TNL 54 – War Part Three
A few days later they arrive in Peredur. Along the way they suffered from a storm only once. This one was so heavy that Raidon was afraid the ship would sink, but according to Ryker, this was just a breeze compared to a real fall or winter storm.
The ship still can't get to the quay, so the same fishing captain is hired once more. This time he is asked to have a few other boats help. Faster than the first time, everyone is taken off board. The supplies take a little longer, but soon the entire company is ready.
"Ice, can you see if you can rent a bunch of carts here in the harbor? Maybe the captain of that fishing boat knows where to go."
"Sure, Captain. Sam, Frank, you're going with me."
Raidon sees Ice being directed to a building on the north side of the harbor. A few minutes later Ice returns, with three carts in tow.
It's quite a parade. No one here has ever seen the heavily armored soldiers. Last time they were in Peredur, everyone stayed on board the ship. Now two hundred and fifty heavily armored soldiers march through the city, followed by several supply wagons. Finally, a small unit of cavalrymen follows.
Especially the soldiers are viewed with awe. These are all fully armed for battle. Never before has Raidon had the opportunity to command a fully armed unit. The soldiers all have their heavy plates of armor and elongated shields. Furthermore, each soldier has a short sword on his right thigh, a crossbow on the left thigh and a two-hand weapon on their back. This whole armament looks very intimidating to the inhabitants of Peredur. Especially compared to the warriors of the regular army.
Raidon takes charge of the long column. Slowly, in order to cause as few problems as possible, they move through the city towards the gate. It soon becomes clear that the people are bespelled by the soldiers. Although they look intimidating, everyone wants to touch the harnesses. At first the soldiers are surprised, but soon they let it happen. They continue to look straight ahead and do not look up or around from the touches.
Halfway through the city they arrive at a square where they can't go any further. When Raidon marches into the square at the head of the first platoon, there appears to be a large group of warriors on the square. There are about a hundred warriors, but the number continues to increase as other men come running. The warriors are led by a captain.
"HALT!" shouts the captain as soon as they march into the square. "In the name of the Empress, stand still and identify yourselves!"
Raidon steps forward until he is close to the captain. There he salutes.
"Captain Raidon of the New Legion, on his way to Linh. Would you be so kind as to step aside?"
Although Raidon starts out formally, he can't help but put some humor in the final section. The captain gets a red head when he is addressed in this way. Apparently no one told him that a large ship has arrived. The only information he has is that there are strange warriors walking through the city. What he did not expect is a company of the New Legion.
"The New Legion has not asked permission to march through this city. If it had, then I would not have been instructed to stop you. I fear that your men will have to wait here while we both go to the commander to solve this. Next time, you would do well to ask for permission at the gate."
Raidon has to chuckle at this. "That would be difficult, captain, we arrived at the port by ship. You have no gates there. But I lets compromise. We march on while one of my officers arranges that permission. As mentioned, we are on our way to Linh, and we do not have time to wait here."
"Hmm, I think that that's possible. But you can also come along yourself, can't you?"
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"I don't think so. My captain will be with the commander sooner than I can be there."
Having said that, Raidon turns around and shouts to the end of the column.
"Morris! Come forward!"
Then he continues to talk to the captain.
"As you can see, the commander of my cavalry will be able to get to the commander much faster than I can walk. That saves us a lot of time."
After giving his instructions to Morris, the column can march on again.
When they arrive at the gate a little later, Raidon can't resist.
"Permission to leave the city!?" he shouts to the astonished men above the gate.
A short time later they are outside the city. From this point on, they can maintain a better pace. At the end of the day, they have already made a lot of progress. Still, Raidon stops the column in time to set up a fortified camp for the night. So close to the front, of course, you don't know what can happen during the night.
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Within a short time after he and two of his cavalrymen have left the column behind him, Morris arrives at the garrison. Instead of being stopped at the gate, as has happened so many times, the guards simply let him and his men enter through the gate. Why is not entirely clear to him, because usually strangers are stopped at the gate. Especially in a war zone, the warriors should be extra sharp.
He gets off his horse and gives the reins to one of his men.
"I don't think it will take long, but find a place in the shade so the horses can rest."
When the two men respond in the affirmative, Morris rushes to the staff building. When he enters the staff building, the clerk behind the counter looks at him.
"What can I do for you?"
"I have to speak to the commander. Apparently there is quite a fuss about our passage through the city."
"Ah, then you must be the leader of the unknown warriors. I will announce you."
Even before Morris can protest that he is not the captain, the clerk knocks on a door.
"Major? The leader of the unknown warriors is here."
If there is an affirmative answer, he beckons that Morris can step in.
"Explain to me, how did you get to my city without me knowing, and what are you doing here?" The commander of Peredur is a stern major with a hanging mustache.
"Didn't they tell you, Major?" asks Morris. "We arrived by ship and are just passing. Unfortunately, there was no one to apply for permission to enter the city and since we are in quite a hurry, we decided it was better to ask for forgiveness than to wait."
"Hmm, by ship you say? I think I heard something like this from my predecessor, that a new unit has a big ship. I assume you belong to that unit?"
"That's absolutely right, Major. I am the leader of the mounted unit of the New Legion."
"Well, then everything is fine. I give you permission, and you leave my city. I assume that I will meet you again at the new border when I and my men arrive there. Oh, and next time send someone ahead to warn everyone. In these times, we cannot use such distractions."
The major becomes very jovial when he feels that he has solved everything. Morris, however, is not yet satisfied.
"Major, we are not on our way to the new border. We are on our way to Linh, to defend the current border."
"What! But that's suicide."
"Not quite, Major. As you may have heard, the New Legion is a special unit. The soldiers have very heavy armor which makes it very difficult to injure them. Our experience so far is that the New Legion is very effective. Especially against an enemy that is not prepared for them."
"Then again, even if this New Legion is as good as you say, Chakra has thousands of soldiers here in the south. What can a handful of men do about it?"
"The information we have is that the forts are still holding. If so, then our unit will be enough to repel an attack on one of the forts. My cavalry unit is tasked with keeping the New Legion informed of the latest developments. If a fort is attacked somewhere, Captain Raidon has to know as soon as possible."
"I maintain that this is a suicide mission. I have never seen an army so much stronger be defeated."
"Let that be our concern, Major. It works, or it doesn't. But let's get to the point. I did not come just to inform you of our plans. I would like your help."
"You want me to help with this crazy plan?"
"Absolutely. As I said, my mounted unit has a very important task. I would like to have some men from you to strengthen my unity. I only have twenty cavalrymen myself, which is not much to keep an eye on the entire border."
"Well, I don't see how your plan will succeed, but if it does, I would be an idiot if I hadn't helped. I will double your unit and even give you a captain to help you. You may have Harris, he brought you to me, so you already know him."
"Thank you, Major, we can certainly use him."
"No thanks, I don't need that many troops in a city that we are going to give up."
Moments later, Morris overtakes the column of the New Legion with his growing unit of cavalrymen. As soon as they arrive in front of Raidon, who marches at the head of the column, they are immediately sent forward to Linh. The commander of the garrison there must know as soon as possible that help is on the way. He can then pass this information on to the forts at the border.