Commando Part 20

Standing in the camp the twelve traveling Sarcagosee warriors watched these reptilian humanoids retreat from the small island. Even though it was dark they could still make out the shapes and shadows of the reptilian humanoids pick up the dead. Watching these Marsh Stalkers leave Maurice felt comfortable. In the dark night the twelve Sarcagosee warriors stood with their weapons raised. Each of their shadows and shapes were poised in fighting or striking positions. Seconds passed after the party froze in their current positions. All of them must have appeared more like statues left on the island.

      Without any hesitation the party sprang into action. Using what light, they had available and the moonlight the party packed everything up. In a hurry they loaded everything they brought on the mounts then mounted the steeds. The night sky was becoming lighter indicating it was almost dawn. As soon as they mounted the party of twelve raced towards the road. Like something was giving chase the warriors galloped across the bridge and onto the wooded road. At full speed their steeds galloped down the road at a pace quicker than a horse. Maurice felt the wind blow past his face from the speed his mount galloped. Going at a pace faster than any horse made the world pass him like a blurry vision. The heavy thumping and pounding noise of the Cats’ paws thundering on the planks of wood was all they could hear.

      Leading his party of eleven riders the commando pressed on towards the swamps. Although dawn was not yet approaching, and it was still night he could barely make out the swamps. Those swamps were just miles away with a good distance still to go. His concept of time was blinded by whatever time they woke up, fought the monsters, packed up, sped off the island, and the darkness of the night. Before he even knew or noticed how far they had run dawn approached. It snuck up on him like a quiet mouse that had been living in your home for months without your knowledge.

      With the sun rising in the east every bit of the landscape could be seen ahead of them. The dawn’s light made everything more clear with color and brightness for a marsh. On both sides the marsh began transforming into a swamp. More trees, logs, patches of land and mud could be seen. It was clear they were getting closer to the swamps, which could be seen down the long wooden road. For the greater part of the morning the party slowed their steeds down to a trot. At a slowed pace Maurice blindly lead his party into the swamps.

      Once the warriors and soldiers entered the swamps memories came back to the commando. He recalled the days spent in the swamps miles past the borders of Borvados. There he and the expeditionary forces witnessed and faced horrors and many savages. Those swamps were filled with savages, predators, enemies, and that grotesque worm like carnivorous serpents. Such disgusting worms had maws, and would go for large prey like beast of burden, steeds, other predators, and anyone with a large figure about themselves. Realizing he was in another part of the Unknown Lands Maurice shook the memories away. His focus returned to the road that changed.

      Now the wooden road snaked and winded through the swamps. It wrapped around the trunks of large trees raised well above the waters and muck. In the trees an array of creatures, vines, lines, and green moss covered their branches. It was a decorative sight of green for a wild region. Among the branches lay scores of jumbo cats that appeared smaller than the steeds. These swamp cats watched the party of twelve warriors ride on the road passing their trees. One of them yawned while the others either watched or simply ignored them. Most of these tan, brown, black, gray, and cameo beige swamp cats watched the twelve sarcagosee. Each of them appeared more interested in the larger cat like steeds.

      Maurice could feel the eyes of those cats still on them as they passed the swamp cats’ dwelling. He wondered if those cats would attack them or just follow them out of curiosity. Coming to a slow pace Maurice turned his mount around causing his party to halt in the wooden road. With his gaze and attention focused on the trees they passed he studied the branches for any signs of the cats. Each one looked almost the same except for branches, amounts of green moss, holes, size, shape and the roots of every tree. To his relief none of the swamp cats followed the party. Looking around their surroundings the party decided to stop here for a meal.

      Twelve companions and twelve steeds at their morning meals before proceeding further down the road. Oraceth, Taregan, and Eyanosa fed their steeds dead squirrels, ferrets, mountain possums, and chunks of meat. When their meal was over the twelve warriors and goons prepared for another stretch of the journey. Everyone mounted up stirring their mounts to keep going. Well past the swamp cat dwelling, and their brief stop the party came across parts of the road that were broken, cracked, missing pieces. This did not hinder their journey as the steeds simply walked over them, jumped and even went around the damaged parts.

      Maphai’s voice emerged from the radio amongst the static. He picked it up and spoke to the mercenary. According to Maphai there was a station, lodging, stable, and harbor in a settlement six to fifty miles from where they should be. One of her crew members spotted them while patrolling in his dinghy. The mercenary leader told the commando that his men should not run into much trouble in these swamps. All they really had to deal with are crocodiles, swamp cats, some strange creatures with tentacles, and claws. She ended their conversation there to let them continue.

      He put the radio back in his pocket and proceeded on the road. A few more miles brought the party to a corpse of a long-deceased soldier. As usual the party halted as Maurice dismounted. The commando searched the corpse finding a combat knife, a pistol, seven bullets, boots, empty canteen, a nice ring and a bullet hole in the side of the soldier’s head. This soldier had apparently committed suicide after suffering malnutrition. Taking the items deemed useful Maurice searched the soldier’s neck. There was no dog tag around the deceased soldier’s neck. From the way this soldier was position it looked like he climbed onto the road from a canoe that he let drift away.

      Stashing the items away Maurice mounted and kept on the road. Between the first corpse found in the swamps, and the lodging settlement the party came across three more corpses. Two of these corpses were Vestrisian soldiers and the last one was a lost Condorian soldier. After a full day’s worth of travelling, they came to a settlement in the swamps. Night had been over the swamps for an hour by the time they reached their destination.

      In the dark they heard the voices of Maphai, Cagan, and Ordoz chatting next to a lodge. Their shadows and shapes could be seen in the lights that illuminated certain parts of this settlement. All over this settlement were lights, lamps, and hanging lanterns at each door, docks, balcony, and dozens or more along the road. From the way the lights shined one could county twenty or more structures in this one settlement. Unable to identify which structure was which Maurice led the party up to the lodge. As they dismounted a couple of stable hands appeared in the light. Letting the stable hands take the reins of the steeds the party of Sarcagosee grabbed their luggage and equipment. Under the lead of the commando the eleven warriors approached their new allies. Maphai turned to face them and beckoned them inside with a smile. She said there was enough room in this lodge for fifty or more patrons.