Table of Contents – (spoilers)
The rescue and return of Bristlehump’s two remaining whores was well received by the community. It was still early morning, so the freight yard was full of teamsters when Choke led them and his people right by on the way back to town. Choke and Peep rode in the front, with the women sharing a mount right behind them. Knuckle was next, leading the mule with Butters’ shrouded corpse. Pinch and Dom took up the rear.
There was a good deal of whistling and cheering from the men in the freight yard, and Annica and Mya played it up, waving and blowing kisses as they rode by. Of course this ruckus attracted the attention of the nearby villagers, and by the time the squad got to the south gate, there was a good-sized crowd to greet them. With most of these folk being women and children, the reaction was more muted than at the freight yard, but it was not unfriendly. Many of the women looked pleased to see Annica and Mya, with the others seeming more neutral than hostile.
The merry crowd followed the squad to the church in the main square. By the time Choke and the others had dismounted and tethered their horses, Annica and Mya were talking animatedly with multiple other women who had clustered around them, peppering them with questions.
“Is that Henri trussed up on the mule there?” someone asked.
“No! He got brought in yesterday, remember? Father potted him already. Along with Paige, Altas bless her little heart,” someone else responded.
“Henri! What an asshole!” a middle-aged woman with her teenage daughter yelled. “Ye never should’ve gone up that hill with him, ye silly geese! How’s a dink like him gonna keep anyone serious away from ye? Paige would still be alive today if ye’d stayed in town!”
“Hey!” Annica flared up, jabbing her finger at the woman. “What the fuck choice did we get? I didn’t see any of ye step up for us when Henri made his play! Ye don’t know shit about it, Alva!”
“So, who is it killed her, anyways?” a new woman interjected. “Is this dead guy the one that killed Paige and Henri?”
“Yup!” Annica proclaimed. “He killed them, and then drug me and Mya up to that hunting cabin that Bob’s got to the south there. Was holed up there for a bit, it seems. Then, last night, that little feller there, Sergeant Pinch, crept up on us with Miss Otilla and put an arrow through his gut. Then Miss Otilla worked him over a bit, stomped his teeth down his throat, before Sergeant Pinch cut his throat!”
The assembled folk applauded and cheered Pinch and Peep. Peep suffered this stoically. Pinch was at first flustered, but then quickly warmed to the attention, as several people, both men and women came up to personally thank and congratulate him. The men shook his hand and thumped his shoulder, with the women hugging and kissing him. Off to the side of this scene, Knuckle was barely containing his anger.
“I hope ye didn’t cut his throat too quick! Fucker!”
“It’s about time we had some proper soldiers in town here!”
“Who on Aern would do that to a young lady? Cut her throat and leave her as food for the crows! Animal!”
This babble and hubbub continued, and it soon became obvious that the folk had no intention of leaving off, as they began to gather around the mule, asking questions about the killer that had been served justice. Choke decided it would be best to make a public address. He strode up the church steps and turned to the crowd, raising both his hands in the air to get their attention. It worked. The people hushed and looked up at him expectantly. Up on the steps, Choke could now see that the crowd had swelled to include the local merchants: in attendance with their various people were the stablemaster, Stadnick, the tavernkeeper, Royce, the blacksmith, Otto, and the general store keeper, Bill Cornmasher.
“Good people of Bristlehump!” Choke called loud. This particular turn of phrase elicited some quips and laughter, but this soon settled. “As you no doubt know, two days ago, there were two murders on the South Hill. Last evening, Brother Barrelmender held the funeral service for those two slain: Paige and Henri. As well, the killer abducted two more women, Annica and Mya, from the site. I am sure you are all well enough aware of the circumstances surrounding the incident, so I shall not say more on that aspect of it.”
“Slinging pussy!” someone yelled.
This elicited a good amount of laughter, as well as some angry condemnations.
“Shame! Shame!” Choke shouted as loud as he could, letting righteous anger fill his voice. This quieted the crowd, with some in attendance clapping as they nodded appreciatively. Choke continued; his tone once again neutral, with his voice merely loud:
“We good, Stronian people have no need to further shame the survivors of the heinous crime with indecent commentary, now do we? We are better than that, are we not?”
Again, there was a smattering of applause, as those that might have disagreed with him bit their tongues. Choke waited another long moment, sweeping the crowd with his hard gaze, challenging any to speak, before he continued:
“Being informed of the foul crime yesterday, we immediately moved to investigate. We soon discovered the bodies of the two murder victims at the site of the crime. While I and Sergeant Theodas and Corporal Dom returned the victims home to the church for proper burial, our top scouts, Sergeant Nikolas and Miss Otilla of the Holy Fire, pressed on tracking the murderer. Thanks to their skill, Sergeant Nikolas and Miss Otilla were able to track him to a hiding place. There, they determined that it was safe to expedite the rescue of the captives, and they did so. The murderer was killed in the process.”
