“Good evening, Corporal Hillier!” Lou greeted while plastering a smile on his face.

The military man was not swayed by the monk’s friendly greeting.

“Who do you think you are, ordering a punishment for my daughter?” Peter Hillier rumbled.

“Your wife insisted upon it actually.”

Lou felt his effort to remain affable fall apart. He had very little good will or energy to spare after the day he’d had.

The corporal frowned. “That isn’t what she said. She said that Kylise was telling off that Kelly child when you banned her from the chapel.”

Lou’s eyebrows flew upward as he sensed Benny slowly turn in his chair.

The few people who were in the pub fell silent and observed the interaction taking place with great interest…

Corporal Peter Hillier, a decorated soldier, was rarely seen outside of his house since returning from the war, but everyone had come to know of both his wife and daughter’s unpleasant natures.

“I see.” Lou stood up from his seat, and clasped his hands together. “Let me clarify then, what happened, and if you have any doubts, please feel free to ask Benny here who was present for the confrontation.”

The monk proceeded to give his own account of the earlier event, and as Peter Hillier listened, his hardened features softened, then drew back to shock, and at the end of the tale, winced.

He dropped his head and let out a long breath.

While he did so, Lou glanced toward Jack and Benny who were both frozen in place, unsure of how the man was going to react to the news.

“I should’ve known…”

Lou waited, still ready in the event Peter took a swing at him.

“I’m sorry, Brother Lou. Benny, was that what actually happened?” Peter looked to the young man dejectedly, prompting Benny to give an apologetic smile in response. He didn’t need to say anything to confirm that Lou was indeed telling the truth.

“Corporal, would you like to sit and have a drink with us?” Lou offered while gesturing to his vacated barstool.

Peter slumped into the seat without needing any further encouragement, while Jack was already in motion pouring the man a drink.

“I know my wife and daughter can be a bit headstrong…” he began wearily. “I haven’t been the husband or father they deserve, so it isn’t their fault.”

Lou stared at the man incredulously. “They are grown women. Of course they are the ones responsible for their actions.”

Peter nodded along as though he didn’t have the strength to argue the point, his eyes downcast as Jack set the mug of ale on the counter.

Lou tentatively sidled around to the next available barstool and sat himself down. He was alarmed at how Peter, who had come in with such a powerful and threatening aura, could have become defeated so quickly…

“Corporal… How long has your daughter been…” Lou struggled to find a polite way to describe Kylise.

Peter saved him the hassle. “She’s been like this ever since I returned from war. Of course she was a little girl when I left, and by the time I returned she was a young woman… It didn’t help that when I came back I wasn’t exactly in the best shape.”

Jack stared at his new patron empathetically.

“Naomi of course had her hands full with Kylise and had to fend for herself while I was gone. Which makes her a saint to me.”

Lou accepted a new drink from Jack. “You can still tell them you believe their behavior is wrong. Not being an active member in your own family and discussing moral behavior is an obligation that does lie with you.”

Peter nodded idly before taking another drink. “I don’t have the fight in me anymore, Brother. I’m just… tired.”

“It’s easy to hold onto the memory of home, which makes it all the harder when you have to let it go and find everything is different when you return,” Jack voiced thoughtfully, his eyes filled with knowing.

Taking an even deeper gulp of his ale, Lou and Benny could see that Peter agreed with the bartender.

“Well… I would recommend speaking with Naomi alone to start. And… I’m sorry to say this, but I do think Kylise going to the Kelly farm would do her a load of good. Think of it as getting reinforcements, and while she is there, perhaps you and your wife can work out some of these issues,” Lou reasoned while trying to speak gently.

“Remember Brother Lou, you need to get Maureen Kelly to agree to it first, and even if she does, there is a strong chance her husband won’t,” Benny cautioned while twisting his mouth.

Lou sighed. “That may be, but… Surely even Mr. Kelly can see this could help some of these new residents learn to have a healthy amount of respect for the old ones.”

Benny grimaced and Jack conveniently shuffled away to check on some of his other customers.

“While that makes sense, Patrick won’t always listen to reason when he has his mind set against something.”

“So that’s where Franny gets it…” Lou muttered more to himself, though it made Benny smile.

“Your best bet? Convince Maureen it’s a fantastic idea. If she gets fired up about it, Patrick Kelly will crumble like a dry pound cake,” Benny concluded confidently.

Lou regarded the young man after hearing his proposed strategy.

There was a distant look in Benny’s eyes, but it was filled with fondness, and familiarity.

