Table of Contents – (spoilers)
In the Spitzer Keep’s main hall, Colonel Hart was seated with Choke, giving him an education on the Royal Bitina Army.
“Now, heed me well, Pekot: within the army, there are two ways to make rank as an officer. The most reliable way is to do it the way I did. To essentially buy your way in. Now, of course, as a nobleman it is my duty to serve, so I do so gladly. And in so doing, I made myself colonel because that is what I can provide for. I raise up the regiment and provide for it. This from the taxes I raise. And because I provide a complete regiment, I am a very useful colonel indeed. For, imagine if you will, if I wanted to become a general. To do so, I should need to provide the forces of one. And that is quite beyond my capabilities out of this barony. But, when those grander noblemen, the generals, are assembling their brigades and divisions, colonels such as myself are highly valued. For I provide my own regiment. And for the work of tight quarters killing, it is one of the finer ones in the army, if I do say so myself.
“Now, this way of attaining rank operates in much the same way for more junior officers. Let’s say, for example, that Captain Edison took it in his mind to become a major. If he had the means, he could raise up and provide the soldiers to become a major. Then he could go to court and find a general, or colonel, to take him on at that rank. Indeed, this has become so systematized that he needn’t really raise up and equip the soldiers himself. Usually, it is enough to pay the coin to do so directly to senior officer in question. So, you see, rank can be purchased. Remember this as you go on with your career. That the man giving you the orders may not have seen a lick of combat. A silk stocking filled with shit; I have heard it said of some of them. It is a problem. It is for this reason that my creative bookkeeping has been necessary.”
Colonel Hart paused here to look Choke in the eye gravely for a spell before continuing:
“Now, of course, there is the other way to attain rank. To earn it. Captain Edison does not have the means to buy rank. So, he must wait until I have a vacancy for a major and promote him. Or, failing that, I might trade him to another colonel for something or someone and he might get promoted there. Or demoted, as the case may be.”
“I see, sir. But, if that’s the case, as a lieutenant, can captains or majors trade me between themselves in this fashion?” Choke asked, quite uneasy.
“No. Of course not. This is my regiment. You might be moved between units within it, but it shall be by my direction. And you shall not be moved out of this regiment without my leave. I have this control because I raised up this regiment myself. However, if I were to accept a promotion to brigadier general without having to provide the brigade, say because the division’s major general had a vacancy to fill, for whatever reason, then I would lose that control. I would be beholden to my major general and my men would be as his men. So, you see, I would never accept such a promotion. I cannot abide the thought of such a situation. Besides which, being a colonel keeps me close to the actual combat,” Colonel Hart said, his eyes now bright with the mere thought of it.
“So, Lieutenant Pekot, you must see your way forward in this army. To advance, as you should, you must earn your promotions. And to do so, you must be useful to your commander upon your own merit. Keeping in mind that your merit is enhanced by the quality of your non-commissioned officers. Your sergeants and corporals.”
“My… oh, I see,” Choke said, his concern spiking again. “So, sir, Sergeants Nikolas and Theodas: could they be separated from me and given to another unit?”
“Of course. But, no good commander would do such a thing to an effective officer. Such is usually some form of punishment. Or… a mitigation of problems. Do not worry about it. It shall not happen if you all continue doing as you have. And, of course, Otilla is your creature. I will add, though, that I would greatly appreciate whatever you can do to keep her… managed,” Colonel Hart said with a sly smirk.
“I will do my best, sir.”
“I am sure you shall. Now, about your utility to me. What I expect from you is to keep Bristlehump from sliding any further into chaos. And, in doing so, if you could turn the men you have been giving into effective skirmishers, I would be most appreciative.”
“Yes, sir. You know, Captain Edison gave me the exact same advice.”
“I do know that, Pekot. Because I told him to. He does as he is told, Captain Edison.”
“I see. Well, thank you, sir. For the advice, both times,” Choke said.
Colonel Hart chuckled. “Of course. I want you to succeed, Pekot. Because I want to make good use of you. I expect great things from you.”
“Thank you, sir. I will strive to do my best.”
