"Gentlemen, apparently you don't know who I am. Not only does my family own one of the more important trading houses of this city, I am also a training officer in the armies of Her Majesty Empress Alyena. Currently I am on loan to her personal army the New Legion. This means for you that you are not only against an officer of your own army, but also against someone you can compare to an officer of the imperial guard. You know what that means?"

The gatekeepers are starting to get nervous. No one could just stop imperial guards and messengers. The least punishment for that is a beating.

Morris exploits the hesitation further.

"If you don't open that gate soon, me and my men will have to do it themselves. Do you think the Empress will miss two guards very much?"

The guards choose caution and decide to do what this threatening officer asks them to do.

"Understood, sir, we will open the gate for you. Would you like to report that we did what you asked? It was not our idea to stop imperial guards."

Morris just growls for a moment.

Just before noon they arrive at the hill. There is no one waiting for them.

"Well, I think we're too early, guys," Morris says cheerfully.

"Huh, if you ask me, we're just scammed and no one is coming."

"That's why no one is asking you, Bobby."

But even as he says this, they see a group of men coming from a different direction. And a little later more groups of men arrive from other directions. In no time there is a whole crowd gathered on the hill.

"Look, Morris!" shouts his brother. "I have arranged a few volunteers for you!"

Morris can't believe his eyes. There must be a few hundred men on the hill.

"Two hundred and ten to be exact," says his brother. "I know you only wanted half of that, but these are the ones who are the best. I thought a few extras would only be useful. Even more than this number I had to reject. You're wildly popular right now, man! Thanks to the commander's unwillingness to let the inhabitants help defend the city, everyone wants to help you show that we are not as simple as the commander thinks."

"Well, I hope Raidon can appreciate these numbers. I don't think we have a chance to give everyone a place in the legion."

"Ah, who cares. Then you let the others wait first. There will probably be enough work to keep the men busy."

"Guards!" is called suddenly, whereupon the whole group begins to look around restlessly.

Morris and his brother look in the direction of Linh and indeed a group of five horsemen comes their way. Morris urges everyone to stay calm and let him speak. Although not everyone calms down, a path opens up through the group that the riders can pass through to get to Morris.

"Torin? Is that you?" asks Morris to the leader of the riders.

"Well met, Morris. It's nice to see that you're still causing a stir, just like during our training all those years ago."

Morris looks sheepishly at his brother. "Torin started in the army at the same time as me. Together we did lots of pranks during the training."

Then Morris gets serious again. "Torin, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to warn you. The commander knows about your meeting and at this time a unit is being assembled to imprison you all. Me and my friends here decided that we would rather serve under you than under the commander. If we leave quickly, we will be outside the commander's jurisdiction. Then he can't do anything to you anymore."

"Us maybe not, but you and your men will be in big trouble, Torin. You know how deserters are dealt with."

"Then they have to find us first. If they follow us beyond their jurisdiction, we just have to hide. I'm sure your commander will want to put in a good word for us if he can get some experienced cavalrymen."

"Hmm, I'm not happy about it, but you're right that we can use you a lot. We don't have more than a handful of cavalrymen and most of them have never experienced a fight. Let's hurry up before your commander misses you."

Within ten minutes Morris has organized the group and they leave. Morris' brother goes along to Peredur, to do some shopping.

"If they want to stop me, I just show that I have done some shopping. Little that the commander can do to me without all the trading houses revolting!" laughs his brother, after which he marches at the head of the group.