The Legions Free Corps
That same afternoon, when light had nearly gone, the Legions Free Corps rode into Arborlorn. The people of the city stopped whatever they were doing to watch them. There was no mistaking the Free Corps. Rand Ellessidil sat trapped in the manor with his father and the Druid, trying to familiarize themselves with the westland map. A knock on the door brought the Kings servant Gael in.
" My Lord, a calvalry command of the Border Legion have arrived." The young aid announced, appearing abrubtly at the study door." They should be here in a few minutes."
" The Legion!" A smile flew across his face and the King rose to his feet moving towards the door.
" Elven King!" Allanons deep voice brought Alastor about sharply. " We have important work to do here. Send your son to go in your place if only to give your welcome." Rand stared at Allanon in suprise and eagerly turned to his father. The King hesitated, seeing the look in his eyes and nodded.
" Ok, Rand. extend my compliements to them and make sure qaurters are provided for our much welcomed guest." A smile sent his son running through the manor, glad to have a mission of importance for once. Rand passed through the front gates in front of the manor. He recognized the riders. Long gray cloaks bordered in crimson billowed from their shoulders and wide brimmed hats with a single crimson feather set cocked upon their heads. Long bows and bradswords were strapped across their backs. Each rider held a lance from which fluttered a small crimson and gray pennant, and the horses wore light armor of leather with metal fastenings.
" The Free Corps." Rand muttered to himself. " They sent us the Free Corps!"
Their were few who had not heard of the Free Corps. It got its name from the promise it gave to those that joimed its ranks , that soldiers might leave behind without fear or question or need for explanation all that had happened before in their life. For most, their was much to be left. THey came from different lands with different histories and different lives, but all came for a similar reason. Their were theives among them, killers and cheats, soldiers broken from other armies, men of low blood and high, men with honor and men without, some searching, some fleeing, some drifting but all seeking to forget what they were, what they had been, they came to start a new life. The Free Corps gave them that chance. No soldier of the Free Corps was ever asked about his past, his life began the day he joined, new name and all. What had come before him was finished, only the present mattered and what the man might make of himself for the time that he served. For most, the time was short. The Free Corps were considered expendable. There was a price for everything and this price was not so unreasonable. If anything it was a source of pride for the soldiers who paid it, an identity that set them apart from any other fighting man in the Four Lands. It was a tradition of the Free Corps that its soldiers shoulf die in battle. It was not imortant that they should die but that they should die well.
The Legion command halted in front of the sturdy, iron gates. A tall, gray cloaked rider dismounted. Catching sight of Rand he passes his reigns of his horse to another and strode towards the Elven Prince.
" I am Lan Mandragoran, Commander of the Legions Free Corps." For an instant Rand was to shocked by the others appearance to speak. He was a big man, towaring over the Elven Prince. His weathered, yet still youthful face was criscrossed with dozens of scars, some of which ran through the light red beard that shaded his jaw, leaving streaks of white. A tangle of rust, colored hair fell to his shoulders, braided and tied. Parts of one ear was missing and the other was home to a golden ring. Hazel eyes fixed the Elven Prince, so hard they seemed chizled from stone. Rand found himself staring and quickly recovered.
" I am Rand Ellessidil. Alastor is my father, he extends his compliments and to see you are quartered. How soon can we expect other comrades?" A faint smile crossed the mans hard face.
" Their are no other commands. Just the six hundred you see before you."
" Six hundred!" Rand failed to hide his dismay. " What of the Border Legion?"
" My Lord, I will be direct with you. They may never come. They think your problem with demons are some what of a westland myth!"
" A myth!" Rand was apalled. " Well! I guess we should be glad we got the Free Corps. Now let me see you to your qaurters." Stee Jans shook his hand.
" No qaurters are necessary. I sleep with my soldiers, Elven Prince. The Elven army marches in the mourning, I am told." Rand nodded.
" Then we will march with them. We need only the rest of tonight. Please tell the King this."
" I will!" Rand promised. The legions Commander saluted and turned back to his horse. Rand stared after him with admiration and disbelief. Six hundred soldiers. Thinking of thousands of demons that would come against them, he found himself what possible difference six hundred southlanders would make!
