Book 1: Ch 12

Negotiations continued for a bit after that. Which we managed to get access to a couple of pack horses that we planned to transport our stuff. Of course, we would have to return it after we get back, but that alone saved us about two crowns.

“Nick, you stay here and guard the fort. Ron and I will be back tomorrow with the boys since we need every hands we could get.” I said to Nick, we were back at the farm as we made a beeline home after the meeting with the Lord. Old man Hues was given a portion of the payment to serve as the finder’s fee as we wouldn’t have gotten this chance without him.

With that, Ron and I led the horses up the trail leading up deeper into the mountains. I noticed the trail is getting noticeable, and could lead anyone up to Sydell’s hut. It was supposed to be our safe house in case we needed to lay low, we needed to change to another route.

A few hours later, just as the sun dipped in the horizon we reached Sydell’s hut after passing a pair of camouflaged hides with an occupant inside one. We waved at it and the person stuck a thumbs up. We then gave an exaggerated nod in response and continued on.

The clearing to which Sydell had his hut was bigger now, with a couple more huts and other structures joining in along with an outhouse a little ways away. There, we found Cyril keeping the fire under the hunter’s pot going. “Ron and Adrian is here.” he yelled at the huts. Sydell and Notus came out of their huts and approached, each men taking over the reins of the horses and parking them next to Notus and Ilya’s horse in the small barn.

“Good to be back.” I said, breathing in deep and I could smell the strong scent of smoke coming from the smokepit.

“Welcome, right on time for dinner.” Sydell said, his arms spread wide and we all shared manly hugs. “Go get Ilya.” he then said to Cyril and he ran off.

We then went to the fire and sat around it while exchanging greetings and small talk as we wait for the others. The two then came to the fire and we all shared a meal, with the biggest portion and the meatiest reserved for us, Nick would have the same share too but he isn’t here.

After the meal, silence descended upon everyone else as they waited for us, as we shouldn’t be here for another two days. Our arrival must’ve mean something.

I cleared my throat. “We got a job” I said in which everyone’s ears perked up. Everyone leaned closer and I could see a deep interest in their eyes. Hell, maybe they’ll hate it, maybe they’ll love it.

I told them the job and everyone seemed to be interested in it, especially when I mentioned the job of guarding the Lord’s daughter but more importantly, no one seems to want to back out. They even looked to be eager on going out to test their guns out on live targets other than animals.

I clapped, “So, anyone of you boys want out? Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you since we do need someone to hold the fort while we are gone.” everyone then looked at each other but no one raised their hands. With that I nodded. “Okay, then prepare enough food to last us a month on the road, keep it dried. Sydell, bring as much medicine you have on wounds as you can. We’re going to have to bring Maude with us on the trip to carry our supplies with us. And I assume the trucks are just as how we left it?”

“Yes.”

“Good, do as much preparation you can do tonight as we will be leaving at first light.” I said and we dismissed.

Everyone went on to their work thus leaving us two. Ron and I then stood up and went to the direction of the hidden cave we kept he trucks. We got there after about half an hour walking under the moonlight and opened the covered truckbeds as the beds were the most secure places we could still find to stash the guns. We could of course use wooden chest reinforced with iron bands but we were afraid that it wouldn’t protect the guns from humidity and rust.

We then popped the trunks and grabbed the bag containing our AK variants. Fortunately, the three of us had brought five AKs between us, ranging from the proper rifle version to the even the ‘pistol’ configuration. We also had a couple of SKSs with the old non-detachable magazines. Which made our guns chambered on the 7.62x39 number to seven, given the firepower the caliber delivers and the ranges we are probably engaging in, it would be the perfect weapon to bring.

There’s also the fact that it’s one of the calibers we could find circulating in the black market. That’s a very big plus.

Ron also grabbed a dragbag containing his precision sniper rifle, in case we need to use it. As the presence of a sniper could decide the outcome of a pitched battle by taking out the enemy’s head. I then took another inventory of what we would take, nodded and went back to our base after securing everything else in the trucks.

We got to the huts and found everything then squared away. We then nodded in appreciation and we all turned in to sleep.

The next day, we made sure to use another route to get to the farm to let the trails get overgrown and help continue the secrecy of our main home. We then got to the farm before noon and is met with Nick at the gate. He was still wearing the traditional garb; tunic and trousers secured by a leather belt or rope. He looked to be wearing it loose though which I would guess to help him draw his concealed weapon faster.

We then got the horses on the barn and unloaded everything into the farmhouse. There we distributed the guns; the AK rifles went to the three of us while the last went to Sydell. The two SKSs went to the hands of the two while the Cyril lost his Mosin and was given the AK pistol to be kept hidden in the folds of his cloak. As he would do well to act as the horse tender and not raise suspicion and it would do best for him, along with us for the enemy to disregard him as harmless, especially when he is not.

Everyone present already knew how to operate the weapons and we took turns cleaning the guns while the old man looked at us with eyes full of nostalgia. I guess he was remembering his younger year’s way back when. Even with the change of time, I guess the old adage survived, take care of your weapon and it will take care of you.

