That was a solid punch.

It had loosened a tooth in his mouth, cut his lip from the inside and bled aplenty. Barod glared his way, not much taller than him despite their difference in years, but a grown man almost. His muscles solid, chest pushed out as he walked about all proud showing off for his friends.

The Northman frowned at the lukewarm reaction, turned his square face and looked at him sprawled down on his back after the sucker punch. His fancy leather jacket covered in mud and horseshit.

“Go back to the south and to yer subjects,” Barod snorted. “Take your opinions and gold coins wit ye.”

Ah, you shouldn’t have said that, Roderick thought and slowly got up on his legs, blood in his mouth and his mother’s voice cutting through the small gathered crowd’s noise.

Kas never lost the opportunity to spectate a good brawl.

“Logan ye daft old leather bag,” His mother snarled and Roderick turned his head to cast his cyan-colored eyes on her. “You’re supposed to guard him!”

Ancient ‘Gray’ Logan put a hand on the fierce woman’s shoulder to stop her, but she slapped it away furious and made to draw one of her swords. The old warrior beat her to it, surprisingly fast despite pushing sixty and got his own blade out. He pointed it at her armoured chest warningly.

“Have ye lost yer fuckin’ mind?” His mother spat irate and Logan grunted once in disapproval at her foul tongue.

Roderick spat a splotch of blood down mimicking her, his voice coming steady and belonging to a man much older than his four and ten years.

“It’s alright Faye. Let me work on that,” He told her to snap her out of her anger and turned to the smirking Barod, not wanting to witness the sorrow in her eyes. “I owe the lad a good punch,” He added and Logan grunted very pleased at the prospect of a good fight even outside the Circle. Hell, his father had fought not a kilometer from where they now stood to the death.

Twice.

“I’ll break yer bones,” Barod warned him, cracking his big neck right and left.

Roderick crooked his bloodied mouth and removed his soaked heavy jacket, to better move about in the mud.

No ye won’t, the young Tiger thought walking confidently towards his taller opponent. But I’ll break yours.

Thoroughly.

Third Legion officers

(Summer of 190 NC)

Legatus Legionis| Lucius Alden

Aide de Legatus| Marc Gripa

Pathera Tigris Signifer| Brim Solomon

Tribune| Galio ‘Old Oak’ Veturius

Prefect, 1st Scribe de Camp| Varus Trupo

-

1st Cohort

1st Century Centurion, Primus Pilus| Paulus Agricola

1st Decanus| Simon Gata

2nd Decanus| Herius Lupis

Legionnaire| Lucas Kato

Legionnaire| Oppius Papus

(The First Century was dispatched east a day early and fought at the Kas front alone for most of the conflict)

2nd Century (recruits) Centurion| Titus Macrinus

3rd Century Centurion| Artur Mangas

4rth Century Centurion| Servius Capito

-

2nd Cohort

1st Century Centurion| Nonus Sula

2nd Century Centurion| Josi Vala

3rd Century Centurion| Ardi Damian

4rth Century Centurion| Spurius Dio

-

3rd Cohort

1st Century Centurion| Cassius Falx

2nd Century Centurion| Placus Lepidus

3rd Century Centurion| Julius Sepofa

4rth Century Centurion| Jorgen Osmont

-

Legion Scouts *

Centurion| ‘Frostworm’ Kaeso

Decanus| Gerard ‘One-Ear’ Pike

-

Legion Cavalry (Still recuperating losses)

Decurion| Kent ‘Thin-knees’ Long.

-

Legion Slingers

Centurion| Mamercus Sorex

Decanus| Joe Fallon

-

*Attached Nord units (most notable Numbers Warband, Gerard’s Raiders) under Logan ‘Gray’ Barret.

Included here are:

‘Hulking’ Layton

‘Nice’ Gerard

Lady Faye ‘Scarlet’ Alden was present as well, but staying with the Supply Train.

You speak of old friends & long dead sisters, whilst I mourn my father!

Queen Saskia lashes out in court.

Late first month of Summer 190 NC

(The scene is also memorialized in Assange’s famous painting)

Legatus Lucius Alden

The color of mud

Part I

-Lords should fight the wars they start-

Stormbolt neighed, white vapors shooting out of his nostrils and black mane shaking hard. Everything was soaked. The rain had stopped before the first light, but it had left a muddy mess behind. It was worse near the banks of the Montfoot, a bit better after it. The path leading towards the crossroads and the split in the mountains lost in the morning mist.