“Have you been close to the Kelly family for a long time?” Lou heard himself ask the question before he could stop himself.

Benny stiffened, then grew awkward while turning his face away as he took a drink.

Sensing that it was a sensitive topic, Lou redirected his attention back to Peter Hillier.

“Was it your wife that sent you out here to fight me?”

The poor man was already looking glassy eyed from the drink he had downed, and his eyes were beginning to close.

“Yes she… Wanted you to apologize to Kylise and herself for embarrassing her.”

“Pardon me for saying this, but you seem like a decent fellow, and I couldn’t help but overhear you're Kylise Hillier’s father.”

The trio was interrupted by another one of the patrons that Lou didn’t recognize, but he could tell from his unbuttoned red jacket that he was a soldier.

“Your wife and daughter are hanging around the barracks often, and they’re getting quite a reputation as husband hunters.”

A flash of the former ferocity gleamed behind Peter’s eyes. “Mind yourself, private.”’

The younger man held up his hands, his dark blue eyes kind, but the deep grooves around his mouth stern. “I just mean that it isn’t a bad thing for them to be made aware the impression they are giving other people. Brother Lou, was it?”

The monk turned around in his seat to better face the interloper.

The soldier appeared to be in his early thirties, with trimmed dirty blond hair that was beginning to thin, and while of average height, looked strong.

“My name’s Private Alfred Bishop, pleased to meet you. I have to say, ever since I heard that you stood up to Henry Gordon the other night in the pub, I've been curious to see what kind of man you are.” Alfred offered his hand to Lou, and shook the monk’s hand firmly as he introduced himself. “Not to mention the fact that a group of soldiers have joined your choir… I still can’t quite figure out how you wrangled them into that one.”

Lou casually evaded Alfred Bishop’s implied question by moving his attention back to Peter who hadn’t fully relaxed after listening to what Alfred Bishop had to say.

“Corporal, I’m sorry if you are feeling as though you are getting bombarded this evening.”

“Serves me right, bursting in here looking for a fight… I should’ve talked to Brother Lou before getting riled up.” Peter swayed in his seat, completely ignoring Alfred Bishop.

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“You want to protect your family, it’s a respectable thing to do,” Lou jumped in quickly.

“Fat good I am at that… My wife is the one keeping our household afloat since I can’t work with my leg being what it is.”

“We do have desk jobs at other posts if your family is open to moving,” Alfred mentioned while pulling up a seat beside Lou.

“I like the country. It’s quiet, and it’s cheaper to live here than most places these days. Though I know Kylise would love to move to the city,” Peter lamented.

Lou was starting to get a sense of how the man had spent his days after the war… Lost in darkness… With little to no motivation to rediscover who he had become…

“Well… It’s time to start building a life here then, wouldn’t you say?” he asked energetically, in hopes of bolstering the man’s spirit.

“What kind of life can I really have now, Brother Lou? My daughter is grown, my career is over, my wife is busy with work…” Peter shook his head and accepted the fresh drink that Jack had procured after returning behind the bar.

Lou stared at the broken shell of a man at a complete loss.

Peter Hillier didn’t even seem to have the will to improve anything…

He needs the life walloped back into him.

Lou sloshed his drink over the front of his robes.

Why in the world had he thought that?

Hadn’t he just finished a trial where he was to learn how to resolve problems without the use of violence?

Wait… Is this a new trial?! Zeviras did say that I wouldn’t be getting warnings anymore. Maybe it’s already begun!

“Corporal Hillier, sometimes instead of looking at the bigger picture, it helps to look at smaller tasks,” Benny rejoined the discussion when he noticed Lou had suddenly turned despondent and pale.

“Yeah, Benny’s on to something I think. Why don’t you come to the next meeting we’re all having about where the new barracks is going to be built?” Alfred Bishop encouraged while clapping a hand on Peter’s shoulder.

Peter Hillier’s head only hung lower. “My opinion isn’t any good there any more. I’m discharged from the military, I don’t own any land, and I can’t help with the building, so why should I get a say anyway? ”

Alfred’s hand slipped away. He then looked at Lou, as did Benny, waiting for the holy man to contribute something that might help the poor chap.

Lou had released his mug, and had his hands clasped loosely together on the bar, his eyes widened as he stared at nothing…

“Er… You alright there, Brother? Feeling a bit ill?” Alfred asked with a concerned eyebrow raise.

The monk stood up from his seat. His stiff movements summoning all eyes in the tavern.