After that, we spent the rest of the day drilling fire and maneuver and patrol operations down to the point that we are sick of it. But at the end of the day, we could do a quite competent work of it.

The next day, we got up early in the morning and we traveled to the outskirts of the town where the caravan was planned to depart. We used the old man’s cart to transport our gear to the town as to not tire our horses too much and we arrived just in time.

We could see men gathered around covered carts under the pale light of dawn. We then dismounted the old man’s cart and approached. Half of everyone seemed to carry rifles on their shoulders while the others carried spears along with bows. Everyone looked at us, curious as to who the new arrivals and their weird outfits.

We were wearing uniform looking olive drab cloaks that covered most of our bodies, reaching all the way to our knees. Under it, the four wore magazine carriers made of leather and burlap while we wore our plate carriers along with the armor inserts, it saved my life once and it may do it again. Our rifles hung on our shoulders covered with a sheet of cloth to protect them from prying eyes. All in all, we looked like a weird bunch, which explains the reason everyone was checking us out.

I then singled out the Lady Marshall and approached her while the others sorted our gear, “Reporting for duty, Lady Marshall.” I said.

“Oh, please don’t bother with the formalities, call me Hilna.” she replied as the faced me. Her conservative dress was replaced with a form fitting trousers revealing her long slim legs, it somehow reminded me the pants jockeys wore. She also wore a tunic under a vest that also covered everything but was tight enough to suggest her figure to anyone looking.

“I hope were not the last ones in, where do you want us?”

She pointed at the front, “I hear you and your men are proficient scouts so your role would be to scout ahead for any dangers that may come to the caravan. I hope your men are up to the task with your advertised skills.”

I smiled, “No problem. My men grew up around the woods, hunting and tracking. They’ll find enemy for you.” I then pointed to her. “Your father also stated that our success also depend on your survival so I guess you wouldn’t mind me posting a guard for to you?”

She squinted her eyes as she looked at me. “I can take care of myself well enough, thank you. Besides, I already have a bodyguard.” she said gesturing at the other cloaked person wearing his hood up next to her.

At the mention of her bodyguard, the person took off his hood revealing a beautiful woman. Her cloak showed enough for me to see that she was wearing the same form fitting trousers and tunic with bits of leather sewn in. she then looked me over and scoffed as she turned away.

I smiled “I’m sure she would be enough. But posting a guard for you would give us a lot of peace of mind and will help my men tremendously, allowing them to focus on their job knowing that we have someone guarding the most important person in the caravan.” of whose survival depends whether or not we get paid. I said while leaving the other unspoken.

She huffed, “Do as you will.” she said as she turned away and I followed a few steps behind. Noticing this, she then spun at my direction, and asked with some irritation “I’m sure I’ve already accepted to your suggestion so I ask to why you are still following me?”

I grinned. “It’s because you agreed to my suggestion.” I said spreading my arms “I’ll be your personal body guard for today.”

She rolled her eyes “Fine.” she said as she walked away. Weird though, as I noticed a spring in her step as she approached everyone in the caravan and struck up conversations, making sure everyone is doing fine. “Mount up!” she then yelled as she finished her rounds and the caravan set off.

The neighboring town of Turin was about fifty miles away by road and by my estimation, the caravan was slogging through this dirt road at about two miles per hour, slower that a man walking on an easy pace. Add the fact that horses need feeding and rest, our daily mileage should be about twenty miles on a good day, depending mostly on the condition of the road.

I was sitting atop the covered cart beside the Lady as she sat reclined and was presently reading a book. “What are your reading?” I asked, trying to pass the time.

“It’s about the history of this continent. About the Great Demon War to be exact.” she answered, keeping her eyes fixed on the book.

“Care to tell me about it?” I prodded, if there would be a good time to get close to the boss, today would be a good time.

“It’s a long story.”

“It’s a long trip.”

“Alright, but only if you show Malon your weapon as she is very interested in it.” Hilna said and the other person riding in the cart looked over, her cloak was at their side revealing her very suggestive garb for everyone to see. And from what I could see, she had a Springfield m1903 hanging off a leather belt on her shoulder.

I grinned, “You know, women don’t usually ask other men to show their weapons to other women” I said and the other bodyguard scoffed once more. Chuckling, “Alright I’ll do it if she lets me see hers and we’ll add the story on the deal yeah?”

“Fine. We’ll do it your way.” Hilna conceded.

I smiled, “Thank you Lady Marshall.” I said as I took the rifle off my shoulder and unwrapped the cloth covering the weapon. I could see, Malon’s eyes lit up at the naked beauty of my AK. It had an AR style stock and an ergonomic pistol grip, a polymer handguard with a vertical grip installed, and a red dot scope mounted on a siderail. It also had a forest green paint scheme and the classic iron sights installed in the case of the optics failing. All in all, it is a tactically squared away rifle.

I held the rifle in my hands for a while, enjoying the hungry gaze of Malon. She looked to be ready to pounce on it but unfortunately caught herself. Clearing her throat, she also unslung the rifle on her shoulder and we exchanged rifles. “Can I trust you not to pull the trigger, ammo is expensive and hard to come by.” I said and she nodded, stupefied. The lady is also looking at it with eyes filled with curiosity.

