Gregory had been busy since his last trip into Gardenia, learning all he could from Davis and Willof, and training with the men. Adding in that they were comfortable enough to talk to him during meals, he could see the pride they had in their unit. Even the sergeants had commented about how the men were eager and ready for whatever was asked of them.
Gregory took to sitting in on one meeting between the lieutenant and sergeants per week. After those meetings, he would play cards with them for a couple of hours. It helped him keep in practice, and they only played for low vela stakes.
They’d finalized the obstacle course the previous day; it had multiple paths that could be closed off, giving variety to how things were run. Instead of jumping right into it, however, it was time for them to restock their supplies. The men were given the day off after breakfast, and Gregory planned to head into Gardenia with Davis and Willof.
“Do you get it, sir?” Basal asked as he finished putting the saddle on the placid mare.
“I do, Basal. The knots need to be firm enough to hold, but not so tight as to injure the horse.”
“You need to spend more time in the saddle,” Willof said. “You can manage riding to town and back, but I’m not sure you’d survive going to Grakle.”
Gregory couldn’t argue the fact. If he had to go faster than a walk on his horse, he’d be in trouble, as well. “I’ll slate more time for it. Basal, thank you for the help. Next time, I’ll saddle her and you can check it for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are we ready to go?” Davis asked, striding toward them.
“Your horse is ready, sir,” Hanz said.
“Thank you,” Davis gave the part-serpent eurtik a grin. “I’ll see about the treat you asked for.”
The boy ducked his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“Treat?” Gregory asked as he climbed into the saddle.
“There’s a bakery in town that makes a berry tart he likes.”
“I see. Basal, you don’t care for them?”
“I prefer the meat one, sir.”
“I’ll see about bringing one back, then.”
“Thank you, sir,” Basal saluted him.
“We’re good to go,” Davis said, getting into his saddle. He had a strap tied to the oxen to lead them while they rode slowly.
“That doesn’t look safe,” Gregory said.
“They’ll be fine for the walking pace. If it was farther from camp, I’d have one of the men come with us to lead them.”
Willof stayed quiet, and that made Gregory consider it more. “Captain, have you seen it done before?”
Gregory using his title made Willof answer him the way he would to train an officer, “Yes. Normally it’s fine, but when something goes wrong, injuries happen for whoever is leading them.”
“Is it worth the risk, Lieutenant?”
Davis hesitated before he replied, “This time it is, sir. We already gave the men the day off. It’d look bad to grab one of them now.”
“This is the last time, then,” Gregory said. “We’ll just have to pray to Aether that nothing bad happens today.”
“Yes, sir,” Davis said. He felt like Gregory had just chastised him, yet it’d been oblique enough that he didn’t feel upset about it. “Here we go, sir.”
Davis got his stallion moving, and the oxen started plodding along the moment the lead went taut. Willof waited to make sure the oxen were moving before he nudged his gelding forward. Gregory was the last one to get his horse underway; he paid extra attention to his posture in the saddle so he wouldn’t fall off.
~*~*~
The same gate guard was on duty as they slowly approached Gardenia. There was more traffic coming and going than there had been last time. None of the people leaving got in their way, giving ample room for the magi and his underlings.
“Bill, how are you today?” Davis asked as they got closer.
“Good enough. Resupply day, eh?”
“Every three weeks.”
“Didn’t realize it’d passed already,” Bill chuckled. “Good to see you riding again.”
“Training,” Davis nodded as they passed the guard.
Bill watched Gregory with a polite smile on his lips. Gregory was acutely aware that he was being watched— and potentially judged— for his lack of horsemanship. He made a mental note to shift his schedule enough to make sure that, in three weeks, he was as proficient as the next man.
Willof was the last of the group, the captain riding easily behind the others. He’d discovered something that Gregory didn’t seem unnaturally skilled at. A small part of him was glad for it, as it helped humanize the young magi in his mind.
The town streets had business, but like the gate, people gave the armed men and magi a wide berth. That made it easier for Davis to navigate with the wagon trailing him all the way to the distillery.
“They return,” Paul Vattakavanich laughed as the three of them rode into the yard. “I was wondering what’d delayed you.”
“We got started later than normal,” Davis said, lying for Gregory’s sake. “Same order as last time.”
“Of course, of course,” Paul grinned. “Magi, welcome back, and on a horse this time. Is the same deal good for you?”
“The same as we paid last time,” Gregory nodded.
“I’ll have it filled when you return.”
“We have a couple of extra stops, so you have time,” Davis said.
“I’ll see you when you get back,” Paul nodded. “Come on, boys. Unload it, already.”
The haulers for the distillery were already coming their way.
“Your stop next, sir,” Davis said as he turned his horse toward the street.
