Note: Sorry it's not the best but it will do. Thanks for the reviews they really help motivate more writting.

At Hadrian's Wall

Liam settled into his new quarters. They were small but at least they were his own. He had spent the entire day following Arthur around as he inspected the place. At the great hall, Arthur was distressed that there was no furniture in it. When the squire, Jols, said he would find what ever he pleased. Arthur ordered a round table. Jols looked at Arthur oddly, why a round table was probably flittering through his mind.

They walked from room to room; inspecting each space and the furniture. After that they inspected the walls and the small Roman guard that resided there as watchman. All the while, the villagers watched the knights inspect the fort, it was an odd site to them for they had never seen knights before, it had always been Roman soldiers that held this fort, and they had no love for the Roman devils that came and ate their crops, drank their ale, and took their women. At the sign of the knights the villagers were confused; who were these knights and were they going to be protectors or takers like to Romans.

After the bodies of the fallen knights were gathered, and the commander thought he had enough answers for the moment; the knights mounted their horses and headed back towards the fort. Kida watched the knights with interest through the journey; at first wary of another attack, but, as they grew closer to the fort, they loosened up and began to joke around with each other like boys out having fun.

About halfway to the fort they met up with eight other knights. The knights got along like brothers, which was no surprise for when men fight together it is only natural to form some sort of fellowship bond with each other; at least that's what Kida had been told through out the whole of her training. She didn't believe battle was the reason the men formed friendships, she thought it was human nature for it is the morals curse to yearn for companionship and that's why they made friends, although killing men side by side didn't hurt the bonding factor.

Kida did not try to bond with her fellow knights, life was too uncertain to trust just anyone. All her life, her and people never got along well; when not being hassled by her mother the villagers did their best to. During training, she was always harassed about her size, but not so much as time went on, but still people didn't like her. People in general were a species best left alone, if only things were so easy as to just leave it all behind. No matter where she went, there would always be people there to hate her and visa versa. But it was not only her bad experience with people that made her so bitter about them; the fact that they held her life in their hands was another uncertainty that she did not like. If her commander were to find out she was a girl, for instance, she would be killed on the spot and no remorse would be shown, not a single moment of hesitation, for she was a lowly woman that tried to be that which she was not. That was what she hated most about her position. It was not her life to live, and no matter what she tried to do she would always be trapped under the mercy of people.

Lysander watched his new knight as they rode to the fort. The lad was very quite and tended to keep to himself most of the time. Compared to his other men, the boy was a deaf, dumb, mute. It was odd that a lad should be silent, he had received boys into his service before and never had one of them been as silent as a grave. At first it would be understandable to be silent, because of fear of a new place, but this lad was not afraid, in fact he was more daring than most knights he had ever met which presented such a mystery to him. A silent boy afraid of nothing like a solitary wolf on a hunt gave the commander much to think about. He loved a good mystery and he had a feeling that his new charge would present him with the greatest mystery of all.

Liam and Dagonet sat at a table in the local pub, drinking their ale in a companionable silence. Galahad and Gawain were having knife throwing contests with some of the Roman guard while Lancelot played dice with the guard commander. Bors was busy in the corner drinking and wooing a young barmaid. The barmaid took no attention to Bors which confused him for what woman could resist his manly charms. Tristan sat off by himself, as usual, talking gently to his bird. The other knights sat around in various places drinking themselves into a stupor while Arthur sat with Jols asking him questions about the fort and the enemies they would be facing. The answers to enemies were naturally the woads with a few attacks from Saxons and maybe the Welsh, but mainly the Britons fought them for they had taken their land and they wanted it back.

Liam shook his head, Arthur probably knew the answers to all of the questions he asked Jols, but he supposed Arthur was asking the questions to get to know the men they would be working with for the next seven years. It was hard to believe that they had only seven years left. The chances of actually living through it all were slim but one can dream. They had all made bets on who would live through it all. Arthur, Dag, Lancelot, Bors, and Tristan were the highest bids for the men believed them the best and the best were invincible. Among the first predicted to die were Galahad and a few of the other younger knights who the older ones believed foolish and easy targets for enemy arrows. It was probably a little odd to be betting on who would live, but among such a crowd it was to be expected for they were among some of the finest warriors which had been disillusioned a very long time ago and were not about to pretend that which was not real. They were going to die someday, why deny the fact, indeed some might live long lives till they pass through death's threshold but others are fated for early deaths, it was best to keep fantasy out of ones head for it gave fools hopeless dreams.