I looked around the caravan and caught others trying to catch a glimpse of the rifle, I also caught the glance coming from Ron, who is walking beside one of the covered carts and I gave an imperceptible nod and he returned it, he then looked at Nick who was also walking and was having a conversation with one of the outriders, he nodded. They then unslung their rifles and took off their covers and making a show for it. This would in turn serve as proof of our proficiency and should deflect the pointed glares we were receiving ever since we joined the caravan. We, of course kept our cloaks covering our vests as these people don’t need to see it, not yet.

Seeing as the show of force was done, I then studied the rifle in my hands. It was a genuine M1903 shooting 30-06, the walnut stock was kept in immaculate condition and the barrel was spotless, well oiled. I pulled the bolt and it slid in and out smoothly. I then emptied the magazine and field stripped it. I took the bolt off the rifle and checked the inside of the barrel, it too was well kept giving me an overall good impression on the weapon and on the user.

I then put the rifle back together and looked at Malon, who had the rifle raised up in her shoulder and is peeking through the red dot scope. It wasn’t turned on so all she would see is a transparent piece of glass. She had her left hand holding the vertical grip and is sweeping the barrel side to side, I would have scolded her for it but she was keeping it away from other people and her finger was a long ways away from the trigger so I guess it should be fine.

“Good rifle.” Malon said as we exchanged our rifles back.

“Yours too, it’s well kept.” I replied, and she nodded. I then glanced at Hilna, “Someone owes me a long story.” I said and she acknowledged.

About a hundred years ago, fleets of black ships arrived on the beaches near coastal cities and unloaded armies that sacked everything in their path. The army employed terror tactics; they would massacre towns and villages. Impaling the severed heads of men, women, and children alike atop spears and would display them in full view of the cities they are besieging. Survivors of these massacres claim that the soldiers of the army would rape, torture and brutalize people for fun thus earning them the name of demons in the eyes of everyone.

Cities raised their own armies, militias grown from their own populace and did their best to meet with the threat but all were ground under the boot of the of the great demon army. They were fast, as when the news of their approach would arrive, the army would soon follow on the next day. Years passed and kingdoms tried their best to defend themselves from this hated enemy; they fortified towns, blocked passages, burned crops for the sole reason to slow their advance, and while all these happened, alliances formed and old grudges were forgotten. Thus a new empire was born, The Baimux Empire.

The empire managed to raise an army to combat the oncoming army and great battles ensued. Unfortunately, the army was defeated on a wide plain whose name is long forgotten. And the empire continued to be carved out and collapsed, massacre after massacre, town, cities, villages continued to be burned down into the ground.

Until one day, a town far removed from everything managed to defeat the demon army that swarmed their gates and managed to outlast and kill everyone. In their victory, they rejoiced. They sent messages to other towns declaring of how they’ve won the battle, and the same messages came back; telling everyone of how cities, towns, and even villages managed of how they managed to defeat them. Decades after the start of the war, the great demon army was finally defeated.

Hilna was smiling as she concluded the history of the war, as if it was a tale of heroism done by those who ‘won’ the war. As for me, I thought otherwise, the survivors only managed to survive what happened and we are going to a place to fight the remnants of an army that managed to crush the powers of a whole continent under their feet and left half of it uninhabited. I would bet that the reason the demon army doesn’t reach this far would be of a logistical one, as supplying an army so far away would be very hard.

“It’s a good story, thanks for letting me know. If you excuse me, I’d like to stretch my legs for a while” I said to the two and dismounted the slow moving cart. Hell, it would be faster walking on your own. I then walked on the head of the column to where I found Ron, holding his AK in a one point sling while scanning the road ahead for any threats that might have slipped past our lead scouts.

“Got anything new?” I asked as I walked beside him, holding my AK at the low ready and scanned the forest dirt road ahead.

“Yep. That except for that girl’s female bodyguard, we are the only mercs hired on this job. Everyone else worked for the Lord Marshall.” Ron said. “Also, the cargo in the wagons are guns and ammunition, all bought up to aid the Town of Lewe. I got that from Nick, he got it back when he was doing maintenance on the carts and got on the good side of the driver.” he looked at me. “What about you?”

“The lady is silent, I have no idea what she is here for. Her bodyguard’s name is Malon, and is somehow close to the Lord, like trusted close. I bet she’s also here to keep an eye on us, her rifle is well-kept and I think she knows how to use it. What about the front?”

“Word on the font says it’s as peaceful as it could be. There are bands of refugees camped on a little ways away from the road. They looked to have food on them so that’s good. The villages that they scouted seems to be hunkering down and would probably leave when there is no other choice. They also had a good clearing chosen to be our camp for the night about five more mile up ahead. It should be good.”

“Great, give the guys a good job for me. Ill report this to the boss.” I said then gave him a good slap on the shoulder. “Not a bad day’s work for someone just starting out huh?”

He smiled, “Yeah, I guess so. At least after this, we’ll have enough money to start a business or something. That way, we won’t have do this mercenary shit anymore.”

“Before that, we’ll have to finish this first.”

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