Table of Contents – (spoilers)
Outside the church, it took the platoon a minute to reassemble in the town square; a good number of them had been around the side of the church and in its yard in the rear. With the rain continuing, there were not nearly as many villagers standing around gawking as there had been when Choke had gone into the church with Barrelmender and Peep’s followers.
As the men formed back up into the two-man wide column, there was some muttering from someone. Knuckle responded immediately, lunging at the usual troublemaker, Reece.
“The fuck was that?” Knuckle barked as he got up in his face.
“I was just saying, Sergeant,” Reece snapped back, loudly enough for everyone to here, “it must be nice to be an officer and get to go into the church all nice and dry for a chat while the likes of us have to stand around outside in the rain guarding nothing from nothing like a bunch of dumbasses. Sir!”
“You got some notion in yar head that yar better than that, maggot?” Knuckle screamed down into Reece’s face, his cudgel cocked back and ready to lay him out. “Ye get it in yar fuckin head: it is nice to be a fuckin officer! Because he is better than ye! He’s better than all of ye! And me too! Cause he’s the fuckin LT and that’s how it is! And ye don’t deserve shit but what we say ye do! Ye got that?”
“Sir! Yes, sir!”
“Good! Now, not one more fuckin word outta ye, or I’ll find something for ye to do that’ll make guarding this church in the rain seem like a fuckin picnic in slut meadow! Now fall in!” Knuckle shouted.
“Sir! Yes, sir!” Reece shouted back at him before doing so.
Following Choke and Pinch, the platoon marched through the rest of Bristlehump to the small military compound at the north gate. This consisted of the tall watchtower just inside the gate itself, a stone barracks building, a smaller wooden stable, and a bit of a yard. Behind the barracks was the outhouse shed where Peep had killed Corporal Munge in retribution for Sneed’s murder of their witness, Rodolf.
Just as the south gate, there was one man guarding the north gate. Now that dusk was falling, he had closed that. There were three more men inside the barracks who came out curiously when the platoon approached.
“You there at the gate! Fall in with your fellows here,” Choke ordered, pointing with the tip of his lance as he stopped, still mounted in the middle of the yard. “I am your new commander, Lieutenant Bartholomew Pekot. I am also the apparitor for Magistrate Brother Barrelmender. Do any of you have any questions?”
None of the soldiers did, so Choke turned to his platoon:
“Men! It has been a long march from Spitzer. I know you are weary. You may fall out into the barracks there and find a place to spend the night. Do not lay claim to any spots that are occupied by the men who have faithfully stayed to do their duty here. Dismissed!”
As the soldiers gratefully began to file into the barracks, Choke turned back to the four men standing just under the awning of its roof, out of the rain.
“You men! I thank you for faithfully keeping your posts through this difficult time. I will write you commendations for it. Now, this here is Corporal Dom and Corporal Lenny. Help them become familiar with the layout of things here. Yes?”
“Yes, sir,” a couple of the men managed to say with something of a salute.
Choke returned it and turned to Corporals Dom and Lenny:
“Corporal Lenny: choose one of those men and the two of you unload our pack mules. Then assign a couple of our men to start dinner for us and Otilla of the Holy Fire’s followers in the church. Any questions?”
“No, sir.”
“Get on it, then. Now, Corporal Dom: go inside and supervise our lads getting themselves settled in. Make sure that goes smoothly. Then, have a word with the soldiers from here and have them show you around the place. Find out the watch cycle they have been keeping and where they have been patrolling. If at all. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” Corporal Dom said.
“Good. Get on it.”
With the men all sorted out, Choke turned to Knuckle:
“Sergeant Theodas: I want you in the barracks keeping an eye on everything. Just watch, though. Let the corporals take the lead on this now. Right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Off you go. We’ll tend to your horse.”
Knuckle handed the reins of his big warhorse off to Pinch and eagerly headed into the barracks.
“Alright, then,” Choke continued. “Peep. Pinch. Let’s see what these stables are like and get our horses settled.”
