Epilogue
The sun had barely cleared the ridge to the east, and the town of Malverton was only now coming awake. The man had been awake for hours, dozing only now and then on the long monorail ride from Vorbar Sultana. His excitement and agitation would have defeated any attempt at a more prolonged slumber even if he'd been in a feather bed. Perhaps this would be the day!
He'd been lurking around the city park ever since he'd arrived, checking the time every few minutes. Where the hell was Adrien? He should have been here by now! He took another turn around the small pond and then caught sight of someone approaching. Was it…? Yes! He walked quickly to intercept the new arrival. "Hello, Adrien," he said extending his hand. "Good to see you again."
To his surprise, no handshake was forthcoming. Adrien kept his hands at his side and frowned. "What do you want, Yosef?"
"What do I want?" he asked incredulously. "You know perfectly well what I want! Is she here? Can it be arranged? Will you help?"
His cousin stared him straight in the eyes. "No, Yosef, I can't help you. Go back where you came from."
"What are you talking about? You promised to help me!"
"That was… before."
"Before? Before what? What's the matter? You were so enthusiastic about this! The stuff you pulled on the Bitch was brilliant! I read your messages about it again and again. It's time to take this to the next step!"
"There isn't going to be any next step," answered Adrien in an icy voice. "Not involving me. And if you've got a gram of sense, there won't be one involving you, either. Let it be, Yosef."
"Let it be? Let it be!" snarled the man. "That bitch dishonored me! Dishonored the family! She has to pay!"
"You dishonored yourself, Yosef. Let it be."
"What is this? Just because her backers went and gave her another medal you fold? You're going to side with her? Against me? Against the family? Blood, man! Blood is…"
"Blood!" cried Adrien. "What can you know about blood? You never saw a drop of it on that miserable little frigate of yours! I saw enough blood to fill that bucket to the deck head! The blood of my regiment! The regiment is my family now, Yosef! And like it or not, she's a part of that family. Lift a finger against her and you'll regret it! Now get the hell out of here. If I see hide or hair of you around here after this I'm calling ImpSec!" He turned and walked away.
The man stood there watching him go, a blinding rage building within him. His hand curled around the nerve disruptor in his pocket. He nearly drew it and shot down his cousin then and there. But no, that would ruin any chance for getting what he really wanted. He could wait. Yes, he could wait. Maybe she had friends, but he had friends, too. Friends who would help; friends who wouldn't betray him.
He slowly regained control of himself and then headed back to the monorail station.
He could wait.
[Scene Break]
"Thanks for putting me in for lance, sir, I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," said Anny to newly promoted Lance Corporal Bjorlin. "But I really did it for me. A company commander needs a dog-robber with a little rank. Helps in getting stuff, eh?"
"That it does, sir! That it does!" Bjorlin turned back to shinning her boots, whistling happily.
Bjorlin was working out pretty well, but Anny still really missed Jac. The older man seemed to get things done faster, with less intrusion on her space—and he didn't whistle.
And he'd been a friend.
Bjorlin wasn't quite there yet, but she supposed he'd grow into it. She put on her cap and moved to the door of her quarters, but turned back before she went through. "Don't forget to get your own kit shined up. Everyone needs to be there today."
"Oh yes, sir! Wouldn't miss it." Bjorlin's usually smiling face turned somber for a moment. "Nobody should miss it. Not today."
Anny left her quarters and walked over to the C Company barracks. The place was nearly deserted. After morning roll call, she'd turned the company over to Lieutenant Eric Vorgard, freshly returned to duty, and he and Ensign Milroy and First Sergeant Nikolaidis were putting the men through their usual routine. She went to her office and turned on her comconsole and called up the company roster.
They were still barely at half strength. All of the 'lightly wounded' had returned from the hospital. The more seriously wounded—the ones requiring cryo-revival—would not be returning for a long time. Most probably wouldn't return at all. Some would require years of rehabilitation before they were fit for duty and others would be medically retired. Even those who were able to return to duty might not come back to the 61st. The regiment couldn't leave those empty files vacant forever so they would need to be filled—by other men. Replacements were already starting to arrive at Fort Vorolson. None had actually been assigned to companies yet, but that would start very soon.
