Table of Contents – (spoilers)
With the men settled in the barracks for the night with a proper meal, Choke gave Knuckle and Pinch a few simple standing orders and went downstairs for his dinner in the keep’s main hall. It turned out to be just him there. The fort’s cook, Corporal Tylor served Choke his dinner and informed him that Captain Edison was feeling poorly and would be taking his meal upstairs in his quarters. With Lieutenant Cooper dining with Father Morrenthall, and Lieutenant Hamon in Father Morrenthall’s dungeon, there were no other officers in town for Choke to dine with. This suited him just fine.
The next morning, the inspection of the men’s kit went without too much trouble. Knuckle then had the men march downstairs with their mess kits to stand at ease in the courtyard and wait for their turn at breakfast. They were so assembled a full five minutes before the bugler at the wall sounded morning muster.
Lieutenant Cooper and his men had returned late the night before. Cooper was also late getting up, and looked fairly bleary as he came out of the keep with his men, including all the new recruits, following him.
Sergeants Neil and Euan got the recruits and proper footsoldiers all standing at attention for inspection of their arms and armor. There were just over two-hundred men all together. The forty, or so, footsoldiers were in good leather armor with shields and spears, with various smaller melee sidearms at their belts. The new recruits were mostly unarmored, and all had fresh shields and spears, with just a few personal arms at their sides.
Lieutenant Cooper and Choke moved to stand side by side on the steps and watch the sergeants inspect Cooper’s men and their weapons. Cooper was looking fine in his chainmail and tabard with his longsword at his side. Choke, of course, was so outfitted as well, but also had his longbow in hand with a full quiver over his shoulder.
“Good morning, Lieutenant Pekot,” Lieutenant Cooper said with a pained grimace. “Pardon me, but I overindulged a bit much with the Father’s wine last night. He does set a fine table.”
“Glad to hear it, Lieutenant Cooper. I’m sure others who were invited to church yesterday are feeling far worse this morning,” Choke said with a satisfied smile.
Cooper winced. “Aye… that’s the truth, I am sure. I am quite glad to be clear of my confession and interview with the Father, I can tell you.”
“I am glad for that too, Lieutenant. I was sure you would make it through. I had a good feeling about you from the start.”
“Thank you. And please call me Cooper. Everyone does. That, or, Coop.”
“Thank you, Cooper. Please call me Bartholomew.”
“Or Bart?” Cooper smirked sidesways at Choke before giving him a friendly shoulder to shoulder bump. “I kid, of course. I am honored to call you Bartholomew. But you have another handle your little crew uses, don’t you?” Cooper asked.
“Yes, that’s from the Pekot school days. We all strove to earn nicknames for ourselves.”
“And yours is Choke. There must be a story there.”
“There is. Anyhow, I suppose it is breakfast time. Is there an officer’s breakfast in the hall?” Choke asked, touching the side of his nose conspiratorially as he changed the subject.
Cooper chuckled at the gesture and gracefully answered the question:
“No. We only gather for dinner. Time permitting. Breakfast and lunch we eat with the men.”
“Good. Well then, I suppose it is time to eat. After you and yours, of course,” Choke said, gesturing for Cooper to go ahead.
“Oh, no! After you, of course, Bartholomew,” Cooper protested.
“Thank you, but that would not be proper, Cooper. My boys are still unarmed recruits. They are content to wait their turn, as they have been. As well, it will save there being any confusion with the kitchen men about their fare.”
Cooper thought about this for a second before the gleam of understanding lit up his eyes.
“Ah. I see! There has been some correction of things around here in my absence. No doubt! Good! Good!” Cooper clapped Choke warmly on the shoulder. He then raised his arm and shouted at his man, Sergeant Neil: “Sergeant! Have the men fall out for breakfast!”
Cooper stood with Choke and the two watched the men move in orderly fashion around the side of the keep, heading to the kitchen. As the new recruits fell in, Cooper winced again with a sharp, hissing inhalation.
“Green as grass, the lot of them,” Cooper said, just quietly enough for Choke to hear. “All our best are off with Captain Fairchild on this goblin hunt. I hope we have time to get this lot into shape before the shit comes down.”
“About that, Cooper: Captain Fairchild was leading about five-hundred light spearmen, and just over a score of light-horseman skirmishers. That’s about right, yes?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“And they left you only about fifty men here to hold down the fort and town. Correct?” Choke asked.
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Now, as a Colonel, surely the Baron Hart commands more than just that. I suppose the rest of his force is off to serve the Alquinian frontier under the Baron’s son, Major Hart. Is that correct?”