“Good. Now, one more thing. In our talk of the… shadiness that you have been forced to interact with so far, it no doubt became clear to you that I am comfortable enough using personnel that are loyal to an organization other than the army. I will tell you now, though, that I do expect a higher loyalty to the Royal Bitina Army. And to me. It is due to this expectation that I have allowed Morrenthall to conduct his investigation. The lads needed their chain jerked a bit. And who better to do it than a proper fire and brimstone Wheel basher, eh?”
“Yes, sir,” Choke said, with an internal twinge at the pejorative term for the Stronian clergy.
Colonel Hart eased back in his chair and clucked his tongue some more, staring off into space
“I must admit,” he continued, “that Morrenthall did surprise me. He’s been around here for years, puttering around his church, occasionally going into the hollows to burn up a heretic or three. But this kind of zealotry and purpose? My word! It seems that this girl of yours, Otilla, has really lit a fire under his ass. So to speak.”
“Yes, sir. She does have that effect on people. Or, the spirit within her brands does.”
“I know. I have felt it myself. A rejuvenation of faith. Never a bad thing. Especially not for a military man. So, I welcomed his investigation. Did I not?”
“Yes, sir,” Choke said automatically, as he again tweaked at the Colonel’s clear revision of his original reaction to Father Morrenthall’s presentation of their evidence against Lieutenant Dixon.
“Indeed. And so, I remind you of what I just said about those serving two masters. You, Lieutenant Pekot, took an oath to Stron and Altas to serve our Royal Majesty, King Ruffus, in his army. I am your commander. You understand this clearly. Yes?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And yet you keep Morrenthall’s secrets. Ah-ah!” Colonel Hart raised his finger to cut off whatever protestations Choke might raise at this pronouncement. “As I told you: I do not mind it. You found a way around it, clever boy. And it is just this sort of careful navigation that I will be relying upon from you in the future. You understand?”
“I’m not sure that I do, sir. Not to a degree that I’d be comfortable leaving it at,” Choke said.
Colonel Hart laughed. “You see? This odd, reckless caution of yours. A normal man in your position would lie to me. I like it. I will be explicit, then. That little bandit bitch of yours is set to become a saint at some point, is she not? The Bishop has taken an interest. The Wheel bashers are now here in force. In short, with her around, the Church is going to be getting more and more up all of our asses. So, with you being a good church lad with the ear of our most important Father Morrenthall, I expect you shall become quite useful to me in the times to come. You know how to talk to those men. You understand them in a way that I cannot. You see what I am saying, yes?”
“Yes, sir. It would be an honor to help you in this regard.”
“Well, I think that if you are being honest when you say this, then you are hopelessly deluded. I cannot see how straddling that line would be anything other than a horrible pain in the ass. But that is your lot in life.”
“Yes, sir. It is,” Choke said with certitude.
“Good. So, I need you to be a good advisor to me. If, in future, you think I could benefit into your insight into Church men and what they are up to, I want you to educate me. Do not hesitate. Further to this, if I seem bent on a course that will cause me complications with the Church, I want you to bring it up. You have insight into their world, and a brain in your head. This could be invaluable to me if you speak up in a timely fashion. You understand this, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir. I will do my best for you, sir.”
“Good. Another thing: in that Holy Stoner school of yours, your fellow graduate is Count Vallent of Dunlop’s bastard, is he not?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And that one is off to the Holy Stoner Academy, to become a proper Wheel basher,” Colonel Hart stated with the hint of a question.
“Yes, sir. To Goettingen, the Academy of the Holy Stone.”
“And are the two of you on good terms? I mean, were you, when you parted ways?” Colonel Hart asked.
“Yes, sir. We are friends, I’d say.”
“Good. Good. It is good to have friends such as that. You never know when such a friend will come in handy. You are of an age, and our regiment seeks out the hot spots, as do the Holy Stoners. And, further yet, this lad may provide us a possible back channel to the Count. Always good to keep that in mind.”
“I don’t know about that, sir. I wouldn’t count on it. Dungar never met the Count,” Choke said.
“You mean to tell me the Count did not come by the orphanage to bounce him upon his knee? What a shock!” Colonel Hart chuckled. “Do you suppose, Pekot, that your fellow, Dungar, wound up in that orphanage by accident? Or that the Count had nothing to do with him then being sent on to the Academy? No. The Count placed him carefully. The lad will meet his father when he has earned it. When he may be of use to him. And then, he may be of use to you. And so, of course, to me.”
