He let the shovel rest for a moment as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “If you had told me five years ago we’d be digging trenches with a band of mercenaries, I’d have laughed in your face.” Jonrell straightened, letting his arms hang. He smiled. “It’s definitely a far cry from the courts of Cadonia.” Cassus looked around at the band of grunting soldiers, crinkling his nose as the wind shifted. “It smelled nicer in Cadonia.” “Better company here though.” Jonrell nodded toward a few men giving one of the new recruits a hard time with some good-natured jesting. Cassus thought of all the nobles who once looked down on him and his family for coming from a minor house. He still found it hard to wrap his head around being so accepted by a band of cutthroats. “Much better, when I think about it.” Jonrell started digging again.Cassus went to do the same, and paused. “Why are you doing this?” Jonrell looked up. “The trenches? Basic protocol for setting up a camp.”