Choke paused as the crowd once again applauded and cheered. Once that had settled, Choke continued:
“Now! I will further add that the murderer was a man known to us. His name was Butters, formally a corporal in the King’s army, assigned to the garrison in Spitzer Fort. He was a wanted man. A deserter and a fugitive on the run, wanted for his part in an assassination plot against myself. Indeed, he was the last survivor of the plot, with all other members having been killed during its failed execution, or brought to justice shortly afterwards. You may have heard something about it.
“We believe that Butters ran here in the hopes of connecting with other agents of the criminal organization known as the Outfit. He was hiding out waiting for those agents to return. Unfortunately for his victims, he was clearly incapable of waiting patiently without doing evil. Such are these men.
“Now, I think it is safe to say that justice has been served. However, there are more matters that we must attend to. So now I would appreciate it if you all could go about the business of your day. All but Annica and Mya. If you please, I ask you two to come into the church so that we may see what more we might be done for you. But, good people of Bristlehump, before you disperse, I would say one more thing to you!”
Choke paused to allow the crowd’s attention upon him to crest.
“The justice we have served in this matter is no more and no less than our duty. We are here as agents of the King’s law. In this, we will be steadfast! Further, we are guided in our duty by the Holy Word of Stron, and the spirit of the Holy Fire that an agent of the Holy Host blessed Otilla of the Holy Fire with. We are here to stay, and we will do our duty!” Choke shouted.
A number of the folk cheered, with a greater number now shifting uncomfortably before joining in less enthusiastically.
“So, let me say to you, good Stronian people of Bristlehump! Do not hesitate to seek us out for protection and justice. In order to fully do our duty, we need you to come to us to shed light on where we might do it. Do not suffer the yoke of evil men in silence. We can help you, if you let us. That is all. Thank you for your cooperation.”
With this, a number of people began dispersing, but many more did not. They continued to press around Annica and Mya, talking with them. Some others were still at the mule, prodding and investigating Butters’ corpse.
Choke gestured for Peep to step in close to him.
“Can you get the women into the church?” he asked.
“Who?”
“Annica and Mya! The women you rescued.”
Peep shrugged. “Why? They seem pretty well sorted, aint they?”
Choke sighed deeply and stared at Peep.
“Alrighty,” she said, shrugging again. She then moved down the church steps, clapping her hands loudly at the townsfolk still gathered around Annica and Mya. “Ye heard the man! Get! Go on! Not you two, ye dazed bitches! Yar with me, up in the church. Come on!”
While Peep got Annica and Mya away from the townsfolk, Choke moved down to the square to have a word with Pinch, Dom, and Knuckle.
“Alright. Corporal: I want you to take the mule around back and dump the body next to the shed. Then take the mule and the gear back to base. The saddle can be left in the stable. The armor, crossbow, and the rest of his gear should be put away in the armory. Any questions?”
“No, sir,” Dom said.
“Good. Go on. Now, Pinch and Knuckle: go back to base and tell Brother Barrelmender we have returned successfully. He can, of course, do as he sees fit. If he wishes to continue training the men, he is welcome to. If he would rather return to the church, then we would welcome his help here. If he returns to the church, take the men out to continue clearing the forest.”
“Yes, sir,” Pinch said.
Knuckle broke off glowering at Pinch to reply to Choke, his tone sullen:
“Yeah. So I guess ye want both me and Pinch saying all that to the Brother? Like, should we switch off talking to him? Or did ye just mean for Pinch to do it, and I’m just supposed to, I dunno, go back to doing all the shit no one else wants to do? Sir.”
“Sergeant, I have had enough of your shitty attitude for one day. Are you able to put your petty grievances aside and do your duty?” Choke snapped.
“Yes, sir,” Knuckle said, glaring down at him.
“Well, then, I look forwards to seeing it! Dismissed!”
Knuckle turned and stomped back to his horse to mount up. Pinch, however, hesitated, and leaned in closer to Choke:
“Before I go, Choke, just a quick word,” Pinch said quietly.
“Sure,” Choke said. He looked up at Knuckle who had now hesitated and was scowling at Pinch. “Sergeant Theodas: Sergeant Nikolas needs a private word. Why don’t you take my message to Brother Barrelmender. Thank you.”
Knuckle blinked at Choke for a spell before kicking his large warhorse up into a trot, scattering frightened villagers before him.
Choke sighed. He tapped Pinch and led him up the church steps to the wall to the side of the main doors, where they could speak without being overheard.
“Okay, what is it, Pinch?” Choke asked quietly.
“Well, I dunno if it’s anything really important. But, last night, the girls and I were talking, and they were telling me all kinds of stories about Thad and his followers. The stories were all funny, or perverted, or whatever. Ye know, the kinds of weird sex stuff they get up to. But, it got me thinking that they might know some actually useful stuff. I didn’t want to press them on it, since, ye know, they might get nervous about talking. But, I thought ye should know before you interview them, or whatever.”
