# "The Thin Line," Part B

Author: EOCostello
Tags: Elf, Roebuck, Skunk, army

#2 of The Thin Line

In this episode, Private Westersloe Winterbough has a fateful meeting. For some curious reason, he is recruited by no less a personage than Prince Roland, the Marshal of Faerie and commander-in-chief of the Imperial and Royal Army. Recruited for what? To be a soldier-servant to a somewhat erring, if good-hearted, officer? Curiouser and curiouser.

\*\*\*\*\*

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you discount the fact that I was, by some quirk of fate, assigned to latrine duty for the next seven days, there seemed to be few repercussions from the events of that night.&nbsp; This in spite of the fact that I took the risk of using Gramerye more than I usually did in public, and more often.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It could be argued that this was childish, trying to show up the D.I.&nbsp; You would be right, of course.&nbsp; It **was** childish.&nbsp; But: it was also fun.&nbsp; Particularly on the spear target qualification courses.&nbsp; I achieved a score that my skill with the spear should have prevented.&nbsp; Well, I should say, I achieved it twice, since the sergeant bawled out the unlucky corporal who was doing the score-keeping, and scored the second round himself.&nbsp; He snapped a quill doing so.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One thought did occur to me after the scores had been posted:&nbsp; I had clearly miscalculated, and I was setting myself up for a possible role on the frontiers of the Empire that would prove significantly nasty, brutish and short.&nbsp; Of late, the borders had been a lively area, and most of my training platoon was in all likelihood going to end up there, sooner or later.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was not alone in this train of thought, as it clearly had occurred to my D.I. as well.&nbsp; Clearly, in that he expressed a desire for me to test my skills in combat, and the sooner the better.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The arrival of a messenger, with orders for me to report to GHQ at Albric Tor, seemed to imply the worst (or the best, from the sergeant's point of view).&nbsp; For once, there were looks of sympathy from my fellow recruits.&nbsp; A few even shook paws.

&nbsp;

\*\*\*\*\*

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Albric Tor was, by far, the busiest place I had ever been in.&nbsp; Unsurprising, of course, for an Imperial capital, especially one in the peak of the summer season, when the Court was present.&nbsp; There were few signs about.&nbsp; If you belonged in the capital, you probably knew where you were going.&nbsp; If you didn't...

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Presentation of my orders, with the GHQ seal on them, did make things easier with the gendarmes patrolling the streets. Even still, I got more than a few glares from underneath the bills of their red peaked hats (hence their nickname, the "Red Caps").

