-ON THE BACKS OF DRAGONS-
-Breaking the Legion-
The knight was woken from his slumber by his stomach, a growling beast that refused to be tame. Frustrated, yet understanding, the knight sat up in his tent before checking his bruises with the help of a mirror and a candle. The bruises were still there some, but now at least they didn't cover and twist his face to resemble that of a troll. He quickly put on a fresh tunic before standing up, stooped over to avoid hitting his head on the tent roof as he exited.
"Recognize this?"
Like a Terrible Terror caught with a claw in someone's jewel locker, the knight froze in place. Waiting just outside the tent was the Queen escorted by two guardsmen and dragons. The squire was also present, seemingly peeking out from behind the queen, as if expecting the worse to happen.
But that wasn't what made the knight freeze, it was the glass vial held in the queen's hand, still full.
"No Milady, I do not." The knight lied; his tone was even and calm, a skill learned from lying in the past.
"So you don't mind if I do this?" Tiffania asked threatening to pour out the poison onto the grass.
"No wait!"
. . .
He just got himself caught.
The knight panicked and dived back into his tent for his sword, only to watch as the blade, and his honor and nobility, dissolve in the sizzling acid spit by the Queen's Dragon. Defeated and disarmed, the fallen knight gave up and complied as the guardsmen arrested him and led him away.
"What now?" The squire asked, watching his former master disappear.
"He's being sent to a prison facility, where he'll live the rest of his life pulling the weeds in the prison's crop fields." Tiffania explained, "He and the other prisoners will have to learn to manage a good harvest by contributing honest effort. If they refuse to work, then the rest of their lives are going to be miserable and hungry."
"But what about me?" The squire asked again, "Without a knight to serve as Squire for, my journey ends here."
"So I should ask for a refund on my investments on you at a Corps Academy? Transportation, new equipment, and the best education possible, at no cost to you?" The Queen asked, "I was going to send you to the best, the Academy on Berk, Capital of the Corps. They take students of any age as long as they're committed."
The squire fainted before he could summon a reply.
-On the Backs of Dragons-
The fields echoed of the heavy march and clatter of hooves and armor, uniform, unyielding. It was a noise that inspired awe, loyalty, and fear in the hearts of those who heard the rhythm. Only one force in existence was capable of such discipline and power, a force that brought order to lands where none existed, a force that has held strong against any and every foe in open battle.
They were the Imperial Legion, an army without fear or weakness, the end to all barbarian tyrannies and the hand of the Empire. There was no finer example of an army, with each solider armed with finely crafted Pilums (Spears), Gladius (Short swords), Pugios (Daggers), and protected by the finest Scutums (Shields) and armor, one could call the Legion invincible.
And it's true; nothing meant military power more then an impenetrable shield wall slowly advancing across the battlefield.
As the mighty legion came over a rise, they found their sworn enemies waiting on the far side of the field. Soldiers and dragons fighting in the name of the Alphas had set up camp on the edge of another forest, but having heard the march now stood ready for battle.
What was scary about the minutes before the battle was, how quiet it was, neither side attempted to taunt or insult the other, or made a rousing speech to their own troops. The air was silent other then the sound of armor.
Both sides stood on the battle field, staring each other down, preparing for imminent combat. And for a moment, the air was truly silent.
With the blast of a horn, the Legion formed it's wall and began to advance, the Corps held it's position.
Ten paces, nothing.
Fifteen paces and the Corps refused to counter.
Twenty paces and the trap was sprung.
In various sections on the Roman line, the ground gave way underneath the Legion's feet, causing several soldiers to fall through and leave holes in the ground, forcing the legion to go around.
With the Roman formations scattered and uneven the commanding officer for the Corps gave the order to the dragons that promptly took to the sky and attacked from above. Soon the Legion was bombarded from above with lava rocks and all matters of fire that slipped through the cracks in between shield formations. Worse, Corps archers began taking shots at the Legion's front, and several more pit traps and other perils revealed themselves when underfoot.
The ounce mighty and powerful Roman Legion was being attacked, and taking losses from three separate directions, but even so they pushed on. Defeat was not an option. Ounce the enemy was in spear range, the Legion changed formation and threw all their spears at once, only to watch as Elves among the Corps' troops worked together to create a ward that stopped the volley, letting bent or broken spears land harmlessly around them.
Then the other soldiers attacked the Legion, and soon broke what remained of the Romans lines, flanking and separating each Roman soldier. By themselves and in such close quarters, the Romans were quickly overwhelmed by unpredictably randomized warriors.
To the Legion's credit, they never surrendered, and wouldn't stop fighting no matter how obvious they lost. None of them retreated; they all fought to the death.
The Corps lost no lives and any wounded were quickly treated and already recovering. Once again the tactics, weapons, and training that was ever evolving in the Corps trumped that of the once great Empire.
