Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 192

Chapter 192: Outsider(1) Chapter 192: Outsider(1) Lucius stood with his back pressed against the cool stone wall outside the barracks, his fingers idly tracing the links of his chainmail.

The armor was standard issue, though worn and dented from the years of service of the men he had looted it from .

At his side hung a short, heavy mace-its head scarred from use-and a dagger tucked neatly into his belt, a weapon kept close for more personal work.

He shifted his weight and rolled his shoulders, casting a watchful eye across the still courtyard, his breath turning into faint wisps in the early morning chill.

He was a young man, barely out of his teens, with a lean build honed from hours spent in training.

His short, tousled brown hair fell in a casual mess around his forehead, adding a touch of ruggedness to his otherwise youthful face.

His eyes were a sharp, earthy brown, and they had a habit of flicking around the room, always alert yet softened with a natural charm.

His companion was late, as usual, and he was beginning to wonder if he should go in and drag the man out himself, but just as he pushed himself off the wall, the barracks door creaked open.

Out stepped the familiar figure of Marcus, blinking against the dawn light as he adjusted his belt.

He ran a hand through his unruly brown hair.

A lazy grin broke across his face as he spotted Lucius.

“Evening , Lucius,” Marcus greeted, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.” Lucius scoffed, though he returned the grin.

“Late as ever, Marcus.” Marcus chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

“Alright, alright, I’m here now, aren’t I?” He gave Lucius a playful nudge.

“Had to cool off after training-didn’t think Captain Varro would actually run us into the ground this morning.

Thought I’d be seeing stars by the time we were done.

He’s a hard bastard, isn’t he?” Lucius rolled his eyes, though his face held a trace of sympathy.

“Captain Varro?

He’d make his own mother run laps if she so much as looked at him wrong.” he added with a smirk, mimicking Varro’s gruff voice.

Marcus snorted.

“Well, he could ease up a bit, couldn’t he?

I don’t remember him being that harsh when we were in shackles.

They exchanged a knowing glance.

Lucius then raised an eyebrow, a sly grin creeping onto his face.

“Sounds like you could use a drink, Marcus.” “Thought you’d never ask,” Marcus replied, his eyes lighting up.

“If I don’t see a tankard soon, I’m liable to faint right here.” They headed across the courtyard, the rhythm of their boots syncopated as they walked side-by-side toward the tavern just outside the garrison’s walls.

The scent of baked bread and faint traces of ale grew stronger as they neared, and by the time they pushed open the tavern doors, the soft clink of mugs and warm chatter inside already had Marcus beaming.

They found a table in the corner, a place that offered a decent view of the room but still kept them comfortably out of earshot of the few other patrons.

A young woman with light red hair drifted over to the table, her curls catching the tavern’s dim light and casting a fiery glow across her face.

She had an easy confidence as she glanced at Lucius and Marcus.

Resting one hand on the table, she gave them a playful look.

“Lucius, Marcus,” she greeted, her voice teasing but warm.

“What’s on tonight’s order?” Lucius flashed a charming smile, reaching for her hand with a gallant air, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles.

“Well, Sabine,” he said smoothly, looking up into her eyes, “I’d ask first for the pleasure of your company, but I suppose two of your finest ales will do for a start.

Perhaps later, you’ll consider having honoring me with a walk under the stars?” Sabine chuckled, drawing her hand back with a grin, shaking her head as though she’d heard this one before.

“Oh, Lucius, you’ll have to be a bit more serious if you’re looking for anything beyond an ale or two,” she replied, her tone playful yet guarded .

Beside him, Marcus snorted, nudging Lucius as if to say, “Told you so.” Lucius gave a resigned sigh, lifting his hands in mock surrender.

“Fine, Sabine.

Two mugs of ale, please.

And to put your mind at ease, we’ll be models of perfect behavior.

Just make sure that no old worthless bastards come up to us and call us thieves.We are risking our lives for you, you know?Soldiers demand a little respect don’t they?” Sabine cocked an eyebrow, unconvinced but clearly amused.

“I’ll believe that when I see it” she said with a smirk, spinning on her heel to head toward the bar.

After a moment of wait , she returned, carrying two full mugs.

She placed them in front of the men with practiced grace, lingering a moment longer, clearly expecting another attempt from Lucius.

He leaned in, unable to resist.

