Table of Contents – (spoilers)
Father Morrenthall rode straight back to the jail tower from the freight depot, with Choke and Peep still flanking him to either side.
“So, what’s next, Father?” Peep asked.
“Next, Otilla, we begin shaking things up with the soldiers. Those in authority are too settled into their routines in this town.”
At the jail, Father Morrenthall knocked on the door. Knuckle opened its small, barred window almost immediately.
“Don’t bother unlocking the door, Sergeant. Has anyone been by?” Father Morrenthall asked.
“No, Father,” Knuckle answered.
“And has Srecko returned from his preparations?”
“Oh, yeah, Father. He brought his, uhh… stuff from his place and then went to the church to get the Wheel and that,” Knuckle said.
“Very good. As you were, then. We’re off to the fort again. Thank you,” Father Morrenthall said tapping his helmet’s temple in a salute to Knuckle as he turned to mount his horse.
Father Morrenthall rode across the yard and past the army stable, tapping his helmet again to the corporal groom, who was standing smartly at attention out front. Father Morrenthall, Peep, and Choke rode back up to the fort. On the way there, they passed three squads of new recruits that were being marched up and down the hill. The recruits were all armed with spears and had roundshields freshly painted in the Baron’s black and green. They carried with them packs that looked to have been laden with rocks. Of course, sergeants marched with them, screaming abuse and knocking on them with sticks and cudgels.
“Man, and Knuckle was complaining about being made a sergeant? He’s gonna love this!” Peep laughed.
At the fort, they were allowed straight through the gate, where Lieutenant Cooper was overseeing more recruits being put through basic combat drills with spear and shield.
“Greetings again, Father. Are you here to see Father Gerban?” Lieutenant Cooper asked, referring to the Baron’s steward, who kept his office just off the fort’s chapel.
“No, thank you, Lieutenant. I am here to speak to Captain Edison. Is he here at the fort?” Father Morrenthall asked.
“He is, Father. He is upstairs in the keep. Shall I send for him?”
“That shall not be necessary. We can go to him, if you assign someone to guide us.”
“I shall take you myself, of course, Father,” Lieutenant Cooper said smartly.
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
Father Morrenthall, Choke, and Peep handed their reins off to soldiers. Then they followed Lieutenant Cooper across the parade ground and into the wooden keep.
“Well, Lieutenant Bartholomew. I suppose congratulations are in order!” Lieutenant Cooper said cheerfully. He had been friendly to the squad from the start when they had come to the fort looking to accept the Lady Hart’s invitation to visit her, and he seemed even more so now.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you before you left this morning. Pleased to have you aboard, sir,” Cooper stopped to offer Choke his hand. They shook hands warmly. Then, Cooper turned to Peep: “And welcome to you as well, Miss Otilla! We are much blessed to have you!”
“Yeah, well, I aint in the army. I’m just an irregular scout,” Peep said with a grin as she shook Cooper’s hand.
“Some of our best are. Apologies, Father, for delaying your business. Follow me, please,” Lieutenant Cooper said, nodding deeply to him.
“Not at all, Lieutenant. Thank you.”
Lieutenant Cooper led them upstairs to the top floor, where Captain Edison was seated behind a desk with a pair of big ledger books open in front of him.
“Ah! Father Morrenthall! My apologies. I was not made aware you were coming,” Captain Edison said as he stood up to nod deeply to him.
“Not at all, Captain. I come by completely unannounced. It is I who should apologize. I do hope I don’t disrupt important work.”
“Important, yes. But nothing that won’t keep. Lists, lists, and more damned lists! If I had known how many lists there were to deal with in soldiering, I think I would have opted to go into the clergy,” Captain Edison laughed. “Please, have a seat, Father. Miss Otilla, you are welcome, of course. Please do have a seat as well.”
“Thank you,” Father Morrenthall said, as he did.
Peep nodded at the Captain as she took her seat.
“Now, would you prefer a private word?” Captain Edison asked, looking Lieutenant Cooper’s way.
