Ding Ding Ding Ding.
A loud bell woke us up early in the morning, way before the set time. Arthur shot up out of bed in surprise before quickly racing around his tent to get ready. He had been told by Giddings yesterday at the fire what that bell meant, heathen warriors had been sighted.
This meant that the camp would be dismantled and they would move out at dawn to chase after them like a cat after mice. This was Arthur's and his squads chance to prove themselves. If they do well in this battle then the older ones should leave them alone, but if they don't... well they will so that doesn't matter.
"Up! Get up ya worthless fucks, get up!" The sergeant in charge of our squads was screaming at the top of his lungs. "We're moving at dawn and I wanna see each of you sacks of shit in marching order ready to leave by 0700!" He screeched out again. When the man came into view, his horrible high pitched voice matched his person perfectly.
He was a small, ratty looking man who had an evil glint in his cold gaze. "You heard him lads get up and pack. we have a half hour before we need to be ready." Arthur lazily added as he honestly already couldn't stand the little twerp who would be their sergeant.
But, orders were orders and so they rushed in getting their belongings and equipment stowed away in to their packs before making their way towards the clearing where they were told to line up.
"Alright, you sorry excuses, when the Leftenant Colonel comes here you better be in the best lines I ever saw. If not I will personally skin you alive and roast your entrails before feeding them back to you!" The sergeant screamed, seemingly the only way he can talk.
Arthur didn't like this guy. he could tell he commanded through fear, aswell as sucking up to the officers. He had heard from the privates he used to see in the bars talking about 'shitty sergeants' as they called them. But, because of his time training under Kage he thought that was just some drunk talk.
However, seeing this rat-faced sergeant with that venomous look to him like a snake in the grass. He knew that Kage was an exception. Though right now all he, and the others lined up, could do was grit their teeth and take it. "rat bastard, like to see im try." Arthur heard someone wisper close by.
He knew that voice. It was fox's voice. He became a lot more outspoken throughout training because of when he stood up to Goliath for Arthur. Now though he chose the wrong time to speak up. "Who said that! Which one of you mongrels said that!" The sergeant barked in seething anger.
No one moved. "I said who the fuck said that! If no one comes forward I will send every one of you scum to the post and personally give you five lashings!" He shouted at the top of his lungs as time passed and still no one had moved.
Arthur could see that he was looking over here. He knew where it came from and was now working out which of Arthur's squad it was. "lashings from a rat'll probably just tickle." Fox stupidly wispered again, not understanding he was watching them now.
"There I heard you, you little fuck!" The sergeant was pointing towards them now focusing more on Fox. Arthur was about to step forward and take the blame for Fox but he was beaten to it.
Goliath had already stepped forward. Arthur looked at him as Goliath spoke out. "It was me sir. I thought to lighten the mood sir." He gave Arthur a small look as the sergeant was too busy going as red as a tomatoe and blowing up. That look was all they needed to understand each other.
Arthur stood back in line and straightened up. Goliath wanted to do this and he wouldn't stop his friend from that. He knew Goliath had been secretely dealing with a lot of guilt, as he used to beat the others up and insult them as well as Arthur. So this was his chance to pay some of it back now.
The sergeant had a creepy little smile on his face, his mouth on the left side twitching a little. Like the muscles were involentarily pulled, as if he were ventriloquists puppet.
He moved towards Goliath like he was looking at prey. It was an odd sight in all because Goliath was a tall man and this sergeant was dwarfed by him in comparison. And yet, no one doubted who the prey was right now.
The sergeant grabbed Goliath before pulling him in front of himself. "Move to the stocks." he said with his creepily twitching smile and mad eyes.
The stock was just a make-shift structure where the person would have their hands tied together while then being strapped to the top of the stock. Next, their bare back would be exposed as they face forwards.
The person would be whipped a certain number of times according to the 'crime'. It was a barbaric punishment, and the sergeant loved it. He would put some knots in the whip to make sure it lacerates the skin, ripping it to shreds. If he really felt like it he would also dip the whip in sea water for the salt, as it would aggrivate the wounds.
