The baggage train was on the move. The army had already sent over a large amount of troops and supplies and this was simply the latest batch. Micky was in the third cart from the front. He was sleeping in the cart while the supplies marched on. His men were patrolling around the baggage train on shifts.

Suddenly he heard someone shout out for the train to halt. Micky thought that was reasonable, till his brain reminded him that he was the one in charge here of these 10,000 men and women. Then his brain sent back, are you really sure? Followed by a, pretty sure… and then his brain was fully awake and telling him, what the hell is going on!?

Micky got up and looked out on some two hundred men and women blocking the path with some felled trees, they looked to be recently felled, he would come back to that later… The people that were blocking the path were gruff but well equipped. Each had at least a leather armor, with some having miss-matched bronze gear. And there was even less order and organization in the weapons they wielded. It was pretty clear that these were bandits.

Micky sat up in his cart. He could see that the front cart was having a bit of trouble with the bandits. The second cart was also being waylaid, these bandits wanted them to wait to be robbed. Following that the third cart was simply being looked at strangely. And Micky was looking at them just as strangely. Micky then grabbed a piece of paper with some scribbles on it. He mumbled some things, only mildly angry, and then crumpled it as it burned away.

Micky got up and yelled out to the bandits. “Hay, what are you doing to my caravan?”

The bandits quickly rounded Micky up and brought him forward with the others. “You own these carts?” asked the leader or probably not, simply the negotiator.

“In a sense, what do you want with them?” Asked Micky.

“Why, we want them, don’t you know?” Replied the bandit.

Micky stared at the bandit strangely for a second, “No, I didn’t know. And what what are you willing to give me for them?” Asked Micky.

There was the beginnings of a rumble in the distance. The sky was kinda dark so it was ignored. What could some distant lightning do to them? “Why, you get to keep your life young fellow. Don’t you understand the position you’re in?” replied the bandit.

“Honestly, I’m not so sure about that. I should probably as you the same thing really. Do you not realize who you’re trying to rob? I would think that’s the first thing to do.” Said Micky.

The bandits laughed. Until the rumble came closer. Then one of them stopped laughing. Soon it became a large amount of bandits that were no longer laughing. The tried to get the boss to stop laughing. But this was a real knee jerker for him and he was bent over laughing. “Hey, hey boss. I don’t think that was a joke.” Said a nervous bandit. Micky was still smiling at them.

“What do you mean? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all week! Do you know how many noble scions I’ve robbed and killed and rapped kid? I think I like you, you’ll make a great pet!” Said the leader of this group. Or the intimidator as Micky had already sussed out who the real leader was. It was the guy that was already running. And he was running because the cavalry had arrived. Not one or two, but three hundred mounted and trained soldiers.

The bandit leader was no longer laughing. He perked up and tried to run. But Micky had grabbed him and used him as a shield. He hit Micky in the gut but Micky held him still as he doubled over. It was because the bandits had already sent arrows after him as they broke and ran. But he had his living shield and the cart men had dived under the carts. Luckily the bandits didn’t aim for the horses or they would be even more delayed. Now, with the slumping leader in his hands Micky turned to the leader of the cavalry.

“On who’s orders were you not on patrol?” Asked Micky angrily.

Princess replied “Simmons requested that we take the rear sir. He wished to take care of things. I got the impression he wished to impress upon you his importance.”

Micky’s forehead had a throbbing vein in it. Something that was completely new to him and didn’t fit well with his look. However, it was something he acquired with command. “And who gave Simmons command to order you?”

“I didn’t wish to listen to his request sir, however, I was outvoted.” Replied Prin.

“And since when was this army a democracy? I don’t remember approving a democracy in my tyranny? I want all the commanders in my tent tonight. We have things to discuss. Now I want all of these bandits cleaned up. And you will take their stronghold and requisition their supplies. Am I understood?” Micky said.