“No, I think what I have to say concerns all here. This shall save us explaining it to them,” Father Morrenthall said.
“Excellent. Well then, Lieutenants, you may have a seat as well.”
“Sir,” Lieutenant Cooper saluted as he pulled two chairs from the nearby table for himself and Choke.
“Thank you, sir,” Choke saluted.
Captain Edison saluted Choke in return, his bearing hardening just a little as he finally looked his way.
Once all were seated, Father Morrenthall began:
“Well, Captain, I suppose I should get right to it. I have grave concerns about the amount of corruption that seems to have festered here in Spitzer. Both in town and here at the fort. Of course, I say this not to insult you, or any of your officers. I am sure you all have done your best. However, with what has come to light in the case of Lieutenant Dixon in Bristlehump, I am sure you can agree that a proper investigation is required. Has the Baron made you fully aware of the situation?”
“He has,” Captain Edison said darkly. “And he has ordered me to give you all possible help in your investigation. I am at your disposal, Father. Further, if I may add: I was shocked and appalled at what he told me. If I did not know that you yourself were the source of the information, I would not have believed it. However, with the facts being what they are, I can only say that I am ashamed at their implications, and wish for you to root out all the malfeasance that can be found. You have my full support, Father.”
“Well, thank you Captain Edison. I am happy to hear you say that. Now, may I ask: has Lieutenant Cooper here been made aware of any of this?” Father Morrenthall asked.
Lieutenant Cooper was now sitting like a statue, his face frozen in alarm.
“No, Father, he has not. I thought that, given the circumstances, you should be the one to inform personnel as you see fit,” Captain Edison said.
“Thank you, Captain. I applaud your discretion. So, Lieutenant Cooper, as magistrate of Spitzer, I have been given special orders by Baron Hart himself to root out corruption. Everything you hear today is for your ears only. Do not speak of it to anyone. Understood?”
“Yes, Father. Of course.”
“Good. Further, any information you have, or any suspicions you may have, in regards to corruption should be communicated to me in private as soon as possible. I shall make myself available to you. I cannot stress this enough: if I discover an individual has withheld relevant information from me, it shall go very badly for them. However, sins confessed and repented by a person of their own free will are very likely to be forgiven. I trust everyone here understands me,” Father Morrenthall said.
“Yes, Father,” both Captain Edison and Lieutenant Cooper said.
“Very good. Now, my first order of business is getting the town itself into order. I understand that your forces have been used as a constabulary under the authority of Sheriff Waters. I have been told that this is usually undertaken by a Lieutenant Hamon and his Sergeant Euan. Is this correct?”
“Yes, Father, that is so,” Captain Edison answered. “And I would like to say that I do not feel that such policing is the best use of our soldiers. However, given the… rustic nature of this Spaggot Barony, there really is no other option, apparently.”
“I quite agree with you, Captain. So I think it is time for us to change things about. What I propose is that, effective immediately, you recall Lieutenant Hamon and all his men to the fort, and assign Lieutenant Cooper and some of his men to help me in town. That is, for the time being as a temporary measure, until I can establish my own constabulary.”
Captain Edison blinked at this. Then he thought about it for a long moment.
“Pardon my saying so, Father, but that shall be very disruptive. Hamon and his men are well accustomed to policing the town. And Lieutenant Cooper here has a good handle on how things work at the fort. To reverse their roles, along with all their people… well, like I said: Quite disruptive.”
“I understand, Captain. But people getting too accustomed, and too familiar, with their roles is precisely how trouble such as we are facing begins. To disrupt the relationships through which corruption occurs is very much the point. As well, to do what I need to do in town, I need men that are not as likely to have been corrupted by the corrosive elements there. I am sure you understand,” Father Morrenthall said pleasantly.
“I do, Father. But this is extreme, I think. We are in the midst of gathering and training recruits. Lieutenant Cooper is my best man in this regard. Is there no other way?”
“Captain Edison. It was my understanding that the Baron Hart gave you explicit orders that you are to help me in every way possible. I have told you what I need. Do you now seek to obstruct me?” Father Morrenthall asked sharply.
