The journey to Malburg seemed to be endless, the monotone days all blending together. They were unhindered by the weather, the sun still shining above them through a few clouds.

Loïck felt himself become closer and closer to Rose, with whom he shared every single day and night with. He had spent much time teaching her about many different subjects, such as geography and the history of the last few centuries. In the end, she was a peasant, and had much to learn about the world.

He had told her about the complex system of allegiances that had been in place for centuries. The most powerful men in the known world were arguably the three consuls of the Talian Republic. They were heads of the army, and had full power over the legions of the republic.

They were counterbalanced by the senate however, an organisation led by the most prominent citizens coming from all over the Republic. It was said that they all together controlled more than half of the combined wealth within the Republic. The consuls therefore had to answer to the senate, and though they were elected to be consul for life, the senate could with a large majority make them abdicate their position.

This system had held the republic together for over three centuries, effectively succeeding the Talian Empire. The Republic also maintained a certain peace, assuring the security of both foreign and its own merchants and travellers within its borders. Where the Empire preceding it had been constantly expanding its borders with war, the republic was already busy enough holding together its current enormous territories and fending off larger raids from barbarian tribes. It had also inherited a strong military tradition from the old days, which served it well.

There was a constant influx of migrants coming from the rest of the world, to profit from the peace and order than reigned supreme inside its borders. It was an era of prosperity like never seen before.

“I want to go to the city of Tal.” Rose decided, with a special glint in her eyes.”The centre of an entire civilization. It must be magnificent.”

“I’ll arrange you a meeting with the consul.” Loïck said with a smile.

“Really?” Rose exclaimed as she wriggled around to look at him, full of excitement. She then saw his amused expression and quickly realised that she had been a little too much caught in the moment.

Loïck let out a laugh and gave her a kiss on the neck. She was sitting before him on Mars, his enormous warhorse. The last few days she had insisted on trying to ride like noble woman, with both her legs on one side. It proved a little awkward at first, but she eventually got the hang of it.

“You seem to be doing better.” He commented on her riding posture.

“Well, it took me some time, but I got it now. It’s all a question about balance.” She said knowingly.

“It’s not like we’re riding all day.” He said with a sarcastic smile.

“Have you ever tried to ride a horse like this?” She asked him with raised brows.

“No, but...”

“I didn’t think so.” She said with a small satisfied smile.

Jason, who was following them behind, silently shook his head. He cared for his friend, and knew that the chances of anything ever happening between them were slim at best.

“Sir? You want to do anything about it?” His squire asked. He was a cunning fellow, assigned to him by his father to take care of him. He hadn’t been able to refuse him.

“No. Might as well let him enjoy it as long as it lasts...” Jason sighed. If his friend truly was falling for this commoner, while perfectly knowing the risks, then he was mature enough to take responsibility for the consequences of his acts. Because they would come. It was but a question of time.

_____________________________________

When they finally arrived in Malburg, they were instructed to take up camp outside of the city, until further orders. They were not allowed to leave the encampment or enter the city, until the Talian officers arrived to take command.

They waited for most of the day, and the sun was already half down when they finally came. Loïck watched the Talians march into their camp, in cadence and with high discipline. The soldiers had open helmets which protected their cheeks and neck, and red padded leather underneath a tunic of chainmail. They each carried a heavy and large oval shield that covered almost their entire body, from their knees to their neck. They also each had a spear, and a short sword attached to their side.

Leading them, there was a soldier differentiated by the rest only by his red cape reaching down to his knees.

Loïck watched the column of soldiers stop, while the officer went forward and greeted Sir Rorik, and then they both disappeared into the tent. Contrary to his expectations, instead of breaking up and relaxing, the legionaries continued to stand in their tight formation, occasionally glancing at them with curiousness, and sometimes even arrogance.

“Some men began returning back to their tents or activities, but Loïck stayed. It was the first time he had seen those famed Talian legionaries himself, and he wasn’t impressed. They were not particular tall or strong, and looked to be more average. Most knights from the East he knew were taller.

A good amount of time had passed, when the Talian officer came out of Rorik’s tent. They shook hands, though the latter did not seem happy, but rather resigned. The company of Talians turned around and began marching back to the city, following their officer.

Loïck suddenly got a bad feeling. What could make their commander react that way? He steeled himself against bad news. And they came.

“We’re breaking camp at dawn! Prepare your gear!” A herald shouted, running around the camp.

He immediately walked over to the commander in long and fast strides, the latter being about to go into the tent.

“Sir! Where are we going to?” He shouted to him.

Rorik saw him, and then gave him a grim look. “North. We’re going North.” He said.

