Recruited Mage Page 9

  At that the engineer turned towards a path and started walking at a brisk pace down it. We followed behind him as quickly as we could, almost jogging to keep up with him.

  As I followed everyone down the path I turned to see two more groups arriving at where we had just been. One at the bottom of the hill and one at the top.

  We walked out of the woods and down toward the compound that spread out in front of us and followed the Engineer to an open door. Through the door was a long corridor with another door at the far end, which was also open to the outside. All along the corridor were openings, out of which came the smells of cooking meat and herbs that made my stomach churn with hunger.

  The Engineer walked forward along the corridor to an opening about half way along and he was passed a steaming bowl of what looked like potato soup, which he blissfully smelled. Presuming that the engineer meant us to do the same we walked up to the opening but the Engineer instead stepped in front of us and told us to go to the end one instead. We obeyed and walked over expecting to be passed a bowl of warm soup as well but to our shock we were given an apple instead.

  I took mine with doubt. Surely not just this? Just an apple? I frowned and I looked over the apple and saw that it was covered in bruises. We were lead outside to eat.

  I bit into it and found that it was wet and soft and not at all a nice apple. I was still very hungry however and bit into the soggy and tasteless apple. I quickly finished the apple leaving only the core, which was brown, and I dared not eat it.

  The other boys had not eaten the cores like me and we stood awkwardly with the cores in our hands and a cold breeze seeming to strait through our leather tunics and our shirts.

  The Engineer who had been standing inside, away from the wind ,now put his bowl onto a pile of dirty bowls by the door and addressed us.

  “Now I hope you all had a satisfying meal,” he said.

  I clenched my jaw and crossed my arms. I bet you did.

  “I certainly did. I am to explain to you how the food system works here; in the morning you do training and before midday you get a small meal.”

  I don’t quit think an apple is a meal, even a small one.

  “Then at the end of the day you will be given another meal so you can’t complain of ever being hungry. You have your first combat training now so follow me again.”

  We followed him along another path that ran around the far side of the far side of the compound. The path was well worn and led away towards the military camp. Once again on the surrounding hills I saw hundreds of boys like us in our uniforms.

  The path joined to the road that we had come along when we first arrived and we followed the Engineer along it.

  All the carts along the road had the emblem of the Emperor on them and had soldiers driving them.

  The land on either side of the road between the compound and the army’s camp was open and spotted around it were groups of men doing various training exercises.

  We passed over the crest of the hill towards the camp but we stopped before we reached it and we walked into the middle of the flat lands. We gathered around the Engineer and he gave his instructions.

  “`This will be your first introduction to fighting. This will be very light to start off with but it will very quickly get harder and more real,” he said loudly. “Pick a partner to fight then we will begin the first exercise.”

  We quickly looked around for a partner. Donal came over to me and I agreed to be his partner. Once we were all paired up the engineer continued to explain the drill.

  “For your very first exercise you will lie next to each other until I say go. The first person to pin the other person down wins. Start when I say ‘Go’.” We quickly lay down next to each other and tensed in readiness. “Ready! Go!”

  10 Training exersices

  Donal and I both instantly tried to sit up and dive on one another, each of us struggling for the upper hand. Donal had risen quicker than me and he was able to push me backward onto me back. I struggled but I could not get up, Donal held me down whilst he got up onto his knees then onto his feet where he had to hold me down with his feet. He was momentarily distracted and I quickly pushed off his foot before grabbing his legs and using what momentum I could from the ground I pushed him over.

  Unable to balance himself, Donal fell to the ground and I dived onto him from my knees. I held him down and he shook around but he could not dislodge me. The Engineer said to stop and I smiled at Donal but did not get off him for a few seconds, which annoyed him greatly.

  “Now, for the next exercise!” the Engineer called out and we turned our attention to him. “You will now start on your knees facing your partner. The same applies as last time; whoever pins their partner to the ground wins. Start when you are ready.”

  I kneeled next to Donal who was already in position. He was tensing and had clenched his hands into fists by his sides.

  I said “Go” and we dived at each other. Donal smashed into me, sending me sprawling backwards to hit the ground behind me with a thud and before I could dive out of the way Donal was on top of me, pressing me down. He pinned my arms to my sides and put his knees on my stomach.

  When the Engineer said to stop Donal jumped to his feet, he had a large grin on his face and he nudged me with his elbow as I stood up.

  “What does it feel like to lose?” he said.

  What? I did not gloat when I won. What is he talking about? It is no big thing. To my great annoyance Donal looked like he was going to continue gloating but the engineer called out the next exercise.

  “This time you will be standing up” said the Engineer and I winced.

  Proper fighting now.

  “However, you will start back to back.”

  Donal and I got into position. I had no time to think through what I should do as the Engineer called for us to start almost immediately.

  I was caught off guard and Donal had already turned by the time I had turned only half. He ducked to my waist height and wrapped his arms around my legs, and then he pushed as hard as he could and I was on the floor just as I had finished turning around.

