All the members of my squad returned on time that night, in fact, all of them barring Corporal Bennet had returned before me. He had accompanied his friend Ramsey Davod, second squad's corporal on a tour of the city's more reputable drinking establishments and they both just made it back in time. In fact, there wasn’t a single issue with anyone that day the following one however not so much.

A fight broke out in one of the city's less reputable drinking establishments, the Dancing Pony. While it wasn’t started by a member of the company and didn’t even initially involve them three members of Third Platoon's first squad and two from its third squad got caught up in it. Only two of them ended up being arrested by the city's watch, two managed to flee before they were called in and the fifth well let’s just say it is hoped that he will recover from his injuries in a few weeks. Thankfully no one died during the fight but a hell of a lot of property damage occurred and the ease with which the captain was eventually able to get them freed was only thanks to the fact that they hadn’t started it.

That wasn’t the only problem a member of the company encountered, a private from second platoon was robbed in one of the city's less reputable areas and left naked to be found by the watch. Another from first platoon was involved with a payment dispute with a member of the universes oldest profession that spilled into the street but thankfully didn’t result in any arrest though it was taken note of and the captain informed of it.

Finally, a corporal from first platoon managed to gamble away all his money at the city's arena and even ended up owing them a considerable amount, well by his standards anyway. He had ventured there alone and was forced to send a message back to camp to his friends to try to get loans from them to pay his debts. They had been able or perhaps unwilling to do so by themselves and had to inform their sergeant who was forced to involve Lieutenant Berger.

The captain wasn’t at all happy when he addressed the men the following morning.

“Thankfully it isn’t very often that I find myself disgusted with the behaviour of members of my company but unfortunately today is one of those days and my displeasure at the conduct of some of you knows no bounds. While most of you were on your best behaviour some of you were not and for that they must be punished.

Of the eight individuals involved all but one are fit enough to face punishment today and thus they shall so step forward you curs so that you can embrace your fate.”

The seven individuals in question immediately left the ranks and approached the captain who along with the lieutenant’s was facing the rest of the company lined up by platoon, third behind second who were in turn behind first.

“Stay where you are and as I call out your name come stand directly to my left until dismissed. Private Perry Kiggell of those facing my wrath today your only crime as I see it was a minor lapse in judgment. What led you to believe it was a good idea to pay a visit to the most deprived area of the city's slums and alone at that, do you have a death wish or something, well speak up.”

“No sir, I just got lost is all.”

“A likely story I’m sure, you are fined one day's pay and I thank you for volunteering to carry out any more physical punishments that might be called for today.”

“What sir I don’t remember agreeing to volunteer for anything like that.”

“Well that might be but you have now.”

“Yes sir.”

“Well in that case get behind me and stay there until you are called to carry out your temporary duty or not.”

Private Kiggell did as instructed though he hoped not to be called to carry out any punishments.

“Corporal Henry Pyman you have been gambling again I hear and on the arena at that. How long has it been since I last had cause to hear of your activities in that regard, don’t worry that was a rhetorical question I clearly remember it being several years at least. So either you have been abstaining from it, haven’t lost big or perhaps only gambled small amounts. Anyway that was then this is now and after me agreeing to make you a corporal you repay me in this way.

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Two whole gold coins you owe the company now and you will repay both of them and more besides. Take this as your one and only remaining warning, if I have cause to hear your name negatively there will be hell to pay. You may keep your rank for now but until such time as you pay the company back plus ten percent interest, you will be paid as if you were a private. Now leave my presence before I add extra punishment and don’t make me call you out like this again.”

Henry didn’t even wait until the captain had finished speaking to return to the ranks.

“Private George Hackett I do not care one bit if you or anyone else for that matter makes use of the services of prostitutes but what I do take umbrage at is when this fact is spread far and wide. What were you thinking, did you not realise you hadn’t enough to pay her or is this a regular occurrence, well which is it.”

“Sir it wasn’t my fault I had the money on my person when I went into the establishment but when it came time to pay for her services it was gone, someone there must have stolen it, whether that be the girl herself or one of the other punters or her employer. Unsure of what was going on I panicked and fled, I had to fight my way out of the place. I’m sorry about what happened but what else could I have done, they were unlikely to call the watch on me and Telondian knows what they might have done instead.”

“Alright private I believe you, I hear you’re not the only one it has happened to, it's not exactly the most reputable brothel in the city. Still, I can’t have my men bringing the Hyenas into disrepute you are fined two days' pay. Now before we get to the main reason for today’s disciplinary action Quartermaster would you please fetch the Cat for me, I’m thinking I may have a use for it soon.”

The Quartermaster who was lined up with first platoon left his position, went to a baggage cart and fetched from it a small leather case which he then handed over to Walker.

“Thank you, quartermaster, Private Kiggell you are needed.”

“Yes sir, right away sir.”

The captain opened the leather case and removed from it a cat o’ nine tails which he handed over to the private.

“I think it best you go practice with it and don’t you dare go easy on anyone.”

“No sir.”

As the private began practising with the cat, a nine-tailed whip, some distance behind the captain who got back to the job in hand.

“Now for you four, who were arrested by the city watch for fighting in a Tavern along with your colleague, who by the way is expected to make a full recovery. What do you have to say for yourselves and please don’t speak all at once”

The four of them, privates John Ward, John Hull, Sidney Massy and Christopher Anderson had been expecting this and had already decided to let Sidney do all the talking.

“Sir we beg you not to be too hard on us, the fight broke out over Telondian knows what and our only real sin was not taking it seriously enough until it was too late. When we did realise it and attempted to leave the premises someone knocked out Private Shawn Moffley. We couldn’t leave him behind and there was no way we could carry him out without being attacked again. Thus we decided to stay to protect him from further harm, which we did so until the watch showed up.”

“You are lucky you know the watch believes you might actually be telling the truth, I on the other hand am not convinced. But without any proof otherwise and with Private Moffley backing up your story somewhat I reluctantly must allow you the benefit of the doubt. Still, I can’t have you escaping unpunished but at the same time, I will not go that hard on you. Thus you will each be fined three days pay and receive a single lash of the cat. Or if one of you is willing they can receive all four of them for the others, do I have a volunteer.”

“No sir, we’ll all take the punishment, none of us were at any more fault than the others after all.”

“Private Kiggell you can stop practising, do you think you are sufficiently prepared to proceed with the task at hand?”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be captain, sir.”

“You four, line up one behind another and take your shirts off, since you're only to receive the one I don’t think there any reason to confine you. When it is your turn you are to walk twenty paces and then show your back to the ranks and once you and Kiggell are ready you will receive your lash and then return to the ranks.”

Things proceeded as the captain had outlined and within minutes it was over. Kiggell would stand two steps from each of them, making sure the tails weren’t sticking to each other before he swung it over his head, took a step forward and bending over his body slightly delivered the lash of the whip at the full sweep of his arm. Even a single lash of the whip was unfortunately enough to take off some of their skin and draw blood.

“Alright men with that unpleasantness out of the way some of you have I imagine been wondering why I diverted the company to this fine city. Well whether or not you have been I can now announce to you all the reason for doing so. It came to my attention that a situation was developing not all that far from here that was likely to lead to a contract that might require the service of a company on short notice. I thus had us divert to the nearest chapter house to try and claim any such contract. I am happy to announce that such a contract was forthcoming and that furthermore, I was lucky enough to secure it.”