"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."– Peter Drucker
Captain Mason of the Doncaster guard post arrived at Oakdale the next afternoon. Along with a troop of soldiers, she brought the Herald from the resupply station and a full healer.
Herald Joan, in her late sixties, was missing an eye and three fingers from her right hand. Along with her duties at the resupply station, she assisted Captain Mason in her investigations. Using the Truth Spell, Herald Joan questioned the two surviving attackers – the man who had been trampled by Blood had died in the night – and confirmed they had been hired to kill Kensie. They did not know who had hired the band. Only their late leader had dealt with the man paying for the murder.
After finding out the location of their camp and how many men were still there, Captain Mason ordered the two survivors hanged for their part in the attack and the other crimes they admitted. She dispatched twenty men to clean out the camp and the three men left behind along with two female camp followers.
Captain Mason insisted that Kensie confirm once again under Truth Spell that he did not know who was trying to kill him. She ground her teeth in frustration as the Truth Spell showed he did not. She reluctantly yielded to Kensie's request not to discuss his and his father's speculations on the matter when he explained the trouble it might cause in the Royal Court.
The following day, Captain Mason returned to Doncaster with her troop. Kensie travelled in a horse litter despite his protests that he could ride. "You are on the sick list and you will follow the Healer's instructions. You will leave my post healthy. I don't want you back."
Kadhael Corbie could talk about nothing but how Magog had defended him from the attackers. He lavished attention and praise on the stallion, petting it and even going so far as to groom the horse himself.
Even if Kensie had permission to reveal his gifts, he would not have done so. Seeing Magog thrive under Kadhael's attentions and the new bond between horse and rider was worth every bit of silence.
After six days recuperation at Doncaster, the healer pronounced Kensie fit to travel. Kensie and Kadhael arrived at the North Evendim guard post five days later with no further incidents.
Captain Joshua Peregrine regarded his two newest junior officers with displeasure. Breaking in newly commissioned ensigns was never fun, given that they usually thought they knew everything, but that was not the reason for his particular distaste for the two before him. Nor was it the fact that they were highborn; most ensigns came from noble families, as had Captain Peregrine himself.
He knew them both, of course, though he was several years older than they were. Kadhael Corbie had made a reputation as an overbearing twit, cruel to those beneath him and obsequious to those above him. The last Captain Peregrine had heard of him was that he had been expelled from the Collegium by the Herald Weaponsmaster for insubordination.
Kensie Poldara was his second cousin. The last time Joshua had laid eyes on Kensie was when the latter had ignorantly insulted the courage and ability of the Iron Monks. Joshua had been present at the final battle against the Tedrels, when Kensie had broken. Joshua had not seen the incident, but had heard about it from those who had seen it. He knew that Count Poldara had sent his son home in disgrace. The young man had apparently redeemed himself slightly during the attempted assassination of the Queen, but that was only a distant tale as far as the Captain knew.
The news that Kensie Poldara had himself survived three assassination attempts, the latest of which had delayed his arrival at the post by a sennight, was a further strike against the young lordling. Kensie denied knowing who was trying to kill him, but Captain Poldara didn't really believe him. Captain Mason's report from the Doncaster guard post said that her investigation, supported by the Herald in charge of the resupply station attached to the post, had not found a motive or source for the plot against Kensie Poldara. Captain Peregrine felt he would rather have a nest of snakes under his bed.
The final straw for Captain Peregrine was the secret, encoded orders that had come from the Lord Marshall's Herald. The covering letter said that one of the two young men before him carried the key to the code. If there was need, the bearer of the key would present it to him. The letter said that the coded orders contained information that might prove useful to Captain Peregrine. In the meantime, Captain Peregrine was specifically forbidden to either ask which of the young men carried the key or to order the bearer to turn it over to him.
He concealed his displeasure from the young men under a formal, courteous welcome. "You will serve under Lieutenant Krandall." The Captain nodded towards the Lieutenant seated to one side. "He will assign you a squad. You will learn from him and the squad leader, who will assist you in carrying out your duties."
