Nikolai found some comfort in the routine. That was the life of a soldier, whether you wanted to or not. Maybe he just couldn't admit to himself that he secretly enjoyed this lifestyle because it was familiar? What else was there for him to do? Build a farm? Be a lake fisherman? Take a wife? The ideas fancied him and he played out the scenarios in his mind. Sure, they were different and undoubtedly safer. Were his parents happy? He wondered how they were doing. He would appreciate seeing them again sometime and his younger brothers.<br/><br/>Wake up was at O-dark-thirty, just like it had always been in the Khoszul Army. That green shit, Baichu gave everyone was disgusting and left a moldy dry taste in one's mouth. Kolya noticed Pietr already strapping on his armor. Nikolai sat up and began doing the same.<br/><br/>In hushed tones, "you hear who we work for now, eh?" Kolya quietly mentioned to Pietr without looking at him.<br/><br/>"Aye, but no harm, no foul," Pietr replied just as quietly while cinching up a pair of burutlik around his calves.<br/><br/>"No harm, no what?" Koya calmed himself. "That worthless sack of shit sold us into slavery."<br/><br/>"Sure, but what would you have done if you were him?"<br/><br/>"I would have killed us all," Kolya slowly admitted fitting the ringed hauberk over his padded under shirt. "I suppose we owe him a debt of gratitude for allowing us to live, unspoken gratitude nonetheless." Kolya smiled up at Pietr.<br/><br/>Pietr returned the smile after placing the Shishak helmet atop his skull. He hefted the 45" broadsword and slid it inside the scabbard, then turned to leave. Nikolai finished dressing and fell in with the rest of the company.<br/><br/>"Fall in!" the Serzhánt commanded, bringing the formation of soldiers to attention. "Right, FACE!" Every soldier in the formation executed a right face. "Rout Step, MARCH!" The soldiers of Livinko's company began their quiet nighttime march into darkness. The difference between Rout Step and Forward march, is the soldiers must march<span style="font-style: italic">in step</span>, Left, Right, Left when Forward march is commanded. When rout step is commanded, there is no need to remain in step. Every soldier can walk freely. The terrain dictates the style of march, broken and unruly.<br/><br/>There was something about this Serzhánt who reminded Nikolai of Orlav, so long ago. But that man would be at least 50 years old if he was still alive. He'd forgotten that bastard and his brother Griegor. Nikolai contented himself to thinking about life on that lake. It seemed so long ago. At least fourteen or fifteen years ago, now.