Chapter 4
The command tent was a large square edifice located at the centre of the camp. As they approached Stefan could see it was guarded by a detachment of great swords. Two of the elite troops stood either side of the tent's entrance their hands resting on the pommels of their zweihanders and the reflected light of campfires winking against their plate armour. These men were the elite of the Imperial army elevated from the common soldier due to acts of great bravery and heroism on the battlefield. Highly skilled and wearing the best of plate armour they formed the personal guard of most imperial commanders. Their reputation was legendary throughout the Empire and Stefan felt a pang of awe as he looked upon them.
The sergeant however simply marched up to the silent sentinels nodding his head towards Stefan and Kurt as he did so. The guard on the left nodded back and stood aside. With that the sergeant beckoned them forward and ducked under the tent flap. With a deep breath Stefan stepped after Kurt and followed them inside. The first thing he saw was a rough wooden table covered in a large map. The edges of the map were weighted down with various heavy objects to keep it spread out. Two men were standing over the map the man to the left was in the process of pointing out an area to the other as the trio entered.
"Privates Mueller and Van Kleist as requested sir" the Sergeant announced them. Both Kurt and Stefan instinctively stiffened to attention as he did so.
The man to the right looked up and once again Stefan was faced by the stern patrician like features of his Captain. The Captain held up his hand indicating to the Sergeant to wait and turned back to the map.
"Continue" he indicated to the officer standing beside him.
"As I was saying sir the pistoliers chased the remnants of the orcs into the foothills of the Grey Mountains here. The young braggarts claim to have killed a score of the beasts, which no doubt they exaggerate about, but it is clear that we have broken the warband."
"Was there any indication that the beasts were reforming at all?"
"None sir. The pistoliers faced no organised resistance in their pursuit."
"Very well then it appears our work here is done. Have the pistoliers continue to sweep the area for any stragglers and to keep a watch that the beasts do not return. Let the regiment rest tonight but pass the word that we break camp in the morning and march for Altdorf."
"As you say sir", bringing his boots heels together the officer saluted and left the tent.
The Captain remained bent over the map his brow furrowed in concentration as his finger traced a route across the parchment. Standing at attention Stefan's eyes took in the rest of the tent as they waited. The air of the tent was warm, fuelled by an iron brazier which burned brightly in its centre. Otherwise the interior was surprisingly spartan in nature. A simple cot bed lay in one corner, an armour rack standing nearby. A wooden campaign chair that had seen better days sat close to the table and a large iron bound trunk completed the furnishings. Stefan had not given it too much thought, but he realised he had subconsciously expected the tent to be grander and more opulent. His musings were interrupted by the Captain tapping his finger down on the map before turning his attention towards them.
Both Stefan and Kurt were already standing at attention, but their spines stiffened imperceptibly as the Captain straightened up and came around the map table to stand before them. The Captain eyed them both, his eyes taking in every detail, but his stern visage gave no indication as to the judgement he was making. Stefan began to get nervous as the silence stretched, a bead of sweat forming on the nape of his neck. The moisture itched torturously, and it took all of Stefan's willpower not to reach up and scratch. Just as he felt he could bear the silent scrutiny no more the Captain spoke.
"So, these are the two?" he glanced sideways at the Sergeant.
"As requested, Sir", the Sergeant repeated.
The Captain inclined his head a fraction before facing Kurt.
"Tell me, how long have you been in the army trooper?"
"Twenty years Sir man and boy" Kurt answered immediately.
"Impressive to last that long and yet still remain a private, some might wonder about that?" The Captain's eyebrow raised a fraction as he let the question hang in the air.
"No mystery in it Sir, begging your pardon. Had chances for promotion before but I have always let them pass. Prefer to be where I belong Sir in the line with the ordinary men."
"I see," as if satisfied with the answer the Captain turned his attention to Stefan. "And you lad what age are you?"
Surprised by the question Stefan hesitated. Mistaking his hesitation for evasion the Captain barked,
"Out with it boy!"
"I don't honestly know sir. Close to eighteen as best I can work out. No one at the orphanage could quite remember how old I was when I got left there." The words left Stefan's mouth in a rush as he tried to avoid making eye contact with the Captain.
The Captain paused as if processing this new information. Turning his attention back to Kurt the Captain asked,
"Tell me trooper how you thought the battle went today?"
"Men fought hard sir and Sigmar watched over us."
As his friend answered Stefan could see the Captains expression darken at the benign reply and he unexpectedly found his courage.
"Permission to speak freely Sir?"
His expression now a mixture of annoyance and surprise the Captain turned to him,
"Granted."
"We were lucky Sir."
Turning to face him fully the Captain replied,
"Is that so? Explain trooper."
"The large orc broke the line Sir. The regiment was routing. Without your intervention, killing the beast, we would have lost."
"Hmmm, brains as well as courage. I saw you stand before the beast, why didn't you run like so many of your fellow troopers?"
Stefan thought for a moment and decided to be honest in his answer.
"I was scared Sir, I had frozen earlier, but faced with the beast I figured it was better to die facing it than to get it in the back."
The Captain said nothing and glanced sideways to where the Sergeant had stood quietly all this time. The Sergeant inclined his head ever so slightly and the Captain nodded as if coming to a decision in his mind.
"You underestimate your contribution to the beast's death soldier and your humility does you credit. And you", turning to Kurt the Captain continued, "do not for one minute think I am fooled by your apparent desire to remain a private. There are many reasons to fear rank and many of them are just, but I am afraid that you no longer have that luxury. The world is changing gentlemen and evil grows stronger while we grow weaker. I have need of capable men, men who can act on their own initiative and men with the sense and courage to do what is needed. Such men can be hard to find but, Sigmar help me, I think you two might be such men. Return to the regiment for now, when we are back in Altdorf you both are to report to me for reassignment to my staff, am I understood?".
Stefan found his mouth was hanging open in amazement, but he quickly joined Kurt in chorusing,
"Yes Sir!"
"Dismissed troopers" with that the Captain turned back to the map table, "Sergeant I would have you wait a moment more."
Clicking their heels Kurt and Stefan saluted and about faced marching out of the tent in single file passed the greatswords outside and back into the cold night air. Stefan could barely contain himself but as he opened his mouth to speak Kurt quickly raised a hand,
"Not here lad not yet wait."
Nodding Stefan bit his tongue and walked in silence beside his friend winding their way through the sleeping camp to reach their unit and their own campfires. Arriving back, they found the campfire burned down low. Most of their comrades had turned in for the night the sounds of snores interspersed with the occasional panicked cry as the events of the battle haunted some men's dreams. Stefan watched as Kurt bent to the woodpile before slowly and deliberately stoking the embers and stacking the fire. The fire flickered and spat before catching the fresh fuel and the flames climbed high once more. For the second time that evening Stefan found himself staring into the flames but this time his state of mind could not have been more different.
"Speak lad get it off your chest."
Opening his mouth to speak Stefan found he did not know where to start. A dozen coherent questions were on the tip of his tongue but instead he found himself wondering aloud,
"What just happened Kurt?!"
"We got noticed lad! For better or for worse only time will tell." Was Kurt's distracted response.
Hearing his subdued tone Stefan glanced again at his friend seeing his brows furrowed in thought, one hand absently rubbing his chin. Seeing his usually jovial friend so gave Stefan pause but despite himself he could not help but feel excited at what the future held for him once they arrived back in Altdorf.
