Chapter 10

Barry hotel was in the middle of a fork right was the way to my bakery and the end of that street was the river. Cross the bridge and you will be on your way to “West Elizabeth” desert.

Right was a long way across the forest but we was too much soldiers to be attacked by a brown bear. We started moving towards that way. I have never seen too much people walking in that street before. The streets were jammed up with banners and posters about that big day in the hotel, the same picture of the princess who never shows up her entire face, anyways. But she was beautiful though I am not going to lie.

People were standing out in their balconies watching us walk in the street with worries in their faces, some children crying.

Horses were in the front and the back with soldiers in the middle. The colonel was in the front of the army. He didn’t care about anyone walking in that street, his big black horse will walk over you if you do not get out of the way.

It was a hot day with a clear sky though that was not the usual wither. Streets were muddy though. People spill a lot of water in these streets. The only thing you could hear at that time is the sound of our footsteps on the mud and the sound of the horses.

“So, what is your story pal?!” Smith said.

“I am stuck here with you because of who knows what and because you gave me that bloody sword of yours” I replied.

“It was not my sword, hell no, the colonel would have killed me if I gave you my sword!, actually you better keep hold of yours. He does not like a solider who loses his sword (he said while pointing to his neck being cut)” said him.

He basically meant that your sword equals your life, lose it and you lose your life too, these were the rules of the army.

Honestly I do not this is going to be hard since I am pretty good at holding knives!, well I usually use them to cut bread but that is not important right now.

“whose sword is it then?” I asked.

“remember that pal who was captured and questioned back there in the hotel?” he said.

“is it his?” I said.

“hell yeah, it was his, I took it when he dropped it after being captured by the guards” he said.

“so you know I am no solider!!!” I shouted at him.

“I just liked you, that’s why I gave you the sword” he said while laughing.

That point of time we were at the end of the town, the forest was ahead of us, sun about to set so, I think we will camp somewhere in that forest. It’s creepy but I think that’s what is going to happen. Good thing I’m in the middle of the men, nothing can harm me.

“Is it your first time as a solider, Trevor?” Smith asked.

“yeah it’s my first time stuck in this” I said in a sarcastic look.

I was really curious about how that guy Smith ended in the army himself so I said,

“How did you end up here Smith?”

“oh me, it’s a story pal, we have got the whole road if you are happy to listen” he said.

“go ahead, why are you looking at me as if I have something to do” I said.

My legs were starting to ache as we were walking in the forest, I really hope we camp somewhere soon.

“actually I am no solider as well! I work at a bar in London, two jobs one at day one at night. Life is pretty tough back there in London pal.

I am married to the girl I love. She is pregnant! Isn’t that wonderful!

I am a brother to two boys, my father lost his job at the bank of London because he stole 19 pounds at new year night. So it was all on me to help our family out.

A bar job barely supported me and my wife but supporting a family of six people is nothing it can do. Even when I work two jobs a day. I couldn’t buy more time to work.

I tried opening my own place but it didn’t work out. Bills are too high for someone who’s just starting up to pay. Let alone taxes and that kind of stuff.

So, one day my cousin told me about this solider thing.

He read in the papers that they were recruiting men for the army for a good pay. I thought it was enough for me to support my family. So I took it.

it has been three months now for me in the army. It is enough for me. It pays good.

But you know. Army is dangerous. Its like, you start off the day now knowing if you will live to start off the next.

See that scar on my forehead? That is hell of a giant brown bear that was about to kill me two days ago.

I went hunting for food, we take turns in food hunting for the soldiers. Actually today it is my turn too along with five other men.

I would not mind if you decide on coming with us for the hunt.”

“seeing that scar, it is a big Noooo!” I said.

“We are camping here for the night! Make fire and each have something to eat! If someone is eaten during the night, it is not my responsibility.

There is a river down the cliff if you could use some salmon, but keep an eye on the bears, these monsters will not tell the difference between your flesh and the salmon’s” the colonel shouted at us.

I could barely hear him. He was way ahead of me, but his voice was loud enough for me to hear.