Reincarnated to the Past 40a (Patreon)

Reincarnated to the Past
Interlude: 40a

-VB-

Kettin Slave I

I decided to accompany the master on his self-imposed mission to rid the tribe of a potential enemy.

When I asked the master if I could, I think he was happy that I decided to follow him.

I supposed that it made sense. Out of all of the “slaves” he held, I was neither a woman or a Scythian; I was just a slave but still of kin to the tribe. Slaves could, if they showed willingness, get out of slavery, but if only the slave compensated the master. Following the master onto the battlefield and fighting for him was a good compensation, but not all slave owners let their slaves follow them onto the battlefield.

My master was weird like that.

Master was …

How do I even go about describing the master? Mistress was a normal woman, if a little hot blooded and rude. She was still a good mistress who kept good care of slaves like me. The master, however, went out of his way to help us. Sure, he had us to sometimes do demeaning tasks like collecting shit, but when he told us all what it was for, I understood that it was only superficially demeaning; he gave us tasks that were important to the farm and his estate, which meant that he was trusting us slaves.

He rewarded the slaves based on how well they did, and I got myself good shoes that the master personally crafted!

In fact, I could even go out of my way to say that I might have one of the best shoes in the tribe. Slaves, tribe women, and warriors all alike looked at my shoes in envy, and the master was very keen about making sure none of us were abused by anyone else. Oh, there have been attempts to steal my rightfully earned shoes, but I didn’t let anyone steal it.

I fought back … but that may be why the master had less of a following coming with him. It was my fault, so I had to make up for it.

And when the master, who knew why he had less support, met me, he just smiled and told me that all was fine.

Was it any wonder why slaves that would otherwise run away from their masters stuck with him?

But that was all “sprinkling season” as the master liked to say.

“Are you sure about this, master?” I asked him.

Another slave and I, the only two volunteers from his clan and estate, stood inside the master’s workshop, where he made wonderful and crazy things. In the far corner of the workshop, the master reached into the cabinets where he kept some of his better works. From that cabinet, he pulled out two odd looking weapons.

They were warhammers, but the head of the hammer, which sat on top of a long handle and shaft, was small. One side of the hammer was a flat hammer but the other side was a short but thick wedge. Hell, it might even work as an axe if I tried it.

“Of course, I am, Rom. Here.”

I took one from the master and immediately buckled.

‘The entire weapon is made out of metal?!’ I thought in shock and looked at Oryum, the other slave, who also met my eyes with his own widened eyes.

“Our enemies are very likely to have heavy armor,” the master said seriously. “They’re very likely to have shields as well. These hammers are designed specifically to counter those defenses. While we are on the move, I will be training you to fully utilize this weapon as well as unarmed combat.”

I blinked.

D-Did he intend to train us to become warriors?

“Slings and bows take too long to master, so I will instead have you two learn how to use this,” he added as he reached back into the cabinet and pulled out two clunky weapons. It was a clunky weapon but the general shape of it was that of a bow.

“What is it?”

“Crossbow. It’s a weapon I use, actually, though mine is significantly better. I used it to repel the Scythians,” the master said fondly as he handed each of us one crossbow. “You won’t be the only two using this weapon, though. Unlike the warhammer, I want as many warriors to know how to use this.”

“Just … how much have you been preparing for this, master?” I asked my master, Wiseman Alan.

He laughed as he led us to the back…

And I gawked at the sight of rows and rows of crossbows hanging upside down unloaded on layered racks.

“Let’s just say that I have been busy for the past few months. I do not put my fate in the hands of ours, and certainly, I do not prepare lightly.”

There were enough crossbows here to arm a hundred warriors and enough bundled bales of arrows that should last us … well, I was not an expert of war or even a proper warrior. Master was.

I could see the master going out to conquer all of the neighboring tribes. If it wasn’t for the fact that all of Kettia was united, then I could see the master considering the neighbors as threats and conquer them all within the span of a year. I could see it.

Already, I saw how easy it was to use this crossbow. Getting already skilled warriors to use it?

Now that…

I shivered in place in excitement.

‘I want to see that in action.’

“So,” the master asked solemnly. “Are you prepared to become a warrior?”

“Yes!” I said quickly.

Master smiled.

---

And I would. I would follow my lord from battle to battle, seeing him recruit unruly mobs and train them into professional armies. He swept across what he called the “northern Greek” world. I was there to see the Siege of Byzantion, the Submission of Lydia, the formation of Skemo Mys, and the rise of the Kingdom.

-Archontes Rom “Scarface” of Byzantion, inscription in the Ancient Palace of Kings, carbon dating 932 BC