The small stables had just enough room for their horses, including Dom and Lenny’s, but not for their two pack mules, which were still being unloaded into the barracks by Dom and a local soldier.
While Peep and Pinch got the horses over to the stable, Choke dismounted and lit the lantern hanging outside the stable door from the lit one over the barrack’s door. Then they checked out the stables. There had not been a horse in residence since Lieutenant Dixon and his sergeant had taken theirs to Tully’s whorehouse for the meeting with Alan “the Chisel” Mason just over a week before. The stable was clean enough for the time being, so the three of them got busy settling the horses in and getting them fed and watered.
“So what was all that about at the church, Choke?” Peep asked as they worked.
“All of what? Barrelmender?”
“No. Having all of us fan out and guard it all proper? Did ye notice a threat coming in?” she asked.
“You mean besides the ever-present threat of everyone around already having a reason to kill us? No. But I thought it would be a good idea on two fronts. One: get our boys used to doing things the right way. Without exception. We do not relax unless our perimeter is secure. If we always do it that way, then we will not slip up so easily. Right?”
“Sound okay. And what was the other reason?”
“Oh, yes. Sorry. Yes, we want the people around here seeing the same. That we do things correctly and are not easy marks. We are the military here now, and we shall be doing things correctly. That’s all.”
“Well, alrighty, then. Sounds fun,” Peep said tiredly. “So, what’s next?”
“Well, we have those two mules outside. They’ll have to go to the main stable in town here. We have horses lodged there still, don’t we?” Choke asked.
Pinch nodded. “Yeah, Knickers is there,” he said, referring to the horse he had claimed from killing the bandit leader, Burkhard, after his own horse had been killed in the same encounter. “Then there’s the extra horse Peep grabbed at the same time. Then there’s our original pack mule.”
“Betsy,” Peep added.
“What? Who?” Choke asked, scowling.
“The mule is named Betsy. She’s Knuckle’s girlfriend, remember?” Peep said, deadpan, as Pinch scoffed.
Choke actually cracked a smile at this. “Right. Betsy. So, anyways, we have two horses and a mule boarded already at the stables here in town. Right?”
“Nope!” Peep exclaimed. “If that’s the case, then we got words to have with young Gabe about it. Remember, we came back from hitting Tully’s with a horse each, plus Dixon on another. Dixon got killed, so who knows where the horse he was riding went. But, Pinch, you were gonna swap the one from Tully’s you had out for Knickers, but changed yar mind and left her. Knuckle took the Cocksucker Mason’s bigass warhorse and left his plow horse in the church stable. Then, Choke, you and me left the horses we got at Tully’s and took Gorgeous Boy and Nike. Them two horses we left at the church, tied up outside the stables.”
“That’s right!” Choke said. “How stupid of me to forget!”
“Yeah, no doubt, dipshit,” Peep laughed. “Anyways, we left Gabe in charge of things, and those two horses are definitely things. So, we’ll need to figure out where they wound up.”
“Indeed. Assuming he has managed to hold things together, we have a good start on getting more of our men mounted. That’s some good news,” Choke said cheerfully, as he commenced brushing Nike down with some vigor.
“Well, it shouldn’t exactly be news if its shit ye forgot, but I take yar point,” Peep said.
The three lapsed into silence for a while as they worked with the horses, getting them settled in for the night. As that was about finished, Choke spoke up:
“Alright. So we have a full agenda for tomorrow. First and foremost, I have my meeting with Bob at the freight yard. I’ll go immediately after breakfast.”
“Ye aint going alone,” Pinch said.
“Of course not. But we don’t want a whole troupe along. And we cannot leave the men unsupervised. Peep and I shall go. I think between the two of us, we should be able to stave off assassination,” said Choke.
“Let’s hope,” Peep said.
“And what are we doing here while you do that?” Pinch asked.
“We can discuss that at breakfast with Knuckle and the corporals. But, basically, we have to get things in order here. That means setting watches and work parties. First thing is to set up the watch and begin patrolling the town. We also have to set up our supply. We have credit with the general store here for that.”
“Oh! No shit?” Peep interrupted.