Captain Edison inhaled sharply as he stiffened in anger. He remembered his place, however.
“No, Father. I do not. Very well. You may have Lieutenant Cooper. How many of his men do you require as well?”
“Thank you, Captain. As to the number of men: how many is it that Lieutenant Hamon has been using?”
“Sergeant Euan and ten soldiers, I believe, Father,” Captain Edison answered stiffly.
“Then I am quite sure that shall suffice. And I do assure you, Captain, that I do not anticipate needing them for long. I am quite confident that I shall establish my own constabulary shortly,” Father Morrenthall said.
Captain Edison scowled at this. “Pardon me, Father. But just how is it that you are so confident of this? Isn’t your man, Thorn, off in the north with Captain Fairchild now? Have you some secret pool of mercenaries to draw upon? I have to tell you, with us already in full recruiting mode, I do not expect you to have any success finding men that are worth a damn.”
“I thank you for your concern, Captain. And your doubts are well-foundationed. However, I was just in Strana reporting to the Bishop and my commander, Abbot Xabier. With things being as they are, Abbot Xabier thought it prudent that I be given some proper men to help me take things in hand. I am expecting them any day.”
At this news, Captain Edison blinked and then stared hard at Father Morrenthall. Father Morrenthall smiled back at him pleasantly.
“Proper men, you say, Father. Pardon me, but how many? And just what kind of men?” Captain Edison finally asked.
“I expect about half a dozen. They shall all be soldiers of the Knights of the Holy Sword. Men accustomed to investigating heresy and policing civilians. Fighting and killing as well, I am sure. So do not worry, Captain, you shall have Lieutenant Cooper back as soon as they arrive. And I shall be well-supported in delivering on the Baron’s mandate. Have no doubt about that.”
“Alright, then. Is that everything for now, Father?” Captain Edison asked with a somewhat dazed air.
“I think so, Captain. But may I ask that Lieutenant Cooper be allowed to choose his own men for his new assignment?”
“Yes, yes. That’s fine. And, just how long do you expect to have need of Lieutenant Bartholomew, Father? He is to take command of a platoon of fresh recruits. To be taken into rough country. He really ought to be attending to those duties as soon as possible, don’t you think?” Captain Edison said.
“I quite agree, Captain. Just as soon as my people arrive from Strana, I shall send Lieutenant Bartholomew and his sergeants to you directly. It should not be more than a day or two, at most,” Father Morrenthall said, his tone still friendly as he chose not to react to Edison’s saltiness.
“Alright, then. If that’s all, then, I suppose we all have a lot to do, Father.” Captain Edison stood up and nodded deeply to Father Morrenthall.
Father Morrenthall and everyone else stood up as well.
“Thank you for your help, Captain Edison. It is most appreciated,” Father Morrenthall said.
“Not at all, Father. Just doing my duty. But, if I may impose just a little: may I have a private word with Lieutenant Bartholomew before he leaves? He is, after all, my newest officer and I have not had a chance to even speak to him yet.”
“Of course, Captain! I quite understand. Otilla and I shall accompany Lieutenant Cooper as he selects his men to come down with us to town. It will give me a chance to talk with him more specifically about just what it is I need from them,” Father Morrenthall said.
“Thank you, Father,” said Captain Edison. He again nodded to Father Morrenthall, and then to Peep, before returning Lieutenant Cooper’s salute.
Choke remained standing at attention in front of Captain Edison’s desk as the others left. Captain Edison came around his desk and stepped in front of Choke to look him up and down as though he were on parade inspection.
“You seem well equipped, at least,” Captain Edison said. “What specifically do you and your sergeants bring to us, in terms of gear and weapons?”
“Sir. I have a light warhorse and am fully trained in mounted combat with lance and sword. I have a longbow and am moderately proficient in using it. My sergeants are both mounted on their own horses, but do not fight from horseback. Sergeant Theodas is equipped with chainmail and armed with a greatsword and warhammer, as well as a longbow that he is moderately proficient with. Sergeant Nikolas is equipped as a light scout. Leather armor, buckler, shortsword, and a hunting bow he is a good shot with at shorter range. Otilla is similarly equipped as a scout with the gear you saw her with today, as well as a Scythan warbow on her light warhorse.”
