”Finally the worst part is behind us.” ”You can say it again.” ”What are you planning to do before your next assignment?” ”I want to take time to go for a drink or two.” ”Maybe I should settle down soon.” ”Don´t say that. None of us has any savings over the years. How could you have any when I don´t either?” ”Don´t evaluate me by your standards.” ”Am I wrong?” ”Not necessarily.”
Soldiers from Albert Rowan´s group were talking merrily. They were transferred to viscount´s group by other nobles from the army. They were intented to take a part in war exercise in Nothinghill. After exercise war started and left them in middle of battle. They were heading back to Tetrao village which is own by their commander viscount.
Normally after war men are intented to stay there and fix damages. Main reason is to find out how escaped and keep all involved in one place to let them hear royal family member´s congratulations. Difference to this is all royal family is in Tetrao village and land owner is this viscount. He simply can´t stay away from his duty. This allowed him and his men to return from the battlefield.
This time even George was with them. He took one week time to arrive to Nothinghill all alone. He was arriving back home with the group whose with he was meant to arrive. He couldn´t belive it hasn´t even been week when he was thinking of leaving the group without saying anything. He hasn´t been brave enough to open himself up to others. He couldn´t believe this group was so used to each other.
This kind of environment was thanks to Albert´s idea of asking their ideology. They all opened up to each other. Even if they couldn´t accept, they still could understand. This kind of mindset brought this situation.
The most heated conversation was with Albert Rowan, Saul Lamies and Richard. I was with them but I stayed quiet. I was only talking when someone asked me about something. I couldn´t keep conversation going but at least it wasn´t quiet.
”You should open up to new experiences. You should come with us to bar. Maybe you could hook up with some lady in one-night stand. You are noble act like one.” Saul from coast town of Lamies was introducing my relative´s husband to other women.
I know we aren´t relatives directly but it doesn´t change the fact if I tell about this to my brother soon this information goes to his wife. Why are you looking at me time to time? I know you won´t betray your wife but when you act like that then some doubts will arise.
”I´m not going. I have to hurry back home to work.” It was logical answer from Albert´s part but Saul wasn´t letting him go.
”I´m not asking you to waste time. We have to leave horses to rest no matter what. Why can´t you take this change. You won´t get another change soon.” His pint was logical too. Viscount just isn´t used to these kind of places. As far as I know he haven´t left viscounty ever in his life. Isn´t that reason behind why your oldest son is away studying? Nothinghill´s marquis is rare exception to this. You can´t imitate that.
”Why won´t you compare various bars between each other. You could find place which is close to viscount´s liking.” Last of us states valid point. He can negotiate between those two so well. I doubt they even notice that they were manipulated by him.
”That sounds good. You can go with it too.”
”Alright but I´m only going for one drink.”
It looks like I can finally seecan he hold a drink. Even if Tetrao village is small village, there is still one bar. I haven´t heard he has ever been customer or any alkohol has been ordered there. Even still there has been many visitors and the most common present has been alkohol. He has surely had one before. At least it can´t be too bad. Otherwise some rumors would had gotten out.
In the night this small army group was heading to the first bar. I won´t be drinking any. Someone has to be sure to bring everyone back to their rooms.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The first place we came across was for sure high class place. You didn´t need to look to closely. This place was intented to people with hih status. Viscount is part of high class but he won´t feel confortable in this place.
Everyone in the room were socializing with people next to them. They were dressed with kingdom´s fashion. Everyone knew this wasn´t place to them. Some people were looking at them with criticized looks.
We left the place straight away. There was no need to pretent anything more. We didn´t talk. Normally this group would have criticized these people but kingdom´s viscount was with them. This made everyone uncomfortable.
Luckily next bar was in front of this place. This was arranged to take in people how were rejected from other place. When coming inside everything was opposite from previous place. Furnitures were old and damaged with many ways but this told they were in heavy use. This place was heavily populated unlike previous bar.
Even still there was one problem. When we entered inside everyone stopped talking and looked us. Many turned back and continued talking with each other. Those people recognized us acceptable to this place. Of course not everyone looked away.
I have been in many spying missions for information before. My experience told only two kinds of people would look longer. Enemies and allies. At first people would think they were just curious but curious people would look at us later on.