He reached over, and gripped Corporal Peter Hillier’s shoulder, making the man look up from his ale. Up close, Lou could see the man’s champagne eyes were dulled, and that the scruff on his face hid the gauntness in his cheeks and sallow skin color…

He proceeded to punch Peter across the face, sending the man crashing to the ground.

“Brother Lou! What in the-” Benny jumped up from his seat in alarm.

However Alfred jumped up from his own seat with a wild knowing grin while bending down and helping Peter Hilliar back up onto his feet.

“Well how about that, Corporal, looks like a monk thinks you’re weak enough that he can deck you straight in the face without any consequences.”

“Brother Lou, what was that for?” Peter gaped at the monk while clutching his cheek.

His look of hurt and shock almost made Lou feel bad.

The monk wished he could’ve ended it there, given the poor man some glimmer of wisdom by such a random violent act, but the truth was… His entire body was humming with life, with excitement, with the thrill of it all, and furthermore… There was a keenness in Peter’s face that hadn’t been there before.

Lou cracked his neck, and did his best to put forward every ounce of confidence he had into his next words.

“I feel bad, Corporal. You came in tonight looking for a fight and all I did was dismiss you.” Lou proceeded to roll up his sleeves before then raising his fists, feeling like the biggest fool in the world.

“So how about it? Care to get in that brawl you were ready for?”

For a moment, it looked as though the war hero was more than a little interested in exchanging blows, even while Alfred held up most of his weight, his crutch laying on the ground.

But then he smiled sadly at Lou, who was incredibly aware of the deafening silence in the room.

“I appreciate that you’re trying to rouse my fighting spirit, Brother, but… I’m not a soldier anymore. I can’t stand, let alone fight properly.”

Lou should’ve dropped his fists then and apologized, but instead he committed himself to this new trajectory he found himself on and slapped the corporal across the face before bounding backward and putting his fists back up.

Both Alfred and Peter were a mixture of stunned and incensed at the pitiful attempt of rousing a fight.

“Slapping, Brother Lou?” Alfred finally chuckled.

Lou ignored the laughter, and instead kept his eyes on the corporal who at least was looking a little annoyed once he had processed what had just happened.

“Brother Lou, maybe you should just-” Benny started to say, but Lou lunged and shoved both the corporal and Alfred, sending them tumbling back into the empty bar stools that clattered and scraped across the floor as the two men then crashed to the ground.

Benny’s jaw was dropped, and no one in the room knew whether to wince or be angry at the monk who had to either be drunk, or mad to be behaving in such a way…

“Alright here, Brother Lou,” Alfred grunted as he got himself and Peter back on their feet; this time with the corporal’s crutch. “You’re making an arse of yourself to try and make this fellow feel better, your point has been made.” The private stepped forward and placed himself in between Lou and Peter.

Sadly, Lou was getting a bit too much of a rush from the exchange, and saw no other way of getting out of the endeavor other than seeing it all the way through.

He slapped Alfred.

The private’s eyes were wide, and his tongue poked his cheek as he slowly swung his head back to stare at the monk with a snort of disbelief.

“Brother Lou… As someone in the military, I’m not going to attack a civilian who can’t defend themselves-”

Peter’s crutch came flying over Alfred’s shoulder and whacked the side of Lou’s head.

Alfred didn’t even have time to turn around and gauge what Peter was doing before the man had the private flung before descending upon the monk, and punching him right in the ribs.

Lou felt the surge of exhilaration triple in his being as he rightened and tried to land a blow of his own in the Peter’s gut.

However his fist was stopped, when Peter Hillier caught it and, with impressive strength, held it in place.

When Lou’s dark green eyes peered up into the corporal’s eyes, he could see that they were clear, they were honed, and there was a demented grin lighting them.

The monk grinned in relief.

“You know… You’re pretty strong… For a man who sits at a desk most days…” Peter grunted as his arm began to shake in an effort to control Lou’s fist.

Lou raised an eyebrow, giddiness permeating his mind when he said, “I’m stronger than I look.”

He then proceeded to head butt the corporal, but didn’t get the chance to continue battling him, as Alfred had recovered from being shoved out of the way, and descended upon the monk.

In no time at all, a proper, rumbling brawl broke out.

Though Jack Macaphery and Benny would later confess it was the most considerate fight they’d ever seen as all the participants were incredibly mindful not to do any damage to the bar or it’s furniture, and at the end, Private Alfred Bishop bought his opponents several rounds of ale.