Free MA02 Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin

distance from the encampments, we simply traversed the line without approaching them too closely, and thus escaped detection.
    Periodically, we would creep closer to an encampment or climb a tree to improve our view. Aahz seemed very absorbed in his own thoughts, both when we were actually viewing the troops and as we were traveling to new locations. Since I couldn’t get more than an occasional grunt or monosyllable out of him, I occupied myself making my own observations.
    The soldiers were clothed roughly the same. Standard equipment seemed to include a leather helmet and breastplate, a rough knee-length cloth tunic, sandals, sword, two javelins, and a large rectangular shield. Apparently they were not planning to move immediately, for they had pitched their tents and spent most of their time sharpening weapons, repairing armor, eating, or simply lolling about. Occasionally, a metal-encrusted soldier, presumably an officer, would appear and shout at the others, whereupon they would listlessly form ranks and drill. Their practice would usually grind to a halt as soon as the officer passed from view.
    There were occasional pieces of siege equipment designed to throw large rocks or spears long distances, though we never saw them in operation. The only pieces of equipment which seemed to be used with any regularity were the signal towers. Each encampment had one of these, a rickety affair of lashed-together poles stretching roughly twenty feet in the air and surmounted by a small, square platform. Several times a day, one soldier in each encampment would mount one of these structures, and they would signal to each other with pendants or standards. The towers also did duty as clotheslines, and were periodically draped with drying tunics.
    All in all, it looked like an incredibly boring existence. Infact, from my appraisal, the only thing duller than being a soldier of the Empire was spending days on end watching soldiers of the Empire!
    I commented on this to Aahz as we lay belly-down on a grassy knoll, surveying yet another encampment.
    “You’re right, kid,” he admitted absently. “Being a soldier is pretty dull work.”
    “How about us?” I probed, eager to keep him talking. “What we’re doing isn’t exactly exciting, you know!”
    “You want excitement?” he asked, focusing on me for the first time in days. “Tell you what. Why don’t you just stroll down there and ask the Officer of the Day for a quick rundown on how their army operates? I bet that’ll liven things up for you.”
    “I’m not that bored!” I amended hastily.
    “Then what say you just keep quiet and let me do this my way,” Aahz smiled and resumed his studies.
    “Do what your way?” I persisted. “Exactly what is it we’re trying to accomplish, anyway?”
    Aahz Sighed.
    “We’re scouting the enemy,” he explained patiently. “We’ve got enough going against us on this campaign without rushing in uninformed.”
    “How much information do we need?” I grumbled. “This encampment doesn’t look any different than the last five we looked at.”
    “That’s because you don’t know what you’re looking for,” Aahz scoffed. “What have you learned so far about the opposition?”
    I wasn’t ready for the question but I rose gamely to the challenge.
    “Um ... there are a lot of them ... they‘re well-armed ... um ... and they have catapults ...”
    “That’s all?” Aahz sneered. “Brilliant! You and Badaxe make a great team of tacticians.”
    “Okay, so teach me!” I shot back. “What have you learned?”
    “You can spend years trying to learn military theory without scratching the surface,” my mentor replied sternly. “But I’ll try to give you the important parts in a nutshell. To appraise a force, such as we’re doing now, remember two words ‘Sam’ and ‘Doc’.”
    “‘Sam’ and ‘Doc’,” I repeated dutifully.
    “Some folks prefer to remember ‘Salute’ but I like ‘Sam’ and ‘Doc’,” Aahz