After a few moments of quiet agreement, I posed another question to Tomas, “So, I’m a soldier. Millwall here was a soldier and a smith. What do you do, Tomas?”

  The half-elf flashed a quick smile. “Oh, a little bit of everything, really. I’ve had to, seeing as I go out alone, but if I had to say what I’m better at—” He paused a moment in thought. “I’m good at getting into places I’m not supposed to be and strategically transporting equipment to alternate locations.”

  “So you’re a thief?”

  Tomas’s eyes widened as he shot me a clearly theatrical scandalized glare. “Please, you make it sound so uncouth. No, that’s just what I thought I bring to the table when it comes to getting your sister back, considering you and our friend over there clearly have the violence part down pat. I do quite a bit more, thank you very much. I’m particularly skilled at talking my way out of things if you hadn’t noticed, and I have a gift for convincing people into unwise actions.”

  I snorted. “Oh, so you’re a con artist?”

  Tomas laughed. “Please, first you insult and now you flatter? Artist? Nay, sir. I am but a humble practitioner of layman’s diplomacy. Words can open locks picks can’t, after all.”

  I knew exactly the sort of person Tomas was. I’d had a few people like him in units I’d been part of. Bullshit artists and barracks lawyers, all of them, but you didn’t cross the E-4 mafia for a reason, and Tomas would easily be the quintessential E-4 if he was in uniform. He’d be valuable in his own way, given half a chance. “Anything else you do?”

  “I enjoy song and verse, otherwise. I’d pretty good with a lute, I’d say. In fact, let me prove it. Sing some song from where you come from and I’ll adapt it to here.”

  Put on the spot, my mind went blank.

  “Go ahead, pick any song you know.”

  I couldn’t go with most modern music, he wouldn’t be able to play any of it. I went with the first thing that seemed to fit when it popped into my head. After wetting my throat, I launched into the first stanza of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Modern Major General:

  I am the very model of a modern Major-General,

  I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral,

  I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical

  From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;

  I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,

  I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,

  About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news,

  With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

  By the time I’d finished, the room around us had gone quiet and Tomas’s eyes were alight.

  “Sam, I have no idea what some of that was, but that’s brilliant work,” Tomas mustered and reached for his mug. After draining a good measure of it, he stood, looked across the tables, and said, “Children, cover your ears.”

  After another quick drink, he cleared his throat and grinned widely when he responded with:

  I am the very model of a modern elven troubadour,

  I've songs for feasts, and every season; even all the festivals.

  I know the kings of all the lands and those who have come before

  From Cadecon to Rendalogue, in order chronological,

  I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters romantilogical,

  I understand seduction, both simple n’ scatalogical,

  ‘bout bathhouse maids I'm teeming with a lot of news

  With many cheerful facts ‘bout what those lasses love to do.

  Grinning like a cat, he sat down, finished his drink, and then, looking rather pleased with himself, he asked, “So?”

  I chuckled and lifted my tankard in salute. “Not to sell you short, but that was better than I expected. Definitely better than anything I could do. Bard. You’re definitely a bard.”

  “You flatter me yet again, good sir.”

  Millwall grumbled, and I explained what had just happened.

  “Oh, well, shame I couldn’t understand a word of it,” he muttered. “Does make me wish I could speak the language or at least understand it. Do you think they have anyone here who’d teach me?”

  Before I could answer, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Rowan’s voice followed moments later. “Tomas, what exactly have you been up to out there?”

  The bard’s face flushed. “Uhm, nothing? Other than what you ordered, that is.”

  Rowan barked out sudden laughter. “I’m just yanking your chain, Tomas. If you went and wet your wick in every town, I wouldn’t care so long as you got the job done and we didn’t have some angry expectant mother show up at our door expecting us to take her in.”

  Tomas blinked a few times. “Oh. Well, yeah, that hasn’t happened. Yet.”

  Now, I caught the quiet ‘yet’ at the end and was mulling over whether or not to capitalize on it when Rowan said, “Yet as in that might happen or yet as in it can’t?”

  I’d been quietly translating the exchange for Millwall at that point, so when Tomas didn’t answer I looked over to find his flush had deepened quite a bit.

  Rowan pushed it a little further. “Tomas, dear, you know there are plenty of young maids here who’d take care of that problem for you, yes?”

  Biting back my own laughter, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “I’m pretty sure Aine would be happy to lend a hand.”

  Rowan’s hand tightened and shook on my shoulder. “You know, Sam, I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. She’s remarkably dependable, Tomas. She’s never choked on any task I’ve asked of her.”

  “I— I’m— I’m okay, thanks,” Tomas muttered while quickly getting up and walking away with his tray in hand.

