Gregory and his men did their normal routine in the morning: breakfast followed by the Peaceful Fist. After that, the men were told to relax until it was time to go.
The moment a messenger came with their warning to be ready, everyone mobilized. That left just the four eurtik and the two squires in camp while everyone else double-checked their gear, getting ready to move when called. Gregory wasn’t told to go mounted, so he planned to walk with Davis at the head of his men.
It took nearly an hour, but the men waited at resting position so they could chat with each other. When they saw the messenger coming back their way, they came to attention.
“Magi Pettit, your unit is to follow me. Do not deviate from the route, and do not communicate with others outside your unit.”
“Understood,” Gregory replied to the unranked messenger. “Unit, form up.” When he heard the thump of everyone setting their left foot, ready to march, Gregory smiled. “Ready when you are.”
The man looked down the two columns of men, his eyes lingering on their naginatas. “Yes, sir. This way.”
“Company, forward march!” Gregory barked as he put his own word to action.
The path was the same as the day before as the group was taken around the outside of the campgrounds, toward the arena. Some units stood at the edge of their areas to watch them— some were silent while others shouted to them when they marched past.
One of the units cheered for them, wishing them luck. Gregory’s lips curled up when he caught a glimpse of Farin at the front of his unit.
Jason’s, though, was far from kind. The insults, heckling, and jeers were anything but polite. Gregory just hoped his men could keep marching smoothly in step. Jason’s voice was missing from the cacophony, but Gregory was sure he’d instigated it.
A captain of the Imperial Army stood outside the arena, focused on the group as they were led to him. He made a few notes on a clipboard before he stood at ease, waiting for them to come to a stop.
“Company, halt!” Gregory barked when he was a few feet from the captain.
The captain nodded, making another note on his clipboard. “Magi Pettit of Aether’s Guard?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your unit will make a lap of the arena exterior. I will be marching beside your men. You are to stop when you reach this spot. Understood?”
“Understood, sir.”
“Very well. Begin.”
“Company, column right march!” Gregory commanded as he started to lead his men around the arena.
The captain let them all pass, watching them intently before marching behind them. As they made their way around the exterior of the arena, the captain double-time marched up the outside of the unit. He spent a couple of seconds beside each squad before making his way to the front to pace Gregory and Davis.
Gregory got them halted when his foot hit the exact spot he’d started from. The captain made more notes before he banged on the gate. It took a few minutes, but when the gate opened to reveal the same horse eurtik as yesterday, the captain handed off his clipboard to the major waiting beside the eurtik.
Taking the clipboard, the major looked it over, then walked down the unit, inspecting them with a critical eye. When he came back to the front, he faced Gregory directly. “Magi Pettit, why are your men not armed with standard weaponry?”
“My unit is armed as I saw fit to arm them, sir. No magi unit is held to the exact standard of the army. My men preferred reach to sword and shield. They’ve been trained with the naginata and sword.”
The major’s lips thinned as he made a note on the clipboard. “You believe this to be the case, Magi?”
Gregory met the major’s eyes. “Would you like me to recite the section of law in regard to armor and weapons for a magi guard unit, sir?”
It was clear that the major didn’t expect to be called out, much less by a magi who wasn’t exuding his aura. “Since you ask, I would assume you know the relevant sections. The general might ask you to recite it.” A nasty smirk touched the major’s lips. “That’ll be his call. Bring your men inside to wait until it’s your turn.”
“Yes, sir,” Gregory said before he gave the command.
~*~*~
The bars into the arena were covered by black cloth so the inside was hidden. The sound of marching could still be heard through the cloth. Jenn’s voice echoed as she called out commands. Gregory grinned when he heard the commands for one of the advanced marches their units had been working on. Eventually, General Ruzi dismissed Jenn, and the sound of marching faded into the distance.
When the sound was completely gone, the men grew quiet as they waited to be called. Minutes ticked by and Gregory figured the judges were making notes and discussing things.
The bars started to retract, and a commanding voice ordered them to come out. Gregory called his men to order, then got them marching. He led them into the arena, then had them march in a tight turn so they would be facing the judges. Standing behind Ruzi was the major who had clearly handed over the clipboard.
“Magi Pettit, your men are bearing naginata instead of the standard sword and shield. Why?” Ruzi asked.
“After seeing my skill with the weapon, they asked to be trained with the naginata instead, sir. I used my own vela to equip my men. They’ve been trained by me since the start of this year to fight with the naginata.”
“Your men asked? You didn’t dictate to them?”
“Correct, sir.”
“Lieutenant Davis Williams, is this true?”
“It is, sir,” Davis replied crisply. “The men unanimously requested it.”
“My notes here said you were willing to quote the regulations about their equipment, Magi.”
“I can if you tell me to, sir,” Gregory said.
“Give me the section where it can be found, but don’t quote it.”
“Section six, subsection five, sir.”