Loïck arranged for Rose to go to Malburg, while he had to go north himself. He didn’t want to encumber himself with her while on campaign in those harsh conditions, and Rose had understandably agreed.

They were standing at the outskirt of the camp with the packhorse, with Gorm at Rose’s side.

Loïck handed her a pouch full of gold, quite larger than the one he had handed Nicolaus at the time. Rose gracefully accepted it, and then looked at him with a smile.

“Will you miss me?” She asked playfully.

He hesitated a little, and then put up a wry smile. “I will certainly miss this.” He said as he grabbed her butt cheeks firmly and pulled her in against himself, making her let out a small surprised yelp. They kissed longly, under the disapproving eyes of the old man.

Then he let her go, and she mounted the sturdy horse, riding off to the city of Malburg. He didn’t want her to go, it was risky, sending her off to the city with only an old man as company. Even though the Talians had strict laws, and many guards and soldiers to enforce them, every city was dangerous, especially for a young woman. He suddenly got a strong urge to follow her there, protect her from all possible threats. He shook his head.

“Shit, I’m a fucking moron.” He mumbled to himself as he walked back, trying to shake away those thoughts.

____________________________________

A few days had passed, and the whole group were now aware of their destination, mainly because of Rorik’s bitter complaints. The Talians had sent them north, to take back an old fort named Karas Anhor.

The official reason was that the Republic needed to take as much territory back as possible before the first snow fell, to be able to consolidate their positions through the winter and then begin a global offensive into the lands of the north once the spring had settled in.

However, Rorik suspected that the Talians simply wanted a few victories before the winter came, as to raise the moral of their own troops while being able to report victories back to the capital. They didn’t even have to sustain any casualties, as only foreign forces were sent out.

Most of the camp followers, meaning most of the private cooks, merchants and prostitutes, had instead left for Malburg, seeking better fortune there.

This had left the men bitter, and the morale was at its lowest. They had expected to relax a few months in Malburg, waiting for the winter to slip by before crushing the northern invaders.

Instead they found themselves marching through the rough landscape, only a thin dirt road leading them through the thick forests of pines. The cold was worse than before, each breath filling their lungs with ice cold air while damp escaped their mouths as they breathed out. Their noses and cheeks turned red, and for some the former began dripping. A few started complaining about their freezing feet, but they all knew one thing: it would only grow worse, as the winter took its hold.

The men were nervous too, being this close to enemy territory. They knew by firsthand experience the devastation a successful night raid could deliver, or even an ambush for that matter. They were in foreign and unfamiliar lands, while the northerners fought in their homeland.

Every morning, they sent scouting parties of half-a-dozen men out, who then came riding back in the evening, where everyone anxiously waited for the count. If people were missing, or worse, entire groups, then that would mean that the enemy was close, and bloodthirsty.

One such evening, a party of scouts came back earlier than expected, with news everybody had been dreading since the departure.

“The Fort, it’s two hours ahead of us!” They announced. Rorik took a few minutes to think, and then decided to continue. They would camp at the fort and then attack in the following morning.

As the column set into march again, Loïck anxiously clutched the hilt of his sword, while considering taking out his mace. He was more comfortable with the former, even though he had tried to use the mace more recently.

A mace was more useful in melee, as the sword and axe both tended to get stuck in the corpses of the enemies, suddenly leaving you defenceless. In the end, he took it out of his sack and attached it to his side. A little extra weight, but if he lost his sword then it could save his life.

To their surprise, they arrived at the fort unhindered. There had been no sign of the enemy whatsoever. All the patrols came back safely, with no news to report. While Rorik was worrying about that, Loïck took a good look at the fort.

Karas Anhor was only a fortress by name. It didn’t look like much, its best defence being that it was located on top of an abrupt and considerable hill. It had a wooden wall around it, filled with breaches and barely taller than most men.

“That’s what we’re supposed to take?” Loïck asked with disbelief. “I thought the Talians were famed for their forts and defencive structures.”

“They are.” Jason responded next to him. “But there hasn’t been an attack here in the north since the times of the Empire. The garrisons were meagre at best when the raids came.”

Loïck nodded, and then narrowed his eyes, trying to see any northerners occupying the castle.

“I don’t see any sign of life.” He pointed out.

“I know, it’s weird. You think they abandoned it?” Jason asked, furrowing his brows. He never liked when he didn’t understand something.

“Maybe they’re simply hiding from us.” Loïck said with a shrug.

“Perhaps. We’ll find out soon enough.” Jason said, not convinced of either theory.

They went on to raise their respective tents. That night, few slept, as many were positioned as guards. Loïck too, slept lightly and woke up a few times because of the smallest of noises, clutching his sword.