That night we didn't make a fort, we didn't stop moving either. Our scouts had located Sheo and we were headed for the protection of his fort. We slowed the pace in deference to the men's lack of food and the darkness of the night. Before midnight we were there, Kerral supplied the password and we were taken into the protection of the fort. My fort.
Sheo limped around the desk on his stiff leg and gripped my arm as I gripped his. We were glad to see each other and said so.
“How many?”
“Two full cohorts, starting on a third and up to three hundred there. Plus fifty equestes. Young and untried, Knight's sons, but keen enough.”
I nodded. Good. “Stores? Wait! Get me a drink, we are going to be a couple of hours at this, then sleep, then at it again before dawn. Might as well get comfortable. Who's this?”
“Lebbo, my aide.”
He was young. “Go find my first centurion Kerral and tell him he is in charge of everything until I relieve him.”
The boy hesitated and glanced at his commander. Sheo nodded and the boy left.
“I'll sort out the passing of command in the morning if that is acceptable, sir.”
“It is.” Oh yes. My command. And bigger than Tulian commanded. Ha! Then it occurred to me that I would lose the crossbowmen and the mages and the healers. Well, I would miss them. Especially the healers. And the mages. Damn. I'd ask Tul if I could borrow some. There weren't near enough to go round. Buy spells? I had two stones, that's two healers. I needed twelve. Damn! Money! The colleges were five hundred or more miles away so I wasn't going to get the healers in a hurry. Damn. Command is a pain.
“Where is the nearest town?” I might get lucky.