The few days after the solstice had the men getting excited, as they would rotate into the city on patrols when the week began. Gregory planned to go with the first squad, having people to see.
There was some confusion over why Gregory had put a stop to obstacle runs after the solstice. It was cleared up when, after their normal supply run, a dozen men came back from Gardenia with wagons. They’d gone around the hill, shielding the camp from the course. Before the men could go check, Gregory explained that the entire course was getting improved. It would become more difficult, with new, more complex obstacles to be dealt with. The craftsmen would be coming out every day to work on it until it was completed.
With everything going on, their training program changed. Willof led the sergeants on the new step, which was procession marching. That would have two of the squads sparring with the naginata, one on patrol in the town, one marching, and the fifth with the day off.
Gregory wasn’t surprised that Basal hadn’t yet admitted his hope for a relationship with Dot. He remembered what it was to be a young man with emotions for a woman, but unable to tell her. He hoped Amoria was doing alright; he felt sure that they’d both done what was best for them by moving on.
~*~*~
None of the men normally approached him during breakfast. They’d been willing to occasionally speak with him at dinner, but it was the rare man who’d approach during breakfast.
“Excuse me, sir?”
Gregory looked up to see Jim Brun— the first person to speak with him at any of their mealtimes— standing at the table. “What can I do for you?”
“Are you going to be on patrol with us, or are you just going into the city?” Jim’s black-furred ears twitched as he asked the question.
Gregory grinned at the nervousness the man exuded. “I’ll mostly be handling other things, but I will swing through the patrol area to check it.”
Relief flooded Jim’s face. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Me being on patrol with you, makes the squad nervous?”
“We don’t want to embarrass you, sir.”
Gregory set his spoon down. “None of you will embarrass me. I’m confident about that. If me being there makes you all nervous, I’ll limit my time in the area.”
“We’ll be fine, sir,” Jim said, standing at attention, his ears quivering.
“At ease,” Gregory said. “I’ll be riding into town with you, so let the others know.”
“Yes, sir.” With a snappy salute, the man turned on his heel and marched back to his squad.
“Reminds me of how I felt when I started helping in the archive,” Rafiq commented. “I didn’t want to disappoint my father, nor Sarinia.”
“None of us want to be the one who drags the entire unit down,” Basal said. “Even Hanz and I feel some pressure sometimes.”
“Hmm? I didn’t know that,” Gregory said. “What is it for you specifically that you worry about?”
“Failing to have things clean and in order,” Basal admitted. “Basically, failing at my job.”
“Which you have shown not a single inclination toward,” Gregory commented. “You realize the pies I bring for you are because of the wonderful job you do, right?”
“Yes, sir. Hanz and I understand. The mutton pie yesterday was delicious.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Gregory chuckled before going back to his meal.
~*~*~
Milton and his men marched, but wore their casual clothes because they had the day off in town. Glasson and his unit were in full kit; the sun glinted off the edges of the freshly-smithed naginatas they carried.
Gregory was the only one mounted as the group approached the town. It felt pompous for him to be riding while the other twelve men marched beside the walking horse. However, him walking into the town would send the wrong message to the mayor and others, so he rode.
“Would rather be marching…” Gregory muttered.
“You’d be the only magi who would, sir,” Glasson said from the front of the squad, his black-furred tail swishing slightly.
“My wives would probably think the same way.”
“I march corrected, sir,” Glasson chuckled, which sounded a little more like a cat chuffing than a full chuckle.
“Indeed, you do,” Gregory laughed. “You’ll be briefed on the area by the sergeant who normally oversees that section of the town. I’ll be speaking with the captain of the guard and will catch up with you later.”
“Understood, sir.”
Bill straightened as the squad got closer to the gate. “Magi, these are your men?”
“Sergeant Daniel Glasson is in charge of them. Milton’s squad is off duty for the day.” Gregory nodded to each sergeant in turn. “We’ll be heading to the guard office.”
“Yes, sir. Do you know the way?”
“I do. I was shown it before.”
“Very well, sir,” Bill saluted. “Don’t let me detain you.”
The squad saluted back before following Gregory into the town.
“They seem sharper than recruits normally would be,” Larry called down to Bill once Gregory was out of earshot. “Surprising for a squad of breeds.”