“Very well. I’ve been given worse to command,” Captain Edison conceded. “As to what you shall be given: thirty spearmen. New recruits, as raw as they come. Of course, they are from these parts, so they are tough, rough and ready types. But green. Less than a week in. And likely to chafe at discipline. It is discipline that shall be key with them. You are taking them into the bush. Beyond any proper oversight. I will be honest with you: I do not care for this situation.”
Choke remained silent; his eyes fixed straight ahead as Captain Edison glared at him for a long moment. Eventually, Captain Edison continued:
“I have great respect for the Brothers of the Holy Stone. I have served alongside some of them in combat. At the Alquinian frontier. So I understand why it is that you and your fellows were able to rise to the position you find yourselves in. But that does not mean I like it.”
Again, Captain Edison glared long and hard at Choke. Again, Choke held his silence.
“I have also served at the Scythan frontier. I have fought the Scythan. I have seen what their raiders do. You understand what I mean by this, yes?”
“Yes, sir. I understand, sir.”
“You do? You have fought Scythans? You have seen what their raiders do to people?” Captain Edison snapped.
“No, sir. I… I misspoke. My apologies, sir. I have been educated on their tactics and ways, sir.”
“At your Brothers of the Holy Stone school in Pekot.”
“Yes, sir.”
“By Brother Willem.”
“Yes, sir. Him, and other Brothers, sir. Combat veterans, all, sir.”
“Well, learning about something, however worthy the teachers, is a far cry from experiencing it yourself.”
“Yes, sir. I understand that I misspoke, sir,” Choke said briskly.
“I see you have Dixon’s sword, there. A fine piece. The Baron told me he was killed by the Outfit agent after you arrested him for his malfeasance.”
“Yes, sir.”
“With this story coming to us through Father Morrenthall as it did, we have no choice but to accept it. But others you will meet are going to assume that it was you who killed him. With what you are, they are going to paint you as the devil in the story. You understand this, yes?” Captain Edison said, his tone neutral.
“I understand that, sir. I can only do my best, sir.”
“Yes. I don’t suppose it will hurt your feelings. You seem able to take some abuse. From a superior, at least. However, I expect you to be civil to your fellow officers, even when they are not so to you. If you are to join us, which, it seems you must, then it is you who must bear the weight of it. You must be the one to rise above. I will not have disruption amongst my subordinates. Is that clear, Lieutenant?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, about who you are: do you even have a family name? Are we just to enter you into the lists as Lieutenant Bartholomew?”
“I am sorry, sir. I have only the one name, sir.”
“Indeed. Well, as an officer of the Royal Bitina Army, you shall need at least one more. So you may as well choose it now.”
“Sir?” Choke asked, confused.
“A family name, man! You need to pick one so that we can enter it into our lists. I will not be in command of a fatherless lieutenant! Not on paper, at least.”
“Yes, sir. Uhhh… I suppose, Pekot, sir? Would that be suitable?”
“Bartholomew Pekot. Sounds fine to be. So be it,” Captain Edison said as he moved back around his desk and took his seat. “At ease, Lieutenant.”
Choke relaxed his posture. Captain Edison moved one of the ledgers on his desk and flipped through its pages. Then he carefully inked in Choke’s new name.
“Lieutenant Bartholomew Pekot. And Sergeants Nikolas and Theodas. With Otilla of the Holy Fire to be retained as an irregular scout. You shall all begin drawing pay immediately,” Captain Edison said.
“Thank you, sir. Pardon me, but one of my sergeants was asking about this. How much is our pay, sir?” Choke asked.