Captain Peregrine gave the two young men a quick overview of their duties and the territory assigned to the command post. He pointed to a line on the map behind him. "Do NOT go into the woods beyond this line. That is Tayledras territory. They do not like intruders and are likely to put an arrow through you before you even know they are there." He grinned. "Also, there really are monsters in the woods."
He pointed at an area just east of the line. "The villages in this area are under their protection. We may visit, but we have no authority. They are not part of Valdemar, though some of the ones nearer our lands are considering joining us. We sometimes help the Tayledras with bandits in those areas."
"If it is under their protection, why are we helping with bandits?" Kadhael blurted out.
Kensie bit his lip as the Captain fixed Kadhael with a withering eye and said. "Bandits don't respect borders. They'll rob the Tayledras village today and us tomorrow. Also, the Tayledras operate in small groups of three to five scouts. We can field a larger force when it is needed."
Kensie gave silent thanks to his father for telling him about Wyeth's cadet days on the Hardornen border, where the two countries had cooperated against bandits working on both sides.
Captain Peregrine gestured at the window behind him and the snow drifting down on the parade ground. "When this stops, you will take your squads out on road-clearing duty. Go with Lieutenant Krandall now. Dismissed."
The two ensigns saluted and left.
Kensie had read Captain Peregrine's displeasure in the tightness of his face and posture. He knew that his tenure hung by a very slender thread. Kensie guessed correctly that his actions in Haven were remote to the Captain and his men, the majority of whom had been present at the final battle. He would have to prove himself all over.
Lieutenant Krandall was less circumspect than the Captain. "We've got no place for the faint-hearted here. If you can't stick it, we'll send your pretty face back home to momma." Spying Kadhael's smug expression, the lieutenant added. "And I have less patience for back-talk than Weaponsmaster Alberich. The only words I want from you are 'Yes, Sir'. Any insubordination will earn you a set of stripes before I tie you on your horse and slap his ass to take you away."
Kensie and Kadhael both nodded and said "Yes, Sir".
Lieutenant introduced them to the sergeants in charge of their squads. Sergeant Caspar Urquart was enough like Hwyl Fian to have been his twin. A veteran of twenty-five years in the guard, Sergeant Urquart had seen many ensigns come and go. He'd seen the good and the bad. The good ones he'd helped launch up the promotion ladder, the bad ones he'd seen off in a few moons. He regarded Kensie with tight-lipped suspicion.
Kensie guessed correctly that Sergeant Urquart had heard about his 'disgrace' in the Final Battle. He calculated he would be on trial once more. Both his father and Hwyl Fian had warned him that his squad sergeant could make or break his career. "Keep your nose out of his bailiwick and, if you don't understand something, ask him privately. Never make him small in front of his men." Hwyl Fian had said.
Half a candlemark later, Sergeant Urquart introduced Kensie to the men of his squad. Kensie's training in Courtly Graces served him well in one thing: He had learned to memorize names and faces, so he needed only one introduction for each.
"I do not know you and you don't know me." Kensie addressed the group. He ignored the fact that most probably had heard the story of how he had broken in the Final Battle. "Sergeant Urquart knows you and I will rely on him to tell me how best to use your skills. If you have any questions or complaints, ask the sergeant and he will pass them along to me. That is all. Anything you want to add, Sergeant?"
"No, Sir." Urquart said. He eyed Kensie curiously. When Kensie nodded slightly, the sergeant dismissed the men.
Kensie returned to the office. He pulled out the files for the squad and carefully read the record of each man. He made a few notes to ask Sergeant Urquart later.
Lieutenant Krandall came by while Kensie was reading the files. Kensie stood and saluted; the lieutenant waved him back to his chair. "I hear you didn't say much when you met your squad."
Kensie looked up at Lieutenant Krandall, who remained standing. "Yes, sir. They've been in the guard for years. They know their jobs and I am just learning. I thought it would be silly to give them some grand speech."
"Good thinking." Krandall said. He tapped Kensie lightly on the shoulder and left.