“And what about my other question?” Sabine’s eyes twinkled as she tilted her head, her lips curving into a small, amused smile.

“Well,” she replied, laughter in her voice, “if I’m not too worn out by the end of the night… I’ll think about it.

But don’t go getting your hopes up too high.” With a playful wink, she turned back to her rounds, leaving Lucius and Marcus to their drinks and a shared chuckle, the night feeling a bit warmer already.

Marcus caught Lucius watching Sabine’s every movement as she weaved between tables, and he couldn’t help but grin.

“You know,” he said, giving Lucius a playful nudge, “I’ve seen you pining after her for a while now.

Pretty sure she likes you too, the way she’s always smiling around you.” Lucius’s gaze softened, lingering on Sabine as she laughed at something a patron said.

“I think so too.

She always seems happy when I’m around, and I can tell there’s something real there.” Marcus took a long sip, glancing over at him.

“So, what’s the hold-up, then?” Lucius let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s her father.

He thinks I’m beneath her.

He won’t have her marrying a soldier, even if she’d be taken care of.

Won’t even give me a chance to prove I could be good for her.Normally I would have no trouble boiling the potato first and the eat it later, but unfortunately she respects her father too much for such thing.” Marcus scoffed, shaking his head.

“You make double the coin he does every month!

You’d give her a fine life, better than most.” Lucius gave a wry smile, toying with his mug.

“Yeah, but we earn it by risking our necks.

Her father can’t see past the danger.

Thinks I’ll get myself killed and leave her alone.

Doesn’t matter how careful I am or how long I’ve survived on the field.” Marcus chuckled, shrugging.

“Our lives have been at risk from the day we took up a sword and fought for our freedom.

Besides, anyone would be proud to have you as their son-in-law.Especially for a tavern owner, after all having one of us as son-inlaw, would mean to automatically get the protection of the city guards at all time…” Lucius shook his head, laughing softly.

“Sabine’s father doesn’t see it that way.

The old man scowls every time I show up, like just being a soldier is some kind of personal offense.Perhaps, someone before me coaxed him into giving him one too many discounts?Or to maybe pay for protection?

” Marcus grinned, patting him on the back.

“Well, if her father can’t see your worth, then maybe he’s the one in need of a wake-up call.

She’s worth it, isn’t she?” Marcus leaned back, a faint grin on his face.

“You know,” he began, voice lowering in a tone that bordered on reverent, “even if we fall in the line of duty, our captain-ah, his grace-has promised that our families will still be looked after.

Paid for two full year after we’re gone, so they don’t go hungry because of us, which would mean that she would have enough money to remarry.” Lucius paused, mug halfway to his lips.

He looked at Marcus, eyebrows raised since they were talking about his death; he then shook his head and asked something else .

“How in the world does the cap–I mean his grace-have enough gold to make that happen by the way?

Supporting every family of every soldier…

He’s got to be bleeding money with promises like that.” His eyes narrowed in thought, and for a moment, his skepticism took hold.

Marcus merely shrugged, but there was a certain appreciation in his expression.

“Who knows?

The man could be swimming in debts, for all I care. Just knowing we’ve got someone watching out for the people we leave behind-” he sighed, finishing with a nod toward his friend, “that’s rare.

Makes the job mean something more than the pay.” Lucius considered that as he took a long drink, letting the words settle.

It felt good, he realized, to be seen as more than just another expendable soldier.

“True enough,” he agreed, nodding slowly.

“And in two years, if everything goes as planned, I’ll finally have a stretch of land of my own.

Maybe settle down.

They said the payout’s decent… Just enough to start a farm.” He leaned forward, the idea holding a certain awe, as if it was still hard to believe.

Two years, he thought, just two years.

After all the hours training, the battles, and the nights spent cold and far from home, it felt almost surreal to imagine having a place of his own, especially when half a year go , he believed he would not reach that life-expectation.

Lucius sighed, his fingers tracing the rim of his mug.

“But all this talk of land, of a future-none of it matters if her father still won’t accept me.

It’s like I’m building a dream on air, knowing he’d just as soon turn me away if I showed up on his doorstep.” Marcus shook his head, leaning forward to meet Lucius’s gaze, his expression both firm and reassuring , as he threw a look in search of the man .

“Come on, Lucius,” he said with a steady grin, “you don’t know what tomorrow holds.

Things change, and people do too.”