“Exactly so. And they are the best of what the Baron has. Another five-hundred light spearmen. Twenty heavy horse. Fifty heavy infantry. And about fifty longbowmen. For a holding the size of Spaggot, the Baron Hart represents himself well against the heathen,” Cooper said proudly.
“No doubt. Now, pardon me speculating, but I am a little surprised he does not lead that force himself,” Choke said.
“Oh, he has. And he does. He and Major Hart serve at the frontier in a sort of rotation. When things heated up there two years back, they were both serving. Spaggot acquitted itself well!”
“Were you there with them?” Choke asked.
“Sadly, no. I was stuck here minding the home front. Bandits and goblins and wretched peasant squabbles for me. But I have been to the frontier. Just after that, when Major Hart cycled back home.”
“So, Cooper, is the Alquinian front very hot? Is there much heavy fighting?” Choke asked.
“Not really, no. The front is quite fossilized with both sides dug in along the Spearshaker Mountains. There’s a no-man’s-land between the lines. Plenty of grand skirmishing to be done in there, though! Lots of hopping about!” Cooper said cheerfully.
“So I’ve heard,” Choke said. Looking out at the courtyard, which now held only his men, Choke reckoned that he had given Cooper’s men enough of a lead on breakfast. He raised his arm Knuckle’s way: “Sergeant Theodas! Have the men fall out for breakfast! Just as dinner, yesterday! I’ll follow along soon!”
“Yes, sir!” Knuckle saluted.
Choke saluted in return and got the men moving.
“That is quite an improvement from the last time I’ve seen those fellows,” Cooper said. “You Holy Stoner boys don’t fuck around! I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing your operators at work at the Alquinian front, but I’ve heard the tales.”
“Thank you. Yes, as have I. Speaking of such things, did you have any encounters with the Alquinian wizards at your time there?”
“No, nothing like that. They keep well behind the front, as do our priests. In six months skirmishing there, I didn’t see a single Magic Missile flung our way. Never mind a Fireball or Lighting Bolt. Thank Altas and Stron for that! As I understand it, if either side starts with the spellcasters, the other side sends theirs in. And I don’t suppose that people clever enough to become spellcasters get into the racket to get themselves killed by each other!” Cooper laughed.
Choke joined him. “Well, thank you for the good conversation, Cooper. And the information. I hope that one day I can experience the front myself.”
“Likewise, Bartholomew, I am sure! And give it time. You’re in the mix now, so it’s only a matter of time before you wind up there. Like I said: It’s all about skirmishing there. And whatever your Spaggot Bushrats might look like now, they are precisely the sort of men that make the best skirmishers. And bandit hunting in Bristlehump is the perfect training ground.”
“Thank you, Cooper. Captain Edison told me the same thing.”
“Well, he knows his business. However muddy the waters around here have gotten under him,” Cooper said darkly. Then he cheered up again: “By the way, Bartholomew, your unit has a nickname already. Did you know that?”
“No. What is it?” Choke asked levelly.
“Pekot’s Bushrats. And I am the one that coined it. In my cups, I am prone to running my mouth a little, I am afraid. I wanted you to hear it from me first.”
Choke thought about all this for a moment. Then he nodded.
“I don’t mind it. It is precisely accurate, after all,” Choke said.
“I thought you wouldn’t. And as disrespectful as some may intend it to be, I meant no disrespect in saying it. With some work and the right kind of action, it can become a moniker to be proud of. Bushrats make the best skirmishers, after all. Get your lads tuned up properly and those that joke now will fear them the next time they come around. Just as their betters fear you presently. Of course, in this, matters of menace and intimidation, I think I am preaching to the choir, Brother Choke,” Coope laughed, giving Choke another friendly thump on the shoulder.
Choke laughed again. Then he extended Lieutenant Cooper his hand.
“Thank you, Cooper. I appreciate it.”
Cooper shook Choke’s hand warmly.
“Think nothing of it. You have a friend in me, Bartholomew. And now, I suppose we should stop lollygagging and go and see how breakfast is progressing. I do hope our lads are managing to get along together.”
***
After breakfast, which the men consumed sitting on the ground in the courtyard, Choke had the men stand at attention to address them. Looking them over, he could see that two square meals and a night indoors had done them a world of good. Two of them were still visibly ill, but no longer seemed likely to die at any moment. The rest, too, were in much better condition. Their attitudes were markedly improved, as well. Only Reece stood at attention with a vaguely insolent air. The others now at least had the energy to mask whatever ill-will they were harboring.
Choke was just drawing breath to commence shouting, when Peep rode through the fort’s main gates. She was on Gorgeous Boy and cut a fine figure on top of him, with her wolfhead cloak, shouldered shortbow rig, and Scythan warbow strung in its open saddle case along with a full quiver.
