[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Darkening was quiet with only the sound of the wind hitting the windows being heard. The twins couldn't be heard breathing so silent they were. Before falling asleep Aegis had seen them praying and meditating until they reached a state of relaxation of their entire body. In the morning they all wake up soon, being Aegis the last one to do so. Boranius shook his bed a little to wake him.

"Get up my horny friend, the road calls us and we don't have the whole Brightening. If we march well we will arrive in Taralon by Darkening fall eight Brightenings from now. We don't have a minute to lose."

After eating a quick breakfast of sausages and eggs the three departed Vers and returned to the road. The morning breeze greeted them and they could listen to some birds in the tree nearby. They met few people on the road being Legionnaire patrols what they saw the most. They remained away from the woods and stopped near the Black River's bridge before midday of the nineth and last Brightening of march to eat something. Argarsis handed the Minotaur some salted meat and a skin of water. On the other side of the bridge they could see some men gathering.

"Who are those, brother?"

Boranius asked innocently.

"It seems like a group of peasants listening to some Legionnaires. Maybe it is a group of men heading to join the Provincial Army."

Argarsis replied with his hand in a palm protecting his eyes from the Suns' light.

"That is good, we should follow with them."

"And that is exactly what we will do. Let's go, they seem to be moving."

Quickly the group packed their sparce belongings and walked across the bridge following the men behind the Legionnaires. From time to time one of the peasants looked back to the impressive Minotaur but aside of that nothing was said or done. No one dared to ask them who they were and why they were following them. Silence accompanied them all until they arrived to Taralon's area. The silence was broken by the voice of a mounted scout.

"I thought you were lost, Gorta."

"Not really, Carok. We were delayed a bit but managed to do it without problems. We even got a Minotaur following us. I'll take them to Daekin Redbeard so he can insert them in their training sessions. Where is he?"

"Down there over, with his nose in some maps as usual. The man can't stop working for a second can he?"

"No, he can't. He works for us all...I'll meet you in the barracks later Carok."

"Sure."

The mounted scout continued his patrol around what Aegis could now see as a huge training ground. Men were seen practicing with a variety of weapons, both close combat and ranged. They followed Gorta to where Carok had said their superior was checking the maps. The tent was white and simple, with a table and two chairs inside. There was a tall and armored man standing and leaning towards the maps that covered the table. His face showed how focused he was in the task at hand. From time to time he wrote something in a notepad, then he made some lines on the map with a truce.

Gorta waited for a moment outside the tent after telling the group to form in two lines in front the tent. They were ten in total, with Aegis and the twins standing in the front row, with one Legionnaire in each side of the group. Then the Legionnaire coughed calling his superior's attention.

"Yes?"

Said the Officer without taking his eyes from the map so focused he was.

"Another group of recruits, Sir."

"Oh...yes..."

The Daekin stood to his seven feet in height and walked out of the tent, saluting and being saluted by the soldier who'd lead the group there.

"You've arrived late, Senior Legionnaire. The other recruits arrived this morning."

The man said without yet looking to the group gathered in front of the tent.

"Sir..."

"No need for apologize! I know who you are, you're Senior Legionnaire Gorta of the Nineth Centuri of the Second Daos. You were there of the men I sent to Redhollow. It was the hardest mission of them all due to the distance and the dangerous mountain trails."

"You know my name? Sir."

"I know the name of all my men."

The Senior Legionnaire bowed his head to the Officer and pointed the group.

"Thank you, Sir. Here is the group."

The Daekin turned to them and his long red hair swinged as he did so. The Vagaran's sharp blue eyes evaluating them and stopping in Aegis. A smile appeared in the man's face as he approached the Minotaur and offered his hand to a handshake.

"Good eyes see you, Master Labyrinthine. It has been a long time since I showed you the way to a forge in a distant city so you could buy your gauntlets. But it seems you've got something new!"

Eyvind said in a happy voice.

"It is good to have you here. Welcome to Sheria!"

Aegis and his companions had arrived. It was here the end of their journey from Prime Province. Some of them had met new people, others had refound old friends.