The Adventures of Draco Zandros

Chapter 2

It was a few hours after dawn by the time the group roused, feeling a little groggy from the nights drinking and so it took longer than normal to pack up the camp. Taking a compass reading Draco set off in the rough direction of Ascalon city.
Travelling though the forest undergrowth was tough going but the group was well used to this sort of journey and was making good time, as such they made it to the main trail through the forest by midday.
"Halt! Who goes there?" The call was made by a sentry wearing the Ascalon colours.
"The Zandros brothers and miss Lentra of Ascalon city." Answered Marthan.
"Marthan! Get you hide out here you still owe me 10 gold!"
"John, good to see you. What brings you out here dressed to fight, I thought you spent all your time gambling outside the gatehouse." Marthan approached the young soldier and embraced him in a comradely fashion.
"WHAT! Me gamble? You have the wrong man." Joked the soldier.
"Then it must be somebody else I owe that money to." Marthan showed his toothy grin and ducked as the soldier swung his fist towards him leisurely.
"You got me, and you DO owe me that money." John smiled at the foreplay but suddenly turned serious. "We've been dispatched by King Adelbern, the Charr have been causing trouble again and it's worst than before, we suspect they're preparing for a major attack."
"We encountered a small group of them last night." Said Draco. "We don't know what they were up to but they seemed well equipped."
"Yes, we've had a few reports of advance scouting parties, the King's called all the reserves into active duty and sent them out to locate them. He's also had recruiting posters put up, he's offering good incentives too, wish I'd waited a while longer to join.
Marthan smiled again and punched the soldier on the arm. "Told you, you should have waited another season before joining, me mam advised me I could do better than join the Ascalon guard, I bet with these new incentives not even she could disagree with me joining."
"I bet she couldn't, its not just warriors he's after though, he wants anybody with the will to fight, failing that anybody that can lend a hand. Draco, you should think about signing on. You too miss Lentra."
Draco considered this but Serra already had her mind made. "If it comes to a war I'll fight, but too many of my family have died during the Guild Wars for me to throw in my lot just because the Charr are causing trouble." She put her arms around Draco's back and turned her head towards the officer that was approaching down the trail.
"Sentry, what's going on here?" called the officer as he got closer.
"Just some Ascalon's making their way back to the city sir. I was just explaining the recent developments and explaining about the recruitment drive." Answered John, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Very good then soldier, but don't forget your meant to be looking out for trouble."
"YES SIR!" John saluted smartly and the officer headed back the way he'd come.
Draco, who had been watching this exchange quietly, gave the officer one final look before turning back to John. "Did I miss something? You seemed very uncomfortable near that guy."
"Yeah, he's meant to be some kind of hero. He's been giving all us youngsters a hard time, thought he might have been looking for trouble."
"You sure he hasn't been giving you trouble because your all lazy, undisciplined layabouts?" Joked Mathan, ducking as John swung at him.
"No, it's not just that smart mouth. He thinks because we haven't been in a war we're not real soldiers, guess that will change soon." John wasn't looking too thrilled at the prospect. "Anyway, as I was saying. It's not just people for the guards they want, or even fighters in general. If your skilled enough you'd be getting assigned special duties and reporting to Sir Tydus, but you'd basically be your own boss."
"Why didn't you say that sooner!" Marthan was absolutely thrilled at this prospect. "I'm assuming we'd still get all the usual stuff you lot get?"
"That's what I heard, but they arn't taking just anybody, like I said, they want people with skills."
Marthan's smile had disappeared. "You saying I'm not skilled, mate?"
"NO! Crikey, I know your a good fighter but they want other skills too." John was slowly backing away from Marthan, he had seen him take on a seasoned soldier and win, and the look he was giving him was telling him he was next.
"Calm down Marthan. John, is it just individuals their taking for these special duties or groups?" Draco laid his hand on Marthan's shoulder, it wouldn't be enough to stop him but it did calm him down a little.
"Err, yeah, groups as well."
"Great, hear that bro? We could join as a team, they'd be no stopping us." Draco still wasn't sure about this but it would at least add some excitement to his life, and if war was coming he'd rather join it on his terms.
"Sure, you can tag along. All great heroes need sidekicks after all" Marthan wasn't quite fast enough to dodge the blow Draco planted on his arm, and it was hard enough to make it sting. "Ow! Watch it, or I'll have to teach you a lesson."
"Now now boys, I don't think this is the time or place for a scrap." Said Serra, who had wisely stepped back.
"Yes mother" Echoed the two brothers in as sarcastic a tone as they could manage.
"For heavens sake, I have no idea why I hang around with you two." She tried to put a hurt tone into her speech but the smile on her face was a give away. John smiled in her direction and she gave him a wink, they both knew what would come next.
"Well, your with me because I'm the light of your world, the star in your eye, the love of your life. And you let him come with us because he's that ugly your beauty stands out by a mile." Draco wasn't quite fast enough to escape the strangle hold Marthan put him in, even though he had been expecting some form of attack.
"Ugly am I? I'll pound your face in till you dare not look in a mirror!" While Marthan would not intentionally kill his brother he had no qualms about beating him black and blue.
"Shouldn't we stop them?" Asked John. Serra looked at the two young men rolling around on the floor and shrugged, truth be told they was not a lot she could do besides put an arrow into one or the other.
With a deep throated growl the bear, that had been keeping back with the wolf, ran towards the struggle and grabbed Marthan's ankle by his teeth. Marthan let out a yelp as he was forcefully pulled away from Draco.
"Get this walking carpet off me or I'll skin him!" Bellowed Marthan.
"You'd become a snack before you could even draw your sword and you know it." Laughed Draco getting up and dusting the dirt from his gear.
"Just get him off me!"
"Fluffy, let go of him, you don't know where he's been."
Fluffy did as he was told and ambled over to Draco, sniffing at his belt pouch. Placing a hand on the bears muzzle so as to stop the bear helping himself, Draco opened the pouch and pulled out a few pieces of dried meat. The meat was part of the rations the group carried in case they couldn't find fresh food and while it was tasty it took a lot of effort to chew. Fluffy accepted the pieces and sat back on his rear, holding the meat in his front paws and tearing of small pieces with his teeth.
"He's sooo cute when he does that. He looks just like a big teddy bear." Said Serra, giving the bear a hug.
"Yeah, a teddy bear with big teeth and claws." Marthan had never understood Draco and Serra's love of animals, but he had to admit they came in handy in a fight.
"What you talking about, Marthan?" Chuckled Draco. "He is a teddy bear, a big fluffy cuddly teddy bear. What you say John?"
"Sorry Draco, I'm with Marthan on this one. Sure he's cute for a bear but I'm glad his attention is not on me, else I'd be out of here."
"You sure your a soldier, John? Your mighty nervous for a fighting man." Said Marthan.
"Nothing wrong with fear, helps keep you alive. You want see me charging headlong into a hopeless fight."
"Boys, if we're going to get back to Ascalon while it's still light we should be leaving already."
John checked the position of the "She's right, I'll see you three back at the city in a week or two. And Marthan, don't forget you still owe me."
"Yeah yeah, you'll get it. See you John."
"See you later."
"Bye John, stay safe."
After a round of handshakes the group set back off on their journey giving John one final wave before turning a corner. Thoughts of the coming war and the roles they should play weighing heavily on their shoulders.

- Written by Draco Zandros