Free Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow by J. Michael Fluck Page B

the senior sergeant for the Weirleader. He refused to take a commission as an officer, preferring to remain a senior sergeant. Pekram was a very skillful high-level fighter of great prowess. He actually commanded the company when Mkel served within the infantry unit to allow him to gain experience in deploying, maneuvering, and training those men. This enabled Mkel to best employ his and especially Gallanth’s power and weaponry to aid them, as well as to just get the infantryman’s overall experience.
    Pekram led the company in a very tough but down-to-earth manner. His thick mustache and shaven head added to his intimidation, while his piercing light brown eyes were always alive with intensity. His features were rough and weathered, but he had a quick sense of humor, enabling him to handle all personnel matters within the garrison very succinctly. You never had to guess where you stood with him.
    In battle, Pekram wielded a massive mithril/steel alloy great sword capable of inflicting horrible damage; he could slice open an ogre with a single stroke. His mithril-lined breastplate armor gave him excellent protection and moderate spell resistance, making it extremely difficult to pierce, and it could even absorb or reflect several spells directed at him.
    He was a frontline leader and always went where his men went, personally facing the toughest opponents in battle. Even though he was good and had a kind heart, he was rough by nature, distrusted wizards, and was only lukewarm to dragons, with only Gallanth getting his respect. Even though he and Toderan were friends, his sometimes less-than-professional methods caused some anxiety between them.
    The platoon leaders with their senior sergeants then began to make their way into the council room. There was no rush since the evening meal was still two hours away and this coordination meeting only needed to finalize the last details. The Weir’s garrison had three infantry platoons of forty men apiece, a land dragon platoon with four of the wingless dragon species, a heavy cavalry platoon, a catapult section, a sapper platoon, and a support corps section. This was all augmented with the ranger platoon, the dwarf infantry company led by Ordin, and the elf company led by Dekeen. All this was reinforced and supported by Gallanth and Mkel as well as Jodem, making it a very formidable force.
    The infantry platoon leaders walked in first: Akiser, Paloud, and Howrek, all of whom were commissioned lieutenants. They all wore the standard Alliance tunic and field trousers with their gold- or silver-colored diamonds on their right collar and the gold crossed sword/arrow symbol of the infantry on their left.
    Akiser, the 1 st Platoon leader, was a hungry young infantry officer with an excellent demeanor and the utmost respect of his men. He stood about the same height as Mkel, roughly five feet eight inches tall and about one hundred sixty-five pounds. His short blond hair and deep blue eyes hid his fierceness in battle. His overall goal was to command either a hippogriff aerial unit or a ranger platoon. While Mkel recognized the young officer’s potential and would like to keep him in the Keystone Weir garrison as long as possible, he would not stand in his way either. There would be a slight delay for his transfer until after this new situation could be assessed and the problem resolved.
    Paloud, the 2 nd Platoon leader, was a senior lieutenant of good wisdom, intelligence, and honor. In fact he possessed an almost impeccable character. He originally started his military career as a catapult crew member and then went to the academy in Draconia to get his commission. He was now the garrison’s senior platoon leader and was well respected by his men. He would be the one Mkel selects to be the next infantry company commander once he got a little more experience and a suitable replacement could be found. Paloud stood just shy of six feet tall and was of medium build, with black hair and