  At that point, I couldn’t hold back the laughter and neither could Rowan. Across from me, Millwall looked cautiously amused.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  As I let him in on the rest, Rowan leaned forward and quietly spoke into my ear, “We might’ve taken that a bit too far, you know. I should feel bad, but after everything he’s put me through I couldn’t help it.”

  She sidled around me and into the chair Tomas had just vacated.

  “I don’t have the excuse, but you’re right. We might want to apologize, even if it was all in good fun. He’s not a soldier. I don’t think he gets that it’s a sign of acceptance. But— Shit, he never finished telling me about the garrison at Fiddler’s Green.”

  Rowan raised an eyebrow and I had to fill her in on what we’d discussed so far. When I wrapped up the explanation she nodded. “The garrison is fifty troops. Two dozen men-at-arms, the rest are essentially better equipped levees. They damn near doubled the local population moving in that force.”

  “Are we talking heavy infantry? What separates the men-at-arms from the levee types? Remember, I’m not used to—” I almost said ‘TO&E’ but caught myself in time. “—how troops are equipped and deployed here.”

  “They’re all heavy infantry to some extent. Chain mail more than plate. Sword and shield, but they do have some spearmen and archers. Some of their equipment is magically augmented. I was impressed when Tomas managed to figure all of that out. Disappointed, too, that the Count thinks so little of us.”

  “So little? Fifty equipped like that sounds like they’d be a bit of a problem.”

  “In a face-to-face fight, sure. You know I’m not stupid enough to order that kind of assault. They’ve cut a lot of the trees around the village, but this time of year the plains grass gets fairly tall. Fifty people turn into fifty targets, especially when you can see in the dark and they can’t.”

  Having run night ops, she didn’t need to say more. “That they do.”

  “The council meeting that ended up being about you? I originally called it to announce we were going to attack Fiddler’s Green at the end of the month. As much as I hate the idea of turning on former friends, if there’s no populace, no local infrastructure, the Count will be forced to reevaluate just how much he wants that hematite.”

  “What if they decide to commit to it? How would you deal with a few hundred troops? Or a thousand?”

  Rowan responded with a predatory smile. “Most of them will die without ever seeing an elf. Grass burns, Sam. So do trees. We have miles of both between us and them.”

  A much younger me would’ve been chilled by her delivery, but I was long past that. She’d clearly spent a good amount of thought planning this out. “Okay, so what if they have some means of fire suppression? Mages can do that, can’t they?”

  “Not when they’re dead. The fact the Count doesn’t know anyone from the House of Silence survived, much less could possibly be here, will make Cailleach’s job that much easier.”

  Millwall grumbled, so I started translating again.

  “Ask her what happens if this draws in the nobles above him, Sam.”

  The way Rowan went still when I posed the question made it obvious she’d thought that far ahead and didn’t like the answer. “Then whoever survives, if anyone does, gets to reign from a pile of ash. It’d be a cold day in all the hells before we bend the knee.”

  By the look on his face, Millwall needed no translation. He leaned forward, placing a hand on the table. “Samuel, ask her whose flag the enemy flies.”

  I relayed the answer, “Kharkan.”

  Millwall’s expression soured. “Cadecon had scant dealings with Kharkan, Samuel, and for good reason. They’re scoundrels, rogues, and slavers, from the kingship down. Tell her I can’t promise I’ll stay and fight, but until the time comes I must make that decision, I’ll use everything the Forgemaster taught me to strengthen her people.”

  Rowan’s features softened when I relayed the offer. “We’ll accept anything he has to offer. Speaking of, we need to get back to training. He’s welcome to come along, otherwise Quinn should be back down here within the hour with living arrangements for everyone.”

  Millwall politely declined but expressed some interest in possibly joining me tomorrow or the next, so back to the hall we ended up. Much like the previous days, I spent the rest of the day getting my ass pushed around the training area, but things were quickly shifting from the one-sided assbeatings I’d been getting to trading ass-kickings. I couldn’t not be happy with that. The long soaks in the bath before bed didn’t hurt, either.

  And so it went until the day before we were supposed to leave, save that Tomas and Millwall periodically stopped by to partake in the pain. Tomas was no slouch with blade or bow, which helped me rest a little easier, and Millwall— well, trying to beat him was its own special kind of hell. He had mass, which he clearly knew and took advantage of, and then there was his reach advantage. By that point, sparring against Rowan or the twins had become fun. Sparring against Millwall had none of that, and even if I knew the experience made me a better swordsman, I did not enjoy it in the least.

  That last day, I showed up to the training hall, happy that I’d been doing this long enough the aches from muscles soldiering with firearms didn’t need had faded into background noise, only to find Rowan and the twins sitting around the Hall.

  “So, what’s the plan, boss?” I asked Rowan.

  “Plan? You’re leaving tomorrow. You’re to relax today so you’re in the best possible shape to travel.”