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; GHQ turned out to be a small building tucked down the street from the Royal Palace.&nbsp; Somewhat unusually for the nerve-centre of a might army, it was mostly a cloister with a large garden. There were offices tucked away out of sight, to the point that there was a lack of signage, and a lack of furs, to direct one.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A clerk nibbling at a bit of seed cake was surprised to see a fur in the middle of the garden.&nbsp; It is possible that he thought I was some unusual type of exotic flower.&nbsp; In any event, he peered at my orders, gave a soft whistle, and pointed me to one of the corners of the cloister.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another fur there, a seeming twin of my helpful clerk, was nervously ruffling his feathers and peering out into the garden every few seconds.&nbsp; I disappointed him a bit by not being who he was looking for, but he too read my orders, and ushered me into a dimly lit office.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was actually rather pleasant, once my eyes adjusted to the light and I successfully resisted the urge to sneeze from the dust that had accumulated there.&nbsp; The room was crammed with large mounted parchment maps stacked against a wall, boxes of scrolls and scroll-containers, and a desk that was owned by a fur who clearly did not believe in the ancient adage of "clean desk, orderly mind."&nbsp; Still, the thick stone walls made the room cool and easy to stand in.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was lucky that I was standing, because I heard a repeated and heavy stamping on the flagstones nearby. I was thus rigidly at attention when a large, ponderous and somewhat elderly skunk entered the room, followed at a respectful interval by the second twin clerk, hopping nervously after him.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The skunk, which was wearing a marshal's uniform tunic, stopped, swiveled around, and bellowed at the poor fellow.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, FIND them, damnit!"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The clerk fluttered out in a hurry, and the skunk seated himself heavily behind the desk, and began pawing through the stacks, huffing and grumbling to himself.&nbsp; It was only after a long interval of fruitless searching that he noticed I was there.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I saluted.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Your spectacles, sir, are on the table behind you, next to the wine glass."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He looked up, somewhat startled, and turned around.&nbsp; He found that I was correct, and immediately applied the article to his nose.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Gads, that's better.&nbsp; Can't see a blasted...well, by the great Fuma's stamping feet, who are you, anyway?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I presented my orders, and the skunk looked through them.&nbsp; The clerk fluttered back into the room, and was greeted with a sour expression.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Buzz off.&nbsp; Found 'em."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh.&nbsp; Sorry, Yer 'ighness."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He watched the retreating tail feathers, and then noticed I was still standing at attention.&nbsp;&nbsp; He waved a paw languidly.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh, at ease.&nbsp; In fact, take a chair."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There were none that were vacant, as boxes of scrolls were occupying the space.&nbsp; An irritated bellow brought forth the clerk, who moved one of the boxes and quickly vanished.&nbsp; The perusal of my orders resumed.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Winterbough.&nbsp; Winterbough.&nbsp; Winterbough.&nbsp;&nbsp; I've known a few Winterboughs in my time.&nbsp; Knew a chap named Westersloe Winterbough.&nbsp; Two of 'em, in fact.&nbsp; Any relation?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes, Your Highness.&nbsp; That would be my grandfather and my uncle.&nbsp; I'm named for them."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hah!"&nbsp; The skunk leaned forward, and squinted through his spectacles.&nbsp; "You look like 'em.&nbsp; Shorter, though.&nbsp; Short, even for a roe deer."&nbsp; He rummaged through his desk, pulling open a drawer, and eventually found a scroll he was looking for.&nbsp; Opening it up, he read through it.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh, that's right.&nbsp; Forgot about your father.&nbsp; Hmm.&nbsp; And your two brothers.&nbsp; Old Army family.&nbsp; That's the hell of having furs serve together, sometimes....little wonder they let your mother keep you." He resumed reading.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good scores...hmm!&nbsp; 99 of 100 on inspections.&nbsp; Don't see that too often.&nbsp; Did well on the qualification course.&nbsp; Practice?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An elf cannot lie.&nbsp; Which is not to say that he cannot answer in a bit of misdirection.&nbsp; "I should think, sir, that it was not a case of martial skill."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This brought forth a snort, and a reach for a bottle of wine.&nbsp; "Well, at least you credit luck.&nbsp; More than some damne fools do these days. Level of boasting makes you sick.&nbsp; Furs didn't do that when I was..."&nbsp; A half-glass was poured, knocked back, and produced a soft and evidently satisfying belch.&nbsp; The scroll that evidently described me was consulted again.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "D'ye think you're qualified for a combat role, Private?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An easy answer, and one that did not require misdirection.&nbsp; "No, Your Highness."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At this, the skunk looked up.&nbsp; "No?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No, sir."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why not?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm rather smaller than most recruits, sir, as you observed.&nbsp; I do not believe my qualification course results could be duplicated in combat."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My scroll was shaken.&nbsp; "Your instructor thought so."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes, sir."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The scroll was consulted, and tossed aside with a snort.&nbsp; "Well, he's an idiot.&nbsp; You're clearly not qualified for the job.&nbsp; Can't think why these damne furs waste my time..."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He poured another glass of wine, and leaned back in his chair, scowling at his feet.&nbsp; After a while, he looked at me slowly, and then reached down to the floor and picked up my scroll again.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "99 out of 100 in inspections..." he mumbled.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With a grunt and a heave, he got up from the chair, and rolled over to the window, to look out over the garden and its fountain.&nbsp; He stood for quite some time, head bowed.&nbsp; With a sudden start, he snapped his fingers, and bellowed for his clerk, who fluttered in nervously.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Who was that damne fool on parade last week, the one that came fifteen minutes late and didn't have his hat?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Um...that would be Lieutenant Chitterleigh, sir.&nbsp; Sir Jasper Chitterleigh."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The skunk rolled his eyes.&nbsp; "Oh, that's right.&nbsp; Lord Twelveoaks' youngest, so I can't sack him, and I daren't send a twit like that out where he'd actually have furs in combat under him.&nbsp; What was his excuse for being late and improperly dressed?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He said, Yer 'ighness, that 'is batman 'ad lost 'is 'at in a card game."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "In a card game?!"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes, sir."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Is that bloody plausible?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Actually, Yer 'ighness, it's quite possible.&nbsp; 'is batman is in gaol.&nbsp; Drunk and disorderly.&nbsp; Fourth time in seven months."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, Chitterleigh's got a new batman, effective immediately.&nbsp; Get some orders written for...errr...oh, that's right, Westersloe Winterbough V.&nbsp; Assigned to duty, Imperial GHQ.&nbsp; Report to Lieutenant, blah-blah-blah.&nbsp; Issue of rations, blah-blah, the usual."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The clerk nodded, and fluttered out.&nbsp;&nbsp; The skunk ambled back to his desk, and seated himself heavily once again, and poured another half-glass of wine.&nbsp; Raising it to his lips, he paused, and peered over the rim of the glass.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What d'ye think I have in mind, Private?&nbsp; You can speak freely."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I thought for a while, and then looked up.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "On the surface, keep Lieutenant Chitterleigh out of trouble."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Correct.&nbsp; And...?"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Be quite, unobtrusive, and observant.&nbsp; Report anything odd or unusual to your clerk."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The glass of wine was sipped slowly and thoughtfully.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Your grandfather served under me, back when I was a junior officer, oh...damne, more years that I care to think about.&nbsp; One of the best NCOs I ever had.&nbsp; I pinned two valour medals on your uncle, too."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He finished the wine, and put the glass aside.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't think you're as strong or as fast as your namesakes were, Private...but I'm going to gamble you're as smart as they were.&nbsp; Ten-shun!"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I got to my hooves.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Dismiss!"

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A salute from me, followed by a right turn and quick march.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/q1xwvzgn
Part of the series The Thin Line
Previous: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/734709-the-thin-line-part-a.md
Next: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/734712-the-thin-line-part-c.md