Tribune Galio Veturius cleared his throat, sitting rigid on the saddle, guard cheeks tied tightly on his lined face and heavy helm glistering with moisture.

“We’re soaked to the bone milord,” He stated evenly.

“I share your fate Tribune,” Lucius replied watching the men lining up to march south. The Crulls had abandoned the fort and had retreated during the night, probably alerted by the lights and the noise of the Legion crossing the Montfoot.

“Lady Faye asked for you Milord.”

Lucius wanted to go to her, but he simply had no time left to spare at this moment.

“How is she?”

“The wagon is with the supply train. They’ll start crossing in an hour.”

“The 3rd Cohort is to bring up the rear,” Lucius said wiping his face with a wet cloth. It didn’t much help him.

“Centurion Falx is solid milord.”

“The road isn’t,” Lucius noted with a grimace. “The wagons will stretch us out.”

“We should make camp earlier milord.”

“We’ll lose time and give them even more of a warning,” Lucius shifted his body on the saddle and patted Stormbolt’s wet mane with a hand. “The Crulls should have contested our crossing.”

“The Jarl’s forces are behind us, more coming from the Midriver,” Galio noted. “The Crulls either opted to pull back on their mountain city.”

“Or?” Lucius probed with a half-smile.

“Wait to hit us in the back the moment we turn east to enter the mountain passes towards Kas,” Galio glanced at him. “A bit of a conundrum this Legatus.”

“Let me work on that,” Lucius said reassuringly. He’d decided to do it whilst reviewing the troops and before checking up on his wife.

When you are pressed for time, he thought. You just work harder.

Lucius offered his arm and a heavy Faye stepped out of the closed carriage. It was a crude copy of the one they had brought from Regia and left with Canutia at Kas. Four large wheels, a tall rectangular cabin and a door with a small window. It had enough space inside for Faye to rest and keep warm, but it was in the end of the day just a small box-shaped room.

“You’re stopping here?” She asked, holding on to him in order to climb down.

“A brief rest, while I iron out some details,” Lucius replied. “How are you?”

“Your wagon throws me about. In order to save the baby I use my head to break the momentum, elbows and feet,” Faye replied putting a hand on his armoured chest. “I turned all black and blue. I’d show you right now, but yer soldiers don’t let me out of their sight.”

“You’ll bare yourself wife?”

“Why? Ye find me repulsive husband?”

“You don’t mean that Faye. I was speaking of decency.”

“Pfft, you are annoying,” She complained. “I’ve seen yer women’s decency.”

Lucius kissed the top of her red head tenderly to calm her down.

“We need more pillows.”

“You need to come up with a better wagon, or fix the roads Alden.”

Lucius had designed it aiming for efficiency and not comfort.

“It’s your roads Faye,” Lucius teased her. “I assume some effort was put in opening them?”

“Never bothered me afore,” She admitted with a smile, relaxing her face. The baby was restless and it was wearing her down. “I miss riding,” Faye murmured.

“Once we get on a Legion built road, you’ll see,” Lucius insisted slapping the large wheel with a hand. “This thing moves much better. Sturdy. Very safe. Can built a new one in half a day.”

He couldn’t think of anything else.

“Hmm. Maybe,” She droned. “Where are the Crulls?”

“Watching us from the woods is my guess.”

“Are ye gonna built a camp?”

Lucius looked back at the distant river. Not many good memories surfaced. The woods located to the west of Stags Doab looking as sinister as they did the first time.

“Yes, but I will send a Century up the crossroads and into the pass,” He replied. “I want the road kept open for you. The supply train will leave next.”

“You’ll keep the men back?”

“They’ll expect a smaller force to guard our rear,” Lucius explained.

“I’m not leaving you behind,” Faye argued looking at his face worried.

“The Crulls will either do something tomorrow, or they won’t. If we enter the pass then we’ll march straight to Kas and they will still have to deal with Jarl David's forces. They won’t follow.”

“They could come around and cut us off,” She said unsure.

“They no longer have the numbers for that Faye,” Lucius sighed. “If they split up then we will face a smaller army. The Lord of Eaglesnest has no allies here.”

Which was true in a sense.

But Lucius had more enemies than just the Crulls.

Newly promoted Prefect Varus Trupo saluted, a smile under his trimmed mustache and pushed the leather covering aside for him. Lucius entered the commander’s tent and nodded at the officers inside. Tribune Veturius was present alongside Centurion Nonus Sula, everyone attending the meeting in their full battle gear.

The Legion will be marching for war on the morrow.