“Perfect!” Choke boomed cheerfully. “Otilla! Please join us and meet our men!”
Peep left her horse at the stables and ambled over to Choke with all the swagger of a bandit warlord. When she was at his side, Choke addressed the men:
“Men! This is Otilla of the Holy Fire. You no doubt have heard all about her, so I should have no need to waste our time explaining to you what she is all about. Otilla, I would like you to meet Pekot’s Bushrats!”
There was a stir amongst the men as Choke laid the pejorative on them.
“That’s right, men! That is the name our fellows here in the fort have given us. And believe me, it could have been much worse! They could have let Otilla here name us!”
At this, Knuckle and Pinch both laughed. Peep took a second before joining them. A number of the men chuckled or laughed as well. Choke allowed the break in the tension and gave it a moment before continuing:
“I jest, of course! But a great deal of truth is spoken in jest! We all could be called far worse! We all come from nothing! We all are children of the wild! I hold no one’s past against them, as other’s have held my past and race against me! They call us bushrats? Very well! We shall show them what men such as ourselves are capable of! We will remind them why civilized men are afraid to leave their city walls! They will thank Stron and Altas that we are on their side as they shudder at what we do to our enemies! What do you say to this lads? Are you with me?” Choke shouted at them.
About half the men issued a decent cheer at this.
“I can’t hear you! I said: Are! You! With! Me!” Choke shouted again
This time Pekot’s Bushrats rose to the occasion with a proper cheer.
“That’s better! Now, I ask you, men: what is the difference between an army skirmisher and a bandit? Let me tell you the answer: man to man, basically nothing. The only real difference is that one fights under a banner to serve their lord and king. He earns respect and coin from this service. But all the skills and tactics that make a bandit dangerous are also the trade of the scout and skirmisher. And who better than a bushrat for this!
“You may look at yourself and your fellows and scoff that you might become fearsome! You may think I am full of shit when I say that you can! But I tell you: Look upon Otilla of the Holy fire! Is she so big? And yet, as small as she is, do you like your chances if you were to run afoul of her in the dark places of this world?
“Otilla of the Holy Fire rides with us. She scouted for the bandit lord, Tom Rackham before reforming herself with our Lord Stron’s help. She cut the throats of the bandits Orcstabber and Horsecock. I could go on, but we have work to do. But do know that she shall be your teacher. Otilla of the Holy Fire will train you in the ways of the bandit and skirmisher. And you will be fearsome. Together we shall make being in Pekot’s Bushrats something to be proud of! Are you with us, lads!” Choke roared, drawing his sword and punching it into the air above himself.
This time, the men responded earnestly with a full-throated cheer. Once they had settled down, Choke continued:
“Now! Before we can go to Bristlehump to show the bandits around there what’s what, we have some work to do here. Our present mission is to clear the woods encroaching to the fort’s east, and to use that lumber to shore up the ditches we are digging. As I said yesterday, this work is as much soldering as cutting bandit throats. And we shall do it earnestly. So, men! All those of you who have experience lumbering take a step forward!”
Unsurprisingly about twenty of the thirty men stepped forward, including Dom and Lenny.
“This is good! We shall work in four teams. The first team shall clear the underbrush. The second shall fell trees. The third shall buck logs. And the fourth shall continue digging the trench, reinforcing it with those logs we cut. The members of these teams shall rotate when possible. Now, let us go get our tools! Sergeant Theodas: see to that!”
“Yes sir! You heard the Lieutenant! Let’s go!” Knuckle bellowed, getting the men moving towards the tool shed.
As the men fell out, Choke moved through them to find the two that were visibly ill, coughing with runny noses.
“You. And you,” Choke said to them. “Fall in with me. Come along.”
The two did so fearfully.
“Don’t worry, lads. You are obviously ill. You need rest. I believe there is an infirmary in the keep next to the chapel. Otilla, can you escort these two there? If possible, let Father Gerban know that I would like for them to have bedrest there for today and tonight.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Peep said. “Okay, dipshits, yar with me. Come on!”
“Take a rest today, lads. You can join us for meal times, if you want. We’ll see how you feel tomorrow morning. Alright?” Choke said.
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Yeah, thank you, sir! Bless you!”
“It’s fine. Rest up now.”
On the east slope of the fort hill, Knuckle, Pinch, Dom, and Lenny organized the work parties. Choke was pleased to see that Dom and Lenny were settling into their leadership roles like the corporals he had decided they would become. With robust bush and lumbering experience, the two quickly assessed the other men and assigned the work roles along with the tools. With Knuckle and Pinch backing them up, none of the men gave them any guff about it.
The only hiccup was when the axes were assigned. Reece shouldered his way ahead of the man Dom was handing the first to and held his hand out for it.