Kensie thought about the lieutenant's question for a few moments. Should he have said more? He found out the answer to that just before dinner. Kadhael Corbie had given a long, grandiose speech to his squad, rambling on for three quarters of a candlemark. He overheard the men laughing about it and parodying it when Kadhael was out of sight and earshot. "We thought we got the short straw with getting the coward for our new boy," Kensie heard Jels Style say, "but I think we did better than you."
Kensie sighed to himself. He was definitely going to have to prove himself once more. He reflected that, if he ever succeeded his father, what he did here would be good practice for governing County Poldara.
The snow continued the next day. After morning parade, Captain Peregrine held his morning briefing for the officers. Winter meant fewer travellers and less bandit activity, so the briefing was routine, except for a note from the post Healer about an outbreak of Snow Fever in one village.
After the briefing, Kensie asked Sergeant Urquart if he minded Kensie following him on his inspection. The sergeant agreed, though Kensie could see by Urquart's body language that he thought Kensie was being officious. Kensie went with the sergeant. He said little except to ask the sergeant questions about what he looked for. Sergeant Urquart visibly relaxed as the inspection went on and Kensie did not interfere. After the inspection, he asked the sergeant to have someone show him around the post so he could learn where everything was. Sergeant Urquart gave Kensie a long look, then volunteered to do so himself.
The tour lasted about a candlemark, including the introductions to the various specialists like the quartermaster, the chief clerk, the farrier and the cook. Afterwards, Kensie found a desk and made notes about what he had learned to fix it in his mind.
In the last candlemark before luncheon, Kensie joined Lieutenant Krandall, Kadhael and the other junior officers to oversee the men drilling. The drill continued even as the snow kept falling; the men had cleared the parade square that morning, but there was already an inch of new snow. Lieutenant Krandall casually explained that the drills went on every day except Rest Day and were only cancelled in the very worst weather.
Kensie spent the rest of the day learning the routine of the post. Before sunset, the snow had stopped. Captain Peregrine assigned road clearing duty to half the troops, including Kensie and Kadhael's squads, for the morning. Kensie's squad would start on the south-east road going towards the next guard post.
Kensie went to Sergeant Urquart to confirm everything was ready. Urquart told him that the men were ready, but they needed to do an equipment inventory. The inventory took a half-candlemark. When it was over, Kensie signed a requisition for a few items that needed replacing.
"What do I need for myself tomorrow, Sergeant?" Kensie asked.
"Dress warmly, Sir."
Kensie went to Lieutenant Krandall and reported his squad ready. "Is there any reason I should ride my horse tomorrow, Sir?" He asked.
The lieutenant looked at him curiously for a moment. "Why do you ask?"
"We'll be moving slowly, Sir, so I won't get much exercise. Being higher up will expose me more to the cold. I think I'll be warmer if I walked and wore winter boots instead of riding boots."
"What if you are attacked?" Krandall asked.
Kensie shrugged. "Off the road, the snow's too deep for a horse to move fast, Sir. In the narrow track of the road, he'd just get in the way of the men." He tried to read the Lieutenant's expression. "Besides, I thought bandits usually just holed up in winter and bears and wolves wouldn't attack groups of ten or more."
"Exactly right, Ensign. That's why I won't be taking my horse tomorrow when I go out. Now excuse me, I've got a report to finish." Krandall bent his head back to the papers in front of him.
In the morning, Kensie was already waiting as his squad formed up. The horses that would pull their two plows arrived. There was also a pony that would pull a small sled carrying the shovels and tools and a small brazier. "You check the men, I'll check the horses." Kensie told Sergeant Urquart, who looked slightly irritated at Kensie's order. Kensie realized that the sergeant probably thought he was interfering, but Kensie's animal mindspeech would give him a surer sense of any problem with the horses.
A quick check showed that the horses were sound while the sergeant ensured that the squad had all their gear.
Kensie's squad was already going out the gate when Kadhael showed up riding Magog.
The horse teams broke the way, with one team pulling a scraper angled right and the other angled left. The two teams alternated leading every quarter-candlemark so that each got a time doing the hard work of making the first track and then the easier task of using the track cleared by the other team. The men followed behind the plow teams, using shovels to clear the windrows and small piles left on the road by the plows. Even Sergeant Urquart carried a smaller shovel to scoop up odd bits that were missed.