  Donal was once again on top of me, which was the best advantage but, because I had turned around, I was facing him and I managed to trap his hands in mine so he could not fully pin him down. Donal felt exceptionally strong however, and he easily forced my hands down below my waist and I was powerless again. This time Donal pressed his knees harder into my ribs and it stopped me breathing n in deep breaths. I struggled for air but he just dug his knees deeper into my stomach and my breath was constricted more. I gasped for breath and struggled but Donal just brought his face up to mine and looked me in the face. Suddenly he let go and jumped to his feet and I laid there gasping for air. I stood up as well when I saw that everyone else had stopped also.

  Over the hill there were about one hundred boys marching in precise rows. When they were in line with us the group turned in a curve and headed towards us. All we could do is stand still, gaping in awe at their precision. When they were a few metres away an Engineer called the entire line to a stop.

  Every one of the boys now stood with their legs firmly placed shoulders width apart. I saw that each of the boys also had a small bag on their back exactly like the ones that we were given with our uniform.

  Two of the Engineers who were at the front of the column walked forward. One of them was carrying a strange object; it was a wooden handle with a thirty centimetre metal tube on the top with a few other bits of metal pointing out the back.

  It’s just like the thing I saw on Commander Ormond’s belt the very first time I saw him.

  “Now, you are the new recruits to Junior Assault Group Three Hundred and Seventy Two, which is now a complete one hundred and fifty strong,” he said addressing us. “So you will not know about most things. Especially this.” The Engineer held up the metal thing in front of him. “This is called a fireshot. It uses fireshot powder to fire a small shot about one hundred metres. The best thing
about it however is that it makes a very loud noise like the Bombardiers you will see tomorrow. It is very good for scaring horses but it takes about five minutes to load and anyway, none of you will be using them. We are going to do a training exercise and all I will be using this for is to start you off.” He then turned to the boys behind him. “Bring their bags forward.” At his command about fifteen boys came forward to with two of the small bags each and they gave one each to all thirty of us.

  I stepped forward and took up a bag, which felt light in my hand. As I stepped back I took a quick look in the bag and saw that it contained the same as my own bag had; a needle and thread, a knife and lots of the strong string.

  The rest of us took bags as well and soon we all had one. Then the Engineer walked down the column of boys, picking boys as he went until he had thirty boys with him. Next the Engineer talked to those boys, who were glaring at us, in a hushed voice that I could not hear. The boys then walked over and one boy went to each of us. I looked to see which one of them would chose me to go with and a tall and skinny boy walked over. He nodded to me as he approached and he shook the hand I outstretched to him in greeting.

  “My name is Detarian and I will be your mentor for the next few weeks until we go on the invasion.” He said.

  “I’m Samuel Morrin.” I replied looking up at his brown eyes as he stood over me a good head-and-a-half taller.

  “Well, good luck Samuel, I hope that I can teach you well. We have been in training for two months. You lot arriving was a shock to us this close to the invasion, how can you be ready in time?”

  “Ok everyone,” called out the Engineer to everyone, interrupting our conversation. “The cavalry have arrived.” He pointed to our left towards the army camp and I followed his gaze too where a huge line of, I would say, two hundred men on horseback.

  What kind of training is this? What do the cavalry have to do with this? As I watched the rider on the far left of the line raised a red flag.

  “There is our signal that they are ready. Now remember all of you,” he said raising his voice. “These men are trained to scout ahead of the army and capture any prisoners they can for questioning. They think they are better than you but you will be ready for them. You have been authorised to do anything short of breaking bones and so have they, also you will surprise them because as there are boxes filled with crossbows with bolts tipped with wood so as not to maim, just to cause a lot of pain. Also in the boxes you will find shields and clubs. If you do not get captured for half an hour you win. Those of you who are captured will very likely receive a beating from them as they have been told to treat you like enemies.”

  I tensed as he said those words. We are being chased by them? This is mad! I can’t outpace horses for half an hour!

  “My advice is to set some of the trips early so they slow down. The moment I fire the fire shot, run for the woods; I will five minutes before I fire it again and the cavalry will start.” The Engineer raised the fire shot above his head and pulled a small lever at the bottom.

  I did not think there was going to be such a loud bang and jumped backwards in shock and slipped to my knees. What is that thing? Amazing! It is like a mini crossbow powered by fireshot powder! Detarian ran over to me and grabbed my tunic, pulling me to my feet.

  “Run!” he yelled and started pulling me towards the trees. I dragged along behind him until I had pulled my bag on to my back then I ran alongside, still however not as fast as him. “Faster!” Detarian yelled even more agitated. Detarian was very fast but I had been told to run many times with messages and I just kept up with him.

  All around us the other boys were almost at the tree line except for those who were dragging boys they had been charged with looking after. The tree line was barely a hundred metres away when I saw a head of us a wide ditch filled with water.

  “See that ditch?” Detarian yelled and put on a burst of speed. “Jump it!” He yelled and I looked at him to see if he was joking but his face was straight and showed no emotion. When we came only metres away from the ditch I started to slow down. “No! You have to jump it there is no time!"