“Of course,” Gregory replied.
Back on the street, Davis dropped back to ride beside Gregory. “I sent word ahead a couple of weeks ago to make sure the training weapons were ready. Otherwise, we’d just be placing the order today and not bringing back finished practice blades.”
“Good job, Lieutenant. That would’ve made it awkward to do what I want to start tomorrow.”
“You sure you want them to rotate like that?” Davis asked again.
“Yes. We’ll let them tackle it as squads, first. In a few weeks, we’ll run it as a full unit. The four squads not on the course will get weapons training.”
“Are you going to teach the boys how to use the naginata, too, sir?”
“Basal and Hanz? If they want. They’ve just barely started unarmed training, though. I need to thank Rafiq for helping me with that… Let’s add a butcher on the list of places to stop. Rafiq can use more meat in his diet. It’ll be my thanks to him.”
“Yes, sir.”
~*~*~
Gregory thought about all he’d done for the day. He’d gotten discounts at every shop they’d be using for the rest of the year— he’d directed Davis to put that extra money into comforts for the men, but leave out a quarter to set aside for later.
The wooden naginatas were well-made, and Gregory paid the craftsman a bonus for his quick work. After he’d explained that his men had all asked to train with it, as it was his preferred weapon, the crafter wished him good luck.
That left just the bakery as their last stop. Gregory thanked Davis for leading him to it, then asked the lieutenant to initiate pick up of the supplies. Willof knew Gregory was up to something, but remained quiet while Davis made sure Gregory remembered to order a berry tart for Hanz.
They tied the horses up to the post out front before heading inside. The scent of fresh bread filled the shop. A few tables took up the front of the room, and an old woman sat at one of them, sipping tea and nibbling a confection.
Behind the counter across the room was a grinning man who obviously enjoyed his vocation. The smile dimmed a little upon seeing Gregory, but he managed to maintain a professional smile. “Magi, how can I assist you?”
“I’m hoping you have some items for my squires.”
“It’s a little late in the day, but I hope so.”
“A berry tart and a small meat pie?”
“I have two of the berries left. What kind of meat?”
“He didn’t specify… hm… pick your best two different meats, please.”
“Easily done, Magi.” The baker looked relieved.
“Before you go,” Gregory asked quickly to stop him from leaving, “do you have thirty adzuki buns?”
The baker frowned for a moment before he shook his head. “I don’t. I only have a little over a score of them.”
“Twenty-five?”
“I think I have twenty-seven.”
“I’ll take all of them,” Gregory grinned. “Just bring them out to the counter for me. Now, what do you have that can serve ten people?”
“I have a pie that can be sliced into ten. It’s an apple pie.”
“Cut it into ten and bring it out.”
“That’s a lot of dessert, sir.”
“It’s for my men. Tomorrow, they’re going to work even harder.”
“Ah, a bit of the carrot. Understood. One moment.”
Willof chuckled as the baker went into the back. “You’re already earning their loyalty. Do you think you need to sweeten the incentives to work harder?”
“Once a period between city rotations should be enough,” Gregory said. “With the new work tomorrow, it’ll be a nice bonus for them.”
“If I didn’t know any better, Gregory, I’d wonder if you had ever led men before. You haven’t had to crack down on them, yet, but the city will be coming soon enough.”
“I worry about that. I’m hoping that, with a talk about reputation and my clear disappointment if they fail, it should help curtail any major incidents.”
“It very well might. These men are quickly becoming fanatical in their desire to train as hard as you do.”
“The tournament at the end of the year will be easier if they continue to feel that way.”
“That it will,” Willof agreed. “Looking forward to seeing your wives again?”
“Every day,” Gregory admitted softly. “I’m not looking forward to next year. It’ll need to be done for us to come together again, but I don’t look forward to it at all.”
“Kind of like riding lessons?” Willof chuckled.
Gregory winced, his thighs already complaining at him. “I’ll improve quickly, if with pain.”
“On the way to the gates, we can stop by an apothecary. There’s a salve made just for what you’re experiencing.”
“You’re just telling me that now?” Gregory asked.
“I’m surprised you didn’t know. You know more than most men double your age.”
“Fair, but no, I didn’t know. I’d have bought it last time if I had.”
“It’s nice seeing that you aren’t infallible. Honestly, it makes you more relatable. You do so much and know so much at your age that it’s disconcerting at times.”
Gregory was quiet as he considered that. He’d just had a thirst to learn and had thrown himself into it. There’d never been a moment where he thought all of his studying would make him seem so different from others. His ring could heal him, but he wanted to improve physically, and letting his body heal naturally was best for that.
“Your goods, sir,” the baker said, wheeling a cart out of the back. “There’s just the matter of payment…”