Kida gasped as the fort came into site. It was a small, fort that looked as if it had seen better days. The instructors had led the posts along Hadrian's Wall to be great fortresses but this was not great, it was more like a large stone box in great need of repair. A mixture of knights and Roman guards greeted them at the gate. Villagers ran through the streets all covered in mud and soot, trying to get a good look at the knights as the rode in. The commander led the line followed by his knights and horses carrying the bodies of their masters and a small knight on a black horse. The small knight caught the eye of most of the villagers for it was a strange site to see one so small among the ranks of the knights.

Kida stared at the staring villagers; they reminded her of the villagers of her village, with the only exception that they weren't blonde. At first she was scared, so many memories rushed at her as she inspected the villagers; so many bad memories. Quickly, she shook the past off and reminded herself that she was not Kida Pada but Kiran Padu the Sarmatian knight. Taking in a deep breath, Kida urged her mount forward; avoiding eye contact with the natives.

Once through the village part of the fort, they came to another wall and another gate. From the second gate they came to a large courtyard where a few boys waited to tend to the knights horses. Kida dismounted and gave the reigns to a boy twice her size. When the boy saw how short the knight was he almost laughed. How could such a small person be a knight? Kida sensed the squire's shock at her size, turned red with embarrassment and dropped her gaze to the ground. People always seemed to have issues with her size when they first meet her.

Liam and Dagonet rode the width of the valley once more. They had seen nothing to suggest any woads in the area but it is better to be over cautious than under and Arthur demanded constant riding groups to search the countryside for the enemy. At first he sent them out in groups of ten rotating every other day so that half the men would serve two days in a row in rider duty. But after it became obvious that there were not thousands of woads waiting to jump out of the forest, the rider groups grew smaller until it was done in pairs.

Arthur let the knights' pair up with the knight of their choice and then rotated each pair to different parts of their area. Liam partnered up with Dagonet, Bors with Tristan, Galahad with Gawain, and Arthur with Lancelot. Each day they rode out in their pairs and rode different parts of the valley and the forest that surround it. In all there were thirteen pairs of knights and once in a while a member of the Roman guard would join a pair but that was rare for the Roman guard believed themselves above the standing of the Sarmatian knights.

As they rode the final lap of their area, Liam and Dag stopped their horses; there was movement in the shadows. "Liam you see that?" Dag whispered.

"Yes, what was it?"

"I don't know. We should report it." Liam agreed and they turned their horses around and pushed them into a full gallop back towards the fort.

Once the horses were taken, Lysander beckoned for Kiran to follow him. Kiran followed into the building. "So, Kiran Padu, there are a few things you must know. Number one: Obey my orders at all cost. I don't have patience for men who like to think for themselves, such men are dangerous and can cost men their lives. Number two: No showing off. Show offs are even more dangerous than men with minds for their stupidity takes more lives than saves. Number three: No prying. I like my privacy and bear no liking to men that pry into another man's affairs. Number four: Do the previous and we will get along fine. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Kiran nodded.

"Good, your room is at the other end of the hall. We meet every morning in the great hall to receive the daily assignments. I expect you to be punctual. I will let you settle in," Lysander said and turned to go. "Do not mistake this life. I have had many knights under my command. Most of them have died. Be wary and fight hard and I will try my best to help you live."

Kiran nodded. Lysander nodded back and walked away.

Kida watched as the commander walked away. He was an odd man. Kida turned around and headed down the hall. It was certainly going to be an eventful ten years.

Arthur listened to Liam's report of activity in the eastern wood. When Liam finished relating his tale Arthur said, "Call the knights together. Prepare for battle. We shall see what hides in our woods." Liam nodded and left the room, with Dag following him. So if it were woads this would be the first battle they would have at Hadrian's Wall. He prayed that if events led it to a battle his knights would be spared and all would go well.