Send a spelling or grammar correction to: Tracy Johnson
The Bow of Haladan Part VIII
"Get Moving! Come on, Haul your butts," Vulgrin yelled at the
troopers. The monitor held a stabbing spear, it's blade sheathed in a
leather scabbard, and used it to prod the soldiers on. "Form up, Form Up!"
The men began to form their lines, the monitors had to shuffle
them round to close the gaps that the dead and wounded left within the
ranks.
The new captain, Fintan, a tall lanky man with short grey hair and
beard, called his two new sergeants and gave them their commands. "Waddard,
you were monitor of the first squad, you are first sergeant now. Kyle here
is sergeant of the second century of troops."
"Jumping ranks, hey Kyle" said Waddard with a laugh. "These will
be light centuries captain, we're down about three score men."
"What is out strength?' asked Fintan
"We were at full strength before this encounter sir." said Kyle
"Two-hundred and fifty-seven all told. There are one-hundred and
eighty-six of us now, yourself included sir."
"Waddard bring the first century up to full strength, but I
understand you are flush with green recruits?" said the captain.
"Sir, many ran, we have eighteen who did not answer to the
roll, sixteen were new recruits." said Waddard
"And two were your sergeants." Fintan added. "We are better off
without them, but have them noted in the roll, they will be wanted men
in these parts for their cowardice."
"Yes Sir." Waddard responded with enthusiasm, he did not care for
either sergeant and would relish posting this report.
"Make sure the recruits are spread evenly throughout the ranks,
I don't want any squads weighed down with them or left thick with
veterans." Fintan commanded.
"Sir our signalman was killed during the fight." said Kyle.
"Who was his apprentice?" asked Fintan.
"He was the apprentice sir." Waddard said.
"He was actually the apprentices apprentice, captain." Kyle added.
"In almost two-hundred men there must be someone who knows how
to use the signal horn." the captain said. "Find them while we march,
until them just use your voices. If you can't yell loud enough for them to
hear you then I will have to find some other sergeants."
"Yes sir."both Kyle and Waddard replied loudly.
The men had formed up into column as they talked, the monitors had
already started them to march again up the road. Fintan watched them with
an appraising eye, a sense of ownership had come over him, these were now
his men. It had been long years since he had commanded more than a handful
of followers let alone a company of soldiers.
"Kyle!" he yelled.
Kyle came running back. "Yes Captain."
"Pick out half a squad, break them up into pairs and have them
scout ahead." Fintan pointed to the fields to either side of the road.
"I want one pair on either flank, send two pairs ahead. Tell two of
them to keep about a five minute run ahead, the other pair half that.
Make sure that there is at least one veteran in every pair."
"And the last two?" asked Kyle.
"They are to hang back, then jog ahead till they can see the
column, then hang back again." said Fintan. " I don't want to be ambushed,
didn't your captain every hear of scouts."
"I don't like to speak ill of the dead sir." said Kyle.
"Good, doesn't make much of a difference now in any case." the new
captain said.
* * *
(To Be Continued...)