“Yes. Of course. We are the army here now, remember. We are legit. That means the food for our rations, fodder for our horses and pack animals, as well as general equipment, will be provided by the general store, along with certain other tenants. This is drawn against the rents they pay the Baron. I have a writ authorizing it,” Choke said.
“No kidding. Where’d ye get that?” Peep asked, seemingly genuinely interested.
“From Captain Edison, just before we left. And before you get any thoughts about it, Peep, it is not to be exploited. And your followers are not to be supported by it. They—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. They get hooked up at the church. I’m sure Barrelmender’s bitch, Shasta, is gonna love that,” Peep grinned.
“There may well be complications already in that regard. Anyways, that shall all be for tomorrow afternoon. At the earliest. What I did want to get into, while I have the two of you here alone, is some other matters of discretion. Pinch: I would like you to handle our provisioning through the local merchants. You read reasonably well, and always were good with figures. This will make you our quartermaster, I suppose. There is no bump in rank or pay at this time, I’m afraid, but—”
“I’ll do it,” Pinch said immediately.
“Thank you,” Choke said cautiously. “Any reason you’re so keen?”
“Well, Choke, who was it that was the biggest badass at the Spitzer fort there? Orel, right? And that was his job. So, if we’re gonna be in the army now, then I aint gonna be turning down getting a start on figuring out that whole racket, now am I?” Pinch grinned.
“I suppose not. Good. Don’t abuse it. Now, Pinch, if you could head on inside, Peep and I can finish up here,” Choke said, moving over to the stall Pinch was at to give him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“I don’t mind— Oh… I see,” Pinch said, interrupting himself. “So, it’s like that now, huh? The layers of need-to-know are still building up. Didn’t leave that behind at Spitzer church.”
“Peep and I just need a private word, Pinch. It doesn’t mean I don’t trust you; it just means—”
“I get it, Choke, don’t worry about it,” Pinch patted him on the shoulder. “This is the deal now, right? I’ll know when I need to know. Just like Knuckle didn’t need to know that I’m fixing to be the quartermaster. It’s all good, man. I mean, sir!” Pinch saluted Choke.
Choke returned the salute and watched as Pinch hurried out of the stables to the barracks.
“Do you think he’s really okay with it, Peep? This is all going to be a big adjustment,” Choke said.
“Well, who gives a shit if he aint? Like he said: this is how it all works now, right? So, what’s up? Ye wanna talk about what’s up with Corporal Butters and teamster Bob, right?” Peep said, getting in close to Choke to drop her voice very low.
“Exactly so,” Choke said, his voice now a whisper as well. “And since it is sensitive, and Pinch was not in on the original talk with Balan, there is no point involving him at this point. Or anyone else, for that matter. So, what I was thinking is that tomorrow we go to the meeting with Bob and play it straight. Push him on how he learned that we were apparently killed. Since the fugitive, Butters, went to the teamster yard in Spitzer to get a horse, we tell Bob that we are assuming he came to have a word with Bob and get his help. We play it hard like that, and see what he gives us. How does that sound?” Choke asked.
“Good. Sounds good. That way, we don’t involve Balan. But with his people around, Bob is gonna posture up and tell us to fuck off.”
“Exactly so. And that keeps him and ourselves covered with the next step,” Choke said, pausing significantly.
“Setting up another secret parlay with him, like Balan suggested,” Peep said.
“Exactly. Now, do you think you can do that with Babs tomorrow? Right after the meeting with Bob, preferably.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“As well, and officially as your orders for tomorrow, as far as everyone else is concerned, I’m going to want you to scout around outside the palisade. Start assessing where we need to get to work clearing the forest and repairing the fortifications. So, that should give you plenty of time to slip off. How does that sound?” Choke asked.
“Sounds tight. What do I tell Babs, though?”
“That Balan authorized her to reach out on his behalf to Bob to arrange another parlay. That, like last time, we want to give him the chance to cooperate with us before we make the assumption that he is actively aiding and abetting our enemies. You know, the usual. You’re good at that,” Choke chuckled.
