On a hill overlooking the country side Godi looked at the Caravan that was going on a snail pace but he though.
"We're almost to Acui"
The Caravan has been traveling for two weeks already one more week and they would make it to the safety of the fortress.
After the battle of the bloodya axes more soldiers or stragglers from the battle have joined the caravan and it has grown to a thousand people.
"Brother Godi, have some water" a small girl ran towards him.
"Deska what are you doing here , its dangerous" As Godi look at the small figure running towards him.
"It's fine , I just though brother Godi was thirsty" As she blushed.
Deska was the same little girl that Godi save from their first encounter.
"Thank you Deska" As Godi grabbed the water skin and drank from it.
Godi gave back the water skin after he was done drinking from it and patted her head.
"Deska!" they heard a call from the caravan and they knew it was her mother calling.
"Better get back" Godi smilled at the little figure beside him.
"hmmmm okay" Deska ran towards the caravan.
----
In the capital of Grey the city in antique.
The palace was full of nobles, ministers , generals and dignitaries who were debating about the defeat on General Latinos.
The palace was a beautiful , with marble floors , perfectly cut limestone, statues and decorations and in the Center sat a woman in a beautiful purple dress.
forty years old she is today she had ruled the country for over twenty years , dainty with white jaded skin , low straight hair , round face and blue eyes she was quiet a beauty of her time
"My queen the General has returned from the battlefield....but with only four hundred men" A minister announced his worries.
"Do not be dishearted we were not fully prepared the Theodorians had much more people than we have anticipated it is a minor loss for us" another minister said.
"A victory would have been better' Another minister sounded his opinion.
"Queen Marionette , the people cry for vengeance our sovereignty is as stake if you loose" a stout Touri dignitary voiced his opinion.
The court was abuzz with discussion about the war until the queen raised her hand and the court quietened down.
"I understand the ministers concern also yours Gazzet, but we must remain strong we have plenty more men to spare" as she looked toward the Touri dignitary.
"We will call onto Gerenal Latino to raise a new force to wipe this shame of defeat and we will also call onto General Faux to assist him." The queen Marionette calmly voiced her opinion.
As they were discussing the turn of events the hall dorrs opened up and a man announced the visitor.
"General Latinos ask for an audiance with the queen"
An old grizzly man in armor walked toward the center of the room and bowing then saluting the queen.
"I have come bearing bad news your exellency" General Latinos scowled.
"The bandits are burning everything in their path, citizens are being butchered" General Latinos angrily said.
"Do not worry General Latinos, you are commanded to raise another army and General Faux will be there to assist you this time." the queen prompt announce.
The kingdom has five generals one on each border and a reserve general just in case. north, south, east, west and the center the capital was covered.
----
Godi looked over the horizon and he can see smoke he knew villages were burning but Theodorians were at their rear this must mean bandits are on the loose now since they most the eastern border. It was the perfect time for an upheaval in the eastern side where bandits can roam free.
They traveled for another two days when they ran into a burnt village, dead bodies were everywhere and holes were dug for their valuables. Some people were even hung from trees.
"This does not look good" Godi though as the bandits could be close by.
" Godi!" Captain Erina tanned up to him.
"This does not look good, we must keep moving they could be close by and this vicinity is close to Acui they would not get close it must mean they will have to turn back, we must take another rout." she hastily said.
"You are right , also inform everyone to keep a vigilant outlook , I say we go further north then turn south so we could go around them. Godi pulled the map out and started planning.
The caravan turned towards the north hoping to escape the bandits and the Theodorian empire with their luck the Theodorians and the bandits will meet up with each other and kill one another.
Two days later they came across a river that they will have to cross but it was to deep , men were sent out to gather logs and built rafts but not long after they saw a band of horses behind them but they kept their distance. The horsemen were not wearing any. colors but looked like a ragtag group of people.
"Damn bandits, we've been found" Godi though.
Godi ran towards Captain Erina to report their situation.
"We must ferry all these people across the river before the main force arrives , gather the men and put entries around the people that are cutting logs." Captain Erina commanded
By noon they had half the people across the river when they felt the ground shake.
"They're here Godi though but the bandits still kept their distance.
