Chapter 10 : A Strange Dream

Tom got himself a sword, after that he wear a wooden helmet and slings a wooden shield behind his back. Leo pick a mace filled with thorns on its head, a helmet and he also slings a shield to his back. Then, they go out of the tent.

“Splendid.” Frivlus said. “Now, the Lord has placed you two under my order, so remember this, no action from you both until I said so.” At this his face grew stern. “Now that there is no threat from Scrown, you two shall follow my party and patrol around the city.”

“Yes Sir!”

“However, because none of you are fit enough for a real battle, you must rest now. We are not short of manpower right now because we are not mounting any attack, so use this time wisely. Rest and let your body be healed so when the time comes, you can perform as well as you could. Now. . . Cogent!”

One of the tent guards move. “What is it sir?”

“Show them the tents for the Elite Militia.” The guard nodded. Frivlus turned to them. “This guard will show you the way. Rest now, and I will find you tomorrow. But now, I have other matters to attend to. So, until then.”

Frivlus walked away. Cogent the guard walks toward them. “Please follow me.”

They walked through a lot of tent until they finally reach several tents grouped together near the edge of the encampment, which Tom guess must be the place nearest to the battlefield ahead.

The guard checked something on the plank hung near a tree. He looked at it for a while, before marking something in the edge of the plank. Then they walked to the smallest tent at the edge of the group.“This tent is empty, please use it well.” The guard said.

Tom and Leo entered the tent. Inside the tent is three small bed made of hay covered with blanket and in the middle, a small firewood is burning. Feeling weariness overcome them suddenly, Tom and Leo moved to the nearest beds and slept at once.

The next morning, Tom wakes up suddenly.

Tom looked around. Leo is still sleeping so peacefully, with some occasional snore. The fire has died out. The third bed is still not occupied. Outside the tent the sky at the eastern horizon begins to brighten up. He do not know why he wakes up so suddenly. The last thing he could remember is his dream has turned to something strange. He dreamed about Levogard again. He could see Leona and his children, all looking so scared while running. He wanted to help them, but he realized that he couldn’t move as he wanted. Feeling very helpless, he tried to call out for them, but his voice won’t come out. Then he saw Renshaw, and how he killed his wife with his sword, then his children. Tom wants to cry, but even his tears won’t come out. Suddenly everything turns black and in front of him stands an old man he doesn’t even know. The last word the old man said is “power”, as if echoing his thought. And he wakes up.

Tom can still feel his hand trembling. “Damn it, how can I end up like this? I must be strong.” Yet he doesn’t feel any urge to sleep anymore. So he just sits by the fireplace until Leo wakes up.

“You did not sleep, Tom?”

“I did, but guess I wake up quicker than you.”

“Ah. . . Well I guess. . . I am hungry. Is there any food?”

“You will get your food, but later. There is a bucket of water here, use it to wash yourselves first, and then put on this clothes, for your garment is not fit anymore. When you are done, come out and meet me.” Frivlus said, entering through the tent door, followed by a soldier who is carrying a bucket of water and another soldier carrying two pieces of shirt and two pieces of pant.

“Ah well, thank you, sir.” Leo said

Frivlus gave them a nod, and walk out of the tent, followed by the soldiers after putting down the bucket and clothes.

They quickly wash themselves and put into their new clothes, their old one they throw onto their own bed. After that, they walked out of the tent, where Frivlus has waited for them.

“Let’s move, I will introduce you to the rest of the team, then brief all of you for the mission.”

So they move out. After walking out of the encampment, Frivlus whistled loudly, soon a handful of men are already gathered around them.

“Men, I want to introduce you to these two new recruits in our rank. Tom Burfoot,” at this he pointed at Tom, “and Leo Baldric.” He pointed to Leo.

The men nodded, but Tom realizes none of them are smiling.

Frivlus continued. “I don’t think I need to introduce you two to each of our men, so I will just tell you the important one. This is Randy Backwater, my vice captain,” he pointed to a man with big stature and great beard on his chin, his back hung a very big axe. The man saluted them. “In other word, he will take on my position should anything happen to me, so you two should listen to his order if I do not give you any. This is Frolham the Bold, no surname for he does not wish to say,” he pointed to another man with slim stature and an average height, his face is clean, who are holding a great long sword in his right hand. The man raises his left hand in acknowledgement. “He is the champion of this unit, so maybe I will sometimes assign you to serve under his command for a while. I guess that’s all. Now, for the mission.”

They all stand closer.

“As you know, we have defeated the first wave of Scrown Army. However, the king believes that they are regrouping and will launch another attack soon. So, while the main army prepares the defense, we will move out and seek their rally point, eliminating any Scrown soldiers in the way. Our hope is to weaken them so severely so that when they launch another attack, if they are stupid enough to do so, they will surely fail and be driven back from this realm. For this task, I will divide this unit into three groups, under the command of Randy, Frolham and me myself. Randy group will scour the eastern part of the city, while Frolham group will sweep the western part of the city. My group will sweep the area outside the wall and around the forest. Are you all clear?”

Everyone nodded.

“Ok, team leaders, pick your members. Everyone should pick ten men for this mission. The rest should stay behind and watch for any intruders. Tom and Leo, you are with me.”

The picking begins. After every groups have ten men, eleven plus the leader of the group, Frivlus continued.

“Every teams already get enough man? Good! Now, we all shall have some food before moving out. To the kitchen quarter everyone.”

Everybody move to the quarter, including Tom and Leo. The quarter is located at the middle of the main encampment; it is made up of several tents and a small bakery, with several bonfires that keeps burning in the middle of the quarter. Two people in white clothes are cooking at each bonfire. At there, everyone is given two pieces of bread with butter, and a mug of strange drink that Tom never tasted, but it refreshes him, chasing away any last bit of sleepiness in him. They eat their breakfast quickly. After that, Frivlus continued.

“Everyone have their fill? Good! Begin the mission!”

And everyone move out to their destination, eyes warily searching for any unlucky Scrown soldiers who might bump into them.