“I see,” Choke said, realizing suddenly that he had another name in this matter that Baron Hart might take an interest in. He hesitated just a little about bringing it up, but quickly realized that he did indeed need to make himself useful to his commander. As useful as he possibly could.
“I am sure you are right, sir,” Choke said. “The Count did send another of his bastards to the Pekot school to escort Dungar to Goettingen. He was quite explicit that their father wanted to make sure that Dungar made it there.”
“You see? As I told you. Who was this bastard of his he sent?” Colonel Hart asked, his interest clearly piqued.
“His name was Mannis, sir. A few years older than us, but well outfitted as a scout. Fine horse, sword, and Scythan warbow. A good fighter. On the road, we rescued a carriage from a goblin ambush. He was good to all of us, sir. In his way,” Choke said, inwardly congratulating himself on his prediction of the Colonel’s interest.
“Oh, really? How so?” Colonel Hart asked, now more amused than anything.
“Well, sir, he invited the three of us along with him and Dungar to Strana. He paid our way.”
“Ah. Is that why you wound up there instead of coming straight up here? And was he and Dungar involved with this trouble you got yourselves into with the Outfit?”
“No, sir. We got into that trouble the very night they left Strana on a barge. Mannis would have steered us clear of it, I am sure. He is… well versed in the… the sinful side of life, sir,” Choke said with a bit of a cough.
Colonel Hart laughed. “I am sure. Just as lords’ useful bastards always are. So, this Mannis, he is worth a damn, is what you’re saying.”
“Yes, sir. And he told us to count him a friend and that we could look him up anytime. He did say, though, that he would not be able to take us on.”
“But he did say he would be a friend to you,” Baron Hart said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well then. It seems you have no need to await a back channel to Major General Vallen, should you ever need one. I am glad I jogged your memory, Lieutenant. Seeing as Major General Vallen is presently our general.”
“He is, sir?” Choke startled, feeling suddenly panicked at this information, for some reason.
“Yes. My son, Major Hart, is presently serving at the Alquinian front under his command. The Count is in charge there, presently.”
“Pardon me, sir. I did not know that.”
“No pardon required. You’d have no reason to know that. Thus I am telling you. This bastard of his, Mannis, he knows that you are here?”
“Here in Spitzer, sir? Well, he knew that we were heading here to seek out Barrelmender and offer our services.”
“Good. I think I shall ask my people and see if we can’t figure out where Mannis usually keeps himself. It can’t hurt to have a better notion of how to track him down, should we need to. May I say I am inquiring on your behalf?” Colonel Hart asked.
“Sir?”
“May I put the word out that you are reaching out to your friend, Mannis, in order to reconnect with him now that you have acquired yourself a situation in the army here in Spitzer? After all, now that you are my lieutenant, a clever fellow such as this Mannis would surely have an increased interest in keeping in touch with you. Don’t you think?” Colonel Hart smiled.
“Ah, yes, sir. I suppose he would.”
“So… may I reach out into the Vallent circles on your behalf, then?” Colonel Hart asked patiently.
“Yes! Of course, sir! Thank you, sir!” Choke exclaimed, too loudly.
“You may calm down, Lieutenant,” Colonel Hart laughed. “He is not going to pop out of the cupboard. And whatever sinfulness you all soiled yourselves with, it is not my business, now is it? This, in case you haven’t noticed, is not the Academy of the Holy Stone in Goettingen.”
“No, sir. It is not.”
“And thank heavens for it, eh? Now, as to the schedule for the rest of today and tomorrow. I think that this afternoon, I will hold the court martial of this wretch that stabbed you. So you and your sergeant will have to give evidence. You are sure the man in custody is the one?”
“Yes, sir. Absolutely. One thing, though, he was crossbowed by the man in the keep. When Father Morrenthall saw him, he told him that his wound was turning septic. He may not be sensible,” said Choke.
“Ah, yes, good point. Thank you for reminding me. I shall ask uncle to heal him up. No sense in flogging a man to death if he can’t feel it, is there? Now, as to that, I suppose that you’ll want your sergeant to do that. The big one with the mean streak.”
“My sergeant to do what, sir? Flog him?”
“Yes. Since he attacked you, it is only right that your man have the crack at him,” Colonel Hart said.