“Sir, yes, sir!” Screamed the cavalry. And the rest of the cavalry launched after the men chasing them down in the woods. Micky had of course buffed them with [Accelerate]. So they charged down the bandits like lightning. Micky himself was looking forward to hearing the squawks and clucks of these screaming chickens in the meeting tonight. It was going to be good.

The cleanup of the bandits went quickly and the reacquisition of the supplies was just as quick. The bandits wouldn’t have run off without the carts which sell for almost as much as the supplies that they carry, if not more. This meant that it was simply a reshuffling of personnel to reacquire all of the supplies. There were also gold, gems, and other valuables that were completely useless to Micky at his current moment. In addition, none of the soldiers under Prin or her three fellow commanders stuffed their fingers into the pie, at least at this time. The commanders themselves were young and motivated for merits. And with the failure of one of their own so early they were not keen on being added to the list. So they were driving their soldiers with severe oversight. The men women and children that were imprisoned were freed and brought along as well.

Micky and his detachment were bedding down in a clearing off of the side of the road. The sun was still in the sky however with the army traveling through thick forest Micky made the call to bed down early or spend the night trying to find a clearing that wasn’t secretly a bog. A rival commander near the back of the train had made that mistake once, and almost cost the entire baggage train it’s cargo under his command. If Micky hadn’t made a snap decision earlier with half of the train listening to him they all Might have been in the same situation. Now he was the lead and the other centurions followed his example.

But that was then and this was now. He had a commander to deal with and more to reprimand. He looked at the biggest tent, his tent. He had ordered a tent next to that giant drafty thing. Instead, there would be several soldiers sleeping in it and a brazer going all night when they weren’t using it for meetings. His tent was off to the side a ways, cozier, and still had a giant unwieldy bed inside. He didn’t understand why they brought a bed along. However, he wasn’t complaining about the small comforts.

Micky was standing inside the tent when the commanders walked in. He had a placid smile on his face and simply waited. The commanders were talking jovially like they didn’t know what was going on, or why they were summoned. Of course, Micky would always make sure that he had a meeting every night so there was nothing new about this one, surely?

“Simmons, care to have a word with me?” Asked Micky.

Simmons stepped forward. He was a 7th son of a 7th son of a 7th son of a baron or something. Micky dooubted that even his own father was aware of what he was doing. Which was good, because Micky was about to do something that they might not have liked if they were even aware of his existence.

Micky placed his hands on the mans shoulders “Simmons, Simmons. What were you doing? I understand you were on patrol in the front, right? How was that?” Micky asked.

“It was good sir, I enjoyed it. We were able to round up some bandits for you and protect the caravan.” Replied Simmons.

“Good, Good, I understand you took command from the cavalry to let you light infantry have a crack at patrol duty?” Asked Micky amiably.

“Ahh, we took a vote sir. It was all friendly and we agreed that the cavalry should not be the only ones to gain merits! We also should have the chance to acquire something.” Said Simmons.

“I see, and who should I attribute this fine job too?” Micky asked.

“Jackob and Bartholomew and...” Simmons continued naming about 15 of Micky’s commanders. He was sure there were others but it didn’t matter, this would be enough considering.

“Guards, come in here.” Micky said.

Simmons tried to pry Micky’s hands off of him incredulously. “What are you doing?” Asked Simmons.

In response, Micky punched him in the throat. He stepped back for the guards to grab him. Had Simmons paid attention he would have noticed that there were many more guards then usual. “Take him away, and take… away aswell.” Said Micky.

“You can’t do this! We are nobles! We have rights! Our family won’t let you imprson us!” Screamed the men.

“Imprison you? No, he is being hanged, and the rest of you will receive lashes for insubordination and then join the levi’s on the first strike. This is not a democracy, this is the army, and I am in charge of when you live and die. You do not command here, you do not have powers, I am the lord you prey to when you want to see another day. Take them away.” Said Micky. He was done with this farce.

“Now onto other business. Let’s take a vote, who here thinks this is a democracy?” Said Micky. Nobody raised their hands, and a few others, Prin and the old timers, looked a bit smug.