It took the three of them less than a week to reach the first rebel encampment, well encampment might have been a strong word, it was a couple of tents and a single soldier with chainmail.

The other’s were most likely new recruits just like them even though most were older. They were carrying all sorts of makeshift weapons, pitchforks and hammers being the most seen, one had a ridiculously long knife.

The chainmail guy introduced himself as Winter, and with his white hair and grumpy look the three of them agreed that his name was well chosen.

The first night Alaric’s pack got stolen by one of the other recruits, when they confronted him about it he denied all responsibilities.

Erik spotted the one who did it immediately, the boy didn’t even try to hide it, when they approached Winter with it he rolled his eyes and told them to settle it like men.

Alaric would have to fight the thief in hand to hand combat to get his stuff back, or donate all of it to the rebellion so the thief could not keep it.

All in all the rules of it were pretty much, you either fight for what you have or you let us take over.

Alaric decided to go for the first option, he might not have been the strongest guy but the thief was a couple of cm smaller than him and even skinnier. Erik wanted to hold him back but Al had already accepted the challenge, the other guy grinning at him as the both of them entered a small stone ring at the edge of the camp. Winter just muttered to be done quick so they might continue on to Blackriver within the hour.

Alaric and the other entered the ring and most of the recruits started packing their things, Cara and Erik stayed to watch the fight.

Alaric woke up with a blinding headache, and the urge to puke. At first he was puzzled about how he had gotten here then memories came pouring back, he had stumbled over one of the stones in the ring, knocking himself out.

Maybe if he just stayed really quiet he could sink into the ground and never face any of the others ever again? The sky was dark, he could hear snores sounding from all around him. Above him the sky spread out with it’s infinite number of stars and constellations, an ocean of light somewhere in the sky.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, Alaric had to suppress a shriek as he sat up. Cara and Erik were sitting behind him, both trying their best not to smile with little success.

Al’s stomach cramped slightly, he had been supposed to be their leader, yet his heroic deeds had been in a slump ever since his very first one with the dog. Erik signed to follow with a short gesture with his hand, Al followed the two away from the main group. Erik guided them through the dark and into the forest where the thick crown of leaves blocked out all light. Without fail they stayed on the road as if he could see despite the lack of light.

After a couple of minutes the gurgling of a nearby river could be heard. Erik stopped there and asked them to sit down se he might set up a fire as he moved about the place Cara found Al’s hand and pulled him closer.

“While you were out cold Erik beat the guy that stole your stuff to a pulp, I have never seen him like this before the guy was lucky winter interfered when he was flat on the ground. Afterwards the general spoke to him away from the camp, I would have listened in but Erik asked me to keep an eye on you.” Alaric could feel her breath on his cheek and desperately tried to listen to her and not let his imagination run wild.

“I think Erik has made some sort of deal with Winter, and while I trust he had the best of intentions I would be careful.” she let go of his hand and leaned back.

Sparks flew and after a few minutes a small fire burned between them, with Erik on one side and Alaric and Cara on the other.

“Once we get to the city our training will commence. We might get split up into different units, I hope you guys are prepared for that.” Erik sounded bitter.

“What makes you think that? I heard most groups that sign up together stay together at least until their training is complete.” That was pretty much a lie but she hoped it was partially true.

Fog was covering the valley as the group descended towards the Town, the other recruits kept their distance from Erik, the thing he did last night still fresh in their memory.

Winter was mostly next to his new recruits telling them about the town and what would be expected of them.

The three of them could tell he was trying to sound cheerful but after all that had happened Alaric still felt like a laughing matter and Cara was thinking about a way to stay together with her friends.

While she was fairly certain she would be one of the best trainees in the field the winter had robbed her of most her physical strength.

Being cooped up in a house for days on end doing nothing but sewing and cleaning was not the training she would have needed.

Hopefully they were not going to split them according to strength and combat experience, she made it a habit to listen in to the other groups and watching them during training sessions.

Two groups were already experienced with wooden sticks, they fought with something reminding on grace but their movements were studied and they varied very little in their patterns.

Alaric did his best to practice to fight with a quarterstaff he had made himself, small iron stripes at each end added weight. Erik was practicing with him but it was clear he was holding back, Cara made some progress in fighting with her knifes but these lacked any range and would not work against staff or longer blades. She started to rely on stealth and Erik taught her how to move through the woods without making a sound.

Two weeks after they had set out from Crossingrivers they had to resupply and entered a small village where the people were working on their fields, Winter payed them for some food but they would need to stop at the next village as well since the people had little food to spare.

Erik started venturing out into the forests whenever he could and brought back animals he had hunted down. Mostly small rodents like squirrels or rabbits but every now and then he brought a deer or a kit.

After every trip his eyes remained yellow for a while and he would pace up and down their camp.

Winter started talking to him in private and Cara used her new skills to sneak close and listen in on their conversations, at first Erik noticed her and signaled with a sharp look to back off but after a while she managed to get close enough to listen in without him noticing.

At first Winter was asking him normal questions about his past and parents but after a while Cara realized that the old man was grooming him for some position in an upcoming battle.

She decided to talk to Erik about it.

It took them another week before they reached the muddy river that gave Blackriver it’s name. By the time they got onto the main road, their group had accumulated over fifty people, most of them the same age as Erik, Cara and Alaric but every now and then a hunter or blacksmith joined them in search for a profitable year in the city.

A couple of days before they reached the town two more groups joined up, each of them with over a hundred people and things got confusing.

Winter took command and instructed them on how to set up camp, how to form ranks and so on.