Choke thought this over.
“Alright. That is definitely food for thought. Thank you for telling me. Okay, go help out Knuckle. And, Pinch, try not to be smug. He is our friend, and however ridiculous he is behaving now, it is only because he is suffering on some level.”
“Okay… I’ll try. But he’s being an asshole.”
“I know. Just, do your best. That’s all I ask,” Choke clapped Pinch on the shoulder to send him on his way.
Pinch clapped Choke’s back in return and went down a couple of steps. Then he turned back.
“Choke.”
“Yes?”
“We killed Butters by ourselves because I told Peep that I had to be the one to kill him. On account of it was me watching yar back when he shot you. So, that’s why I killed him myself,” Pinch said. Unlike the last time he had discussed his motivations with Peep, his voice was steady and calm.
“I know. Peep told me. And, even if she hadn’t… I’d still know. Thank you, Pinch. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Choke,” Pinch said, nodding up at him before turning away to head down to his horse.
***
In the church, Peep gestured for Annica and Mya to sit in the pews. There was no one else in the church, but someone could be heard clattering about in the kitchen, so Peep went through to see who it was. Of course, it was Mariola busy preparing Brother Barrelmender’s lunch.
“Oh, that’s right. Yar staying on mornings to help the Brother,” Peep said.
“That’s right,” Mariola answered tersely.
Peep took no note of the tone and wandered further into the kitchen, looking around for some food to snag. Happily, she drew her buck knife to stab a chunk of cheese off the half wheel that was out on the counter. Leaning back on the counter, Peep grinned over at Mariola as she munched away on it.
“So, how’s that new place working out for ye?” Peep asked through her mouthful.
“You mean the abandoned farm you sent us to live in yesterday and said you’d come by to see in the afternoon? You mean that one?”
“Yeah. That one. And don’t you start with the attitude now. We’ve one whiney bitch in the crew with Knuckle. Last thing I need is you joining in. There were murders, if ye didn’t know.”
“Sorry, Peep. I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s been… Well, I don’t know. I suppose it’s okay. The main farmhouse is just big enough for all of us, if we don’t mind living close. Which I guess we’re not meant to mind. It needs a new roof, so I have them starting to thatch that.”
“Okay, good. I’ll come check it out soon. Just keep it up.”
“Well, so long as I’m griping, the landlady did come round to give us an earful yesterday afternoon. She is a piece of work! And obviously hates me! I damn near had to give her a piece of my mind.”
Peep laughed. “Yeah, that’s Shasta. I sent her your way. Sorry. She is the landlady, though. But don’t take her too seriously. She’s on thin ice around here.”
“So I’ve gathered. I don’t mean to pry, and I’m certainly not saying anything, but she seemed to assume that I am her replacement around here in more ways than one.”
“Yeah, well, sloppy bitches like that are always gonna think that everyone else is doing the same sloppy shit that they do. They think everyone’s in the same pigpen as them, and then tart up their slop like they’re the only ones being honest. D’ye need me to talk to her again?” Because I’ll set her right,” Peep said.
Mariola shook her head. “No. I can handle her. One way or another. Because, landlady or not, I told her that was the last time she was gonna talk to me like that. And what the hell was she going on about rent for that dump?”
“What? Rent? No,” Peep said sharply.
“Well, yeah. That’s what she was talking. She started spouting off a bunch of numbers about crop yields and the church’s cut, and making up any shortfalls with acorns from the woods, and all kinds of other shit.”
“No. There aint no rent. She’s full of shit, trying to line her pockets again. I’ll fuckin set her right,” Peep said, her voice hard.
“Well, Peep, to tell ye the truth, I’d rather ye didn’t. After all, I’m supposed to be the one managing your followers, yes? And this is the property we’ve been given, and she is the landlady of it. I have all that right, don’t I?”
“Yeah,” Peep said, an amused gleam in her eye now.
“So, it’s not yar job to be taking on this fight for us. I’ll set her right. So long as ye assure me that there is no rent to be had on this place.”
“That’s right. There aint.”
“Well, okay, then. I’ll take her in hand,” Mariola said firmly.
Peep chuckled. “Alright then. I’d pay coin money to see that. But, I’ll stay outta it. If ye need an ace up yar sleeve, though, ye could tell her that I said if I need to step in to set her right again, then Stron’s gonna get his legs back from her.”
Mariola’s brow furrowed in confusion at this.
“Trust me. She’ll know what it means,” Peep said.
“Okay, then. But I don’t think it’ll come to that, do you?”
“No. I’ve had the measure of the both of ye, and I’ll put my money on ye in a straight up tilt. But, don’t take her lightly, neither. That’s a tough bitch, there.”
“Oh, I know it. Thanks, Peep.”
“No, thank you, Mariola. Yar doing the Lord’s work here,” Peep said.
Peep held up her fist for Mariola to bump, who smiled as she did so.
Muse Vassal 