30 Sacrificial chess pieces

For two days Selin went crazy trying to find a moment for her and Simon. The boy is busy managing the mercenaries, he has to support the Count and as soon as he has a moment of free time he asks old Jason questions.

This afternoon, however, Simon can not escape. Selin made him promise to spend some time with her. The two then decided to enjoy the market. Once a month, a hundred merchants arrive in the city of Vanein. Each of them brings particular products or specialties from distant lands.

Selin walks tightly clutching her boyfriend's hand. The merchants and townsfolk look at them amused seeing the boy's red face. Simon occasionally indicates some stall.

Selin, looking at a table covered with brooches, tugs at the boy's arm. Simon turning abruptly "They are beautiful, you're right. Do you want one?"

"You're really the champion of romance."

"Why?"

"It's not the girl who has to tell you how to behave."

"So you want one or not?"

"Of course I want one but you have to choose the one I like."

"Ah ..." Simon without words reviews the line-up of the stall. Then he takes a holly-shaped brooch and gives it to the girl. "This one?"

She is disappointed by the choice and looks towards the owner of the desk. The merchant "A boy usually chooses roses or other flowers that symbolize love. He picked you the holly. You seem disappointed. I want to explain the meaning of this flower. Precaution, defense and sometimes also indicates eternity. I think that unconsciously your lover wants to give you something that will bring you luck and protect you. But above all, make you understand that he will do so for eternity. "

Selin's eyes widen. "Thanks Simon"

The two kiss and the merchant after receiving the payment says to them "You are a beautiful couple. Best wishes!"

After touring the stalls and eating strange balls of batter fried in oil and then sugared, Simon and Selin return to the palace of the Count.

Arriving in front of the bedroomdoor of Selin, Simon takes her hand and says "It was a beautiful day." Then he stretches to kiss her.

The girl lets herself be kissed and when Simon starts to withdraw she holds him tight. With slow movements she starts to back towards the room pulling the boy allong.

Simon takes a breath "We can not! We are not married yet. "

Selin "We will be and I'm not going to wait for the war to end."

Simon feigned resistance and then obediently follows his girlfriend to his room.

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In the morning, with the arrival of General Forb, all the commanders are summoned for the first official meeting. The head of Olmaria's forces, his attendant Luc Peiton, Count Zacharias, Eric Pool the commander of the Vanein county forces, Simon commander of the Force of Fate mercenary company and his tactical consultant , Sir Jason Forb.

The attendant Luc starts with"Welcome to Vanein everyone. The general wants you to know what to do when you get out of here. "

All heads are nodding in the affirmative.

"The Vanein County contingent will join the royal forces in border patrolling. Your men already know the territory. From tomorrow the command of your forces will be under the direct control of the general. "

The Count observes his commander in chief nodding his head and then says "We are at your disposal."

Luc continues "As you well know, we have brought with us everything necessary but if necessary you will have to provide the logistics."

Zacharias "It seems more than right."

"Finally, the most controversial armed force of this table remains, that is, the men commanded by Mr. Simon. You are here only because your help will be useful and above all because you will have to repay Olmaria for your excursion across the border. "

Simon "What do you mean by repaying? I certainly can not force a hundred mercenaries to follow me without a valid reward. The company would break up before the fighting begins. "

"Obvious. In fact you will be paid for your services. The king of Olmaria has the authorization to force the local mercenary forces to collaborate in wartime. The pay is established by law, every man will be paid as a soldier of the kingdom, nothing more, nothing less. "

"So how should we repay our mistake?"

The old Forb interrupts "First of all, never admit an error if there is no objective proof that it is. If it really was a mistake they would have arrested you. " Then looking at the silent general he continues " You're playing dirty with this boy still green behind his ears. "

The general "You know I have to do it. If you were in my place you would have done it too. "

Simon "I do not understand."

Jason "They want to use you as sacrificial chess pieces. They will send you ahead or on missions in enemy territory. If you come back we will have won all, if you do not come back you will have done your job anyway. "

Simon "Shit ..."

Luc "We try not to start on the wrong foot. We do not want useless deaths. From our point of view you are only mercenaries. Fight for money not for the country. "

Simon "You're right and you're not right. Most of my men would fight this war even without a reward. Their goal is to free or in other cases to avenge their kidnapped family. "

The old man Jason "Well, the mercenaries can not refuse to fight, but if you send them on suicide missions it is certain that many will desert."

General Drevor "Everything is possible. You should thank us that we put all the cards on the table. "

Simon "Then I'll have to show you that sometimes even the chess pawn can eat the queen."

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George, Desmond and Drew are leading the soldiers into the area of the field dedicated to mercenaries. In the militarized perimeter, the area designated for the company is the outermost area.

Drew "As Simon said, we are sacrificable even in positioning. If someone attacks we will be the first to be affected. "

George "It is useless to worry. We must do as the commander said. Let these people see how mountain men fight. "

Desmond "Less words and more facts. Move your hands. We have to mount the field. Right now we are not making a good impression because we are the only ones without tents. "

Drew laughing "You're right." Then screaming "Men! I want the tents to be assembled and ready to be used before evening. "

Men, women and the dwarves of the Force of the Fate company quickly assemble all the tents to sleep, plus a couple of tents for eating, equipment and other activities.

The dwarves enchant all the tents with runes to make them more resistant to water. Simon instructed them to refresh the runes once they disappeared.

Selin and some women organize the area used for preparing lunch.

The soldiers of the army arrived from the capital, spying on the latest arrivals with glaring looks. George whispering to Desmond "Apparently it seems there is bad blood between the army and the mercenaries. I'll have to remind you in case one of those shitty faces ask me for help in battle. "

"Keep calm George. We can not win a war like that alone but we can do our part. I am convinced that when the time comes, they will understand that we are a resource and not sacrificial chess pieces. "

"We'll see. I am convinced that with those devilries that Simon has made to prepare for the dwarves, we are invincible. Which god-fearing man can face or even imagine similar weapons? "

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Outside the hall where the meeting was just held, General Drevor Forb blocks his old Uncle Jonas with one hand. "Old man, what are you doing here? You should be home and resting. "

"I rested enough. The king ordered me to retire from the army and I did it. Now I'm just a boy's instructor. I'm his teacher. The stipulated payment is not in cash but I asked to be present on all the battlefields. "

"Ah, that's it, damn fox. Is the meeting also a battlefield? "

"From what you did it seemed like a battle. If you do not want mercenaries, leave them free from the obligation to participate in the war. If you need it, find a point of agreement. You already have too many enemies on the other side of the mountains, I do not think it's appropriate to get more on this side as well. "

"This time you are getting everything wrong. I do not want to send them away. I want that guy in my army. I'll find the way, I've never lost a fight! "

"There is always a first time."