Anny missed those who were gone; Sergeant Kay, smart-assed Kerbeck, even fumble-fingered Griesmeyer. So many familiar faces were missing. But there would soon be nearly a hundred new faces in C Company. Part of her was eager to get them here. Get her company back up to strength! The thought of it being her company was exciting. When she'd had her own company back at the Academy, those had been among the best times of her life. She hoped she could make the coming years just as good. Having her own platoon had been fun, but a company… that was what she had been made for.
She closed the roster and brought up today's batch of paperwork. That was one thing she did miss about being a platoon commander: there was a lot less paperwork. She really needed to get another clerk. She had one, but he was overwhelmed with all the forms for the new gear they needed and with the arrival of the replacements it would only get worse. Maybe there would be someone among the new arrivals who had the skills for that sort of thing. On the other hand, the newcomers all had to be molded into assault troopers and that was more important than paperwork. For in the assault regiments everyone was a trooper first; whatever other job they had came a distant second. At Milagres everyone had been in the front lines and as a result there were some gaping holes in the administrative and support structure now.
At least most of the holes in the command structure had been filled. They had a new colonel, and to Anny's delight it was a man named Lurray. He'd been the major in the 42nd Regiment when she'd been assigned to them for her senior year apprentice cruise. She had worked on his staff during the voyage home and she knew he was an experienced and competent officer. She knew everyone would have preferred to have someone promoted from within the 61st, but the most senior surviving officer had only been a captain and there was no way he could be jumped three grades to colonel. But Lurray was a good choice and she'd said so to the other officers and they were all willing to give him a chance. The lieutenant colonel was also new and Anny didn't know him, but the new major had come from the 61st: they'd promoted Captain Vorjanis and almost everyone liked him.
So, a lot of changes. But overall the morale of the men was good. Promotions and a lot of medals and quite a lot of fame had taken some of the sting out of all those empty bunk. Once they had the chance to integrate the replacements, it would almost be like old times. They wouldn't forget their lost comrades, but they would forge new friendships. The colonel of the 42nd had once told her: The regiment is far more than flesh and blood. It lived long before we were born and we can pray that it will continue long after we're gone. Those of us here are just caretakers.
And so it was. The 61st lived and it would go on living.
She worked for an hour or so and then she heard the company returning. She went outside as Vorgard halted them and dressed ranks. He saw her, smiled and saluted. "Everything in order, sir."
"Very good, Lieutenant." She stepped in front of the company. "Big day today, men. I don't need to remind you what we'll be doing or who will be watching. We all know how important it is. So look sharp! Assembly is at 1330." She looked back at Vorgard. "You can dismiss them whenever you're ready." They exchanged saluted again and Anny stepped away.
As she turned, she noticed four people watching from a few dozen meters away. One of them was her dog-robber, Bjorlin, but the other three were wearing civvies. Three women… what the…?
"Hi Anny!" cried one of them, waving.
"Mama? Jenna? Becca?"
They came forward and Anny saw that they were indeed, her mother and two sisters. She stood there, completely stunned. Her mother came up and stopped two steps away. She was smiling but her eyes were nervous. Her sisters were smiling ear to ear and looked very excited. And grown up. They were what? Eighteen and twenty?
"Anny?" said her mother.
"Mama!" said Anny, finding her voice. "What in the word are you doing here? Is everything all right?"
"Everything's fine!" said Jenna.
"We're just here to see you!" added Becca.
"The Countess…"
"The new Countess!"
"Yes, the new Countess sent a lightflyer with a driver to pick us up!"
"Wow! It was so fast!"
"Mama nearly threw up!"
"Jenna!" hissed Mama. The girls subsided.
"Thank you for coming," said Anny, totally bewildered. What was she going to do with them…?