Choke thought about this for a moment.
“If I may, sir, I would like to decline. Thank you for the offer, of course, but I think I’d prefer to avoid giving Sergeant Theodas a taste for that, if at all possible. I would rather focus those impulses of his into combat, if you understand my thinking, sir.”
“I do. Very well, I shall give it to Sergeant Yoann. He enjoys that sort of exercise. Now, we shall flog and hang the man tomorrow at dawn. Then, I would like you and your platoon off to Bristlehump. The longer you are here, the more potential for further inconvenience there will be. If ill-informed bushrats want to keep trying to kill you for a non-existent bounty, I would rather they not be my soldiers. Right? To that end, I shall need my people back from Morrenthall as soon as possible. By noon tomorrow, I think. So, I would like you to go to the church and tell him that. Along with the other thing. You remember what that was, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir. You want him to let the Baronesse know that you pushed him to punish Sheriff Waters for his sinfulness.”
“Indeed yes. But this is a favor I ask of him. Make that clear. He is in no way obliged to oblige me. But I would greatly appreciate it if he would. You understand?”
“Yes, sir. But, if I may ask a question about your request for him to release your people: by that you mean the military personnel. Correct, sir?”
“Yes, of course. How could I expect to get credit for him burning Waters if I am asking for him to be spared? That does not follow, does it?” Colonel Hart laughed.
“Of course, sir. That was a stupid question. But, just to make sure I have you absolutely clear, you want Captain Edison, Lieutenant Hamon, and Sergeant-Major Orel all released by noon tomorrow. I have that correct, sir?”
“Yes. Exactly so.”
“Very good. I will deliver the message, sir,” Choke said, hesitating just a little, with more clearly on his mind.
“All right, Lieutenant. What it is now? We may as well have it all out.”
“Well, sir, it is not my place to question you at all…” Choke began.
“No. It is not. But what did I say about it being my privilege to tell you your place? Speak your mind, son,” Colonel Hart said, looking amused.
“Well, sir, it’s just that I wonder what you expect Father Morrenthall to do with that request. Do you expect him to comply?” Choke asked.
Colonel Hart’s smile widened.
“Why yes, Lieutenant, I do expect that. For you see, Morrenthall knows as well as I do that his authority to hold those men is given to him by me. He is only magistrate by my leave. Correct?”
“Yes, sir. But I wonder that if you were to revoke his authority, then what might Father Morrenthall do next?”
“What indeed? What could he do? As the Church’s representative here, all he has authority to investigate and enforce are matters of heresy and Church law. I am sure that you know as well as I that in the Council of Marrovique, all the Stronian Bishops settled that Church matters and holdings are beyond the jurisdiction of secular powers. A king himself may not trespass upon a church. But nor may the Church impose itself upon the secular power of the kingdoms. The crimes Morrenthall now investigates are secular ones. So, if I remove his authority to do so, my people must be released. Then, as you ask, what might he do? I suppose he could go to my military superiors, or to the King’s court in Strana. He could lay everything bare. Do you suppose he would do that, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“He would not do that. For it would be a witless move to make an enemy of me, and an entirely pointless one at that. A minor nobleman I might be, from a minor barony. But a nobleman I am. And, in military terms, I am a useful colonel, as I have explained to you. Do you suppose that anyone in a position to censure me would care to? For seeing to it that my regiment is properly outfitted for our duty? When it is a heavy duty that we undertake gladly, for the Kingdom and the Faith? Do I seem very worried about that prospect to you, Lieutenant?”
“No, sir, you don’t.”
“Indeed. Keep that in mind. A lever can only be such if it finds a point of fulcrum. Otherwise, it is just a big stick. And those can easily be turned against those who wield them. I think you understand me now, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. So, go to your father, and in the spirit of cooperation and friendship that we have fostered, give him my message. If you hurry, you can probably get to him before lunch. Take your time. Then, come back home to me with his answer, and we will get this court martial out of the way. Any questions?” Colonel Hart asked, his tone now clear that there were to be no more of those.
“No, sir. However, I would just like to thank you for taking this time with me today, sir. I really do appreciate it.”
“Think nothing of it, Pekot. I earnestly want that we understand each other. Dismissed.”
Muse Vassal 