“Alrighty, then. Second verse, same as the first. I agree. Anything else?”
“Well, yes. Barrelmender has given us, or me, rather, as his apparitor, a case. One of the garrison soldiers here murdered another while we were in Spitzer. Apparently over control of the whores that were up for grabs with Tully’s elimination. So we’re going to have to figure that out, too.”
“Sounds like fun! Good chance to get the lads limbered up. And if the dipshit is trying to run hoors around here, then it shouldn’t be too hard to track him down. Okay, then. Grub should be just about done, huh?” Peep said.
The food was indeed almost ready when Peep and Choke joined the men inside the barracks. The main part of the building was little more than a barn, with side-by-side bunks down each side. At the back of the communal area was a narrow hallway past the officer’s room and the armory to the kitchen at the rear of the building. The simple locks to both the rooms were broken, seemingly having been kicked in.
Choke ordered Corporal Lenny to supervise the serving of dinner. Then he turned to Peep:
“Otilla: your followers at the church are going to have to be fed from here. At least in the short term. I suppose it would be best for some of them to come here with their kit to collect enough for all of them to eat. Do you want to supervise that, or do you want to send someone to do it?”
Peep grimaced. “Yeah, I guess I should be the one to handle it. Alright, I’ll go do that.”
She flipped up hear wolfhead cloak again to head back out into the rain.
With everything in hand, Choke took his gear into the officer’s room. The room was simple, but serviceable. It had a good bed, a small writing desk with a wooden chair, a small chest of drawers, an armor rack, and a washstand with stoneware jug and basin. On the wall was bolted a sturdy lockbox. Its lock had also been smashed off, and the box was empty. Finally, the room had a window with sturdy shutters looking out into the yard with a good view of both the gate and the stable doors.
Choke undressed and set up his armor on the available rack. He changed into a dry tunic and breeches, with his monk’s sandals, before strapping his weaponbelt back on. Then he went back out into the barracks.
The room was now close with the odor of almost forty men, many of whom had stripped down to dry their clothes and gear. Most of them were still eating the hearty gruel that had been cooked a little too quickly. There were no complaints about it, though. It was hot, and had a more than fair portion of cured meat in it.
Peep returned shortly with some of her women followers, including Mariola, and had a couple of the soldiers load them up with the remains of dinner. The women seemed pleased enough with what they were given, but were clearly nervous with all the soldiers ogling them. The men had the good sense to keep their mouths shut, though. As the women left, Peep had a quiet word with Mariola, who assured her that she could get the women safely back to the church by herself. When the women were gone, Peep turned back to face the men, pushing her cloak back off her face as she played with the hilt of her shortsword.
“All of ye’s!” she said loudly. “Mark me well! All them women are not to be bothered. Any of them complain about any of ye, and I’ll be taking trophies off of ye for them. We clear on that?”
There was a muttered response to this. It did not cut it for Peep.
“I said! Are we fuckin clear!”
“Yes, sir!” the men managed, this time somewhat in unison, if not unanimously.
“Right! And while we have your attention, I’d like to say a few words,” Choke said standing up from a chair where he had been eating with Knuckle. “We are here to protect and police this community and its people. So what Otilla has just warned you about goes for all of the folk around here. Starting tomorrow morning, we shall be improving the defenses of the town. Then we shall begin patrolling the surrounding area. I expect you all to do your duty. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” some of the men said.
“I said! Is that clear!” Choke shouted at them in his full parade ground voice.
“Sir, yes, sir!” the men shouted back.
“Better. Now, we shall do our duty, but that shall not be without reward. When we marched from Spitzer, you did so as proper soldiers. So your pay begins from then. Every Sunday, you shall be paid. Two silver a week, payable every Sunday, if we have the funds. If we do not, your pay shall accrue. That means that as soon as we have the coin, your back wages will be paid in full.”
