Read The Archer's Marines: The First Marines - Medieval fiction action story about Marines, naval warfare, and knights after King Richard's crusade in Syria, ... times (The Company of Archers Book 5) for Free Online

newfangled Swiss pikes and only fight on land here in England. 
           It’s little wonder that some of the apprentices who have been with us for a while are clearly disappointed that they have not been found worthy of going out to Cyprus as Marines; they’ll neither earn coins for serving nor have any chance of prize money until they do.
           While we’re gone our other four cogs and their crews will be used to carry messengers and to make periodic voyages along the coast to pick up new recruits and supplies.  In all, remaining behind under Thomas’ command will be almost five hundred archer apprentices who are still not strong enough to push a longbow out for a shot, the sailors for the ships that will be based here, two hundred or so able bodied men working as shipwrights and smiths and such, and a company of about one hundred and twenty experienced Marines to train the apprentices and help guard the castles. 
           Most, but certainly not all, of the experienced archers who will be staying behind are volunteers who for some reason or another don’t fancy spending months at sea and fighting as Marines.  Many have women and children they don’t want to leave and a few are either cowards or reasonable men who don’t like the odds.
          Until tonight there had been no announcement of a sailing date because I needed to talk to Thomas to find out if we need to take our men to fight for Hathersage Castle instead of to the Holy Land.   Even so, ever since Cornell died everyone has been expecting an announcement.  As a result, over the past few weeks, starting as soon as it became known that Cornell was dead, there have been fevered efforts by the men who fear being left behind to exchange positions with men assigned to the Holy Land galleys who don’t want to go. 
           At first Henry and Harold and I try to accommodate everyone who wants to trade positions. But so many apply for a chance to plead to change their assignments that we finally announce that anyone who wishes to join the voyage may trade places with someone who does not; and that anyone who does not want to go on this voyage may find a substitute and exchange with him.
           The idea that they might get killed or drowned doesn’t seem to matter much to those who are anxious to sail with me to Cyprus and the Holy Land; they want the chance of prize money and advancement no matter how dangerous it might be.
           They’re right to want to go with us; it’s rare when a commoner has an opportunity to advance himself in England these days.  Thomas and I certainly understand that.
     
     
                                       Chapter Three
                    While Thomas is away seeing to Hathersage Castle, Harold and Henry and I and the rest of our veterans spend our days training the men and getting things ready for our return to Cyprus and the Holy Land.  Peter Sergeant is usually with us.  Peter’s now a master sergeant over the regular sergeants and lives in the castle as my assistant. 
           Whenever possible we hold our serious discussions and do our planning around the table during our evening supper in the castle’s great hall.  We do it at the supper table both for the privacy it gives us and so George and the boys can listen and ask questions.  Surprisingly, the boys often ask questions, and good ones at that.  They’re lively lads and that’s for sure.
           Thomas says it’s important George and the boys understand what we are doing and why.  I’m increasingly coming around to his way of thinking.
           Helen and Angelo Priestly, the boys’ teacher, typically sit with us until the boys begin to yawn and ask permission to go to bed.  But they rarely contribute a word - although sometimes when we’re alone Helen will ask me privately about some of things we talk about at the table. 
           Also, I