{Frank Wells}
"Initiate Shield Bearer you are to report to the Veteran Decanus's tent immediately." "Yes Veteran Legionary."
What could he want? I can't hide from him this is his camp and I only know he doesn't want me dead because I have not been killed yet. I get up and walk across the camp to his tent. Above the entrance is a plack with a relief of the man whose picture I swore my oath to. I'm not sure what to do there isn't exactly anywhere to knock. The drapes at the entrance are pulled aside as a Veteran Legionary steps out. I stiffen instinctively. His armour is different to most of the new sets I've seen. It's worn, the copper trim is chipped, he has dog tags hung from his neck his chest plate has dents and a small area appears to have been blown off. The paint on his helmet is faded and bisected by a long scratch most of all the right eye of his goggles is covered by a metal cap.
"You got something to say boy."
His voice is horse and rough like air forcing its way out. I glance down and his fingers look wrong they are burned sunken and wrong. In his right hand his ring and middle finger appear fused together.
"My apologies Veteran Legionary I was summoned." "He will see you now."
The veteran legionary pulls the drape aside and I step in. The inside is not as hot as I expected. At the centre is a table surrounded by chairs behind it a cot with blankets. In one corner stands some sort of suit. I can't see the Veteran Decanus but I'm not risking it. I remember what happened to that initiate who stole the buckle. A week after he was sent back to slavery he broke is leg and they hung him. I'm not touching or getting close to anything in this tent.
"You are smart boy."
A hand grips my shoulder.
"Stronger men than you have given in and snooped around." "My apologies Veteran Decanus." "No don't apologise boy anyone would be curious about that. It's a suit of 'power armour' I claimed it from a 'knight' of the brotherhood of steel after 3 of my men got him out of the dam thing by stabbing its power core. It was quite the prize. I was young and I thought that maybe we could use it to our advantage. Not the case you see what the brotherhood doesn't want anyone to know is that maintenance on these things is both expensive and requires a specialised industrial base. No these things are much to impractical to use. When the cult Vulcan formed I let them strip it of its components and then weld the armour and frame solid. It is now a very heavy and impractical paperweight."
He strides past me and sits at his table.
"You are Initiate Shield Bearer Frank Wells?" "Yes Veteran Decanus." "You were the only person in your Columberia to pass the trials to become a Recruit?" "Yes Veteran Decanus." "You captured 5 slaves in your first raid and a profligate in your first patrol?" "Yes Veteran Decanus." "Most satisfactory."
He pauses reading several slates. Then reaches under the table and places the fire sword I claimed on the table.
"This is yours?" "It is a trophy I claimed on my first raid, veteran Decanus. It belongs to the legion." "Yet you claim it?" "I do Veteran Decanus." "Good."
He stands and walks close to me. His breath smells of fish, blood and age. Up close his eyebrows are greying and soft wrinkles fold his face. He holds the fire sword out to me.
"Take it boy."
I reach out and grip its handle. He smiles his cracked teeth turning it into a leer.
"I curse you with this weapon Initiate. I place a target on you and by this gift I mark you as my favoured. Even the Prime Legionaries in this camp will now see you as a rival but you will not disappoint me. You will prove your strength of will and you will finish this training, you will prove it is viable and you will become the Prime Decanus Shield Bearer which will be the highest rank in this division understand me?" "Yes Veteran Decanus."
He leans in his smile growing.
"Good luck. I just made your living hell worse."
With that he waves me out.
As we form up on the parade ground I can feel the eyes on my fire sword and several of the Prime Legionaries watching mutter to each other. Finally everyone's attention is taken by the instructors and the crash of shields crashing to the floor.
"These are your new shields. Now pick them up!"
A trick or a double bluff. Someone steps forward approaches the pile and drops his shield to grab another. A rock the side of a rock slams into his body and he stumbles, another strikes him and another. The prime legionaries continue to pelt him as he crawls toward the pile and throws himself onto a shield. He climbs to his feet keeping his foot on the shield then leans down and grips the strap before removing his foot and lifting it onto his arm. He finally limps back to formation. They are going to torture us no matter what. I step out of formation and make my way to the pile. I reach the pile and keep a firm grip on my shield and crouch. The shields are splayed out and the handle of my shield is high it leans as I crouch. I would have placed it face down but no I need them to see that I am willing to do this placing it down would be weak. I grip the edge of a shield and lift. I shuffle it up my body as it pinches and bites my skin, finally it is stood up and I get my arm into the strap and let my old one fall. I lock eyes with the lead instructor.
