Men of Bronze

to me.

”We think you will make a great addition to the platoon, ” said the officer. ”Franke has told us all about your work with hydroponics. We will be stopping here for the day before we head south at night, so if you need to gather your things you have quite some time. ”

I shook their hands and met the members to the platoon with great respect for them and the King. I learned the name of the officer to be Darek, the others were knights Jarvis, Amelia, Cambry, and of course Franke. Heading inside we sat and ate what food I had left as we waited out the desert sun which could kill a man who wasn careful. Jarvis told a story from down south about how the Order of Gilton had sent three jury rigged bronze-men after the group only to be gunned down by him and Cambry. Apparently the suits heated up very quickly and would need to be refilled constantly with water and coalatik which could only be found down south or in the mountains to the east. I had some coalatik myself in the form of bars which I would trade with merchants for tools and bread from time to time. Little had I known that they fueled anything more than pumps and quarry drills.

After the stories where done and the sun had reached its end the group invited me back to the steam-crawlers. Here they formed a circle, sitting around me as officer Darek and Franke stood up and approached me.

”On this night and in these sands we invite a new brother into our fold. By presenting him this blade we welcome Deckard Bilfur to the second Platoon of the Kings third southern battalion. I hereby and by the Kings name proclaim you as a Knight of the Kingdom of Jamin. ”

With that Franke handed me a small box, which I opened to find a small blade no larger than my hand. Glinting silver in the moons light with a brown leather handle I took it in my hand. I had never seen a blade such a size but even in its appearance it deceived as it felt heavier than any wrench twice as big.

The group shouted: ”Here here! ” before each congratulating me on their way back to the house. Franke in particular gave me a look of approval before joining the others. I put the blade back in the box for the time being before heading back home to finish grabbing my things. For that night in the moons blue light we rode south, farther from my home than I had ever been before.