A trial you must face alone

Caderos is not far from where your tent was he is sitting at a table drinking from a large ale and upon spotting you waves you over.

"Adonis good man! Just the soldier I needed to see. Seems we got some orders that I think will fit you just fine." You cock your head in confusion as he finishes his drink

"Orders sir? for me?" Confused and a bit concerned. Caderos nods his head and setting the empty mug down explains the situation.

"Seems the fat lard ball we work for, the Lord Marshal, has been having some issues lately. The Lord Marshal's personal transports of wine have been hit three times this week; that stuff's worth its weight in gold, and losing it is not only pissing of the commander, but can also be used to pay for weapons, supplies and even mercenaries for the Athenapolis loyalists who refuse to give up without a fight."

"So what does The Lord Marshal want us to do about it, Sir, find these bandits and kill them?" You ask carefully hoping that you are not making a fool of yourself; so far, this sounds better than you had hoped for. If you have to take another life, better have it be thugs and bandits than the **** citizens of the city defending their homes and families. Caderos shrugs:

"Kill them, enslave them, feed them to the drakes, the Marshal doesn't really care, he wants the problem ended." Caderos takes another brass flagon in his hand from a long line of them he has set up to get himself good and cross-eyed and after a long drink from it sets the goblet back on the table. "From what I hear its only a handful of trouble-makers, so my men should be able to handle them once we know where to find them." The Captain's shrug communicates how little confidence he has in that piece of information. "It seems that they are working from outside the city walls most likely, in my opinion, from the cliffs overlooking the river road." Caderos dips his finger in his goblet and draws a rough map on the table. "Good visibility, defensible position and quick escape from troops by going into those hills." He puts a rough mark near the center of his map. "Right about here - close enough to the road to get to a target fast. Also," he adds looking sharply at you "close enough to this camp that you won't be gone for long." The way he looks at you, creates a sour emptiness in your belly despite how full you are.

"Sir?" you ask in a decidedly unsure tone.

Caderos holds up three fingers "Three tests each of my men have to pass Adonis: cold-blooded killing ... exceptional skill ... and intelligence." The small officer holds up a finger. "First is being able to handle yourself in a fight, win whatever it takes, seen you do that when we met you on the streets. It was impressive given the handicap of your malnourished condition." He hold up a second finger "Second is skill, you look like a scout to me quick on your feet and able to run, swim and climb better than any of your friends - yes?" You nod carefully. "You also have a knack for breaking in slaves, but that doesn't count for much." Caderos hold up a third finger, "So what's left is intelligence - any man from the United Army is able to hold his own against bad odds and my unit especially, as I don't accept anything less than the best." He grins at you encouragingly.

"We all did this Adonis, even me. You go out on your own and prove that your worth a damn." Caderos tells you. "Either handle this in yourself, or use your brains and come back with a report that lets me and my men wrap this up neatly." He rests his hand on your shoulder. "You do this right, and you'll have a position in my unit." He finishes the drink in his mug and tosses it to a servant girl dressed in tattered rags who is scrambling to serve all the men drinks on time least her backside get any redder from slaps to the ass. "You'll certainly have earned it if you do. Fuck up and you'll be dead anyways so it just doesn't matter." You have to swallow the lump in your throat not entirely sure the captain isn't just trying to have you killed, the Captain seems to read your mind.

"Relax Adonis, we won't be going anywhere for the next day or so till the army clears out the gained ground properly and the strategists get a new plan. Like I said, if you're fast you can be back before we move up from this camp, if not I'll bring your slaves with us and keep them safe." He laughed coarsely "Of course, if you're gone for a week I'm going to call dibs on that big titted brunette." You smack him lightly on his breastplate as you answer him.

"Won't need you to Sir, I'll handle this." You tell him as confidently as you can, hoping that striking your superior officer isn't going to get you flogged.

Caderos, far from angry just grins and hits you back on your chest. "Good man! Pass this test and no one will ever doubt you even the slightest." The dark-haired Captain climbs to his feet, "remember what I told you about the cliffs Adonis, follow the east river road. It's under our control and if anyone gives you trouble show them this." He tosses you a heavy bronze medallion that is stamped with a diving drake.

The life of a solider is certainly more interesting than that of a ****, however you're not sure you're ready for this; a real mission - one you will either return from a real soldier or end up dead. For Eudora's and Dorothea's sake you'd better make sure it's the first option.