Julius walked along to the barracks. The same track he took every day - from tes to wash day. He had his blonde hair tied into a ponytail. He wore his everyday Yohengvon, his minimal armor was gone.
He arrived at the barracks. The building was large, two stories. The entrance room was big. With a large table in the center, and four chairs. One for each upper guardsman. The room was made from bricks and stone about itself. There was a fireplace on the opposite side of the door. A fire did not burn there due to the heat of the spring time. There was a sword rack near the door, and arrows in baskets. Bread sat on the table as the other man sat there. One was older with greying hair. He was a bit fat. While the other two men were young, freshly part of the upper guardsman, Wegb, as the Wioloen language called them.
The men waved while going back to their conversation. “I’m ready for this heat to be over,” one of the young men stated. He sat slouching in his chair as he sweated from the warmth of the sun.
Julius walked past and flicked him on his head. “OW!” The man yelped, while the young man laughed.
“Stop, being a wimp, Kgyne!” The older man said, appearing serious. “You all drive me mad. I’m supposed to be retired for goodness sake,” he continued, becoming more annoyed with every word.
The three men were part of the Wioloen race, as their skin was much darker than Julius. As was their hair - a dark black. Besides the old man’s, whose hair was greying with only spots of black left behind. The two races seemed to be able to live together. No war between them. The kings of Ureshii were mostly fair to the northern Wioloen race and the eastern races. They lived at peace with each other.
“Yeah, Kgyne!” The other young man mocked while laughing, only to be hit in the face by the older man once again.
Julius sat down across from the older man at the table. “I see you all are being lazy again,” he stated while chuckling.
“Hey, it’s our break time,” Kgyne said, narrowing his eyebrows. “You’re the one who always overworks himself,” he continued, cutting himself some bread.
“We have to keep the farm safe,” Julius replied, leaning back in his chair. He yawned from sleepiness as he remembered his terrible sleep the night before. He had lay awake most of the night in the barracks unable to sleep as nightmares ate at his soul.
“That’s what the Degb are for,” Kgyne said back almost immediately. “C’mon, we’re higher ranking. We don’t have to walk around like that anymore. And you’re the captain now, Julius. We don’t have to work our asses off anymore for nothing but food,” He continued, becoming annoyed with Julius’ stubbornness. He slammed the bread knife on the table to draw attention from the other men.
“Don’t you agree, Ghn?” Kgyne asked, looking at the older man. Ghn nodded back in reply. “Aye. I’m with you on that one. All I’ve done my whole life is work,” He replied, waving his hands about. On his right was a wheel branded into his hand. This older man was in fact, a slave, or was a slave before.
“Quirinus is likely going to marry off Eudel to one of the Lund girls, the war is over for us. There is no reason to fight anymore,” Kgyne stated, calming down a bit. “Hell, it’s been over for the past ten years. Eric isn’t interested in fighting anymore. There is no reason to defend this land. We haven’t had an escaped slave in nearly five years. There is-”
“That’s because we’ve kept a watchful eye,” Julius interrupted. “Besides, life here for them isn’t too bad. Three meals a day. Free clothing. All this and all that. Not so bad for them. We’re the real workers,” he continued, only for Ghn to stare him down with disappointment.
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