Table of Contents – (spoilers)
“Well, that went well!” Peep said cheerfully as she and Choke rode back to the Bristlehump barracks from the teamster yard.
“I believe so, too,” Choke replied. “I expect Bob should be eager to reach out to us when Babs talks to him.”
“He’d fuckin better.”
“So, now, the men should be cleaning themselves up for inspection, so we basically have the rest of the morning free, don’t we?” Choke said, scowling off into space as he rechecked his mental itinerary. “If there isn’t anything you need to do with your followers, perhaps we should do a proper survey of the fortifications. Start figuring out what work needs to be done.”
“Yeah, we could. Sounds alright. I mean, they need work. But, before we do that, we need a private word with young Gabe,” Peep said.
“Gabe? What about?”
“Ye didn’t notice how he got all weird when we were talking about that soldier that murdered the other over the hoors? What was his name?” asked Peep.
“Henri. And I didn’t notice. He was behaving strangely?”
“Yeah. Definitely something’s going on there. So, I’m gonna press him on it. Ye wanna be there?” Peep asked.
Choke thought about it. “You aren’t going to threaten to kill him again, are you?”
“Probably not. But ye never can be too sure, as ye know,” Peep chuckled.
“Well, I think I will join, then. You don’t mind?”
“Nah. Fill yar boots, LT!”
At the barracks, the men were taking it easy, cleaning and polishing their gear. Corporal Dom was showing some of the youngsters how to sharpen their blades. Corporal Lenny was with Pinch rummaging around in the storage shed behind the stables. Knuckle was seated at his bunk, honing his greatsword and seemingly ignoring the men. When Choke and Peep came in, Knuckle gestured for them to step aside with him.
“Hey, LT, just wanted to check in,” Knuckle said, his voice low. “I’m easing back and letting Lenny and Dom handle the men, just like ye said. But some of these fuckers are not gonna pass inspection, the way they’re working. No surprises who, neither. You want me to keep my mouth shut and let them fail though, right?”
“Yes, Knuckle. I think that would be best. We’ll need to think of something unpleasant to punish them with, though,” Choke answered.
“Alright. I’ll get thinking on that. Don’t ye worry man; I’ll come up with something good. For us, I mean. Not for them. Bad for them,” Knuckle said with an evil gleam in his eye.
“I’m sure of it. Good. Thank you, Knuckle,” Choke clapped him on his shoulder. “By the way, have you seen Gabe around?”
“Yeah, he was kicking around, but there didn’t seem to be anything we needed him to do, so I cut him loose. He said he was gonna go and do some stilling!” Knuckle said happily, clearly pleased at the prospect of having access to the lad’s potato wine.
“And ye let him get right on it, huh, Knuckle?” Peep laughed.
“Fuckin rights! That’s some useful fuckin work he’s doing there!”
“Yeah, I can get behind that way of thinking. He didn’t happen to say where his still is, did he?” Peep asked.
“Yup. It’s at his mom’s place, of course.”
“Alright. Well, carry on, Sergeant,” Choke clapped Knuckle on the shoulder again.
Choke and Peep then left the barracks and went to have a quick word with Pinch out in the shed behind the stables.
“Everything proceeding well enough?” Choke asked him.
“Yeah. At the general store, well enough, I suppose. Cornmasher agreed to supply us without too much a fuss, anyway. And Stadnick, too, with the horses and all. But no one knows where that horse Dixon was riding got to, so I think that’s just gone. And we got fuck all for tools and whatnot here. It’s been cleaned right out. We’re gonna have to buy up just about everything Cornmasher has in stock,” Pinch said.
“We accounted for the horse. Bob scooped that up right after his boys scooped up what was left of Dixon,” Peep said with a grin.
Pinch chuckled at the image as Choke flinched with a groan. Corporal Lenny looked confused.
“So ye got the horse back from Bob,” Pinch asked.
“Nope! We’re putting that on his tab. We’ll get into it later with ye, once we know more,” Peep said, tapping the side of her nose.
“Can you figure out what tools and gear we’re going to need and get that from Cornmasher? Assuming he has enough, of course,” Choke asked Pinch.
“Yes, sir. It’s going to be a lot, though. He might squawk about it. He was already grumbling about having to supply us on tax credit.”
“Well, fuck him,” Peep scowled.
“Get the tools,” Choke said. “Don’t push him too hard about it. If he fusses too much, tell him we’ll pay him something in coin.”
