154 Training (1/2)

Timothy looked at them in the eye. He could see the excitement of each person in the ranks.

”I have an important task for you. Mind you” he pointed at them ”The task is so significant that it would mean life and death to you in the future”

There was a commotion in the ranks. The recruits looked at each other with excitement on their faces. Some were clenching their fists, ready to prove themselves. What he would say next will shatter their excitement.

”Has anyone noticed that smell? Putrid. Just putrid. And this camp. Broken pottery everywhere. Look there's a tunic laying on the ground. Bones of animals are scattered like seeds in a spring planting. The tents have holes in them. The equipment are in disarray. Such a shameful sight. Are we barbarians to use this camp as it is? Now your job is to clean this camp. I want it squeaky clean. I want the garbage to be collected in one spot. I want the tents repaired. I want the wooden palisades in order. I want that putrid smell gone. I want this camp or barracks if we are shameful enough to call it as such, to be comparable to the great palace of Holm. And you should begin now”

The smiles of the recruits vanished like the sun in the snow season. Their expressions were replaced with that of frown. Timothy couldn't blame them. They must have expected that fancy swordsmanship awaited them. They must have thought that joining the legions only meant fighting and doing honorable stuff. That's what the plays and the poems and the songs taught them. It was wrong. Cleaning and marching and toiling and maintaining equipment took most of the time. The plays and the poems and the great songs of the bards don't mention the boring things.

The people in front of him were still dumbfounded. Timothy raised his eyebrows to shove them into motion. In a few moments they scrammed. Some took care of the tents. The others grabbed sacks. A few repaired the tents.

It was frustrating to watch. These people don't know how to work together. He had the urge to order the royal guards to help but he prevented himself from doing so. In the end, the cleaning took until midday and the result wasn't satisfactory.

”How was it?” Timothy asked them with a huge smile.

They didn't answer. They just looked at him like lost puppies. Cleaning after the mess of the mercenaries must have been tough.

”Grab your boots because another task awaits you. This time, you will feel like real soldiers”

The recruits again showed excitement. But Timothy was about to break their false expectations again.

********

Timothy still got it. Lucia was again wrong. He still had endurance. He was fit.

The same cannot be said about the Vanadians marching behind him. They had only circled Holm halfway and yet they acted as if they were dying of exhaustion. Well they must be. The snow outside the city leveled to the knee. It was cold. It was tiring. It was a good ol' march.

Abraham beside him was holding his laughter. He had been doing so since the march began.

”Holding it could lead to instant death” Timothy turned his head towards Abraham ”Jolly today aren't we?”

”Those lots Your Majesty” Abraham showed his teeth ”They were so hyped when you ordered them to don their armor. But now look at them. I bet they are sweating despite the cold”

”Well it's their first time after all. Give them time and they will refine themselves like diamonds from mudpits”

”That is if they don't quit”

”They won't. Don't worry about that. Most of them will not”

”Are you sure Your Majesty? It's just the first day but more than half them them looked like they wanted to quit and scram back home already. By the end of the month nobody would want to continue”

”Same thing they said back at Knightsend and you know what happened in the end”

”Alright. But still, their numbers are still far from the intended one whole legion”

Timothy smiled ”I'm not planning on recruiting one legion. Three is the minimum”

Timothy knew that Abraham trusts him. But the way Abraham looked at him after that was just devoid of belief.

”I have a plan Abraham. The Queen has agreed to it. We would make young men flock into the banners like locusts” He put his hand on Abraham's plate shoulderguard ”And I need your cooperation”

The sun was about to set when the march finished. They were slow, sluggish and prone to complain. Still Timothy thanked the Omniscient for all of them returned alive.

They were huddling in their coats. Their faces were pale. They were shaking from the cold and exhaustion.

Timothy and his guards on the other hand were still standing. He again denied Lucia's accusation that he lacked endurance. He doesn't lack endurance, he was still fit. He walked towards them, smiling of course.

”How was it?”

”Cold sir!” A Vanadian huddling under his coat replied

”My legs are shaking sir!” another one said.

Timothy chuckled ”But still alive eh? Nothing shapes bones like a good ol' march in the snow. Another truth I'm going to teach you is that an army marches on its stomach. Now, who among you is hungry?”

All of them immediately raised their hands. From their faces Timothy guessed that they were starving. Who wouldn't, he asked himself in silence. They must be expecting hot broths and warm bread to be served to them on silver trays and golden bowls.

He curved a mischievous grin ”If you're hungry, then you better start cooking”

**********