Gerrik's War Journal 3rd Entry (Revised)

***Special Note to Readers*** I am writing this particular piece to be extra material to go along with my published Novel: The Adventures of D'artello: Love and War. This account stands alone by itself, but the main character, Gerrik, is the father of the hero in the novel. My intent is to publish this on my book's website: http://www.dartelloadventures.blogspot.com. The journal will contain several entries and I will post them in this community piece by piece so that reading the account is not daunting. Please visit my portfolio for all available entries. Any feedback is greatly appreciated and once I build up a little, I will award more GP.

Thanks to all returning readers for the feedback by the way. It was helpful in creating this revision.

Harpa 10, 1031

         Over the last few days, the soldiers keep coming and coming. They’re eating and drinking all of our food and wine, and they don’t work. Maria tells me I worry too much, but Norman has seen nearly one soldier for every three citizens on some other sites.
         What’s more, a young captain arrived today who gathered the whole site in congregation. Genzak has issued an ultimatum to Vashti not to expand any further west. I have never understood the tension between Genzak and our kingdom; this land dispute will only fuel this exhausting feud. Besides, before we came and settled it, the west was nothing but untamed bramble that belonged to no one. I refuse to believe Genzak has taken an overnight interest in this land.
         Erickson is royally furious because this means we can’t trade with Genzak merchants whose supplies and tools are not only cheaper than Vashti’s, but also of better quality. Now we’ll have to wait for Norman to deliver the orders from here to Vashti and have the supplies carted out to us.
On a map, we are more toward the Genzak border than the Vashti border and Erickson has been dealing with them since before I began laboring with him. They already have what we need when we need it. There is little sense in buying from Vashti.
         Right after the congregation we went to work, and after work we were at the pub. Maria was singing again, her voice is truly a gift. I met a man who I hadn’t noticed on the site before. He is Marcus, the traveling Genzak merchant. We talked for a long time about politics, Maria’s singing, and the sword.
         With a few drinks under our belts we went outside, got two swords from his stash, and he taught me a few techniques. I don’t remember much of it, but I do remember that he wanted to teach me more. I think I agreed, but Erickson found us and was very upset.
         He told me that if I am not intending to enlist, then to keep away from such things. He also said he’d never seen Marcus, and there was something very wrong with a man who would up and teach a youth like me, whom he’d just met, to use a sword.
         I trust Erickson, but this time he is wrong. Marcus makes me feel grown up. We can talk like men about politics, women, and combat. It’s settled, I will continue to learn under Marcus in secret.

-Gerrik of Vashti

see previous entry "Gerrik's War Journal 2nd Entry (Revised)" 
(b)more entries coming soon!(/b)