“Alright. No problem. You’ll get him the coin, right?” Pinch asked Choke.
“Yes. But see what you can get out of him first. He is obliged to provide for us, so I don’t want to indulge him too much. Is there anything you need from us this morning?” Choke asked.
“No, sir. I think we’ve got it.”
“Good. Carry on, then!” Choke said.
Pinch and Lenny saluted Choke, who returned it properly. He and Peep stepped around to the stables where they had left Nike and Gorgeous Boy tethered to a hitching post.
“So, you wanted to talk to Gabe right away,” Choke said to Peep. “Shall we ride down to Babs’ place and do that?”
Peep scowled as she worked up a good gob of spit to hawk out into the yard.
“I dunno. I aint real keen on just the two of us wandering through the bush right now,” she said.
“What are your concerns? Do you think Sneed might be back?”
“Probably not. But ye never know. And who knows what other bad boys might be sniffing around, too,” Peep said.
“Well, we’re going to have to go and see Bob at Babs’ place, just the two of us. Assuming he agrees to meet us,” said Choke.
“He’d fuckin better. But, when he does, that’s a meeting we need to take. We don’t need to talk to Gabe right away. Aint worth the risk. We can give his chain a pull when he comes back here. Until we get some patrols going, better to avoid taking risks.”
Choke paused at this as he gave Peep a look of concern.
“What?” she asked.
“I just don’t know what to make of you being the one counseling avoiding risk. But I agree. Let’s put off talking to Gabe. So, what do you want to do? Should we survey the defenses?”
Peep scowled some more, glaring at the south gate and the watchtower. Then she spat again.
“Nah. We pretty much know what needs doing there. We gotta clear the woods back. Then we can use that timber to patch up the wall,” she said.
“Palisade,” Choke said.
“Huh?”
“Properly speaking, this here is not a wall. It is a palisade.”
“Well, whatever it is, we know it needs work. But right now I’m starting to feel titchy. It feels to me that something is skulking around out there. Watching us. I don’t like it. I wanna do a patrol,” Peep said, now scowling at the tree tops of the ridgeline rising up to the north, visible over the top of the palisade.
“You have a feeling, Peep? Like in your palms? Is the Holy Fire speaking to you?” Choke asked quietly, his heart pounding.
“How the fuck should I know? I don’t know. I just don’t like being cooped up here right this minute. I gotta check what’s out there,” she muttered, mostly to herself at the finish.
Choke thought for a long moment before he spoke:
“A patrol would be useful. The men are tired though, and I thought to give this morning to rest productively. But I don’t like the idea of you going out there alone. What are you thinking?”
Peep stayed silent for a while, still glowering at the trees. Then she came to a decision and perked up.
“Yeah. That’ll do. Right. I’m thinking I go out on foot just to check the bush around on the hump here just to the north. I wanna have a close look nearby. See if anyone’s been camped out. And, since ye don’t want me going alone, I may as well take a couple guys along to see how they move out there. I’ll take Dom and Hardmod,” she said.
“Hardmod. He’s the one that you put in charge of your slingers, right?” Choke asked.
“Uh-huh. And he seems like he can move around in the bush okay. From the little I have seen. So may as well take a measure of him. And Dom was a hunter and trapper, and he seems to know what he’s doing. We’ll go out and take a boo, I reckon.”
“Alright then. I suppose I will stay here write those letters to Spitzer for Bob,” Choke said.
“And, before that, ye can put my horse away,” Peep said, giving Choke a flick on the arm.
“Alright then. You be careful,” Choke said as he began moving to do just that.
“Yeah, you too. Don’t spill any ink!” Peep grinned as she spun on her heel to head to the barracks to collect Dom and Hardmod.
***
Peep, Corporal Dom, and Hardmod spent a few hours working the bush of the hump around Bristlehump’s north. She returned having found nothing of worry, and pleased enough at the men’s performance. As well, they came back with half-a-dozen choice squirrels for the stewpot, all felled by Hardmod’s sling.
Lunch was served to the platoon and Peep’s followers, who came to collect it in their serving pots. When the meal was eaten, Knuckle bellowed the men into line in the yard with all their kit for inspection.
With Knuckle and Pinch flanking him, Choke slowly walked up and down inspecting the men. With the five men left over from Dixon’s platoon, they now had thirty-five men, plus corporals Dom and Lenny. Primarily Choke focused on the men’s shields and weapons. Of the thirty men, six failed inspection, including the usual troublemaker, Reece, and his burly compatriot, Osgar. Choke had Knuckle pull them out of line to stand at attention in front of the other men where he loudly detailed their various deficiencies.