"The Countess said it was important." Her mother looked past her and Anny looked over her shoulder. Vorgard had dismissed the company, but most of them were standing there, watching. "Are those your… your men?" asked her mother.
"Yes, Ma, that's my company."
"And they… they do what you tell them? Those men?"
"Yes they do."
Her mother looked at her, and then at the men, and then back at her. "So… so you really are a soldier."
"Yes, Ma, I really am. Just like Da. Just like Peter wanted to be."
"You came home that one time… wore that uniform… but I never really believed…" She looked her over. "This uniform is different."
"Those were my cadet grays. These are just fatigues. Later today I'll be in my dress greens. I… I assume you'll be staying for the ceremony?"
"If… if that's what's happening. The Countess didn't really explain. She just said it was important to see you today."
"What's going to happen?" demanded Jenna.
"The Emperor will be here today to…"
"The Emperor!" squealed her sisters in unison.
"Yes, he'll be here to award some very important medals."
"Are you getting one?"
"We'd heard that you were a big hero on that Novo whatever-it-was place."
"No, but I have an important job to do as part of the ceremony." She glanced over at Bjorlin. "How did you happen to find them, Lance Corporal?"
"Uh, they found, me sir. Or, that is, an officer from HQ brought them by your quarters. Apparently that's where they were delivered."
"I see. Well, I can take over from here. Thank you."
"Very good, sir," Bjorlin saluted and left.
Jenna snickered. "He called you sir!"
"Yes, that's the way we do things here." Anny took a deep breath and tried to clear her head. She checked the time. Nearly lunch… And her men were still gawking… She turned. "If you men don't have anything to do, I'm sure I can find something."
First Sergeant Nickolaidis appeared from nowhere. "All right you lunks! Get moving! I want that brass shined so bright the Emperor could eat off it!" The men dispersed, most of them smiling. Her sisters giggled.
"I've got a little over an hour before I have to start getting ready. Are you hungry? I can take you over to the mess hall and we can have lunch."
They all agreed, although with some reluctance on her mother's part. Anny took them to the officers' section of the mess and they each got a tray full of food. She noted with interest that she wasn't the only officer there with civilian guests. They found a table and sat down. "So everything is okay back home?"
"Yes, we're doing fine," answered her mother. "Thank you so much for sorting out that whole mess with the title to the farm."
"You do have an actual title, now, yes? Registered and recorded?"
"Yes, that nice Mr. Tsipis took care of everything."
"Did they ever track down Monty?"
"No," said Jenna. "He just disappeared."
"Just so he stays disappeared," grunted Anny. "If he shows up again, you call me, you understand?" Her mother nodded but didn't say anything. "Were you able to get any crops in this spring?"
"Oh yes!" said Becca. "Mr. Jolson from down the hill helped out a lot."
"I think Mama is sweet on him," whispered Jenna. That led to the subject of her sisters' romances. Both girls had serious boyfriends and it seemed like they expected proposals any moment. Well, maybe one of them could move in and help with the farm…
"Do you have a boyfriend, Anny?" giggled Jenna. "Or aren't you allowed?"
"Yes I do," replied Anny. "In fact, there he is now." Jer had arrived along with Patric Mederov. They pulled up chairs and joined them. Both seemed quite surprised to see Anny's family. Her mother and both sisters sized up Jer with interest.
"So where's Alby?" asked Anny.
"Dunno," said Patric. "Maybe he's taken up that ImpSec offer."
"Hope not," said Jer. "I'd miss the little git."
Anny nodded. Commodore Galeni actually had asked Alby to join ImpSec, but amazingly it was only an offer and not an order. Usually, ImpSec just took whoever it wanted.
"Yeah, me, too," said Patric. "Still you could hardly blame him if he took it. I mean being the S2 of an infantry regiment is a waste of his talent."
"True," said Anny. She turned to Jer. "How are you making out with your platoon? Vorkerkas still behaving?"
