Scythian by Hector Miller

Author:Hector Miller [Miller, Hector]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25 – Arrival of the man

It took us another moon to reach the lands of the Roxolani.

Bradakos called a halt just inside the borders of our tribal lands. “I will go speak with the King. We have been absent for a year and now we return with a thousand Huns. I will go and seek the permission of the King.”

Gordas accompanied Bradakos.

During their absence, I would command the Huns. Quite a daunting prospect for an eighteen year old. I more or less had their respect. I hoped. They all knew of my daring rescue of their general and they also knew that I was a noble of the Roxolani.

But the Huns are a brutal people. Like the Roxolani, they have nobility, but even the nobility have to show strength to gain respect.

Bradakos was expected to be away for a quarter of a moon. On the evening of the fifth day I started to relax for the first time. All was well. I rode patrols during the day with the Huns, mostly to keep them busy rather than fearing some or other threat. During the day we practised cavalry drills. Not much different from my time with the Huns under Gordas.

One of the nobles, a commander of a hundred, was a huge brute of a man called Rhaton. He was an extremely competent warrior, though crueller than most.

He wore a cloak made from the scalps of vanquished enemies. It must have taken at least fifty scalps to make a garment of that size.

On the morning of the sixth day, I met with my ten commanders of a hundred to discuss the day’s drills. Allow me to digress. Like most armies on earth, the Hun army is not based on the ridiculous Greek system of democracy. In the Hun army, the noble commander tells his sub-commanders what to do. A lenient commander would allow his subordinates to respectfully give their opinions, should he require it.

Rhaton’s hundred was sent out to patrol west of our encampment on that day. He had a scowl on his face when I gave my commands, but I thought nothing of it. Huns tend to lack humour.

I sent five ‘zuun’ on patrol and practised drills with the remainder of the army in the vicinity of the camp. They knew their business and it was exhilarating to command the Hun army. These warriors were without equal.

The sun had not even reached its zenith when I noticed a dust cloud. I was unconcerned as a contingent of Huns was tasked to guard the camp. An enemy would have to get past our patrols, as well as the guards. I made a mental note to investigate later in the day.

Our drills did not progress as smoothly the rest of the afternoon. I wanted the manoeuvres to be flawless. We eventually got it right and we headed back to camp. Exhausted, but content. It was late in the afternoon.

I was tired and permeated with dust. After dismounting at the tent and taking care of my horse, I went to refresh myself in the river.

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