Scourge Fourteen - Lions

Scourge Fourteen - Lions

Scourge Fourteen - Lions

Well join, I say as I walk up to Teo and his crew. The Big Hill Lions, as far as I can tell, have five more members other than Teo.

Only one of them has the sort of gear and equipment Id expect from a leader-sort. A hat with a big feather sticking out of the top of it, and armour thats a bit fancier than the more serviceable greaves and vambraces and mail skirts the others are wearing.

He steps up next to Teo and looks the four of us up and down. This is what were getting for four silver? he asks Teo.

This is whats available, Teo says. Come on, Esteban, you saw them fighting.

I saw one of them fighting, I was too busy to stop and watch the spectacle, Esteban says. He reaches up and rubs at his big bushy mustache. You girls really worth as much as Teo here says?

Were worth a lot more, I say. But you cant afford that. Fortunately, were heading the same way.

Esteban chuckles. Fine. We need manpower of one sort or another, and I dont particularly care if that manpower comes from a man or not. I dont imagine you know how to operate as a group?

Felix, Esme and I know small squad tactics, I say. Mom insisted that we learn some. Bianca here doesnt, but I think she can hold her own from afar. Anger and Fear cultivation both have ranged options, right?

I can manage, Bianca says.

Esteban squints at Bianca. Can you do healing? he asks.

She shakes her head. No. Im a fear and anger mage, not grief.

Good enough, Esteban says. Teo, you recruited them, you give them the rules. Were leaving as soon as the next cart arrives.

Yes, sir, Teo says before snapping off a quick salute. He turns to us a moment later. The Lions have three squads, usually. A fore, middle, and rear guard. Well probably be mid guards. Its the safest place for new members.

Alright, I say.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Teo gestures to the side, then walks over to the carts. There are six of them, with drivers setting up on them and donkeys shifting about at the front. Were short. Usually we have something like five-four-five, but as it is, we only have ten members including you four. Its not optimal.

We walked over to one cart in particular. Unlike all the others, where everything was neatly packed and squared away, this one had heaps of packs on the back, and a few spears on racks hanging off of the sides. Is this the Lions cart? I ask.

That it is, Teo says. Hey Ram, say hi to our newest recruits.

A guy sitting at the front of the cart turns around and stares first at Teo, then at us. Hes a bit younger than Esteban, but older than Teo, with a leather eye patch. His armour is all rough. Leather pieces over a scratched up and patched gambeson, with a few metal plates here and there. Whats this lot? Ram asks.

A few really talented girls, Teo says. Got some room for their bags?

Yeah, yeah, Ram says. Toss them up, girls. Wherever you please. No one gives half a damn about staying organized here, and I cant be bothered to do anything about it.

A few of the piles are already lit up, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.

No ceremony for the monsters, I guess.

Felix walks at the front of our little group, hands folded behind her head, and Im a step behind her. Esme and Bianca walk a little ways behind us, but still close to the cart that has all of our stuff.

You think were going to be attacked? Felix asks.

By monsters? I ask. I dont think so. At least, not if we can get a little ways ahead. I have a couple of little friends that are quite good at preventing monster attacks and such.

Felix nods along. Well, when you see your little friends, tell them to hurry up. The more we get attacked, the slower this trip will be.

I roll my eyes, both at Felixs attempt to be all subtle, and at her need to speed things up. Well get there when we get there, I say.

The road feels like it could use a bit more maintenance.

So, Ram says, his voice more than loud enough to break rule one. You kids runaways from some sect?

A sect? I ask. You mean like one of those smaller churches?

Yeah, thats what I mean, he says.

No, I say. Were not really affiliated with anything like that. Well, Esme might be. Shes a big Semper fan.

Im not a Semper fan. Im one of her loyal followers, Esme says.

Felix and I both giggle, the laughter only growing louder when Esme sniffs angrily at us.

So, not sect kids, Ram says. Wherere you from then? Youre not from Caselfella, thats for sure.

Do we have accents or something? I ask.

That you do, he says. Nothing too strong, but Ive got the ears to make up for my poor sight, you know. But its not just that. You lot are all cultivators. Girl cultivators. Never seen the like in the Republic. But Ive travelled my share. I know that its not too uncommon elsewhere.

Oh? And what do you think?

Ram rubs a hand under his chin. I think a womans place is back home, tending to the house and kids. But I wont begrudge a woman her right to defend herself. Knowing how to pick up a sword and skewer some pest in defense of house and childs a noble thing in my book.

Uh-huh, I say.

So hes just casually a jerk then. I sigh. Hopefully, the people around here will change one day, but I have the feeling it wont be an overnight thing.

***