To Kensie's surprise, the men took off their overcoats a few sunwidths after they'd begun work. Urquart saw Kensie's raised eyebrow as the sergeant put his own coat on the sled with the others. "The work warms you up." The sergeant said.
Kensie walked among the men, saying nothing as he went up and down the line. Even with his coat, the cold was hard to take. He shivered and stamped his feet to try to keep warm.
After nearly a candlemark, the sergeant ordered a break. Kensie drew him aside for a private word. "Sergeant, I am getting a little cold just walking up and down." He said.
Kensie saw a flicker of disdain, quickly suppressed, on Urquart's face. Before the sergeant could say anything, Kensie went on. "Would it be out of place if I picked up a shovel and joined in?"
Sergeant Urquart's face split in a broad grin, the first Kensie had seen from him. "Not at all, Sir. 'tenant Krandall does it all the time." Kensie grinned back at the sergeant.
When the break was over, Kensie pulled off his overcoat with the others and picked up a shovel. His men looked surprised at first before breaking into smiles. Kensie joined the line clearing the road.
Near noon, one of the mess orderlies trotted up on a horse with panniers containing a hot stew, bread and kava. The men put their overcoats back on while they ate their luncheon and rested for a half-candlemark. Kensie did a quick check of the plow horses before joining the line in front of the orderly.
Once Kensie had his plate and cup, he sat down on a log beside Urquart. He asked the sergeant when he should call a halt for the day.
Urquart pointed slightly up, indicating an angle to the horizon. "When the sun gets that low, Sir, we should head back. That will get us to the post before dark."
Luncheon done, the men prepared to go back to work. As they pick up their shovels, Private Style grinned and waved his at Kensie and said "Where did you learn to swing a shovel, Sir?"
Kensie had anticipated that someone might ask. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to say he'd been sentenced to hard labor, so he simply said. "I've had some practice with one."
Kensie was still working with his men when Sergeant Urquart tapped him on the shoulder and pointed at the sun. Kensie nodded. "That's it for today, men. Well done."
There was a ragged cheer from the men. While they cleaned up the final bits of snow behind the plows and put their tools away, Kensie checked the plow horses one more time as their blankets went on.
As the men marched back to the guard post, Kensie was glad of the waning sunlight. Otherwise, the men might have noticed his blushing at the bawdiest marching song Kensie had ever heard.
Kensie's squad arrived at the post moments after Lieutenant Krandall's. With the men of both squads putting away their gear and stabling the horses, the lieutenant buttonholed Kensie for a quick report. Kensie reported there had been no incidents or problems, telling Krandall he was pleased with their work.
When the lieutenant asked how far they had gotten, Kensie hailed Sergeant Urquart. "I don't know the roads except by map, sergeant. How far did we go?"
Urquart puffed his chest a little. Grinning broadly, he said "We got a good mile or more past Blood Creek, Sirs."
Lieutenant Krandall looked impressed. "That far? Excellent. My compliments to your squad."
As the lieutenant turned away. Kensie smiled at the sergeant "Thanks, Sergeant. And my thanks to the men as well. From the lieutenant's reaction, I'd say you are even better than I thought."
Kadhael and his squad had not shown up by dinner time. Captain Peregrine ordered a half-candlemark delay to give them more time to get back. They still had not arrived by the end of that time, so the Captain ordered the meal served to the men and called his officers together to organize a party to go out and find the missing squad.
The Captain had just ordered Lieutenant Briget McNiall to lead the party when a cry from the gate announced the arrival of the squad.
Kensie followed the rest of the officers out to the parade square as Kadhael's squad entered. Kadhael, mounted on Magog, and his sergeant, Toal Ingesson, were at the front. Both looked angry. Behind them, their exhausted squad trailed in, throwing murderous looks at Kadhael's back.
From behind Kensie, troopers streamed out of the mess hall to help Kadhael's squad put their gear away and attend to the plow horses. One of the horses looked lame to Kensie's eye.