  I heeded his advice and gave a burst of speed just in time and leaped off one bank. I landed just short of the far bank and slipped in the mud. I pulled myself up and sprinted after Detarian who had landed cleanly and was already metres away. Detarian was fast and I would have been left far behind if he had not slowed down for me. When I caught up with him I saw he was scowling. I looked away as I knew all I was a burden to him.

  All around us were other boys, most of whom were new boys like me following after their mentors.

  I looked back as we reached the tree line and saw the riders had now reached where the Engineer was standing were silently waiting, their horses pawing at the ground.

  We kept running into the trees, still running as fast as we could. Up ahead of us I saw everyone start to form a line facing us. As everyone reached them, they joined the line and were handed crossbows and quivers. The line grew longer and I was sure that all one hundred and fifty of us were to join the line.

  Suddenly Detarian stopped and pulled his bag of his back. I stopped beside him and saw that everyone level with us was doing the same.

  “Get out the string!” said Detarian and I complied and took my bag off my back. Then I pulled out the string and returned the bag to my back. “Now tie it tightly between trees.” I hesitated.

  Tie it between the trees?

  “Now! To trip the horses,’ he explained quickly.

  I understood and tied the string as tightly as I could between two pines, just above my waist height. I looked to Detarian who was just finishing tying his and he scowled at me.

  Before he could say anything a few hundred metres away I heard the loud bang of a fireshot. Here they come!

  “Run!” Detarian yelled and I turned towards the line of boys fifty metres away which now consisted of every boy except for the twenty or so who had just finished tying the strings and were running, like us towards the line. Behind us a huge thundering noise began. As we got closer the line condensed until it was two boys deep. I was once against awed by their precision as the front row dropped down onto one knee. The result was that both rows could fire at the same time.

  As we reached the line the boys parted and I followed Detarian through behind the line where there were large wooden boxes which were all now empty of crossbows, apart from one which had a few more crossbows and quivers left. There were also clubs and shields as the man had said, but a few other boys who were laying them ready behind the lines were taking them. Detarian took two crossbows and two quivers of bolts, shoving one of each into my arms.

  As I wound the crossbow back the thundering increased to a roar and I just joined the front row of the line and got down on my knees as all two hundred riders galloped into the woods. I slotted a bolt in to place and, raising the crossbow to my shoulder aimed down it. Somewhere along the line a boy was shouting “hold!” and we did not fire. The horses thundered nearer and nearer but the boy shouted “hold!” again.

  The riders began to shout a large war cry that echoed over the thundering hooves that did not falter as they galloped terrifyingly towards us. My blood started to become audible as it rushed through my head. I felt sweat on my hands and I was about to wipe it away when the boy who had shouted “hold!” then gave the command to fire.

  All one hundred and fifty of us fired our bolts almost in unison toward the charging men. The bolts flew out and struck man and horse. The horses stumbled and fell and men yelled. The horses at the front, which were hit, buckled and fell to the ground, their riders thrown from their saddles onto the ground. The riders behind tripped over the fallen ones and fell to the ground as well. I had no time to look however as I reloaded as fast as I could.

  The riders pulled back and regrouped for another charge. Reloading seemed excruciatingly slow as the riders lined up. Finally, I slotted a bolt in to place and raised my crossbow back to my shoulder.


  The riders began their charge from just over one hundred metres away. I knew that the two hundred riders outnumbered us and we had lost the element of surprise of standing and fighting with crossbows, rather than running and hiding.

  The riders were angry now and drew out clubs, which they held out in front of them. A boy was running along behind our lines.

  “Hold your fire until they reach the trips,” he shouted and I guessed he meant the string trip wires. “They will dismount when their horses trip and probably charge us! Wait until they are close and then we will get them.” I nodded, seeing his reasoning and lowered my crossbow to my knee.

  The horses hit the wires and were tripped over. Nearly every horse was tripped and each one who did fell head-over-heels, flinging their riders off. A few boys started firing into the mass of fallen horses and men, causing confusion and panic amongst the men. The riders were well trained however and joined into a line before we could do anything about it and charged towards our lines.

  I took aim at a large man who I presumed was, by the lighter coloured uniform he was wearing, the Commander. The man was running at full pelt towards the middle of our lines when my bolt hit him in the shoulder. It stopped him dead and spun him around. The man fell to his knees where another then hit his back two bolts. The man yelled in pain and fell forward off his knees onto his front where he just lay. I felt slightly sorry for him before I remembered that they were to capture us.

  The charging men were getting closer but we could barely miss at that range and each shot was taking a man down. When the men had almost reached the lines the rest of the front row started running backwards and I ducked through the second row to follow. I looked to each side and saw that a group of about fifty riders had broken away from the main group unnoticed and was now riding around towards the flanks of our lines where no one was watching. I called out a warning to anyone near the rider and to my surprise they acted instantly by forming another line of boys with loaded crossbows now facing the flanking riders. The new line fired at the charging riders and was joined by more and more boys as they finished reloading their crossbows.