A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor-Chapter 968 - The Advance Force - Part 8
968: The Advance Force – Part 8
968: The Advance Force – Part 8
“But, my Lady… Your position, your achievements… You ought to be far more than just here,” the Colonel said, thoroughly baffled.
“There are men that would wish for your leadership.
There are positions of importance that can be filled.
When you fight, it should be your name that people speak of, my Lady.
You should be under no man.”
“My mind is firm, Colonel, I will not be swayed,” Lasha replied with stubbornness.
“In time, perhaps I will do as you say, but for now, I can think of no better place for my growth than under Ser Patrick.”
Against such stalwart resistance, there was nothing that the Colonel could do.
He glowered at Oliver, but was forced to accept the defeat.
“Very well,” he said gruffly.
“Captain Patrick.
I restate what has already been said.
Follow my orders to the letter.
You are a soldier in my force now, do not forget that fact.”
“You needn’t worry, Colonel,” Oliver said with a small smile.
“I will be listening most attentively.”
The man didn’t seem too pleased by that, but there was nothing he could say.
He was surrounded by too many prominent figures for him to throw his weight around like he had with some of the other men.
“Eat,” he said finally.
“We will move shortly.” Then, he strode away, to take his irritation out on other men.
“He seems a friendly fellow,” Oliver commented dryly.
“Does he?
I think he’s quite serious,” Lasha responded, apparently missing the joke.
“That was my point,” Oliver replied.
“You still haven’t woken up?”
She stretched her arms up into the air, and heaved a big yawn, shaking her head.
“I want to go back to sleep.”
“A sentiment that I share, my Lady,” Amelia said, struggling to hide her own yawn.
“We barely had a handful of hours.
How are the soldiers meant to fight on this?”
“They’ll manage,” Oliver said.
“If anything, a modicum of tiredness will assist their performance.
If the mind is too eager with energy, all sorts of anxieties and thoughts start to creep in.
If a man doesn’t have the enemy to feel fear as strongly, he’ll probably perform a fraction better for it.”
As he spoke, their man began to return with rations for their breakfast.
Dried fruit, dried meat, some bread and some nuts.
It wasn’t the most hearty of meals, but Oliver ate it gratefully regardless.
“Some fruit tea,” he said.
“Then this would be a perfect meal.”
“You’re still very much in love with your fruit teas,” Amelia said.
“I’m surprised.
I would have thought you would have been embarrassed enough to stop by now.”
“Why should I be embarrassed that I enjoy sweetness?” Oliver said, holding her gaze.
The girl looked away, reddening ever so slightly.
“I don’t know… It’s a girl’s drink.”
“Then women have good tastes,” Oliver replied.
“What say you, Verdant?” He said to his retainer, as he searched through a box of supplies that he’d dragged back.
“I’d say that I’m contented to hear you’re in good spirits,” Verdant replied.
“If fruit tea would improve that, then I would move heaven and earth to find some.
Perhaps it will be worth asking Lombard when we see him.”
“Where is Lombard, anyway?” Oliver said.
His own tiredness was beginning to stretch away a bit as he filled his stomach with food.
“Under another Colonel, it seems,” Verdant replied.
Oliver nodded.
He should have figured that Verdant had already looked through the entire wood by now, and ascertained the state of their troops.
“I suppose that’s for the best,” Oliver said.
“Why do you say that?” Lasha asked.
“I thought you got along well.”
“That is exactly the reason.
When I ask Lombard what state his Colonel and his men are in, he will be able to give me a reply that I can trust in,” Oliver replied.
“So stretches my Lord’s reach,” Verdant said, finding whatever he was searching for in his box.
“Tea leaves,” he said, holding the tin aloft.
“Black tea I’m afraid.
Would anyone care for some? fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Yorick?”
“Hm?
Oh, I couldn’t possibly…” the Commander started to say, but it was quite clear that his eyes were glued to the tin.
“The perfect thing to wake you up, it is,” Verdant said.
“Remarkable, really.
If you were to take it before bed, you’d be up for hours.
I can hardly do without it.”
“If you’re selling it that strongly, I think I should have some,” Oliver said, “though I’m not particularly a fan of its bitterness.”
“I’ll have some too,” Lasha said.
“Anything to get rid of this tiredness.”
“I’ll have some as well, Lord Idris, if you’re allowing it,” Kaya said, lured in by the conversation of tea.
“But of course.
You are in a position of responsibility, young Kaya.
As a retainer of our Lord, you ought to be performing at your best,” Lord Idris said.
“Jorah, Karesh, can I do you some as well?”
“Thank you for your generosity, Lord Idris,” Jorah said, dipping his head.
“Now, Yorick?
Everyone else is partaking?” Verdant said.
“V-very well,” Yorick said.
He seemed very much to want to refuse, but Verdant seemed to be seeing through him.
He pressed forward with a forcefulness that was hard to pin down, and in the end, Yorick was forced to relent.
They weren’t allowed fires, but the officers had their own means of heating their kettles.
Verdant had already set a large kettle above a brazer, and he’d had it steaming away above a tiny coal.
It had caught ember that instant Verdant had struck it with his flint and steel – it seemed to be some sort of alchemical product, coated to make it easy to light, but then it sat like an ember without burning, merely glowing its heat.
As the Colonel marched round kicking whoever he could, urging them on their way, Verdant spread out his teacups to all that would willingly receive them, and gently told them that they had likely best drink quickly.
It was not five minutes later that the clang of metal rang out again, and the men were ordered to begin moving.