“Legatus!” The Centurion saluted and Lucius returned it, then clasped his fingers behind his back.

“Centurion Sula,” He said to the commander of First Century of the Second Cohort. “You have kinship to the Lord of Demames?”

Sula, a sturdy Lorian with a square jaw, a cleanly shaved face and short blond hair nodded.

“Lord Sula is my uncle, Lord Alden.”

“You’ve joined in Ludr,” Lucius noticed. “What were you doing there?”

“My father has three sons. I’m the third one. Got tired of squiring and decided to seek some action, many lads from Demames were fighting the Issirs in the North Lord Alden.”

“I’ve noticed,” Lucius replied. “Why join the Legion?”

The Centurion smiled. “Lord Alden asked men to help him on campaign and my father is Prefect of the… First Legion my Lord. Second Cohort. I saw it as a sign.”

Lucius eyed Galio, but the aging Tribune just frowned. Sula’s father was with the First at the Battle of the Turncoats, or in the engagements fought after King Alistair was betrayed. Almost no officers had survived according to the reports that kept coming in from an energetic Canutia. Not everything was verified of course.

“I should make you part of my entourage,” Lucius started, but Galio pressed his lips a tiny fraction as if to warn him. “You’ve started at the bottom, I can’t have a nobleman in the frontlines Sula,” He pressed on with his point, disregarding the old officer’s warning.

Lucius wanted to know what the Tribune knew and gauge the man’s mettle himself, if he was to task him with keeping Faye and the supply train safe. So he gave him an opening to excuse himself and climb up the hierarchy.

“I’d like to earn my ranks Lord Alden,” Nonus replied standing up straighter. He was almost Lucius age, perhaps a couple of years younger. “I won’t leave the First. It’s too late for that. I’ll see this through. Lords should fight the wars they start sire.”

“Aye, they should. Kings as well,” Lucius agreed and that was that.

“The ground rises beyond the gorge, right at the turn,” Galio said after the Centurion left them, pointing at the map. “Agricola will march east, taking the road that heads straight up the pass. The road has no snow now, but it ain’t good for more than two carriages traveling side by side. It opens up later as milord remembers.”

“You’ll prepare the rest of the centuries in depth, narrow front facing towards the rise and the road to Eaglesnest. Dig in and don’t hold back ammunition. Gods, we need some Scorpio’s here Tribune.”

“Aye we do. But we don’t have the engineers for that sire. It needs expertise’s the Northmen don’t possess.”

“The terrain isn’t helping them here.”

“True, but we aren’t breaking out without the big toys sire.”

“We are not in the plains yet Galio,” Lucius reminded him. “Let’s focus on the present for now.”

“Centurion Agricola, Legatus,” The guard said poking his helmed head in.

“Let him through,” Lucius ordered and turned to his second in command.

“Is Sula’s father dead?” He asked evenly.

“Only Prefect Ligur survived milord,” Galio replied his memory of reports and casualties outstanding. Lucius grimaced.

“I need some air,” He decided, just as Centurion Agricola, Primus Pilus and leader of the First Century after Trupo’s promotion entered. “Follow me Centurion,” Lucius said and the young officer saluted and stepped aside for Lucius to walk by and exit the tent. He followed him right after.

Lucius stood five meters from the large commander’s tent, right in the middle of the sprawling camp. Torches were burning at each guardtower, more at the gates. Everything arranged tight, but following prearranged straight lines and a well-drilled design, with enough space left between the tents and wooden buildings for a carriage to pass with ease. The Castrum would be literally packed on the wagons and disappear the next day. Reappear each evening when the Legion stopped and rebuilt it anew.

Two legionnaires were following behind Centurion Agricola, a burly unshaved man of almost thirty years and a younger sinewy and shifty looking Lorian with a constipated face. The heavier man grinned seeing his stare and then catching himself saluted, thudding a big fist on his chest, whilst his shorter friend stooped nimbly to tie his boots and avoid the scrutiny.

Well then, Lucius thought. Let’s not judge them.

“Papus, Kato, for fuck’s sake!” Centurion Agricola barked seeing Lucius staring at the two loitering weirdos. “Get back to the unit!”

“Yours?” Lucius asked him eyeing the two legionnaires hoofing it away.

“Aye, they are Legatus,” Agricola puffed out exasperated. “They are one strike away from getting lashed again.”

“Yet, they are in the First.”

“Since the beginning Legatus,” The Primus Pilus explained. “Got kicked out of the Legion, joined the Black Skulls and then volunteered again. The Tribune picked them right away in the first batch. They are good fighters, I’ll give them that.”