“On campaign, men, your weapons and gear are your life!” Choke addressed all his men. “When our enemy comes, what good shall you be if your weapon is rusted and blunt? What good shall you be if your shield is rotting and heavy with damp? Combat is often decided by the narrowest of margins! Would you cede an advantage to those coming to kill you? For nothing more than the sake of sloth? Would you risk the life of your brother next to you in a shield-wall because your shield fails? This is not nitpicking! This shit matters! And this is the last time I tolerate this! Sergeant Theodas!”
“Yes, sir!” Knuckle shouted.
“What punishment duty do you think fit for these men?”
“Sir! The latrine pit under the outhouses is looking full of shit! We’re gonna move the outhouses and this scum is gonna get in there and dig all that outta there and haul it to the town cesspit!”
At this, Pinch winced and muttered, “oh, dood… really?”
“The fuck I— aauugh!” Reece started, and then grunted as Knuckle lunged to punch him hard in the gut.
“Talk outta turn once more ye cocksucker and I’ll bury ye in there!” Knuckle shouted down at Reece, who was now on his hands and knees, gasping for breath.
“All right! Enough! Sergeant! Get Spearman Reece to his feet!”
Knuckle dragged Reece back to his feet.
“Step away, Sergeant!” Choke commanded, as he stepped in close to Reece. “Spearman. You seem to think you are special. Let me tell you: you are not. I am losing patience with these games of yours. Keep pushing and I’ll have to make a proper example of you.”
Choke then stepped away and raised his voice again to address all the men:
“Today, I will be merciful. The six that failed inspection shall not become gong farmers for the afternoon. That duty shall await the next men that run afoul of me! Today, you men on punishment detail will muck out the stables and clean our barracks’ kitchen from top to bottom. Then, you will clean yourselves, your weapons, and your gear properly! As you should have the first time! You will not partake of dinner until all that is done. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” some of the six men said.
“Pathetic! Answer me properly! I said: is that clear!” Choke shouted.
“Sir, yes, sir!” the six men shouted.
“Good. Now, all of you! The next punishment detail shall be emptying the latrine pit. Sergeant Theodas is right: it needs doing! And the next men that fail inspection shall also be docked half a week’s pay! All right: you six, fall out. Put your gear away properly and then get cleaning!”
“Sir, yes, sir!” the six men shouted before heading into the barracks.
“Now, the rest of you: put your gear away and come back with your shields and spears. We’re going to work on shield-wall drills,” Choke ordered.
While the six ne’er-do-wells mucked out the stables and then cleaned the kitchen, Choke, Knuckle, and Pinch worked on training the men. None of the Pekot men were spearmen themselves, but they had been trained to be as younger lads, before more specialized training had been chosen for them.
The men practiced forming basic shield-walls, where they would tighten up and overlap their shields as a protective barrier with their spears in an overhand grip to stab out with. Once they had that somewhat figured out, they worked on a double layered wall, where the rank behind would raise up their shields above the first rank to form a barrier against missile weapons. With the basics in hand, they then practiced getting in and out of formation quickly. They got in and out of the wall over and over, facing different directions as they did.
During this training, Choke made a point to keep it as lighthearted as possible. He encouraged the men and did not shout at them. From time to time, he took up a shield and spear himself, and fell into line with the men to show how it was done. Following his lead, Pinch and Knuckle relaxed their usual posture towards the men and did likewise.
All this was being done in full view of the men on the punishment detail, mucking out the stables. The contrast between the two groups could not have been clearer.
“All right, men! Let’s take a break. Get some water!” Choke ordered.
The men took a break to have a drink, flushed and sweaty from the training, but in good spirits to a man.
“You see, men?” Choke asked them all as they drank from their skins and wooden mugs, squatting and lounging in the yard. “Unit cohesion! You are a unit. You keep your fellow safe. Your shield covers him, as another’s covers you. So long as you stick together and do not turn your back on the enemy and run, you shall not fail. Scatter and run, and you shall die one by one. All right! Back to it lads! Let’s go!”
