Nephew's Pride.

Evervet 4th YEAR 551 ASMERIAN CALENDAR.

Anton woke up; it was the last day of training for the Asmerian Guard. He looked around the barracks, and thirty other men were getting dressed for the day. He was in one of five training squadrons in the northern territory of Asmeria. There was a one-month training process to become a member of the King's Guard. It was mainly drill and customs and indoctrination and classes on the history of the King's Guard. It was quite removed from what Anton had learned in school about the King's Guard and the history of the Royal Family. The instructors blamed that on the traitorous Senate, but most guardsmen didn't pay much attention.

He rolled out of his bunk and opened his footlocker. His uniform was folded to perfection; he unfolded it and quickly put it on. The boots were the most annoying to put on as they were a tight fit. His shoe size was mismeasured, but he couldn't afford a new pair of boots to replace his current ones. He made sure to lock his fook locker before heading outside for morning formation. Everyone packed tightly together in four rows of eight while the squad leader stood out in front of the formation. There was only one instructor assigned to each squadron.

Anton's instructor was a simple man who loved Ale more than his own mother. He watched as his instructor, Sergeant Gonzo, stumbled out of the Instructors hall and towards his formation. He wore the standard uniform for a King's Guardsman and had a bottle of Ale in his hand. He stepped next to the squad leader and took a nice long look at the recruits in the formation. "You fuckers call this a formation?" He barked. "Cover down for fucks sake!"

Cover down was an order given when a formation wasn't properly in line. Everyone raised their left arm until it touched the shoulder of the person next to them while also looking to the right to make sure they were in the file. Then everyone lined themselves up with the first team, the row of recruits in the front, and then snapped back to attention.

Anton was excited to graduate; it was on everyone's minds. Lord Daniels himself was going to make an appearance at the ceremony. The men were all excited as well; a month away from home will do that to anyone. Anton watched as Sergeant Gonzo inspected every man with bone-chilling scrutiny. Until he came to Anto, he frantically looked around his uniform but couldn't find anything. "Damn, what made you suddenly decide not to be such a fuck up, Recruit Keller?" Sergeant Gonzo asked.

"I was motivated by your physical training, Sergeant!" Anton shouted.

"How are you going to let this relative of a traitor show you up? You're all pathetic; if I didn't have to worry about Lord Daniels's inspection today, then you'd all be crawling on your fucking faces!"

Anton stood at attention for a few more minutes as Sergeant Gonzo corrected everyone else's uniforms and ordered others to shine their boots. The uniforms were white and easily revealed any dirt or scuffs on the fabric used.

Anton saw several officers swarming around a man dressed as a nobleman; he was taller than most and had a massive great sword with him. But he couldn't get a clear view of the man. Before Anton knew it, he was marching in formation down the parade field and saluting Lord Daniels, who was perched up high on a stand. Anton only focused on his marching. There was nothing else that occupied his mind.

Everyone marched into their positions, and everyone looked perfect. Not a single guard looked out of place, not one. Anton snapped to attention one the command and listened to Lord Daniels's long-winded speech about the honor of the guard and how they had their lives laid out for them. But, Anton paid no attention to his words of greatness and heroics.

His eyes were fixed on Lady Daniels, who was seated next to Lord Daniels. The woman who ordered Mattis Keller was executed on the grounds of treason with no evidence. He watched her every move, not letting a single action slip his sight. Once Lord Daniels finished, he left the stands and walked out onto the field, his wife close behind like a loyal mutt.

It felt like an eternity, but eventually, he was dismissed after Lord Daniels finished speaking with Sergeant Gonzo, who was blatantly drunk. Lord Daniels walked with Sergeant Gonzo straight for Anton. Anton snapped to attention as they came within reach. "Hello guardsman, how are you?"

"Good morning sir, I am fine sir," Anton replied as he saluted.

"You're Sergeant here tells me you broke a record or two while training here, is that true?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me what records did you set?"

"I was the fastest to hike the five miles with a full kit, also set the record for the most pull-ups at forty-one."

"Most impressive, well then, I've made up my mind. Go ahead and report to your company commander that you have been selected for my personal guard. Congratulations, you shall serve in the castle with and guard me wherever I go. Of course, you'll also be paid better and have better living standards compared to your peers."

"Yes sir, who should I report to after my company commander?"

"Myself, of course, our caravan departs in a few hours, so be quick."

Anton saluted Lord Daniels once more, then made an about-face and ran for the officer's mess where Major Silva was waiting. He was an older man, in his early thirties, and had a rather large beard down to the base of his neck. "Sir, good morning, sir!" Anton sounded off.

"What is it private?"

"Sir, I was assigned to Lord Daniels's personal guard; I'm requesting permission to depart, sir."

"Why are you asking me that? Lord Daniels can do whatever the fuck he pleases with us. I swear, the lord is the biggest pain in my ass." Major Silva muttered.

"I apologize, sir."

"What the fuck for, son? You've done nothing wrong. It's the king's fault for allowing dumbasses like Daniels to rule even an acre of land in Asmeria."

"I see, are you not scared of saying such things?" Anton asked, confused.

"Nah, there's no need to be scared. After all, Lord Daniels would hang me for tying my shoes wrong."

"I see, so there's nothing more you need from me then?" He asked with no reply. "I'm free to go now, right, sir?"

The Major took a good look at Anton and nodded his head. He sighed and turned inside and closed the door behind him. Anton ran back to the parade field, and there was a line of wagons that stretched across the field. Many were merchants, and other wagons were filled with soldiers. Lord Daniels was standing with Sergeant Gonzo still, and Anton greeted them both.

"Well, are you ready, Private Keller?" Sergeant Gonzo asked.

"Yes, Sergeant. I've been wanting to get out of here since I arrived." Anton laughed. "Who should I report to, Sergeant?"

"Go talk to one of the soldiers and mount up in a wagon. This'll probably be the last time I ever see ya, so, good luck and farewell, Private." Sergeant Gonzo said as he extended his hand.

"Thank you, and I hope we meet again," Anton said as he shook his hand. He turned and reported to a soldier standing towards the rear of the caravan.

"Well, Sergeant, what do you think of him?" Daniels asked as he opened the door to his carriage.

"Well, he's no traitor as near as I can tell."

"Yes, well then, time shall tell all. Thank you for the most amusing stories, Sergeant. I wish you and your family well."

"Thank you, my lord, safe travels."

It would be another week until he arrived at the gate of the castle where Lord Daniels presided. The castle was incredible and nearly finished from what Anton could tell, the battlements and walls were all but finished and the granaries were nearly the last structures needing completion. He was checked by a rather tall and fit guard who seemed like he was just trying to get through his shift. Anton was just a private so he was bunked in the worst rack he could be bunked in. All of the corporals and sergeants took the good racks and some were awarded their own quarters. Like the sergeant of the guard who lived, worked, and ate in the keep. Life here wasn't all that bad, the food was decent and the other guards were pleasant enough. Except when the more experienced guards decided to have the privates.

He kept his eyes on the slaves, particularly the Varin's. They were all over the place and they outnumbered the guard ten to one. The only reason he was given that there wasn't a revolt was that Camp Bastion to the south was a slave camp filled with all of the families of those who worked in the castle. No one would dare have their families slaughtered for their own freedom unless they were psychopaths, and they like all the others would be found and executed. There was another reason for keeping his eyes on them.