  “Oh. Well, is there anything I can help you guys with then?”

  Aine turned her head toward me with a familiar grin. “I’ve got something you can help me with.”

  “Aine, please,” Rowan muttered. “We talked about your teasing already.”

  “What? It was an honest offer for once.”

  Rowan looked over. “And what is he going to help you with?”

  “Exactly what you thought, Captain. A little encouragement before danger and a reason to come back never hurt anyone.”

  Unamused, Rowan pressed her lips together as she breathed in deeply. “Cailleach, has your sister always been this way?”

  Cailleach looked up from the book she was reading. “Inconveniently correct? Yes. Quite often.”

  As Rowan rubbed the bridge of her nose, Aine raised an eyebrow at me. “So, how bout it? Most of my clients seem to think I’m to die for.”

  I snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind. It’s a bit early in the day for me.”

  “Mmm.” Aine nodded sagely and went back to whatever was on her desk. “Just for today though. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression about me.”

  “What impression would that be, Aine?”

  Cailleach looked up from her book. “Desperation, mostly.”

  “Sister, really?” Aine glared at her sister.

  Cailleach returned the glare with a bored stare. “What? It’s not my fault you overcompensate.”

  Suddenly curious, I couldn’t help but ask before Aine lost her scandalized glare. “Overcompensate for what?”

  “Don’t you fucking dare,” Aine growled.

  “Or what? You’ll kill me? Please. You’ve already tried, remember?” Cailleach said and waved dismissively before redirecting her attention to me. “The simple fact of the matter is that we were inducted into the House at far too young of an age. Both of us bare scars, some even physical. Please don’t think less of my sister.”

  Aine’s face quivered a heartbeat before she stood. “I’m going on patrol.”

  The moment she left, Rowan and I both asked, “What was that?”

  Cailleach started to shrug but froze halfway through for a long second before putting her book down entirely. “The infested can spread their blight quickly, and though it’s rare, their victims can turn in moments. Our friends, our comrades, our master were no exception. I did what was necessary. She did not handle that well—still doesn’t handle that well. I suppose from a certain point of view, I’m not handling it any better, just— differently.”

  For a moment, words failed me. “Holy shit.”

  When Cailleach’s eyes focused on me, they weren’t dead, not exactly. “It’s something that happened, Samuel. If I thought it’d help, I’d tell you to take her up on her offer, Sam, but I don’t know my sister’s mind nearly as well as I used to. I should go see after her.”

  Once the door closed, I looked over to Rowan. “Every unit I’ve been a part of, that kind of thing gets people discharged from service.”

  Expression more than a little pained and sour, Rowan slowly nodded. “And if I had an alternative, I’d find a way for them to live a quiet, normal life, if such a thing is still even possible for either of them. They earned that much long ago.” After a long sigh, she added, “If we ever find a senior Harvester, they’re going to relieve me of command the moment they learn even a quarter of what I’ve allowed, but what choice have I had?”

  A few long moments passed before I offered, “Well, on the plus side, if you didn’t really have a choice and the new commander isn’t incompetent, what the hell can he change without dooming everyone?”

  Rowan stared at me before chuckling darkly. “There is that, I guess, and unless he came with an army, my problems are now his entirely since I won’t be calling the shots anymore. Thanks, that’s an awfully weird way to cheer someone up, Sam.”

  “You’re welcome?”

  Before I could say more, the door opened and both Millwall and Tomas came in.

  “So, is something wrong with the twins?” Tomas asked with more caution in his voice than normal.

  Rowan’s eyes darted to the bard. “Why?”

  “Looked like they were having an argument to me. Still can’t tell them apart, so I don’t know which one was the one who passed us first.”

  This wasn’t my circus to manage, so I eyed Rowan.

  “The Fall, mostly, as we just learned. I won’t gossip about it, but please be kind to both of them. Life has not been kind to them for longer than most of us.”

  The bard shrugged. “I wouldn’t treat them any other way. So what was it you wanted to show us today, Sam?”

  After translating for Millwall, I motioned for them to follow and led them out onto the back balcony where I stopped next to the soft case I’d sat down earlier.

  “Okay, so Tomas, I want you to pay attention here. Hopefully you won’t need to remember any of this, but I’m going to show both of you how to operate these just in case.”

  Both of them regarded me quizzically as I bent over and unzipped the case. Millwall’s eyebrows rose the moment I slid out the shotgun. “This is the M1014 semi-automatic shotgun. Now, because I only have limited ammunition and can’t make more, you’ll both get to shoot it precisely once just so you know how much kick it has. After that, I want you to familiarize yourself with how to reload it as fast as safely possible. Its chief drawback is, in fact, how long it takes to reload, but otherwise it is very point and click.”