Tyson, Second Ranger Squad of the BDF

"This sucks," I grumbled under my breath.

Seriously, when I was chosen for the position of a ranger, I was excited. I was the son of a hunter and knew how to shoot a bow and stalk prey, but I hated this part of the job. Squatting low to the ground on the wet fallen leaves as the cold seeped into my bones. It was raining again.

Ugh!

I was grateful for the thick clothes that the count had provided. It kept me warm as the weather started to turn cold. At least it did when it wasn't raining. Last year, I was freezing in my light linen shirt. I don't know how I ever survived the winter last year. Of course, last year, I wouldn't have been out in this rain.

I was jealous of the infantry back at camp in tents or huddled around fires. They had it easier than we did, but I got paid a copper more per day, so I couldn't complain too much. Besides, what I was doing was important. I was responsible for helping to find the bandits, and we finally did. For the last five days, Dad and I had been trying to find any sign of them. Now, I was sitting here outside the bandit camp. Well, it was more than a camp. They had taken over a village near the foothills on the east side of Plimgus barony.

I had been sitting here watching the village for what felt like hours as my dad ran back to camp to report the bandit's location. I was to count the people, but only a few guards were out of the huts. As I sat in the bush, I was trying to count all the people who came in and out of the huts, but it was hard at this distance to see how many there were. What if I was counting the same people twice?

Slowly, my legs became numb from squatting in that position. I needed to move them, or they were going to fall asleep, and I wouldn't be able to move at all when the time came to leave.

I stood up and moved next to the tree to give myself some cover. Then, I started shifting from foot to foot.

Ahh, that is so much better.

Suddenly, I was knocked forward, and my back exploded in excruciating pain. I couldn't breathe. And the world became fuzzy. Through the excruciating pain, I barely felt the boot kick me as my world faded to black.

Captain Rylie, Third Company

"Report," I said.

"Sir, my son and I have located a village taken over by bandits," the ranger said.

"Are you sure? It isn't just locals?"

"I am sure. And the reason is because I don't think they are bandits."

This surprised me. "Explain?"

"Sir, some of them were wearing armor and carrying actual swords on their hips. I believe they are a mercenary company," he said solemnly.

I swore, "How many?"

"Most likely around fifty."

I looked over at Lieutenant Lee, who was over the platoon I was traveling with.

This was bad. Fifty bandits we might be able to handle, but a mercenary group. Of equal size to ours was impossible. Most of my men were still in their teens and had never actually stuck someone with a spear.

"Where is your son?" I asked.

"He is watching the camp."

"Go get him. I need to send people to gather the rest of the platoons. Hopefully, we can take them by surprise."

"Yes, sir."

Endless One, protect us.

This had just become very dangerous. We could quickly turn from the hunters to the hunted. We needed to fortify our position until the others arrived.

Tyson Senior, Second Ranger Squad of the BDF

As I approached the enemy camp, I strung my bow. I hated getting my gut wet, but it would have been foolish not to be prepared. I scanned the area as I slowly made my way to my son's last known position.

I froze as I saw feet and bare legs near a tree not far away from where I had left Tyson. As the realization of what had happened hit me, I fell to my knees and used my bow to keep from collapsing completely. He was only fifteen. Barely a man and someone had killed him. Killed my son. What would Neira say? I swore I would protect him.

Though grief filled every part of my body, it did not stop me from hearing a soft russell behind me. Immediately, I rolled to the left as an arrow pierced the spot where I had been kneeling.

Rage filled me as I turned, knocked the arrow I had been gripping, and fired blindly in the direction the other arrow came from.

I caught sight of my son's murderer, and rage filled me. I knocked my next arrow as he fired. There was no point in dodging. He was too close, and it was aimed at my chest. I was saved by the fact that he had rushed to get his shot off and had not put enough power into the shot. The layers of fabric that made up our armor caught the arrow and stopped it from burying in my gut. Without the armor even that weak shot would have got me.

As the man's eyes widened, I now had a clean shot and took it. My arrow flowed straight and pierced his chest. However, by that time, I had already dropped my bow and ran to the man as he collapsed. I drew my knife and slit his throat just like I would any deer or boar I had hunted so often.

Without hesitation, I began to drag the man's body towards a gully where dead leaves had piled up. I buried the body beneath the damp leaves and returned to my son. I wanted to weep, but I knew that his body also had to be hidden. I could not return it to camp now. So I hid it next to the murderer and went to clean up any signs of the fight.

I swore on the body of my son that I would return and finish what I started. One body was not enough. All of these people would pay for what they had done.

Captain Rylie, Third Company

I sighed with relief as I saw Captain Parker's face. He had made it with one of his platoons.

He rode up with Lieutenant Greg. As they dismounted and approached, we clasped hands. "Captian Parker, your presence is a boon. Lieteant Greg it is good to see you. Have you heard from Lieutenant Brad?"