“Reminds me of a detachment of regular army,” Bill agreed. “If they’re all like that, then I think the gutter rats will be having trouble.”
“Think the captain will use the magi guard to finally sweep them out?”
“I don’t know, Larry. Probably depends on what the magi says when they meet.”
“Good point. Commander Tudyk can be a bit sensitive.”
“And what magi doesn’t look down on those under him?” Bill snorted.
“That one might not,” Larry said. “Been damned nice, from what I’ve heard.”
“Probably an act,” Bill shrugged. “Above my paygrade. I just stand here, watching the gates.”
“You watch the road. Wouldn’t do anyone any good if you watched the gates.”
“Larry, shut up…” Bill sighed.
~*~*~
The command office was near the magistrates, making it easier for those arrested to be seen quickly. Gregory looked over the structure as they approached it. Behind the two buildings was a tall wall that looked to be completely enclosed.
Must be the jail, Gregory thought. Not many could get over that wall easily.
A single uniformed guard stood in front of the building. Seeing Gregory and the squad, he came to attention. “Sir, welcome to the command post. Commander Tudyk is waiting for you, sir.”
Gregory dismounted and tied his horse to the hitching ring. “Thank you. Can you direct my men to the sergeant they need to be briefed by?”
“I will make sure they are handed off, sir,” the man saluted, though one eye twitched when he saw the squad was fully composed of part-eurtiks.
“Thank you,” Gregory said, returning the salute before entering the building.
An older man wearing spectacles sat behind a large desk a few feet inside the door. Seeing Gregory, he nodded. “Magi, up two flights, last door. His name is on it.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said, heading for the stairs.
Knocking on the indicated door, Gregory waited for a voice to tell him to enter. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Commander Tudyk.”
The man behind the desk was standing when Gregory spoke. He wore a uniform, but it was clearly made of silk instead of the standard uniform cloth. “I’m Commander Richard Tudyk. You must be Initiate Gregory Pettit.”
Gregory closed the door before advancing to the desk. “I am. A pleasure, Commander.”
“Please sit,” Tudyk said before he took his own seat again. “Your men came with you?”
“Your door guard was going to direct them for me.”
“He’ll handle it. Glad you came to speak with me. The mayor said you requested the worst part of the town. Is that right?”
“Yes. I want my men to be tested.”
“They’ll get plenty of that,” Tudyk snorted. “The section they’ll be patrolling has some rough elements in it. Also contains our… others.”
“Others?” Gregory asked, curious because the man didn’t put any vitriol on the word.
“Mixed heritage,” Tudyk admitted, then shrugged. “They band together no matter what town you’re in. That’s where ours are.”
“I see. What manner of trouble can my men expect to encounter?”
“All kinds. Bar fights will be the most common, even in the middle of the day. Random assaults, including muggings. Should see all kinds, though. We do the best we can, but…” Tudyk shrugged again.
“I’ll let them know if your sergeant hasn’t already.”
“Good. Is there anything else I can do to help, Magi?”
“Actually, yes,” Gregory said. “I’d like to borrow a couple squads of your men once a week. Off-duty is fine; I’ll give them a small payment for their time.”
“For what work?”
“Sparring with my men. I want them to face other people to give them a real mix of opponents. To start with, it’ll be normal sparring, but after our next trip to Grakle, I want them there specifically to take up part of our obstacle course six days a week, so feel free to rotate men to me.”
“You built a course?” Tudyk asked, sitting forward.
“Yes. I’m having it improved right now. It’ll take at least a couple of weeks for what I wanted.”
“Hmm… When you go, then what will happen to it?”
“It’ll be left for whatever magi follows us.”
“Would you allow my men to use it?”
“When we aren’t, sure. When the next magi shows up, you’ll have to arrange that with them.”
“Very well.”
“The next magi will likely be of mixed blood, Commander. My clan is tolerant.”
Tudyk blinked for a long moment before a ghost of a smile touched his lips. “That’ll be the only clan that is, but maybe one is a good first step, Magi.”
“The first of many,” Gregory smiled.
“My men don’t understand. The two with obvious mixed heritage who joined up quit after a month. I can’t come down without causing massive upheaval in my command.”
“They’ll learn,” Gregory said. “Now, let me explain the schedule I’d like to use…”
