Chapter 8: A lighter sentence?

After being placed within the cell, I was welcomed with an impoverished meal, worse than what even we were provided in the conscripts' camp. A stale, half eaten piece of bread, and a morsel of cold stew, these next two days would be greuling. I could only hope for the wellbeing of the conscripts from here. Not too long after I'd started eating, however, I could hear someone walking up to the tent.

"Sir!"

The guards outside could be heard instantly standing straight up, evidently I was to be visited by a captain, commander, or even lord Oswin. Hopefully they've only come to hurl insults, and not to beat me to near death.

Becket: "This is where the conscript is being held for solitary, correct?"

"Aye sir, did you have need of him?"

Becket: "Something like that, I need to speak with him."

One if the guards opened the tent flap, allowing Becket to enter, they followed suit, presumably to ensure the captain's safety.

Becket: "You two may leave us."

"Sir?"

Becket: "Leave."

"Aye sir."

Once the guards had left, Becket gave a moment before approaching me.

Becket: "Landyn, is it?"

Landyn: "Yes sir."

Becket: "Listen well Landhn, insubordination is not looked kindly upon, but we've already discussed that."

Landyn: "..."

Becket: "There is no doubt in my mind that what you did proved rather effective against Kotesh, though what puzzles me is how you'd trained those conscripts to beat back their cavalry, not only that, but to have them assemble into a new formation to do it."

Landyn: "..."

Becket: "Your silence means nothing to me boy. How did you train them? How could a mere son of a petty merchant so effectively train some ill equipped peasants to beat back a cavalry charge?"

Landyn: "In truth sir, I only trained them to create such a formation in the free time we'd had on our march up to the point of battle. I wished only to limit our own losses as much as I could. To put more bluntly sir, I wished to survive."

Becket: "Survive? hahaha! A conscript with a will to survive so great, that he'd disobey his superior's orders, convince others to follow suit, and brace the brunt of a full cavalry charge?"

Landyn: "Yes sir, I believed that the odds against the cavalry would be more favorable to us than a pitched battle against the enemy lines."

Becket: "Hm, I see. despite being the child of a merchant, it is evident you are somewhat of a prodigy... Listen, Landyn, I cannot officially raise your rank, or status, however, I could speak with the other captains for your early release from solitary."

Landyn: "I assume there's a catch with this."

Becket: "And still the son of the merchant will ever be a merchant. Yes, you'll be tasked with leading and training some of those conscripts, should you fail, then nothing short of exile awaits, though I'm sure even execution awaits if your talents prove to have been folly. Or perhaps you'd rather spend your next few days in solitary, awaiting your true punishment upon completion of the war?"

Much as I disliked the notion, training the conscripts would translate to strengthening the power needed to overturn this nation. Not to mention, another possible punishment after the war could well result in my execution, or the execution of my family, thus leaving me with little choice in the matter.

Landyn: "It seems I'm left with little choice but to accept your offer."

Upon hearing my response, Becket let out a wide smile.

Becket: "A wise choice. I shall relay your request then to return from solitary in exchange for your training of the conscripts."

Becket left immediately, making his way back to the main tent. While evident that Becket intended on using my talents for his own gain, so to would this benefit the change I'd desired to bring to this world. Within an hour of Becket leaving, He'd returned, this time with captain Atkin and another captain.

Atkin: "So, you wish to lighten your sentence, and in exchange you'll train the conscripts and any other troops in order to more handily and swiftly defeat Kotesh?"

Landyn: "That was the deal I'd made with captain Becket, sir."

"haha, young whelp, I'm already certain that Becket informed you of the consequences of failure, correct?"

Landyn: "... Aye sir."

"And you intend on telling us that you can lead a bunch of conscripts to defeat our foes one-sidedly?"

Landyn: "I am, and I will, sir."

Atkin: "That's enough Glabados, we'll see for ourselves if what he says holds water, or if he'd merely been blessed by luck in the earlier battle."

Glabados: "Hmm, very well"

Becket: "Very well then, with our agreeance, Landyn, you shall be released from solitary, under condition that you train and lead a brigade of peasants with the ultimate goal of subduing their forces, alongside providing your basic duties as a conscript enlisted by the royal army. Do you have any objections?"

Landyn: "No sir."

Becket: "Good, you shall be returned to your unit, and you'll be provided an additional 50 conscripts to your already trained conscripts. Your task in tomorrow's battle will be the annihalation if both the Grand Duchy's mage brigade, as well as their archer force. Any questions?"

Landyn: "Sir, all do respect, not that I question you or mine own abilities, but by what means am I to eliminate their mage brigade without first losing our entire force?"

Atkin: "Such has been considered, and you'll be provided support by the mages Cordell, of Traer, and Nelwynn of Saltbrook. Be aware that the losses of either mage will result in severe consequences not only for you, but so too for the conscripts under your lead, Landyn."

Landyn: "Very well sir."

Atkin: "Excellent, we will notify them of their new postings."

Shortly after, the two guards beyond the tent had entered, opening my cell and unshackling me. Then leading me back to the camp, with captain Atkin and Becket in tow.

Kendall: "Oi look the merchant boy is back!"

Once they'd noticed my return I was greeted by the conscripts who I'd led yesterday, elated on my return. Captain Becket then raised his voice, announcing the formation of my brigade, and the tasks we'd be provided with, notifying them that refusal would be akin to treachery. The great morale that once was held in their eyes swiftly vanished.

Becket: "Listen here you lit, those that followed Landyn yesterday will receive their punishment by means of following him again. additionally, 50 more of you will be assigned to his brigade, with support of 2 mages. I care little how you lit decide which of you joins him, however should 50 of you not join, then the taxes on every one of your families will be raised in response to your defiance, along with you own potential executions or exile for disobedience of a superior officer. Am I clear?"

The cinscripts groaned, but those who'd followed before had trusted me to ensure their safety, while another 50 cinscripts quickly made their way to join up.

"Dead in the field or dead by starvation is hardly a difficult choice. Besides, the lad defeated one of Kotesh's cavalry units, I don't see why we can't defeat a bunch of archers and mages."

Once the brigade was assembled, two cloaked figures made their way to us.

"Why must we follow the orders of some conscript? this is highly unbefitting of mages you know, Nelwynn!"

Nelwynn: "Enough, I dislike it too Cordell, however the orders came from the captains, we've little choice in this matter you know?"

The two mages were making their way to us, slowly removing their hoods upon reaching us.

Cordell: "Which of you mognrels is Landyn?"

The conscripts immediately looked towards me, upon which I had greeted myself to them.

Landyn: "I am Landyn, you two must be the mages Nelwynn and Cordell?

Cordell was enraged, furious that he'd be the one taking orders, from a conscript no less.

Cordell: "I-"

Before Cordell could even speak Nelwynn, a young girl with silver hair, containing an aura of elegance about her interjected.

Nelwynn: "Yes, I am Nelwynn, and this is Cordell, we're pleased to make your accquantance."

Cordell: "Huh? No we aren't? He's a conscript, we've no need to grant him respect Nelwynn!"

Nelwynn: "Cordell, you don't intend on trying to disobey the captains, do you?"

Cordell jolted, apparently even in the military, mages who were regarded as the pinnacle of military might were required to follow orders. Cordell then grumbled before agreeing with Nelwynn. My new training of this brigade would now require me to understand the basic workings of magic, and how to incorporate it into this force.