This time, once the men had formed up into the shield-wall, Choke changed it up. With only light melee weapons, Pinch took command of the men. Then, Knuckle and Choke pressed them: Choke with his kite shield and sword, and Knuckle with his greatsword. Everyone was wielding real weapons, so they kept at a non-lethal distance, but with lethal intensity. Choke and Knuckle would skip in and out towards the formation, swatting at their shields and spears with their swords, moving up and down the line. While Choke and Knuckle pressed the attack, Pinch went up and down behind the men to encourage and coach them. They kept this up for a good while, until everyone was breathing hard.
By this time, the men on punishment detail had moved on to the kitchen. It was mid-afternoon.
“Okay, men! Good work! Take a break!” Choke ordered.
While the men took their rest, Choke gestured for Knuckle and Pinch to step aside with him.
“Alright, good work,” Choke said. “I think this is going well. Next, I want to practice wedge and square formations. Once we have that, we’ll practice forming up in various formations from a marching column. Any thoughts?”
Knuckle shook his head.
“We need to get them practice spears as soon as possible. They need proper sparring,” Pinch said.
“I know it. As soon as we start clearing the bush tomorrow, we’ll begin making those. And some swords, so we can start knocking them around properly,” Choke grinned at Knuckle.
“Fuckin A, sir!” Knuckle laughed.
“So we’ll start the new duty rotation tomorrow?” Pinch asked.
“From tonight. We’ll discuss who’s taking night watch later. Speaking of that, have either of you seen Peep since lunch?” Choke asked.
Knuckle shrugged. Pinch thought a moment before doing the same.
“She came back from patrol and definitely was eating,” Pinch said. “Then, once we got going with the men, I lost track of her.”
“Me, too. I suppose she slipped out to do a solo patrol,” Choke sighed.
“I can’t say I mind it,” Pinch said. “Having her skulking around out there keeps us safer, doesn’t it?”
“I does. I just hope she’s careful,” Choke said.
“By that ye mean ye hope she doesn’t kill anyone!” Knuckle laughed.
“Well, no, I don’t. But, now that you mention it, that too. All right, there’s no sense worrying over it. Let’s get back to it,” Choke said.
After about another hour of productive training, Gabe came riding into town through the north gate right next to the military yard. He rode around the men at their drills and tethered his little horse at the stables. He then took a seat on a straw bale to wait. Just a few minutes after he did, Peep came ambling through the gate herself. She was on foot, without her wolfcloak. Her shortbow was in hand. She gave Choke a sloppy salute as she went around the men to the well to get a drink of water.
“Everything clear, Otilla?” Choke called at her as she passed.
“Far as I can tell, sir. All good!” she answered.
Glancing over at Gabe fidgeting on his seat, it was clear to Choke that he had something to tell him. Choke decided they had worked the men hard enough.
“All right, men! That’s it! At ease!” he shouted. “Good work! That is a good start! Tomorrow, we’ll do some more drills, time permitting. But, we also must begin the work of fortifying this town properly. Starting with clearing the forest.”
There was some groaning and muttering at this news, but less than there had been in Spitzer fort at the news of impending labor.
“You know what you’re doing! So we get it done as quick as we can, and we can get back to proper training. Now! Sergeant Nikolas!” Choke barked at Pinch.
“Yes, sir!” Pinch snapped to attention.
“Form a foot patrol. No more than ten men, no fewer than six. Take them down to the freight yard and check things out up the Cowslip creek just a little. Not too far. We just want the locals to see us at it. Be careful of that spot of Rodolf’s. The one where he fell, yes?” Choke said, referencing where their informant had been murdered by a bowmen from cover.
“Yes, sir.”
“Men! Any volunteers for patrol, step out to Sergeant Nikolas! Those that go are exempt from night watch for two days!” Choke shouted at the men.
That incentive did the trick, and Pinch soon had his pick of the men for his ten-man patrol.
“Sergeant: take your horn. If you have any trouble, call. We shall come running,” Choke said to Pinch.
“Yes, sir!”
Pinch and his patrol were soon heading down Main Street to the square, on their way to the south gate. Once they were out of sight, Choke turned to the remainder of his men:
“You may fall out and do as you like here at the barracks until dinner. Sergeant Theodas: stay with them. You may relax as well, though.”
Finally, with his men all settled, Choke turned to Gabe on his straw bale:
“My apologies, Gabe. You look as though you have something to tell me. Let’s take a stroll!”
Choke then called over to Peep who was now leaning against the well watching:
“Otilla! Why don’t you join us?”
The three of them ambled over to the north gate where they would be able to have a quiet word away from prying ears.
Muse Vassal 