Fireside, 26 May; evening

Their previous day's play had earned them undesired attention from their officers. Stubbins and his mates found themselves under close watch for the whole of the day's march, up until they unsaddled for the night. Even after their little group had settled around their fire, they were closely watched by the farrier-sergeant. One would almost think Captain Gaines was afraid they'd go off and trample down some staff officer's tent or something.

"That lot ain't got no trust in us lads," Kenley grumbled as he reached for the battered old kettle so he could refill his mug.

Stubbins snorted and adjusted the lay of his saddle under his head. "Dunno they can be blamed, though. We almost run over that German fella, din't we?"

The others chuckled. Their game of keep-away had been fun, both for them and for their horses. Forbes, who had kept possession of his floppy leather ball through some miracle, poked at the fire with a stick.

"Oughta do it again some time," he said, then looked up at the scuff of a shoe over the rough ground. "Hoi there. Don't be skulkin' 'bout in the shadows, c'mon and join the best fellows in the troop!"

Will walks over to the fire to the unit he'd recently bin assigned to not so long ago and sits down by the fire laying his hat next to him and looks between them. and says tiredly "so this is were you all bin hiding?" he then looks into the fire with almost a blank look then looks up at the rest of the unit "looking forward to get some well earned sleep" he then smiles faintly for a moment looking back into the fire

Stubbins grinned at the lad from where he was sprawled half-atop his saddle. "Aye, it is. Safest place, ain't it, with all them officers lurkin' around."

"Sleep don't sound so bad," Kenley remarked cheerfully. "Welcome t'join us in our happy bunch, fella. Got a name?"

still not having get used to the large fur hat he just says out into the air probably thinking out loud "why we have ta' wear this stupid fur hat.." and sighs then looks at kenley "hm? oh names William people tend ta' call me Raven though, and you?"

The other troopers grinned.

"It's so the Frogs can see us comin' better," Stubbins replied. "Good to know you, Raven. I'm Stubbins, that there's Kenley, and Forbes, and Dudley. That's Corporal Tunney snorin' away there. Dunno where Willoughby's at." He pointed at each man as he named him, so the newcomer could match the name up with a face.

he nodded and chuckled faintly "well then them frogs can reach to retreat when they see us" he smiled "nice to meet you all, and who is willoughby?" he asked curiously looking at stubbins.

"That they can," Stubbins agreed. "Willoughby's our strange pet, of a sort. He was born a gennelman, but didn't want no part of buyin' his way in. Figgered he was meant for takin' the shillin' proper."

There was a bemused chuckle from Forbes. "Just shows he's smart, don't it?"

something in the story they told him would seem to amuse him as he he turned to look into the fire again "aye, sounds wise means he dares stand in the line of duty" Will covered his mouth as he yawned.

"There's that," Stubbins acknowledged, "and also that he knows where the decent lads are."

Kenley lifted his newly-refilled mug in toast. "An' they ain't them officers!"

he nodded,"cheers!" he then took out his canteen and drank some of the rest of the water after the warm day in such a heavy outfit, he then layed down on the ground and looked to the sky.

Stubbins reached for the kettle, looking to rescue it from Kenley. "Here, lad," he said. "Leave your canteen for tomorrow. Take some tea. It's better anyway."

he were rather surprised by the offered tea as he gladly took some tea and poured down a cup he had "thanks, i must admit i'm surprised ta find tea out here!" he sipped the tea and breathed out relieved "this is the best tea i gotten in a long time"

The other troopers chuckled.

"There's always somebody who's got tea leaves tucked away sommers," Forbes told him. " 'Specially them Riflemen, what I hear."

Stubbins nodded before slouching back against his saddle. "Aye. Tastes better with some powder mixed in, don't it?"

"aye well a joy that someone does, riflemen... that be the ones in green right?" he sipped to the tea once more and looked to the sky thinking of what tomorrow would bring

"Aye, that's them," Stubbins replied. "The grasshoppers themselves. Not proper soldiers, though. They don't wear the red, an' they don't carry the musket. Misfits, they are, an' all."

he sipped some more of his tea then looked at his horn and thought of how practical it had bin and how the sound of the bulge almost commanded the regiment in war, charge, retreat, reform everything in the sound of battle he sighed once trying not to remember the battle he had seen the people who had bin hit by shells. he snaps out of thoughts and looks at the people "i can imagine they don't like cavalry much? fancy uniforms an' all"

Stubbins chuckled. "They don't like us 'til they needs us savin' 'em. Ain't they always cryin' for the cavalry when they're in a right bad bind?"

he smiled amused "aye ya right there the life if a cavalry man i suppose" he sipped his tea again

"And a fine one, too." Stubbins stretched his arms out over his head. "Been 'round the regiment long, fella?"

he nodded and his smile fainted slightly "aye, were assigned as ya bugler a couple of weeks ago, how 'bout you?"

"Couple years," was Stubbins' answer. "Newest one in, me. 'Sides of you, anyways."

The other troopers offered their own responses, with ranges of three years to seven becoming known. Corporal Tunney, awakening briefly, told them smugly that he'd been wearing spurs for nearly ten years, then he dropped back off asleep.

"No worries though, lad. Bein' new ain't so bad. Just means you ain't had to suffer in this miserable country so long."

he nodded "ten years? that means he bin here more then most of our officers... most of the regiments officers even..." he smiled amused "well the hat already makes me suffer"

"That's our Tunney, sure," Kenley said, with a hint of brotherly affection in his voice.

From his place on the ground, Stubbins grinned. "Leave the bloody hat on the ground, then, 'til the mornin'. It's a right pain though, aye, I'll agree."

he nodded "well im not gonna wear this hat before after i done the revielle... tomorrow at least on the battlefield they dont throw shoes after me..." he smirked at his last remark

A unified, rough sort of guffaw erupted from the men around the fire.

"Be summat to see, if they was to throw shoes," Stubbins remarked lightly. "Could try battin' at 'em with our sabres, like."

"Or catch 'em and see if they fit our own feet," added Forbes.