"No, I assume you sent someone looking for him, but I also sent a messenger. How about Lieutenant Vance?"

"No word yet," I said with a shake of my head.

"Your man said fifty mercenaries. We hurried as fast as we could. Moving my men is not as easy as I hoped it would be through all this mud and rain."

"I am just glad you arrived before the enemy decided to attack."

"Fifty trained men is a lot for even one hundred peasants to deal with. There may be a lot of casualties."

"I hope the others arrive soon."

"And if they don't, do we have a plan."

"Yes, and hopefully it will work."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I pulled out a map with a general outline of the land. My scouts had been out gathering information the past two days as we had waited.

"I think we can set up here to prepare for an attack."

Parker looked at me, confused. "It will be hard for us to escape this area if we get attacked."

"Yes, and that is something I am counting on. We don't have professional soldiers, so the likelihood of our men breaking and running is a possibility. If, however, they have no choice, they might fight for their lives."

"I don't like it. I will not put my men in that position."

"And you won't be. I am using Lieutenant Spence's platoon as bait. See here," I said pointing to the side of the position where I would put my men. "The reason why I decided on this location is these two gullies. We will hide half of your platoon on each side and flank them as they approach. It will also help us not to be flanked if they have the same idea. We need to move your troops into position now so that they don't figure out you are here. We have already chased off a few scouts."

"How far away is this?

"Two hours east. I will be sending a Ranger to their camp, demanding they leave."

"A brave man."

"He asked if he could. They killed his boy."

I could see anger in the Parker's eyes. "Let's do this."

Captain Quinn, Red Boar Mercenary Group

"Captain, we have a messenger from those peasants the count sent," Barkly said as he entered the hut.

I put down the mug of awful swill these people called beer. I should have flogged the man who brought this awful stuff into the world before I chased the people out of the village. Do these people even know what alcohol is supposed to taste like?

"And what does the peasant want?"

Barkly smirked, "He says the count demands we stop harassing people and leave his lands."

I burst into laughter. "What did we see, fifty peasants? He is trying to chase us out with fifty peasants. The man is a fool."

"Well, it isn't like he has been count for long. Baron Plimgus was supposed to keep him out of these lands."

"Yeah, well, now that he's a count, not only do we have to harass travelers, but we have to kill a bunch of peasants. The things we do for money." I said.

"At least they are paying us more and are allowing us to leave as soon as we humiliate the count. What do I do with the peasant?"

"Chase him away and follow him. We will attack tomorrow and be done with this. I am ready to head south."

Captain Rylie, Third Company

The atmosphere was so tense you could cut it with a knife. The report was that the mercenaries would be upon us in a quarter bell. I looked around and saw a myriad of emotions on the faces of my soldiers. Lord Bicman had wanted all the men to be over the age of eighteen, but he had also asked for two hundred men. It couldn't be both, and I am grateful we have these boys.

Some of them looked eager, the same way I was when I was trying to prove myself as a guard. But bandits are one thing; a mercenary team is another. There will be a lot of boys who won't make it. I know some of the lieutenants wanted to just retreat but this was a good opportunity to prove ourselves. If we retreated and waited for everyone to regroup they may just dig themselves in. We had to take this chance.

I looked at all the ashen faces mixed in with the eager ones and the solemn men. They needed something. Something that General Draves should be doing, not someone like me. But I had to do it.

I walked to the front of the platoon. Rows of men holding their spears with white knuckles. "Men, we are about to face an enemy who are murderers. They murdered one of our own. They do not do this to defend themselves or their lands but to take from us. Lord Bicman has given us freedom, which I have not seen in my lifetime. Freedom from fear of oppression. Freedom from the fear of having what we work for taken unjustly. He has brought prosperity to our barony. Spent his own coin to make sure we would be fed through the winter. Nothing comes without a cost. We are those people who our count has chosen to protect the freedoms he gave us. We will stand firm against those who seek to oppress the people of North Cove."

I was about to say more, but suddenly, the mercenaries broke through the trees. They began to shout and bang their shields. Trying to get my men to flee before they even began their attack.

"STAND FIRM!" I shouted as my men became restless. I began to stomp my spear on the ground. It made no noise in the soft mud, but soon, those behind me were stomping their spears in time with my own.

Suddenly, there was a cry off to our left. The gully where some of our men were hidden was under attack. I then realized that there were at most fifteen people in front of us. They thought to flank us but ran into our people instead. The banging of shields was only a distraction. We needed to move now. If they are only flanking on that side, then our men over there will be outmatched. Why didn't I think of this? I had to make a call and hope it was the right one.

"Lieutenant Lee! Take your men and go assist the left flank!" I shouted. And began to jog forward. I had to pray that those in the gully to our right would be able to back us up.

