The Half Dwarf Prince: 02 - The Dwarf War by J. M. Fosberg Page B

didn’t show much promise.
    Another battalion showed up some time later. They showed a degree of discipline. They weren’t as good as the first company or even the first battalion, but they weren’t nearly as bad as the second battalion. Two more battalions showed up around the same time. One of them showed the same moderate discipline and control as the previous battalion. The sixth and last battalion to show up caught Bergmann’s eye, though. Their uniforms weren’t very crisp, and they seemed to blow off the drill movements. They went through them a few times just to have them fresh in everyone’s mind, but they didn’t seem overly interested. But Bergmann could see that these soldiers seemed to be much more comfortable with their weapons. Unlike the men in the other battalions, these men carried their swords on their hips, offset to the front or back slightly, where the weapons were more easily drawn. Bergmann knew that these were the men with experience. These men had used those weapons in fear and anger. They weren’t just for show.
    Bergmann had what he needed. He watched as all of the battalions, six in total, formed up. In front of each battalion stood its commander. The battalions were split into two regiments, with three battalions per regiment. Each of the two regiments had a regiment commander, who stood a dozen paces in front of the line of battalion commanders. Standing two dozen paces further out from them, and centered between them, was the brigade commander.
    Bergmann made his way out onto the parade field. When the brigade commander saw him coming, he called attention. The two regiment commanders turned around and called attention. The six battalion commanders then turned around and, from left to right, they each called their battalions to attention. Bergmann walked straight to the brigade commander. When he got close he realized it was Commander Boris.
    Commander Boris brought his fist to his chest in a salute. “King Bergmann , the army is assembled and ready for the demonstration. The only units that are not here are the city guards. They are not part of the main army, sir.”
    “I don’t want to see your demonstration , Commander. I have been watching your army for hours. I have seen everything I need to see. Come with me. There are some things that need to be settled,” Bergmann said, turning toward the army and walking toward the left regiment.
    Boris and Rupert followed behind him. Bergmann walked past the regiment commander, waving for him to follow. Bergmann walked straight up to the commander of the battalion on the right.
    “What is your name , Commander?” Bergmann demanded.
    “I am Captain Merwein , sir,” the man said, with an air of superiority.
    “Take out your sword , Captain,” Bergmann said.
    The man gave him a confused look, but he pulled out his sabre.
    “You are relieved,” Bergmann said. “Your battalion is lazy and undisciplined. Leave your sword and go.”
    “You can’t fire me. I am the king ’s cousin.”
    “ I don’t care. You’re relieved. Go talk to your cousin. I am sure he can find you somewhere else in the city where you can be worthless, but you are not going to lead in my army.”
    The man’s face turned red , and he raised his sword. Bergman stepped forward and kicked the inside of one of the man’s feet, then punched the man in the chest as his feet went out wide. The man fell flat on his back. He was already trying to get up, but Bergmann kicked him back down to the ground, then stepped on his sword arm. The king’s cousin tried to pull his arm free, but Bergmann was lifting his axe off his back now. He usually fought with it two-handed, but it was light enough that he could wield it with one. He turned the axe blade-up and set the spike, which protruded wickedly from the opposite side of the weapon’s head, on the man's forehead. The man stopped fighting to get up.
    “You have two choices , king’s cousin. You can let go of that sword