Lieutenant Krandall stalked up to Kadhael. "I'll see you two in my office. Now." His glance took in both Kadhael and Sergeant Ingesson.
Kadhael swung down off Magog. "As soon as I've put my horse away…" He began.
"I said 'Now.'" The lieutenant growled. He looked around and spotted Kensie. "Poldara! Take his horse to the stable."
Kensie hurried forward and took Magog's reins. As soon as Kensie had the horse, Krandall stalked away with Kadhael and Sergeant Ingesson following.
Kensie untacked and stabled Magog. Using his animal mindspeech, he calmed the stallion which was still reacting to the anxiety it had picked up from its rider. The corporal in charge of the stable fetched feed for Magog while Kensie finished. On his way out, Kensie gave Blood a quick stroke on the neck and an apple to placate his jealous mount.
Kensie rejoined the officer's table at the mess hall. All the officers seemed very intent on a story that Captain Peregrine – apparently calm and unperturbed – was telling about a tryst between a baron and a palace chambermaid that had gone hilariously wrong. Kensie thought the laughter at the end of the story sounded forced.
The Captain rose, signalling the formal end of the meal. Kensie rose as well. Captain Peregrine looked at him quickly. "I hear your squad did very well today, Poldara. Good start."
Kensie thanked the Captain for the compliment as the latter turned away. As Kensie left the mess hall, a tight-lipped Lieutenant Krandall strode in, followed by a red-faced Kadhael and Sergeant Ingesson, who appeared oddly satisfied.
After a quick visit to his quarters – which he shared with Kadhael – Kensie went to his squad's barracks room. The buzz of conversation ceased and the men snapped to attention as he entered.
"As you were." Kensie ordered and waited as the men gingerly sat down. They looked at him expectantly.
"I just wanted to let you know that Captain Peregrine said you did a damn fine job today." Kensie said. "It was my first day, so I didn't realize just how good you were."
There was a ragged cheer from the men. "Sir, are you going to tell us where you learned to use a shovel?" Private Style asked again.
"Smacking nosy privates on the head." Kensie said. The men laughed as he left the room.
Kensie found the training room. Though tired from the long day, he was still too wound up to sleep. To relax, he began working on some of the slow stretches and patterns he had learned from the Iron Monks. Lieutenant Krandall came in a sunwidth later and began an equally slow-paced drill for basic sword exercises.
After a short while, the lieutenant said casually "Urquart tells me you swung a shovel alongside your squad today."
Kensie tried to answer as casually, although he felt his heart pounding. "Yes, Sir. It was too bloody cold standing around doing nothing and the sergeant said it wouldn't affect discipline if I did." He continued his stretches while he spoke.
"It's better if the men think you are willing to get your hands dirty." Krandall agreed, not taking his eyes from his drill. "What I want to know is where you learned to use one." The lieutenant sounded amused.
"So did Private Style, Sir." Kensie said.
"Spill it."
Kensie paused in his exercises and faced the lieutenant, who turned to face him. Quietly, Kensie told the story of how he had done ten days' hard labor two years before. "I wasn't sure it would be a good idea to tell them that." He finished.
Krandall looked pensive for a moment. "They'll find out eventually." He pointed out. "But it's probably better that way. Telling them yourself would be a little too informal for proper officer to enlisted man discipline."
The two finished their workouts and returned to their respective quarters.
As Kensie expected, Kadhael was there, preparing for bed. Seeing his roommate, Kadhael launched into a tirade about the insubordination of his men, Sergeant Ingesson in particular, their laziness, Lieutenant Krandall's ignorance, Captain Peregrine's lax discipline and the general poor state of affairs in the post.
Kensie kept his expression neutral and said nothing as he changed to his nightshirt and headed to the officers' bathing room. Kadhael followed, keeping up his monologue the whole time he and Kensie bathed. Kensie wished that one of the other officers might come in; perhaps Kadhael would be quiet.
Kensie returned to the room after bathing and got into bed. Kadhael did the same. Kensie turned out the lantern and fell asleep to Kadhael's droning litany.