He loved seeing the man he was whipping scream and wail as their back was torn apart. He would often annoy the bigger ones to make them fight back in some way, just so he could then bring the Divine ones wrath down upon them.
This big brute was one such case. He knew it was the little mouthy brat next to him, but he wanted to goad this giant into taking the lashings for him. He had initially wanted the other big one, the one too young to be wearing a corporal's strip. He wanted to take him down a peg... but a friend will do the job.
Goliath was now strapped to the stock and waiting for his lashings. The sergeant had knotted the whip before dipping it into some sea water. He moved behind Goliath, looking to make sure all were watching. He took his arm back. And swung with all his might.
Swaaaappp.
The whip landed square on Goliath's right shoulder before raking down to his left side.
Swaaaapppp.
SWAAAAPPP.
Goliath refused to scream out. The pain was unbearable as tears streamed down his face. but all he did was let out a grunt. he wouldn't let this guy win.
SWAAAAPPPP. SWAAAAAPPPP.
"Urghhh" Goliath moaned in a low voice. The sergeant had whipped him twice in fast succession to throw him off, making him let out some of his pain. but still he refused to shout out. The pain was so great his back had gone numb.
He couldn't feel it but he knew from the way his nerves were screaming at him all around his body that it was bad. Arthur stood there. He saw the bloody mess that was Goliath's back. It was torn and ripped to shribbons as the sergeant had made sure to gouge out as much of his back as possible.
Silence reigned over the clearing as all the men imagined the pain Goliath was going through right now. Just for a little comment. They all stood straight as respect for the man flooded their hearts. He had taken such a brutal punishment and hadn't let out even a single pain-filled shout out not even once.
That day a new found admiration and respect for this man, who had stood strong against this vicious sergeant, grew. "Pick him up and take him to the doctors to be patched up. We move out at dawn he better be walkin by then." The sergeant told them with a creepy twitching smile and his mad gleeful glint in his eyes.
Arthur and Fox rushed in and unstrapped him. Catching his limp form as they helped him to his feet. Goliath was barely conscious as he was carried by them to the doctors tent. "Doctor, this man needs urgent attention." Fox shouted out as they quickly moved into the tent.
"Yes, yes. They always need 'urgent attention'. uhhh fine. Bring him here." The doctor said as he honed into view. "Another lashings eh. Must have been sergeant hawthorn. The Divine one knows he likes his whip like a whoremonger to his whores." The doctor laughed at his own joke as he looked at Goliath's back.
"hmm." He said as he finished his inspections. "What! What is it?" Fox nervously asked him as he was ridden with guilt. "Seems Hawthorns up to his old tricks again. Your friend here was given a harsher lashing then normal."
The doctor showed them a whip. "See this. this is a standard lashings whip. but, Hawthorn likes to put knots in his and dip it in sea water. That gives it deeper lacerations and messes with the healing process. As well as making it hurt like hell." He said as he showed what that sergeant had done.
"That rat bastard! I'll kill him!" Fox shouted out. his guilt for having Goliath take his punishment bubbling up. "I'd be careful saying that again private. I will let it slip this time, but if I ever catch you saying it after today you will be lashed for it." The doctor responded tersely.
"Sorry doctor, my friend is just upset is all. Is there anything you can do to help him?" Arthur butted in before Fox could say anything he would regret. "I can give him a healing paste and bandage him up. Thats all I can do for him." The doctor told Arthur.
"Thank you." Arthur said to him as the man got to work. The doctor did what he could and then let Goliath rest. but time waits for no man. Dawn was fast approaching. Goliath was awoken by Arthur and Fox ten minutes before they needed to be in the line.
Pain flitted across his face as he slowly got to his feet. He reached for his pack but it wasn't there. turning to Arthur He saw that he and Fox's packs were both bigger, with Arthur, being the strongest, taking the most.
"It's the least we could do. Heck if it were up to me I'd take it all but stubborn leader Ward here wouldn't let me." Fox whined as Goliath let out a chuckle before whincing in pain. "Whoa there Goliath take it easy." Arthur grabbed his shoulder as he was about to fall.
"Lets just get you back to the line. Its nearly dawn now and we will set out soon." Arthur said as they slowly ambled back to the clearing.