At the Queen_s command

Getting away with hiring troops out as day labor would be simple to hide. Even if the troops reported this activity-and most wouldn't since they were just following orders and didn't know any better-where would the reports go? If the officers weren't part of the deal, rank and file soldiers likely wouldn't be believed. Many of the officers were convinced that the extra work would be good for the scum in the ranks. Even more would consider the whole thing beneath the honor of a gentleman, so if there were to be a court-martial, Langford would get off with a mild reprimand.

"How can you hide the loss of brimstone and firestones?" Mystria, for very sound reasons, was prohibited from manufacturing its own brimstone or firestones-both of which Her Majesty's government sought to strictly control. For hundreds to be stolen each year and distributed on the black market could not escape notice.

Palmerston fidgeted. "Well, sir, I am not the one who writes reports that go back to Horse Guards. But if I understand it, the Colonel makes up little operations against raiding Twilight People. He reports successfully repelling attacks, sir, with appropriate expenditures of brimstone and firestone. It seems, sir, that as long as he's winning, no one in Launston has any complaints. He even praises men like you, sir, in his reports; so there are those who say these things happen. If the Colonel likes you, sir, you might even get a medal."

Owen's stomach began to fold in on itself. "Tell me this, if you know it. The other expeditions, the ones the Casks and Branches did. How far did they go?"

The Lieutenant sighed. "I don't know for certain, sir, but I can tell you this. Come spring every year after these expeditions, Rufus Branch's wife has had her a baby. She ain't much to look at, and fear of Rufus would keep most men away if she was. But he hain't beat her for taking another man to her bed, and the children are all ruddy and red like their father. I'd say, sir, most all what's in those reports was dreamed up, and most like while he was sleeping in his own bed here in the South End."

Chapter Eight

April 28, 1763

The Frost Residence, Temperance

Temperance Bay, Mystria

T he arrival of a breathless messenger saved Palmerston from any further interrogation. The Private, straightening his hat as he snapped to attention, saluted abruptly. "Begging your pardon, Captain Strake. The Colonel's compliments, sir."

Owen straightened and returned the salute. "Yes, Private?"

"The Colonel requests you come to Government House straight away, sir." The soldier swallowed hard. "The Prince, sir, is in court and has requested the two of you attend him."

"Very well, Private. Please convey to the Colonel my intention to join him forthwith."

"If it pleases the Captain, the Colonel ordered me to conduct you there without delay."

"Yes, Private. Wait outside for me to join you."

The soldier departed and Owen turned to Palmerston. "You will write up a report concerning Langford's illegal activities. You will make two copies. One you will entrust to Caleb Frost. The other you will prepare for me."

Palmerston's eyes grew wide. "The Colonel, he'd kill me, sir."

"The only way you can prevent him from killing you, Lieutenant, is to prepare those reports. I will release them if any harm comes to you." Owen tapped a finger on his own requisition. "You will prepare my supplies immediately and you will cut the other order down to fifty firestones, do you understand? I will come back and count them."

"Yes, sir." The man sighed. "I wasn't meaning no harm, what I did."

"I understand that, Lieutenant." When the Tharyngian war ended, the army would shrink. Men like Palmerston would be retired on a fraction of their pay. The man likely had no other trade, no prospects, save for what he could put by. Avoiding poverty only made sense.

"You lost your fingers and eye on the Continent, yes?"

"Ryngian ambush. Musket-ball hit my barrel. Took two fingers. Stock splinter took my eye."

"I'm here to see that doesn't happen again. Without good information, the Ryngians will ambush us just as you were ambushed. And from what you've told me, a survey that's over a century old is more to be trusted than the one sent to Horse Guards last year. We can't have that."

The Lieutenant nodded. "No, sir. I'll do what you've told me to do, sir."

"Good." Owen sighed. "Her Majesty will thank you."

"If it's all the same, sir, I'd just as soon she didn't even know I existed."