Since none of us has stayed here before or everyone looks like they know someone here. This tells those people want to know which group we are part of. Since I´m used to this I choosed to talk. The best thing is openly talk with bartender with light loud voice.
”Good evening. I´m part of army going north with my pals. My name is George Tetrao. I´m from family of carpenters and working as soldier. At first one drink to each with me. Is there table for us or could we share with other group?”
My talk would normally seem like quite long but it is good manners to say how I am at first. This makes it easier to deal with us. Since this is local bar then we should drink with the leader. Problem is to find how that leader is.
There was one guy how seemed to be leader. People around were looking his reaction. He was keeping weapons close to his hand and they were well maintained. There was many other small signs showing this but the most important aspect was his party members. Even if leader was looking at us his party´s members were looking at the door and other customers. He didn´t need to even order them. They were looking if we had troop following us. Even if this person isn´t the leader, he has strongest influence to these people.
”Would you like to share your table?” My words suprised whole place. They didn´t know if this was just coincidence or planned. In the end it doesn´t matter. Since things had ended this way then we will leave this place as friends or enemies. Others started to talk with their groups and tried avoid us for now.
”You are welcome but there is hardly enough room so we have to stay close to each other.” Of course he didn´t mean it that the way you are thinking. Their table wasn´t the largest one of this place. They were most likely used to stay in this stable when they went themselves.
We all sat down and drinks arrived soon after. We stayed quiet for a long time. Leader of the group started conversation. ”How has last month went for you?”
”Many things but we could over come them.” Unfortunately Saul went and said with straight face. With this it is difficult to all to talk afterwards. He most likely wanted evade all military information from escaping to the citizens. This is bad. We were rude to them.
After the while youngest man of group asked. ”Are you going to stay in the market?”
He is refering to market festival which is soon to start in here. That was nice way to redirect the conversation.
”Unfortunately we have to continue forward early tomorrow morning. We would have like to spent some time here.” I choosed to talk honestly. There isn´t harm to talk more.
”We are coming from resent war south from here. Have you heard anything about it. We aren´t sure how far news had headed.” It is true. We don´t know how many people know that we were resently at war with Saisagus this soon.
”Everyone knows about it and everyone in your home knows it too. You are big hit in everyone´s talks. We aren´t exception.” I see. So everyone knows. In the past the most wars had kept hidden for long time. Well it ended as victory against Saisagus. Only people with questionable aims would be angry at this news. At least no one is openly hostile to us. That is big plus for us.
”Is flying man with you?” Suddenly one of the man asked question which didn´t make any sense.
”Flying man?” I wasn´t only one suprised by such question. I was lightly feeling left out if everyone else knew except me.
”You don´t know about it. In that war where you were part of soldier became famous and gained that name.” After these words they all told everything they had heard. Doing scouting, spying, investigating, fighting and capturing works. I didn´t notice anything like that at all. He even took control over enemy´s headquarters alone. I could only take over message post with Margaret´s help. I hardly did anything compared to that person. He must be with Marquis. We were only in south wall. This must have happened away from us without seeing anything. Well, it is normal to keep ace cards hidden even from allies. No like he told anything small either but normally people would boost with their men´s actions.
I have to work harder not to be left out by time. Albert needs all men he can get. I have to become quality among quantity. At least I don´t need to do it alone. While I was thinking like that I looked over two men´s with us. I still can´t forget that I didn´t do this alone. One how helped me was just merchant. I need to meet that person officially and ask about that blackish powder. At least I have one lead to follow. Sugar is illegal to sell without permit. I just need to look at statistics in capital to find out the truth.
We talked merrily until it was time to go sleep before sun rises. As time passed final part of the talk was about Saisagus country. Rumors say Saisagus has suffered defeat twice because of Albert Rowan since then some people have planned something for him. In other words they warned us thing might be hectic for a while. Last part was the most worrisome.
”Did you hear third prince has been kidnapped and road to border town has been cut off to keep everyone in and out of it?”
”No we haven´t!” We shouted and put money to the table before running to the horses and rest of the men. You should have started with that. I didn´t sleep at all that night.