“As lieutenant you shall draw fifty silver a month. Your sergeants, twenty-five. And Miss Otilla, twenty.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, as to some other particulars that you may not be aware of, coming to us from, shall we say, an irregular background. The soldiers we will provide you will all have standard roundshields and spears, provided by the Baron, as he was the officer to raise them. Many probably will bring along their own personal arms and armor, such as they have. Be that as it may, any additional kit and armor is your responsibility to provide for your men. I don’t suppose that you have the means to do much about that, do you?” Captain Edison asked with only the faintest suggestion of a sneer.
“No, sir.”
“I didn’t think so. So, your men shall remain rough and ill-equipped. Sad for them I suppose. Even so, trained up properly, they shall probably be of some use. Any questions so far?”
“Ah… yes, sir. Assuming they have not deserted, there were seven soldiers left of the Bristlehump garrison. Am I to command them as well?”
“Yes, of course. Any non-commissioned officers amongst them?”
“Not that I know of, sir.”
“Very well. Anything else?” Captain Edison asked.
“Yes, sir. If I were to have the means to outfit my men more properly; say, in leather armor; would I be able to procure that from the armorers at the fort here?” Choke asked.
“In normal times, yes. But I am afraid they are all quite busy armoring the recruits that your fellow officers have earmarked for their units.”
“I see, sir. So, may I assume the men I shall be given will be those that have not already been selected by other officers?” Choke asked.
“Yes, you may assume that. In other words: the dregs,” Captain Edison smirked. “Do you think, for some reason, that you deserve better?”
“No, sir. I just wanted to be clear about what I shall be working with, is all. We will do our best, sir.”
“Good. Do that. Listen, Lieutenant, I will be blunt with you now. I do not like this situation one bit. It seems we are facing an imminent goblin invasion and we are light here in Spaggot. Far too light. Too many raw recruits, and not enough officers to lead them. Indeed, not even enough suitable men for sergeants and corporals. So I understand why the Baron made the choice he did with you. And I agree with him. But I do not like it.”
Captain Edison paused to glower at Choke for a bit. Choke met his eye briefly and nodded in acceptance of his opinion, before again looking away to a middle space. Captain Edison went on:
“However, as a soldier, it is not for me to like or dislike my orders. We all must do our duty, and so I shall. Bristlehump has been lost to us already, it seems, and thirty raw, rough, and ill-equipped recruits is not so much to gamble on you. So, if I may give you some advice as to how to go about doing your duty: Your men are bushrat scum from these infernal, choked-off, bushy, boggy hills. These are not the makings of proper heavy infantry. But as properly trained and disciplined light infantry, they could be of great use to any commander. Skirmishers and scouts. Every army needs them. And troops like those are little better than bandits at the best of times.
“So get to know your men, Lieutenant. Learn what skills they possess. If they can shoot, get them bows. Have them make shortbows for themselves, if they are able. Many of them will be. As you collect horses from your bandit kills, mount those soldiers that can ride. Let nothing you gather from your kills go to waste. Your men will never be anything more than scouts and skirmishers, and a nudge and a wink away from bandits themselves. So you may as well lean into that from the beginning. I expect that with Miss Otilla helping train them, you all shall be able to make a fearsome lot of your boys. I give you thirty scum. If, in six months, you can come out of the bush with a unit of twenty light-horseman skirmishers, I will be very well pleased with you. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Good. Now, as to discipline: the first deserters must be tracked down and hanged as an example to the rest. And there will be deserters. These men are scum who have been pressed into service. And, being local scum, they are not going to like you one bit, I expect. Drive them hard to Bristlehump, and task Otilla and your scout sergeant to watching the recruits at night. Assign the likely troublemakers on a watch together. Some will slip off. They must not escape. Catch them, and hang the worst of them. Flog the rest. The men must fear your sergeants more than they fear the enemy. And you must be the only path to mercy for them. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. We shall do our best, sir.”
“That is all the very best of us can ever do. Very well, Lieutenant. I have given you thirty. Bring me back at least twenty that are worth a damn! Good luck. Dismissed.”
“Thank you, sir!” Choke saluted his new commander smartly and left to catch up with Father Morrenthall.
Muse Vassal 