Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

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?"