Choke let this sink in for a moment. It was not particularly great money: just a little more than a laborer in a town might expect to earn. But, with room and board paid for, a man careful with money could do well for himself in the long term. Looking his men over, Choke had no doubt that few, if any, of them would be careful with their money. With that in mind, he continued:
“We shall be setting up a rotation of duty. With five squads we shall be running morning, afternoon, and night watches. During the day, those not on active watch in town will be on work details, or patrol. Of course, if you had night watch, your next day shall be light duty. Each squad shall pull night watch one day out of five. Within this rotation, we should be able to allot free time for everyone on a squad-by-squad basis. At those times, you may do as you please. I once again caution you that the folk of this community are to be respected and protected. Any unpleasantness towards them, especially the womenfolk, shall be punished harshly!”
Choke paused to glare at them harshly for another long moment before continuing:
“Now. I am aware that most of you will enjoy having a drink, from time to time. I am not against that, so long as it is in moderation. So, we will be providing you with a ration of ale.”
This announcement created a good stir amongst the men, and Choke waited once more for that to settle down.
“As soon as we arrange supply, your ration shall be one pint a day. Of course, you may not drink before or on watch duty. But, other than that, you may partake of your ration as you wish.”
The men continued to hoot and holler about this, forcing Choke to wait a little longer.
“Where’s the ale! Come on with it!” one particularly boisterous voice rose about the others, prompting some laughter around the room.
“Alright! Alright! Quiet down, now! Quiet!” Choke shouted above the din, his tone of voice not so unlike a Brother at the orphanage settling down unruly children.
Once it was quiet, Choke continued:
“Now, as you all know, we have been dealing with a problem with the Outfit. And by ‘we,’ I mean Otilla, Sergeants Thedas and Nikolas, and myself. It is very likely that the fugitive, the former corporal Butters, from Spitzer fort, is somewhere nearby here. As well, there is an Outfit killer out here pulling the strings on all of this. He goes by the name of Sneed. His cohort includes a killer known as Kerl, with a horrific reputation in these parts. Until now, Sneed has limited himself to organizing attacks on us from a remove. We do not suppose that he is finished with this.
“I say this to you not to frighten you, but to give you caution. Stay alert. Do your duty. And if you see or hear anything of these men, tell us so that we can deal with it. We have killed or run off all that have come to kill us, including an Outfit killer known as Alan “the Chisel” Mason. We will continue to kill them as they come. However, just because this fight is ours, I do not seek to make it yours. If you see these men, or others that seem as though they are their agents, do not confront or engage them. You do your duty by pointing them out to us. I have Sneed’s death warrant. I will see it executed.
“As to spotting these men: all warriors must be suspect. Sneed and his cadre are outfitted as rangers and scouts. Sneed himself is a longbowman with a scar running across his face like so. Be on the alert for any men like this. And let it be known to those villagers you interact with that we will pay a reward for good information leading us to these evil men.
“Finally, on the subject of reward: the same goes for you. Help us find them, and you will be rewarded. Now, of course, we are not evil men lost in avarice. We do not have gold to offer, such as our enemy does. And if some among you have thoughts that you might do better by helping them get to us, I have only this to say: the gold price on our heads is exactly that. A price on our heads. To claim it, you must do the work. And if you like your odds there, then you are as stupid as you are greedy.”
Choke paused here to sweep his men with a steady gaze. None dared meet his eye just then. Eventually, he continued:
“None of these men of evil have Stron’s favor. We do. Think hard on that if you are considering switching sides. And remember the death of Trooper Horace in Spitzer Fort. Scourged so that he was beyond noticing his hanging. That is the fruit of betraying your oath and duty.”
Choke paused again to let the men think this over. When he next continued, his tone was friendly:
“You have all marched a long way. So I thank you for your patience. Tonight’s watch will be a skeleton crew formed of myself, the NCOs, and few select men. Tomorrow, we shall start the proper rotation. Clear? Good! Well, then, that is all. You are dismissed! We start bright and early tomorrow, though, so I suggest you turn in soon. Otilla, sergeants Theodas and Nikolas, and corporals Dom and Lenny: please come back to my quarters so that we can schedule tonight’s watch,” Choke finished, clapping Knuckle on the shoulder as he gestured for his NCOs to follow him back.
Muse Vassal 