Jer shook his head. "I can't figure the guy out. He's been downright friendly of late. I don't know what he's up to, but I'm not complaining."
"Well, that's good… oh, there's Alby."
Alby arrived and he looked excited. Introductions were made and he dragged up another chair. "Have you heard the news?" he asked.
"What news?"
"Vorsilva is gone!"
"Really?" asked Anny. Her one worry about returning to Fort Vorolson was that Brigadier Vorsilva was still here and she doubted he'd forgiven her. "What happened?"
"In fact, the 25th Brigade's gone, too! They disbanded it!"
"You're kidding!" said Jer. "So who do we belong to now?"
"Well that's the thing," said Alby. "From what I'm hearing they are planning on bringing in another assault regiment, the 26th maybe, and forming an actual assault brigade."
"There's never been anything like that before, has there?" asked Anny.
"I don't think so. And get this: they'll be keeping the 283rd and the 32nd! Artillery and heavy armor attached directly to us!"
"Man, if we'd just had those tanks back on Novo Paveo," said Jer, shaking his head.
"Yeah. Oh, and the one other rumor is that if this really happens they will be making Sylvanus the brigade commander."
"Well that would be good!" said Patric.
"Yes!" said Anny enthusiastically. She'd always like Sylvanus.
"Wonder if he needs a G2?" said Alby.
The others laughed. "Not going with ImpSec?" asked Jer.
"I don't think so. Too damn many rules with that bunch. But…" Alby's expression grew serious.
"But what?"
"Abbie's going to apply for a posting with a regiment on Sergyar."
"Oh dear," said Anny. "I'm sorry."
"Well, her family is all there," pointed out Jer.
"Nothing's decided yet," shrugged Alby. "We'll have to see what happens." Anny had noticed that the two-year separation seemed to have dampened the feelings between the two. Well, that was something they would have to work out.
Anny's family had been observing all this in silence but now all conversation had to come to an end. It was time to get ready. The boys all headed back to their quarters and Anny, for lack of any better idea, took her mother and sisters back to hers. She made one call on her wristcom on the way. Bjorlin was just finishing up and he left to get ready himself.
"Who is that man?" asked Becca.
"He's my dog-robber."
"Your what?"
"Oh, that's just an expression. He's like a servant. But only part time. He's a soldier, too."
"You have a servant?" Her sisters' eyes had gone wide. Apparently this impressed them more than the fact she commanded an infantry company.
"Yes. I have to pay him, too."
She settled them as best she could and then took a quick shower. When she came out she started to dress and then realized that they were all gawking at her. Her sisters looked shocked; her mother sniffled and put her hand up to her mouth. What? Oh! Shit!
"It's all right," she said softly. "Doesn't hurt or anything."
"Can they… Are they going to fix it?" gasped Jenna.
"Sure; my new arm's almost half grown. When it's done you won't be able to tell anything ever happened." She hastily donned her shirt.
"I'm… I'm so sorry!" said her mother.
"Don't be. They can fix it."
"The news story we saw only said that you had been wounded. We never thought…!"
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." She finished with her trousers and boots and then put on her tunic. Her sisters recovered quicker and started asking about all the badges and decorations. She hesitated when she got to the wound medals.
"Why are there three of them?" demanded Becca. "What else did you lose?"
"Nothing. One was for when I got burned in the forest fire—I know I told you about that. The other was when I took my apprentice cruise. Got a little banged up and broke a few ribs." She buttoned up the tunic, put on her belt, and then clipped her sword to the hangers.
"Wow," said Jenna.
"You look really… fine, Anny," said Becca.
"Thanks."
Her mother got up from where she was sitting. She came over and looked her up and down. "Anny, you do look fine. I'm… I'm proud of you."
Anny smiled and put her hands on her mother's arms. "Thank you, Mama."
A knock on her door broke the moment. She opened it and, as she'd expected, Corporal Kane was standing there. "Hi, Captain! What can I do for you?"
"Hello, Corporal. I was hoping, since you aren't part of today's ceremonies, that you could take charge of my mother and sisters and make sure they get a good spot to watch."