As soon as my men began to catch up, I picked up the pace. There were only about fifteen men in front of us. We needed to finish them off and go assist the flank.

Tanus, Red Boar Mercenary Group

These peasants were like biting flies. Annoying but relatively harmless. At least for me. Some of my brothers lay to either side of me, pierced through by the spears of these plebs. How that happened, I had no idea. These kids barely knew how to hold a spear. Given enough room, I could probably clean up this rabble all on my own.

A spear came at me from the quivering boy in front of me. I blocked it with my shield. I was about to run him through with my own spear when I saw another spear coming at me from the side. I stepped back, narrowly avoiding the thrust and causing him to overextend. I swiped at the peasant with my spear and growled as my spear slid across his thick fabric armor, only making a shallow cut. Since when did peasants get armor?

My blow caused the peasant to stumble back, and I used that opportunity to shove my spear into the gut of the boy in front of me. He squealed like a stuck pig. Then, a pain shot through my hamstring, and I twisted. There was a ripping sound, and I fell to one knee. I felt blood leaking through my pants as I tried to stand. The man to my side made another lunge with his spear, but I parried it with my shield. I was not going down like this. I was not letting a bunch of peasants bring me down. I- I-

My body started to go cold as I saw the ground rushing towards me.

Kin, Third Platoon

Blood pounded in my ears as I fell backward. What was I even doing here? These men were monsters. Everywhere I looked, I saw the bloody corpses of those I had trained side by side with. The man above me pushed his spear towards my face. Rolling to my side, I started to stand. I knew it would be to late though.

A scream ripped through the air from behind the mercenary as my brother charged his back. Standing to my feet, I watched as the man swung the butt of his spear at the side of my brother's head. There was a cracking sound, and Jen collapsed to the ground. I stared at Jen, his body not moving. I willed him to get up, but his body didn't so much as twitch. Tears filled my eyes as the monster in front of me turned and gave me a malicious grin. My legs were going weak and wouldn't stop shaking.

As more tears gathered in my eyes, the large man in front of me became blurry. An excruciating pain flared in my side, and I screamed as I thrust my spear forward. Hot blood splattered across my face as I blinked away my tears to find my spear embedded in the man's throat. I dropped my spear as I started to lose consciousness. I hoped Jen was ok.

Lieutenant Lee, First Platoon

I walked among the carnage left by the battle. It was so fast. So fast.

We had arrived to find forty mercenaries tearing through the men of Captain Parker. Only ten remained from the original twenty-five when we arrived. It only lasted five minutes before we heard the approach of our other men. All that remained of them anyway. Parker's other men and what remained of Rylie's crashed into the enemy's flanks, and they began to flee.

We chased after them and almost gave up when suddenly Lieutenant Vance's men appeared in front of the fleeing enemy and smashed what remained of the forces. The sight of Vance's men caused my troops to rally. We rushed forward to crush the murders between our men and his.

*******

Blood trickled from a wound in my side as I held a bandage tight against my skin. Hopefully, I would survive, but I could see the look of concern on the looks of those who treated me. Even a scratch could get infected and kill a man and this was not a scratch. If I didn't live I was confident that Amos would take care of Angie and the kids it was just, I hoped I made it back to them. Even if the chills and fevers set in before I got back, I would like to see them one more time. I shook my head, trying to clear it of the morbid thoughts. I was alive, and that was more than a lot of our men. And even those that were alive, many would not last the day.

I sat with Vance, getting a report on his activities. Apparently, they had been watching the enemy's fort from the south for the last day, and when the mercenaries moved out, Vance's men followed.

We may have won, but it was not without heavy losses. Sixty-two of our men were killed, and more were wounded. The wounded probably won't survive, including me. It hurt to think about.

I stared numbly at a young man with a bandage wrapped tightly around his head, weeping over a body. Based on his looks, I assumed it to be his brother.

The enemies had been seasoned warriors. Only our numbers prevented us from being completely wiped out. Rylie and Parker had both died trying to make sure as many of their men survived as possible. I hated myself for going along with this foolish plan. This could have very easily turned into a total defeat. Our people were just not nearly prepared enough to go up against real fighting men. Very few of them even had good armor, and still, they almost won.

Some of our men fled the field after the first clash. I don't know what the count would do with them when we returned. Some may not return. Would lives have been saved if they had been there to protect the others? I don't know. Maybe it would mean we would have just had more casualties.

The mood was somber as we gathered bodies. We would bring our men back to bury on the hill. So many names to carve into the monument. So many mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers would be grieving. Most of the people of Bicman, including the soldiers, didn't even know about the raiders that were coming next year. This was only fifty mercenaries, and we had lost over a quarter of our men. How would we survive? How many of us would be taken by the slavers? How many of our women would be raped.

No, I refuse. I will not let that happen. We will train harder. We will strengthen our fortifications, and we will lose no one to the vile Rabiss.

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