Eighth Legion (2)

"Hi-yah"

"Hi-yah"

"Hi-yah"

"Hi-yah"

Everyone commands their horses to speed up so that they can reach the eighth legion camp faster. The ground has slightly shake as ten horses are running at their fastest speed in a deep snow forest.

The imperial legionnaires standing up to the camp watchtowers noticed the approaching small group of mounted knights and alarmed their fellow legionnaires at the gate of the camp.

Alarmed of the coming unknown guests, some of the legionnaires went towards any officers near the camp gates if there were any scheduled arrivals of guests or people in the camp.

"I think we would instead be greeted by swords and arrows my lord." Markus notices the camp guards in the distance are all readying their spears and shields blocking the camp gate, while others are scurrying at the back to get their own weapons.

"Wonderful, this is more to my liking, a grandiose entrance in a grandiose reception." John commented, swinging his axe ready for a fight.

"Don't swing your axe, it would make the guards alarmed more, they might start attacking us without bothering to check us." Markus scolded John as it might aggravate the situation if they aggressively showed their weapons.

The guards might possibly start firing at them with their bows and arrows if they saw them as enemies or a threat. John can only obey Markus and withdraw the axe and return it to the back behind the shield.

"Sir Roderick, raise the Nors District Command Banner now." Constance orders to make the guards realize that they are allies and not enemies.

"Yes, young lord." Roderick then immediately pulls the banner from the bag he is with and ties it to the long spear that he had. Then after, he raises his spear so that the guards can see the banner.

The officers commanding the camp guards then notice that the incoming small group of people are friendlies as the banner of the Empire's Nors District Command flag is raised, ordering the men to withdraw their spears and bows pointing to the incoming knights but didn't lower their guards as it might be possible that group is impersonating as friendlies.

As they are getting near the camp, they see how huge the camp of the eighth legion stretches as far as the eyes can see.

"Halt, name yourselves." As they approach the legion's gate, the highest-ranking officer at the scene is the one who speaks up to the unknown guests outside the camp.

"Commander Constance von Arignon, heir of the Margravate of Arignon and commander of Nors District Border Command." Constance replies loudly to the officer, making the officer sweat nervously.

The man who has just arrived is the most famous man and the hero of the empire in the northern campaign, a campaign that succeeded with commanding only a militia force without the aide and reinforcement from the imperial army and defeating the more superior-numbered Nors in three pitched battles.

"Welcome to the eighth legion, Lord Commander Arignon. It is our honor for such a great hero to visit here." The officer, fearing that the one in front of him is a high noble and also the hero of the north, folded and became meek.

The soldiers also bow to Constance and the knights, they heard and idolized the man who in front of them. He is an inspiration for the soldiers that the empire could still expand and fight for glory and honor.

Constance then rode up to the eighth legion camp with his knights, noticing how large the camp really is. The sight they see from coming towards the camp cannot compare to the sight inside the camp.

Some legionnaires prepare and clean their gears, armor and weapons. Some are cooking, some are playing while some are talking with their fellow soldiers. Cannons and siege equipment are lined up properly. The tents are larger and properly organized with agreement to the standard military camp layout of the empire's stratagems and military rules.

There are also auxiliary personnels in the camp like maids, servants and cooks that would help the legion with its daily need and operation. There are even some stalls with merchants who came with the legion to sell some wares and products. It is more akin to a small tent city than an army camp.

"It really amazes me seeing how large and well-equipped the entire legion, compared to ours during our campaign, they even have dozens of cannons." Emile looked to the logistics and weaponry of the legion brought in this campaign. During their campaign they must even have to scrap a lot of things just to purchase and prepare some cannons, and it still can't compare to the number of supplies and logistics the legion has.

"It is simply overkill, with that number of cannons. We could have easily suppressed the Nors in every battle if we have such advantage." Roderick is pissed at how unfair the empire treats its soldiers. The legions receive the lion share of everything while border units have to scrape from the leftovers, and to think that it is the border guards that must face the attacks first and bear the heavy lifting the most.

"It is more of a carnival than a military camp eh." John said amusingly. "They have only some fancy toys but with no experience and skills, they would be all easy pickings by those barbarians." He sees the legion's men as weak and inexperience, they can only rely to their weapons and equipment to fight the enemies.

"Shut your mouths." Markus, as the logical one, scolds both John and Roderick. "If you find it unfair of the way the imperial government support the legion compared to us, just suck it up... that's the way of life." It is dangerous to speak bad about the legions inside the legion's camp, he knows how deadly the men in the legion especially those who are from the nobles' families or who has the connections with the powerful people.

Markus added, "They are looking now at us. Show them the prestige of the Arignon's knights just being in your best selves." Markus straightened his posture as he rode his horse, both John and Roderick can helplessly follow Markus' lead as Constance didn't speak and just smiled at their plight.

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