"Well, I will be covering things for the Gazette, but there's no reason they can't tag along."
"Excellent." She made the introductions and then they all left the building. She headed for the barracks while Corporal Kane led the others off toward the parade ground.
C Company was just forming up when she arrived. Spotless uniforms, gleaming boots, glittering brass, lots of new medals, they looked wonderful. They fell in and Anny opened the ranks and made a quick—and completely unnecessary—inspection. As she closed the ranks her earbug beeped. It was the Adjutant and he wanted the status of all the companies.
"A Company, ready."
"B Company, ready"
"C Company, ready," reported Anny.
When they had all reported ready, the companies moved out onto the main road and formed in column. Two years ago they would have had to break into platoons to fit on the road. Today they could do it in a company front. The field officers appeared and took their positions and then the command was given and off they marched. The band sounded a bit thin and a little off-key. Far too many of their number had been lost on Novo Paveo and some of the new additions definitely needed practice.
They reached the parade ground and formed line of battle facing a large reviewing stand which had been erected. The Regiment opened ranks and was placed at parade rest. Anny stood four paces in front of her company. There were thousands of people watching from around the edges of the field. Some were families of men in the 61st; some were people from the town; and some were other military personnel from the base—including the replacements for the 61st. They would soon be part of the Regiment, but they weren't part of it yet. Not for this.
There was a cluster of officers and dignitaries on the stand. The Emperor was there in full uniform, and the Empress, wearing Barrayaran garb this time. But Anny's eyes were on eleven groups of chairs near the rear of the platform and the people huddled on them.
There were speeches, of course. Generals and an admiral and even Count Vortugalov because Fort Vorolson was in his district; all had something to say. Each sang the praises of the 61st while at the same time, somehow implying that they deserved some credit, too. Anny blanked it all out and kept watching the people on those chairs. What were they feeling about all this? Did they even want to be here?
But finally all the pointless talk was done and the Emperor got to his feet. Anny's attention was instantly refocused. The Emperor didn't have a speech, not really. He just thanked the Regiment for its service and its sacrifice. And then he said: "The Vorbarra Cross is the highest decoration that the Empire can bestow. In the nearly two hundred years it has been in existence, only four hundred and thirty-eight have ever been awarded; usually one at a time. Today eleven shall be awarded; the greatest number ever given to one body of soldiers. Let that be a sign to all of your extraordinary accomplishment. Would the presenters please come forward?"
That was the signal Anny had been waiting for. She sheathed her sword and marched forward. Ten other men were doing the same thing, the enlisted men handing off their rifles to a comrade. They converged before the steps leading up to the reviewing stand and lined up behind Anny. While they were doing that, the eleven groups of people, the families of the recipients, had gotten to their feet and stood in anticipation. Most were young women with children, but in some cases it was parents or just a single brother.
A man stepped up to the emperor with a stack of small flat cases. He handed him the first one and the Emperor said: "Anthony Fetherbay, 61st Regiment of Imperial Infantry, Colonel, Commanding."
Biting back her tears, Anny marched forward and up the steps, back ramrod straight. She stopped in front of the Emperor and saluted. He returned it and held out one of the cases, with both hands as though it held something precious. Anny took it and then moved to the first pair of people. Sara Fetherbay and her daughter stood there, hands clasped, shoulders slightly hunched. The girl was crying softly, but Sara looked at Anny with no tears in her eyes. She was married to a soldier and she'd always known and accepted that this could happen.
Anny stopped in front of them and saluted. She held the case out and Fetherbay took it. "I'm sorry," Anny whispered.
"Thank you. God bless you, Anny."
This was too much. She saluted again, faced about and marched back off the platform.
The other ten men repeated the process with the other families. Each of them had some personal connection. A squad mate, a buddy. When they were done they lined up next to Anny. When the last one was finished, Colonel Lurray ordered present arms. Eight hundred white-gloved hands slapped against rifle stocks; Anny's hand flashed up to the visor of her hat.
