As soon as we arrived at the camp, instead of immediately dismissing us as was apparently the usual procedure, Captain Walker had us proceed to the parade ground where he had a few words to say to us.
“Alright men I’ll try not to keep you here for any longer than necessary but I feel I would be remiss if I did not say to you what I am about to. We have just returned from a contract that I felt would be bloodless, unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case and we paid the price. The Ebony Hyenas lost more men in this one contract than it has in any other in its Forty-five-year history bar one and that was over weeks not the hours that we experienced.
While it is an occupational hazard that even the easiest seeming job can turn into a real shit show. Each of us that takes up the life of a mercenary for whatever reason knows this to be the case. However, for most like myself and all but the newest members of our company even a few weeks ago that is something they do not believe will ever happen to them.
Sadly none of us can now claim that to be the case and we now face the reality that if it can happen to us once it can happen with any contract. Thus I am sure that there may be some amongst the surviving members of the company that are at least questioning their intent to renew their contract with it.
To those thinking that way or even having come to the decision not to I will say this. I understand and while sad to see you go will as stated in your compact with the company allow you to do so with the relevant payments and I am even willing to pay you a one-time bonus of three Gold.
However, my hope is that no one will take me up on that offer and for those that do not I hereby promise that in future I will be even more discerning when it comes to picking which contracts the company agrees to undertake. While I cannot guarantee that we will not face a situation like the one we have just returned from I also promise that I will do my utmost to bring this company back up to its full strength if not more and then mould it into one that can more readily survive such an encounter. At the same time, I must warn you that if you do not return after the winter break by the agreed date I cannot promise you a place with the company.
Now with that out of the way I have a busy day tomorrow making sure amongst other things that the day after we are ready to pay out to you all that the company owes you and that the end of the campaign season party that I will be hosting that same night will be talked about for years to come, until then you are dismissed, good night.”
After the speech from the Captain, I saw to my remaining horse and then found out where my new quarters as a temporary Lieutenant were located and stashed my belongings there before heading out to find Young and the seven other scouts that had survived the battle with the Mibritum to have a word with them. I first approached Young to get his opinion on whether or not the rest would be willing to remain with the Ebony Hyenas if Captain Walker asked.
When he answered in the affirmative I had him gather the rest to I could make sure of it. Their answer was the same as his and while I was unsure whether or not Walker wished to retain their services I now knew what the answer would be if he did. I then asked them all especially Richard Barncastle what their plans were for their post-season leave and informed them that I would try to arrange to have the wake for the deceased members of our old company in a few days.
With that taken care of I then sought out Sergeant Tucker to see if he felt there were any members of the Platoon who were wavering when it came to deciding to stay with the company, next campaign season.
“Well Sir other than the wounded who aren’t in any shape to continue as mercenaries in either the short or long term I haven’t any inkling of anyone thinking of leaving but then it’s possible they haven’t communicated that fact to anyone yet or it just hasn’t reached my ears yet. Just to be on the safe side I should have a talk with the other Sergeants and the Corporals to see if they’ve heard any rumblings to that effect. Anyways what do you plan to do if some are thinking that way.”
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“Well the only thing I can do really, is talk to them about it or if you think it might be best have you or someone else for that matter do so.”
“Well I think it would be best coming from me but depending on who we’re potentially talking about some might prefer to talk to you. Either way, I should know more by morning, will you be leaving camp at all tomorrow?”
“Not until the afternoon if then, I have some business with the Guild but I imagine the captain will want to have a word with me so I can’t leave until he does.”
“I should have an answer for you long before then, personally I’ll be with the company until I die or retire. What about yourself, whether or not it’s as a lieutenant I think the old man will want you to stay.”
“Well I have my own ambitions but I don’t see why even as a Sergeant I couldn’t stick around here until I’m ready to move on with them. But as they say, the future is not always a straight path.”
After that I retired to my room for the night, sleeping in a real bed for the first time in a while. I woke up earlier than I had hoped and immediately after seeing to my own needs, I headed over to the stables to see to the needs of my horse. Once that was done I started my morning training regime and spent the next two hours on it. Just as I had finished Sergeant Tucker arrived to inform me that for the most part, the Platoon were planning to stick around. However, two were contemplating a change in scenery but had yet to come to a decision. He felt that it would be best if I had a talk with one of them while he dealt with the other one.
Private Cade Summerville had just joined the company at the start of the season, having joined his elder brother Richard who had been with the company for a number of years beforehand. Richard, also a private was in third Platoon and had been one of the walking wounded in our clash with the Mibritum and was also thinking of leaving the company. Tucker felt and I agreed that in all likelihood the brothers would come to a joint decision about their future and it was likely that Richard would have to be the one talked out of it. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have a talk with Cade about it and so that was what I did.
I came out of my talk with Cade with the impression that in all likelihood both of the brothers would be leaving the company and the profession altogether. Not everyone is cut out for it but some take longer to realise this than others and some unfortunately never get that opportunity.
After that, I spent what remained of the morning doing not much of anything, to tell the truth. This state of affairs continued until I was summoned for a meeting with Captain Walker just before one.
“Good day, Ryder I presume you are aware of why I have called you here?”
“Of course sir, it doesn’t after all take a genius to figure that out.”
“No I suppose not, well then let me be frank about it, the way I see it there are two different subjects at hand, the future of the scouts in the company and that of yourself. The first one I have come to a decision about the other however it is too early to tell and some of what will inform my final decision is unfortunately out of my hands.
Now for the good news, I wish for the company to retain the services of the scouts that you recently brought into the fold on a temporary basis. Whether or not you remain in command of them depends on my ultimate decision on the other matter.
Originally I had planned to retire in a few years and have Lieutenant Morton take over from me but earlier in the season he informed me that he too would be leaving the profession in an equal amount of time and so I settled on Yeaton replacing me but now even that is impossible and Morton will be leaving us in a few days. That leaves me to having to find two lieutenants for next season and later leaving the company to Lieutenant Berger or one of the two replacements.
Unfortunately for you, I would prefer that the two replacements have more experience in the rank than you yourself do. At the same time, I realise that especially after the disaster Long Bank turned out to be this may not be possible. If it is I would like for you to command the scouts and if not then the lieutenantship is yours if you want it that is, what do you say?”
“Well, sir despite the circumstances I would be a fool to turn down that offer.”
“In that case what are your plans for the break?”
“Well, captain I was planning to pay a visit to my sister, unfortunately, due to the distance involved I won’t be able to stay for more than a week, not and get back in time plus leave enough room for unintended delays.”
“In that case, I must warn you that while the decision will likely be a last-minute one any delay in your return will affect the ultimate outcome.”