"These rocks will be replacing our sticks they have more weight and you must learn to defend against projectiles."
With that rocks fly at me. I crouch behind my shield. They pummel my shield and the constant impacts jar my shoulder finally it dies down. I don't trust it I'm not revealing myself.
"Good. The enemy will likely stop firing to trick you into revealing yourself so they may shoot you. Initiate return to your columbarium."
I walk back and form up. The prime legionaries walk to where the instructors are stood and prepare.
"One by one you will advance in formation and retrieve shields for your columbarium begin."
The first Columbarium drop behind their shields and begin to shuffle forward. They seem to have overlapped their shields but by the grunts of pain rocks are getting through. As they get closer the prime legionaries begin to target their heads and soon they have formed the tilted formation and continue to creep forward finally they drag the shields into formation and creep away.
"To slow by the time you have arrived your enemy would have targeted the middle of the shields and slaughtered you."
Each columbarium goes one by on and collects their shields the instructors shouting the failings each time. Finally it is our turn. I turn to my columbarium.
"We need to be fast. Don't crouch just keep together and jog." "Shut up fire boy."
His laughter fades as my fist hits his face. I pull out my sword and press it to his face fingering the trigger.
"I claimed this in my first raid. I tore it from the grasp of a warrior who had struck down 2 of us. I left my machete buried in a man that day and took 5 slaves if you want to challenge me then you should stop sniffing at night and embrace the legion life like a legionary not a sniffing profligate."
His eyes are defiant but I can see the tears he is fighting to suppress.
"ANYONE ELSE GOT A COMMENT. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE A BETTER SUGGESTION SPEAK UP!"
Everyone looks away. I grasp his hand and haul him to his feet. As we form up I look to my right and left.
"Attack the Prime legionaries when we reach them. You two get the shields while we attack. GO."
We burst into a run confusing the prime legionaries who hesitate for a second before beginning throwing but that is what we needed the second of free movement was immensely useful. And our momentum carries us through the bombardment. They clearly expected us to stop at the shields but didn't expect me to launch myself at the closest prime legionary and bear him to the ground with fist and shield. In an instant it is an all out brawl. My fist falls again and again on one prime legionary as another presses down on my shield driving it into my shoulder. Suddenly the weight vanishes as the man I stuck minutes ago barges him off my shield. Someone begins to sing.
"In the heat of the desert sun."
We join in as we fight.
"WE MARCH WITH IRON WILL. HAIL TO KAISER MAY HE GRANT US FAVOUR FOR WE MARCH IN HIS NAME OR NEVER MARCH AGAIN. HAIL TO KAISER MAY HE WIN OUR LIVES MEAN NOTHING EXCEPT TO HIM."
The prime legionary throws me off and kicks my shield out my hand. He begins pounding me into the ground but I continue the song.
"HEAR OUR MARCH, HEAR OUR CRY, FOR THE SONG OF THE LEGION MAKES OUR BANNERS FLY. IN HIS NAME WE MARCH, FIGHT AND DIE. SO TO HIM WE OWE OUR LIVES."
A veteran legionary grabs the prime legionary by the throat and hurls him off me. I look around and see that veteran's are beating us apart one kicks me in the stomach and crouches over me. I recognise the voice of the Veteran Legionary I met outside Veteran Decanus Lentros's tent.
"You are either brave or a fool." "I am both Veteran Legionary." "Well it worked you got the shields."
A prime legionary storms over and grabs my shoulder driving his fist into my stomach.
"Beware prime legionary he has fought you once he will do it again."
The chainmail that hung over his mouth is hanging of the left side of his helmet his goggles are ascue, blood trickles from his broken nose. His teeth chatter with rage as he tears his helmet off and slams it into my chest.
"Well done Initiate."
His eyes are practically burning with rage.
"Seeing as the Veteran Decanus sees fit to curse you with gifts I shall do the same. You overpowered us and as much as I hate it your shields made it hard to retaliate. Therefore I shall curse you with a gift of my own. This helmet is fresh from the forges of Urbs Ignis it shall protect you from the abuse it will bring upon you."
I take it as he salutes then walks off.
I slowly examine it and place it on my head. I pull my sword from my belt and pull the trigger causing it to burst into flames. I look up as my columbarium stares at me. I point its tip into the air.
"BLESSED BE THE LEGION!"