Ruzi looked back at the major. “Quote it to me, Major.”
The major froze. “I… can’t sir. Though, I believe that is the right section and subsection.”
“It is,” Ironhand snorted. “Next time you try to make a power play, Major, I would suggest you not test a magi who was known to spend hours every day in the archive. Pettit, are you ready for your men to show us their training?”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready to lead them.”
“Your wives both did, as well. Besides them, only my clan and the Hardened Fist clan’s initiates have done so. It is not required.”
“Understood, sir. I will lead my men.”
“Very well. You have a half-hour to showcase their ability to march. We expect to see the basics at the very least,” Ruzi said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Begin,” Ruzi commanded.
Gregory smiled as he turned sharply to face his men. “Company…”
~*~*~
They spent the entire time showcasing everything they’d trained on. They started with the basics, as that was clearly what the judges wanted to see first. With the basic march, turns, pivots, and reversals finished, Gregory grinned as he called for specific squads to begin countermarches. As each squad split off, the assigned sergeant took over command for them.
It was during this time that the squads split into separate entities, with squad number six consisting of just Gregory and Davis, who continued their own march. The sergeants had their units march past one another, through each other, and near the end, even exchange weapons while they went.
They finished with Gregory calling them back into a single unit one by one. It worked beautifully, thanks to foresight, so each squad seemed to fold into the whole as seamlessly as one breathed. Bringing them to a halt in front of the judges, Gregory stood stiffly. He’d summoned his own naginata during the march, so everyone— including him— held their weapon.
Ruzi glanced down with a nod, then looked up. “Perfect timing, Magi. I would expect no less from someone who can see the future.”
“‘Timing can mean life or death in war,’ sir,” Gregory said, quoting Lionel Lighthand.
“Very true. Your men will get to show us how they deal with adversity in a few days. You will not be allowed on the course with them.”
Gregory’s chin tilted up slightly, annoyed that he was going to be kept from his men. “Why would a commander not be allowed to lead his men into combat, sir?”
“Because you could lead them on the easiest path through the obstacle course,” Zhu answered. “Is it truly a test if you do?”
Gregory exhaled slowly. “My men will still pass the course as the top unit, sir.”
“Confidence is good,” Ironhand nodded. “Both your wives said the same. How do all three of you expect to manage that?”
“We don’t, sir,” Gregory replied. “We will finish as the top three, but all of us will be striving for the top spot.”
Ruzi’s lips ticked up. “Magi-killer said you three would push the boundaries of what we expect. If not for his word that he has not tampered with your knowledge of the tests, I would think you’d been helped. But answer me a question with no deception: will you refrain from looking into the future to aid your men for their run on the course?”
“My men do not need my help, sir. I will swear, under Aether’s gaze, that I will not give them any advice on what to expect for their run. However, until they leave the camp, I will coach them on what to expect and how I would advise them if I was beside them.”
Ruzi glanced at Ironhand and Zhu, both of whom nodded. “We’d like to ensure that, Pettit. You will be summoned tomorrow to the manor where you will stay in seclusion until your men run. At that point, you will sit with us to watch them.”
“As you command, General,” Gregory replied a bit stiffly.
“You are to head straight back to your camp. Do not talk to others, including your wives. None but us and your unit are to know that you are being kept out. Dismissed.”
The men all saluted before Gregory got them marching for the exit. No one spoke on the march back. The jeers came again from some units, but none of his men responded or even glanced at the people causing a ruckus.
When they got back to camp, Gregory dismissed them, but no one moved an inch. Davis spoke after a moment, “Sir, we will do as you said. We will be the best they’ve ever seen.”
“At ease,” Gregory said, and the men went to the correct posture. “I know, Lieutenant. For what they didn’t forbid me to do, you will run it as we trained: full combat. We’ll be the last again, so I give you my leave to break the course. If they want reparations afterward, I’ll gladly make them.” His gaze went to Polka and Dot off to the side. “Ladies, you’ll be forced to sit out. You aren’t part of the combat unit, being staff. I apologize for barring you, as I myself was barred, but we want it clean and pointed.”
Polka and Dot drew themselves into attention posture, then saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Gregory’s smile was broad. “I’m flattered, but technically, you doing that could get me in trouble. So please, no more salutes.”
The sisters exchanged a glance, then bowed at the waist to him. “Yes, sir.”
Laughing, Gregory bowed back. “Acceptable. Men, I trust you all. I can see the anger in you. Hold it, channel it, and then, when it’s time, use it to help you push. I would expect a regular unit of footmen on the field to stop you. They’ll be better than the guards you trained against, but I trust you to show them our worth. Since I will be gone tomorrow until the tournament is over, I’ll give you a gift tonight. Sergeants, work them tomorrow, then let them recover for their run.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” the sergeants replied as one.
“Now, dismissed,” Gregory said. This time, the men went to divest themselves of their gear.
