Alexandri de Grecci stood up in the saddles, scanning the fields and orchards of northern Italy. Two days had gone by since Francis of Genoa had passed, marching his armies to Genoa, to safety from 'the Greek Sow' that was Alexandri.
Sitting back down, Alexandri waved his gaunleted hand, motioning for his small council of mercenary leaders, and employers.
As they approached, Alexandri scanned the land again. Noonday sun was beating down upon his men, many had dropped out after the gruesome summer march. They sat in wagons at the rear of the column, their humors out of balance. The Landskechts were the first, not used to the extreme's of Italian countryside, the cold northern winters rare in the Piedmont.
First to the knoll was Aldo Ambrogio, a mercenary captain born to a Milan potter, and veteran of the inter-state wars of Italy. His olive skin would often be hidden by the forest green breeches, blue jerkin, and a flabby leather hat.
Next was the employer, Fulgenzio Teradoro, a Venician trader who owned several warehouses in Venice, and many more across the Mediterranean. His coffers made up most of the payment to the Greek and his small army of conderterri, Landskechts, Swiss, and Franco-Spanish war veterans. He was a bulging man, whose horse was almost dead with the weight, and his velvet green tunic stretched out over the saddle pommel. Wearing only armor leggings and gauntlets, his round head was slowly balding, making the merchant look like a very rich and volumtous monk.
The last was a Parisian man. Henri Daumier, a veteran of two Franco-Spanish wars, and leader of the "French Jinettes" the combination of Spanish caracole, and hard-riding French knights. Wearing a breastplate over a blue jerkin, he also wore yellow and red leggings. His arms were covered by chainmail and his forearms were gauntlets of steel. A very pale man, his face was cut and regal, with a hooked nose and a broad brow. Wearing a Spanish morion, it was festooned with orange plumes.
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