Then a lone bugler played 'Last Post' and Anny's tears spilled down her cheeks.
When the last notes died away the other ten went back to their places in the formation. Anny desperately wanted to go with them, but there was one last thing that had to be done today. When she'd been told what they wanted her to do she'd argued against it vehemently. So they made it an order and there had been no choice.
General Franz Vordalla, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, now came up to the front of the platform. "Since the very beginning," he said, "Barrayaran soldiers have followed their flags to war. Later, each regiment was provided with a set of colors. The men followed their colors gladly and protected them fiercely. But flags, like men, do not last forever. The flag of the 61st Regiment has done all that could be asked of it. So today the colors of the regiment shall be retired and put in a place of honor and a new stand of colors will take its place."
He nodded and the regimental color guard marched forward and halted. Anny took a deep breath and then went to meet them. She came right up to the color sergeant, a man new to his post, of course. "I'm sorry, Color Sergeant," she said quietly. "You should be the one to do this."
"No sir, they picked the right one." He held out the flag to her.
Or what was left of the flag. They had cleaned off the dirt, but it looked almost as she had last seen it. Staff, torn and bent, eagle missing, fabric ripped to a few tattered shreds. She took it and suddenly realized that she'd never before touched it with her bare hands. The metal staff was cold. Cold as Death.
She turned and marched back toward the reviewing stand. The Emperor had come down to ground level and two uniformed men stood behind him. One carried a set of furled colors. Anny came up to the Emperor and halted. She went to one knee and held out the flag before her.
The Emperor looked it over for a moment and shook his head almost imperceptibly. He took it carefully and then turned and handed it to one of the men. The other came forward and handed him the new colors. Facing Anny again, he carefully shook out the folds and the new fabric shown in the sunshine, the gold eagle at the top of the staff gleamed brightly. He held it out and she took hold, but he did not let go immediately.
"These colors are the emblem of the Imperium you serve. Carry them proudly onward." He paused for an instant and then added "As you always have." Anny sucked in her breath. The first part had been the standard wording for the ceremony. The second part had not.
He released his hold and Anny got to her feet. She marched backwards four paces and then dipped the colors in salute. She raised them again, faced about, and went to the color guard and delivered them to the color sergeant. Freed at last, she returned to her spot in front of her company, quivering.
The band started to play and colors were trooped back and forth in front of the regiment before returning to their proper place in the formation. The Emperor went back to the reviewing stand. Colonel Lurray then closed the ranks and commanded: "The 61st Regiment of Imperial Infantry will pass in review! By company, right wheel—March!"
They marched to the right and then did two left wheels to bring them back just in front of the reviewing stand. As they approached the Emperor, the troops began to sing:
"The finest were Vorlinton's Guard;
The Sixty-First is just as hard;
Our arms we wield from star to star
Far from the hills of Barrayar.
Far from the hills and skies of home,
We'll strike at planet, ship or dome;
From Novo Paveo to Escobar,
Far from the hills of Barrayar."
The song was old, but a few of the words were new. As C Company came abreast the stand, Anny ordered 'Eyes Right' and saluted with her sword. The Emperor nodded at her and saluted back.
"The Colonel said: Give them your steel!
And we crushed the foes beneath our heel;
We'll crush our foes both near and far;
For the Emperor! For Barrayar!
Far from the hills and skies of home,
We'll strike at planet, ship or dome;
From Novo Paveo to Escobar,
Far from the hills of Barrayar."
The three battalions of the Regiment marched on past and in her mind's eye, Anny could see the bolstered ranks of the White Battalion following along, singing with all the rest.
"Send us your best to do their worst,
They'll break upon the Sixty-First.
And when we're done, we'll leap afar
Back to the hills of Barrayar.
Back to the hills and skies of home,
Done with our march, no more to roam;
From Novo Paveo and Escobar,
Back to the hills of Barrayar."
"We're back, Boys. Welcome home."
The End