Rome In The Sky: Daybreak

CH 13: Hail to the Fire

PAXXA

"Battalion, attention!"

First Sergeant Gray called out at the head of the formation.

The sound of many feet echoed off the ground as over eight hundred soldiers snapped to attention in unison.

"Present, arms!"

As Pax began walking past the front of the formation, inspecting the soldiers, they all saluted. She came to a stop at the center of the mass, took her place on the platform that overlooked the court, and faced them. The sun was just beginning to rise, splashing pale light over the red cobblestones of the Keep, where the fourth battalion of the one hundred third Wulfenguard infantry regiment stood looking on at their new commander.

"Order, arms!" The arms of the soldiers snapped back to their sides.

Pax produced the sheet of paper containing the short speech her father had written for her, and tried to hide her amusement.

'Nice sounding words to keep everyone placid.'

"Ten years ago, I stood on this same courtyard, facing this platform, and swore my oath as a Wolf. Over the next ten years, I would devote myself to this brotherhood, up until the point where I stand before you now, assuming command of this battalion. I have worked with you all, trained with you all, and I have seen firsthand that you are among the very best at what you do. There is nothing that I look forward to more than fighting with you in the years to come. I am wholly confident, whatever conflict may arise, that we will win it. Thank you for this opportunity to serve as your commander. Hail..."

"..to the fire!" they finished in one thunderous voice.

She crumpled up the paper that she had made no effort to conceal and dropped it on the ground beside the podium. She wanted them to know it wasn't her speech, not really.

The formation began to sing. She heard Willem's small voice in her head along with them, and bowed her head, eyes closed. It went;

We swear by our life

We will hold the line

Let them march with everything

Let them bring their best fight

We swear by the knife

Foes will rue the night

In valleys cloaked in evergreens

In hilltops hid in pines

We swear by the dead

Fallen in the hills

The pasture now their resting place

The bedrock now their will

We swear by the Wolf

Vengeance, strength and fire

The trees decree our victory

The skies bestow their might

We dance within the pit of green