Considering that the caravan are protected by a hundred fifty men the bandits were careful even though it looked like an easy plunder the caravan were covered in trees in the flank and a river behind them the bandits will have to go to the front if they wanted to plunder the cararavan.
By late afternoon , ferry were built and they started ferrying people in the other side but first they ferried fifty soldiers to protect the other side the other three quarters were left with Godi to protect the rear but still the bandits did not attack but to their surprise started retreating.
They look like an easy target but the terrain were hard on horseback so the bandits retreated maybe looking to get to the other side so the caravan hurried loading everyone into the boats they built.
By night time everyone was on the otherside of the river, they camped and rest but they did not forget to post sentries and send scouts and soon morning came and they started moving again the lush forest slowly that they were traveling on were slowly disappearing and turning into flat lands which was dangerous to them if the bandits came. so they threw more stuff away that they did not need like some of the loot from the battlefield and they rush toward the Fortress of acui, two more days and they should be safe and sound.
A day later they can see empty village a sign that they were close to the fortress of acui but not long after.
"Look!" one of the caravan goers saw a band of horsemen.
"Damn it, fighting on foot on flatlan is not the way to fight horsemen." Godi though
The horsemen started going towards them but with reliefs they saw the black armor s the horsemen had.
----
" Wow look" Gabe pointed toward the caravan.
"Look like refugees, probably survivors from the east" Victoria smiled and hurried her horse towards the caravan.
"Forward!" Gabe ordered the band following Victoria.
As they got there they saw a lot of old people and children but to their surprised there were also soldiers in the mix.
"Halt who goes there!" Captain erina walked toward the front with her knights.
"Squire company griffins" Victoria announced.
"Captain Victoria Ely of the winless dove" Captain Victoria announced her stature.
"We need to get these refugees to Acui and also we have wounded that need to be tended I also need a messenger to send so we can get support , bandits and the Theodorians are behind us.
"Yes captain" Gabe started issuing orders two of the dozen horsemen were sent back to Acui and not long after more horsemen appears on the horizon escorting the caravan.
---
A day later they made it into the fortress of Acui it was a big fortress, twenty five feet walls with six watch towers a gian moat a singular path to the gate with a draw bridge a castle inside and guarded by five hundreds men.
"Soldiers and knights to formation!" Captain Erina commanded.
As the refugees were going inside the fortress the soldiers finally separated themselves and got into formation for all the while waiting for the commander of the fortress to come out.
The commander came out , he was a middle age man muscular long read hair with a small trim beard but a giant of a man six feet and six inches tall.
"You've done a great job keeping these refugees alive" he commended.
"My name is Commander Freddie." He saluted the and the soldiers and knights saluted him back.
"Commander I currently have two hundred men but only one hundred fifty are fit for battle , also bandits and Theodorian patrols are roaming outside the perimeter of Acui." Captain Erina started giving her report to commander Freddie.
"Good job captain you may rest and fill your soldiers they look haggard to me , you may give the rest of your report in my office" Freedie waved Captain Erina to follow him.
"We will meet here early morning for re-organization ,Company dismiss" Captain Erina turn back to the company and dismissed them.
The company took one step back with their left leg "Auroga!" then did an about face and started to scatter to the surrounding area.
Captain Erina went to Freedie office to give on the report and it lasted an hour after that she was freed to do as she like the first thing she did was went to the mess hall to get her full and to no surprised many of her men were there eating and drinking their fill.
She went to the counter and got her slop of fried beef with a side of rice and green beans and quietly found her table with her men when she saw Godi. She walked towards Godi and asked if the seat was taken and it was not so she decided to sit by Godi.
As she was eating Godi was cleaning his axe that he got from the bloody axes A couple of weeks ago.
"Beautiful axe" Captain Erina
"You are not part of the regular army, are you gonna stay with us?" she asked Godi
"Depeneds if they pay or not " Godi smiled
She laughed at him of course they will pay , right now they need as many people to fight the Theodorian empire and also now they have the bandits to fight.
They talked awhile and soon night time came and they went their seperate ways. the soldiers were called and they rexieved their bunks for the night and when morning came they were gathered again.
"Morning, today you will be re-organized" Captain Erina greeted her soldiers and knights.
The knights and soldiers were reorganized to be part of the five hundred all the while Godi was paid three gold coins and was promoted to iron rank by the commander.