“No fuckin way, buddy!” Knuckle said, pointing at Reece with his cudgel. “Yar on a shovel in the ditch.”
Reece glared at Knuckle, but had learned better than to make trouble about it.
“Sir! Yes, sir!” he sneered as he fell back in line.
With the work parties assigned, Pekot’s Bushrats got to their labor. Knuckle stayed up atop the trench with the diggers, his strung longbow laying on his quiver nearby. With his longbow still in hand, Choke found a spot about halfway between the trench and the woods to the east where most of the men were working. Pinch was moving with his bow in hand amongst the work teams at the edge of the bush.
The Spitzer fort was on top of a large hill overlooking the valley where the Spitz River was joined by the Bristle Creek. It was an ideal location, with a good slope down to the valley on three sides. On the hill’s east side, however, the slope dropped just a little before rising up again to a forested hill that became something of a ridge. The ridge continued on to the northeast, with the Spitz River running along its base. From the fort, there was one trail down the east slope and into the forest, heading up to the ridge. The flanking hill and forested ridge were rugged and rough, which meant that a proper army would have a great deal of trouble attacking from the east. However, for a goblin hoard the terrain would seem a playground.
It was just a few minutes before Peep rode Gorgeous Boy down the hill to Choke.
“Father Gerban was quite the chum about having our two boys malinger with him,” she said. She dismounted and handed Choke the reins. “Ye may as well hang on to him, LT. Better one of us is set to get mounted, right? It’ll make running even less appealing.”
“Good thinking,” Choke said as he stroked Gorgeous Boy’s face and muzzle before giving his neck a good pat. The beautiful stallion nickered and gave Choke an affectionate nose bump in return.
Peep laughed. “Horse fucker. If ye were half as good with women, ye’d be dropping bastards all over the land.”
“Fuck you, Peep,” Choke said good naturedly, before wincing and looking around to make sure they had not been overheard. There was no one within earshot. Even so, Choke dropped his voice even further before he continued: “So, what do you make of our lads here, Peep?”
Peep paused to look over the men now hard at it clearing the forest.
“I dunno. They don’t look like shit to me. But, ye know, they’re what we got, so, fuck it, right?”
“That might be a bit harsh, Peep. They don’t look any different to me than all of the bandits we’ve been killing.”
“Yeah, my point exactly. They aint been shit neither.”
“So, at worst, our lads are going to be at parity with our foes. And they have us on their side. That shall make the difference,” Choke said with determination as he looked away from Peep to the men at work.
“If ye say so, LT,” Peep shrugged.
“I do. So what I’m going to need from you, Peep, besides skulking around and terrorizing them against running off, is to evaluate them. Watch how they move. How they work. How they are at moving in the bush. As time permits, start talking with them to get a sense of where their skills lie. Who can shoot a bow? Who has hunting experience? That kind of thing.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Ultimately, what we’re going to need is a small squad of scouts that you can work with. So start figuring out who that might be. This morning during kit inspection, I noticed about half a dozen of these guys have slings. They’re probably likely candidates.”
“Yeah, bushrats, indeed. Fuckin critter crackers usually aint bad in ambush neither. Sounds good. For now, ye want me down in the bush, though, right?” Peep asked.
“Yes. Now, that’s the trail we took to go to Pinewhispers, right?” Choke asked, pointing out the trail into the woods.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” Peep said, before breaking into a fit of giggles. “Man, d’ye remember that fat fuck priest of Lady Hart’s? The way he was swaying around on top of that donkey?”
Choke chuckled at the memory. “I believe it was a horse wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, well, you’d know more about that,” Peep laughed.
“Yes, thank you, Peep. It would probably be a good idea for you to scout out the trail and bush surrounding it. Why don’t you head up to the ridge and then scout your way back?”
“Yeah, that sounds tight. Alrighty, then! I’ll try to be back by lunch, LT!” Peep said, giving Choke what was almost a proper salute.
“Very good,” Choke said as he returned it. “Be careful, now.”
“Yeah, yeah. You too. Don’t go falling into any latrines.”
“I have no idea what that means, Peep.”
“Well, apparently that can happen to thems that get careless up here in the fort. Especially thems that have run afoul of the Outfit in some way or another. So just mind yar step, huh?”
“Ah. Yes. That whole business. Thank you for the reminder, Peep. Although it might have been more useful yesterday, before I spent the night here.”
“Oh, right. Well, I was high as fuck when I stopped by here yesterday. Whad’ye want from me? Okay, then, I’ll catch ye at lunch!”
Peep gave Choke a friendly wave behind her head as she raised up her wolfhead cloak and moved down the hill towards the forest with her bandit swagger.
Muse Vassal 