Genseric had finally arrived. He had come here on horseback, the fastest way. However, he had come to realize that these horses were not in fact meant for extended journey. For his journey Genseric had requested the finest of horses, and it had seemed that his wish had been granted. It was a great steed to beheld, a white horse groomed so that its white hair seemed to gleam a type of perfection, and its speed was matched by none. However, it in fact had been a horse meant for leisurely purpose. Nobles would be glad to take it in the trips into the King’s forest, where they would go on pleasurable trips to hunt stag. This steed, however, had tired out quite too fast, and as a result Genseric had been required to allow to take lengthy rests in order for it to recover its strength.

Even accounting for that, Genseric had arrive on time. The journey was quite a distance, yet it would have been a small one in comparison to the journey in which others had undertaken. He had at least only needed to travel from within Grosswick, while others must have traveled from the more remote parts of the kingdom.

He was not alone, as he had a small entourage who had travelled along with him. It had been unacceptable to some of those back at Genseric’s home at Weylen Keep for him to travel alone, so he had travelled with a small group of knights, who numbered only in total four, and that included his younger brother Johannes, who was very much not a knight. Slated to be a priest when he had turned twenty-five, Johannes had proven ill-suited for the journey, and in fact had fallen rather ill, although he had soldiered on. The only reason why he had agreed to accompany Genseric was due to their younger sister Ana. She demanded that she herself go along, and did a great deal of whining and complaining, but of course the girl was not able to. Yet she forced Johannes to keep an eye on Genseric in her stead. It had been endearing, if nothing else, although she should learn better to control herself. He would soon be in greater danger, and neither of them would keep an eye on them.

Upon his horse, he inched closer to the camp at Rot Donar. His companions no longer would be able to follow him.

“So, do you suppose that this is it?” Johannes said.

“Yes,” Genseric said.

“Still a man of few words then?” Johannes said. “You’ll hardly make any friends that way.”

“I’m not going there to make friends,” Genseric said.

“I suppose your right,” Johannes said. “So I suppose this is goodbye then. Funny…who knows when you’ll be back, and yet I can’t think of anything to say.”

“Then I suppose you’re like me, then,” Genseric said.

“Are you trying to be witty?” Johannes said.

“Yes,” Genseric said.

After a long pause Johannes said, “Listen, Genseric, I know things haven’t been exactly perfect, but-”

“Promise me you’ll take care of Ana when I’m gone,” Genseric said. 

“Of course,” Johannes said. “But in a year’s time she’ll probably be off, married to some nobleman.”

Then Genseric said goodbye to his brother. He would not see him for a long time, or any of his family. It was not until he had walked up to the ensign that he had realized he had never contemplated on whether or not he would die. However, it mattered not, as Genseric did not fear death, and had never feared it. He would do what he knew he had been called to do, and fulfill his obligations, even if that meant facing death in a match and losing.

He stood in front of the ensign, who to Genseric’s surprise stood alone, with an expression bored enough to tell him how successful this recruiting campaign was not. He was not even slightly deterred, and stood tall, tall as he could anyway, in front of the ensign. Genseric held an expression as hard as iron.

“Here to sign up, eh,” the ensign said.

“Yes,” Genseric said. “I am Genseric Cerdicson, son of Aeldric, the Count of Rossex.”

“My apologies, sire, I had no idea,” the ensign said. “Yet, my lord, even the nobility needs to sign.”

“I had assumed so,” Genseric said.

[hr]

Genseric stood alone. Johannes had indeed been right that his attitude would not win him friends, but Genseric cared more about ensuring he had no enemies than gaining any friends. In the past, however, Genseric had learned that simply being alive was enough to gain enemies. He wondered if it was the same way in the army.

He for now overlooked the camp, surveying the men from the distance. There were about one-hundred soldiers and about fifty men and women in supporting role, including those women whose very profession was dedicated to the venereal pleasures. Such profound immorality did exist in the army, and Genseric did not doubt you could find thieves, murders, atheists, and other various malcontents among the denizens of the army. He would not speak out against it, as it was not his place to comment on it. It was Terryn Hoffmann who was the commander here, and it would be foolish of him to try and exert his authority over him, as he greatly outranked him.

He had been given a lieutenant’s rank, which was about what Genseric had expected. Those who were highborn were given precedent over all others. It was less power than Genseric had wielded before, but he was satisfied. He still mused over whether he was truly ambitious. He at times thought he wasn’t, yet his heart seemed not to burn as it should.  

Whatever the case, Genseric was now dedicated to the Black Shields. Whatever came would come. Overlooking the men, most older than himself, he intended to serve as the officer he had been expected to be.