That same afternoon, when light had nearly gone, the Legions Free Corps rode into Arborlorn. The people of the city stopped whatever they were doing to watch them. There was no mistaking the Free Corps. Rand Ellessidil sat trapped in the manor with his father and the Druid, trying to familiarize themselves with the westland map. A knock on the door brought the Kings servant Gael in.
" My Lord, a calvalry command of the Border Legion have arrived." The young aid announced, appearing abrubtly at the study door." They should be here in a few minutes."
" The Legion!" A smile flew across his face and the King rose to his feet moving towards the door.
" Elven King!" Allanons deep voice brought Alastor about sharply. " We have important work to do here. Send your son to go in your place if only to give your welcome." Rand stared at Allanon in suprise and eagerly turned to his father. The King hesitated, seeing the look in his eyes and nodded.
" Ok, Rand. extend my compliements to them and make sure qaurters are provided for our much welcomed guest." A smile sent his son running through the manor, glad to have a mission of importance for once. Rand passed through the front gates in front of the manor. He recognized the riders. Long gray cloaks bordered in crimson billowed from their shoulders and wide brimmed hats with a single crimson feather set cocked upon their heads. Long bows and bradswords were strapped across their backs. Each rider held a lance from which fluttered a small crimson and gray pennant, and the horses wore light armor of leather with metal fastenings.
" The Free Corps." Rand muttered to himself. " They sent us the Free Corps!"
Their were few who had not heard of the Free Corps. It got its name from the promise it gave to those that joimed its ranks , that soldiers might leave behind without fear or question or need for explanation all that had happened before in their life. For most, their was much to be left. THey came from different lands with different histories and different lives, but all came for a similar reason. Their were theives among them, killers and cheats, soldiers broken from other armies, men of low blood and high, men with honor and men without, some searching, some fleeing, some drifting but all seeking to forget what they were, what they had been, they came to start a new life. The Free Corps gave them that chance. No soldier of the Free Corps was ever asked about his past, his life began the day he joined, new name and all. What had come before him was finished, only the present mattered and what the man might make of himself for the time that he served. For most, the time was short. The Free Corps were considered expendable. There was a price for everything and this price was not so unreasonable. If anything it was a source of pride for the soldiers who paid it, an identity that set them apart from any other fighting man in the Four Lands. It was a tradition of the Free Corps that its soldiers shoulf die in battle. It was not imortant that they should die but that they should die well.
The Legion command halted in front of the sturdy, iron gates. A tall, gray cloaked rider dismounted. Catching sight of Rand he passes his reigns of his horse to another and strode towards the Elven Prince.
" I am Lan Mandragoran, Commander of the Legions Free Corps." For an instant Rand was to shocked by the others appearance to speak. He was a big man, towaring over the Elven Prince. His weathered, yet still youthful face was criscrossed with dozens of scars, some of which ran through the light red beard that shaded his jaw, leaving streaks of white. A tangle of rust, colored hair fell to his shoulders, braided and tied. Parts of one ear was missing and the other was home to a golden ring. Hazel eyes fixed the Elven Prince, so hard they seemed chizled from stone. Rand found himself staring and quickly recovered.
" I am Rand Ellessidil. Alastor is my father, he extends his compliments and to see you are quartered. How soon can we expect other comrades?" A faint smile crossed the mans hard face.
" Their are no other commands. Just the six hundred you see before you."
" Six hundred!" Rand failed to hide his dismay. " What of the Border Legion?"
" My Lord, I will be direct with you. They may never come. They think your problem with demons are some what of a westland myth!"
" A myth!" Rand was apalled. " Well! I guess we should be glad we got the Free Corps. Now let me see you to your qaurters." Stee Jans shook his hand.
" No qaurters are necessary. I sleep with my soldiers, Elven Prince. The Elven army marches in the mourning, I am told." Rand nodded.
" Then we will march with them. We need only the rest of tonight. Please tell the King this."
" I will!" Rand promised. The legions Commander saluted and turned back to his horse. Rand stared after him with admiration and disbelief. Six hundred soldiers. Thinking of thousands of demons that would come against them, he found himself what possible difference six hundred southlanders would make!