Lucius remembered Kaeso and Mamercus. Galio rarely messed up in his picks.

“You’ll have Logan’s men with you,” Lucius said, eyeing the dark sky. “Use them to scout ahead. You’ll have some riders with you as well and two wagons of supplies. If the road is clear for a day, you’ll inform me and the rest of the Legion will join you a couple of days later. I’ll send the supply train after you right away, but don’t expect it for a day at least.”

“Are Northmen in Kas Legatus?”

“The city is packed. But I don’t know whether these Northmen are friendly, or not. Kas was Sovya last I checked. It’s the summer, roads are open such as they are, but the thing to bear in mind Centurion is that Canutia can’t really judge who is who and her info is usually a week old at the minimum.”

“I could send Logan ahead, or someone that can… talk, just to be certain.”

“A day at a time Centurion. Hurry up the pass, secure the road and keep it open for me,” Lucius ordered and Agricola nodded once. “The Legion must not march into a trap, not in the narrows Centurion. Not with the supply train and the civilians between our legs,” Lucius added staring at him. “The wagons must go through.”

Agricola pressed his mouth tight.

“We’ll keep the road open Legatus,” He said steadfastly and Lucius believed him. The young officer saluted, then turned heel and walked briskly towards his unit. The next time the two men would meet, one of them would be dead and the second part of his campaign would have turned into an all-out war.

The First Century marched very early the next morning out of the Castrum. It would make good time up the muddy mountain pass and reach the junction, where the narrow rocky road came down from Eaglesnest and the terrain opened up at the mouth leading to the valley afore the Kas Burg.

The bulk of the Third set up pickets at the larger south-facing road, cut ages ago through the Nor Maze Heights, which was the main approach to Lord Bart’s mountain city. Lord Bart forces would come down from the ridge to test them a day later. By then the supply train had followed after the First Century, the animals and wagons slowly trudging up the muddy terrain amidst the slopes. It would spread itself out with elements being almost ten hours apart at the end of the first day and the civilians creating three camps along the pass to spend the night.

The Issirs call the week long engagement that followed, the Second Battle of the Montfoot, but in reality the majority of the conflict happened on the exit of the mountain pass, even spilling to the gates of Kas a day’s march away and back at the cobblestone road leading to Eaglesnest almost five day’s march apart. A couple of scraps were fought at the Montfoot and the Wolvesbane Castle by the Jarls forces that got out of the bridges when news of the battle reached them, but those were insignificant in size and meaningless to the bigger picture.

Earlier that month Lord Shield Miles Lennox was dispatched via ship to Kadrek by King Davenport in order to observe the happenings up close and report to him. The move judged significant after Duke Redmont’s complaints about the danger of an unchecked Jarl David turning his eyes on his Duchy. Duke Redmond’s Heir, the young Sir William was tasked with escorting the aged Lord and Lesia’s delegation, with a force of about five hundred Carls to the border city of Kas. Their journey lasted ten days.

No sooner had they left to reach the bristling with Northmen city, word reached them of Antoon’s fate and the chaos that had erupted in Kaltha. Duke Redmond formally asked Lesia to intervene and King Davenport seeing that the Issirs would be unable to deal with the Northmen ordered Lord Lennox to assume command of the situation.

A sizeable force of two thousand well-equipped men was loaded into twelve heavy transports in Armium, along with ‘Ley’s Boars’ mercenary company numbering two hundred strong and was dispatched to Kadrek. The Bank of Trust had stepped in to foot the bill for the mercenaries and promised King Davenport to pay him the Second Legion’s full wages for a year, in exchange for exclusive access to the North’s mines. The Bank was thirsty for gold, as King Antoon had dipped into her reserves with his war loans. The armoured galleon being built at the naval yards in Cediorum, to transport the immense amount of gold coins to Issir’s Eagle –some suggesting almost forty tons of it- worth a fortune onto itself.

Lord Lennox wanted the men marching to Kas and join them there immediately upon landing at Kadrek, but it was a two week journey with weather permitting. Distance aside, not a day after he received his orders word reached him that legionnaires had set up a camp at the mountain path’s mouth.

Lord Sirio Veturius

The Fall of Heroes

Chapter II

(Legatus Lucius Alden,

Northern campaigns,

Second Year

Volume I

Tigers in the Mud

-One week & a day-

Clash at the mountain pass,

Issir name, 2nd battle of the Montfoot,

Lesia name, Madness at Kas

Summer of 190 NC)