28 May; Twilight Trial

Sykes shrugged. "Some. Sir."

"Some. And did you throw their belongings all over the road, or was that treatment confined to the Rifles?"

"Dunno which lads it was what tossed yer stuff, sir. But I don't recall throwin' none o' what we searched."

"But you were among the party which searched Rifleman Newbury's possessions, and without his consent?"

Right. Because if they started asking consent, folks would just be lining up to admit to looting.

"Yes, sir."

"I see. So you opened his pack without his consent - without, in fact, him even being present to witness it. And then you later attacked him, an already-injured soldier, with no provocation, giving him no chance to defend himself. Is that not so?"

Sykes had the distinct impression of being slowly backed into a corner. He glowered at the captain.

"No, sir. It ain't. We searched his pack, sure. But we had prova--we'd reason enough for the rest of it."

Vickery ignored the glower. "Oh? And just what would provoke you into an assault that set back the recovery of a valued soldier, needlessly rendering him unfit for duty for a month?"

Sykes' gaze flickered briefly to the other two provosts and then back to the captain.

"He were interferin', sir. Tryin' to help the girl, like. How else d'you think she got hold o' the bayonet?"

"He was interfering? He has testified, under oath mark you, that almost the first thing that happened between was that he was deliberately tripped and prevented from getting up again. And her hands were tied, as Cotton testified, also under oath."

"An' I'm sayin' under oath that he were interferin'. He tried to cut her loose an' when we tried to stop him, he passed off the bayonet to her an' she stabbed Lambert there with it. Don't need two free hands to stab someone, sir. Not if you hold it right."

"Why would she want to stab a provost at all? Did she, perhaps, have a reason to fear ill treatment from any of you?" Newbury had referred to something of the sort earlier, during his own testimony, after all.

"From us? No, sir. We was tryin' to take her back to our officer, is all. Mebbe she was scared o' gettin' punished." He shrugged. "Dunno as she'd need a reason, anyhow, sir. Ain't many folks what wouldn't be glad to see one of our lads done for."

"So Rifleman Newbury tried to cut her loose. I was given a rather different version of events from your own colleague at the time. He said that it was Lambert who was going to cut her wrists free." He raised an eyebrow interrogatively.

Damn Stephenson and his big mouth, thought Sykes, trying for a way to spin the words to fit with his own and finding none.

"Don't recall that, sir."

Vickery quirked an eyebrow. "You don't recall that? How convenient. I would also suggest that you don't recall Newbury interfering between you and the girl, because it didn't happen and he was already on the ground himself, having been deliberately tripped."

Graham stirred just noticeably. "Objection - is there a legitimate question to be asked, or is my counterpart simply adding his own supposition?"

"I do not believe I have any more questions for this witness," Vickery said, inclining his head slightly in Graham's direction.

Colonel Trevor grunted. "Have you any more witnesses?"

"No sir," Graham replied after a minute's consideration. "Defence rests."

The Guards colonel made a noise of acknowledgment and looked thoughtfully at the three provosts seated behind Graham. This had been a more complicated case than he had anticipated, which annoyed him. Such a tedious, drawn-out proceeding for one simple charge.

"Very well. I have reached my decision. Mister Graham. You and those fellows may rise." He waited until the men were on their feet. "On the single charge of assault upon Rifleman Newbury, I consider the three accused to be guilty."

There was the barest of pauses before he continued. "Each of you shall be stripped of your powers and rank, to be returned to your respective regiments directly. I will spare you the indignity of a flogging only out of consideration for your regiments. There has already been enough senseless spoiling of men in this whole affair. However. Once returned to your regiments I do not expect there to be any trouble from any of you. No petty reprisals or continuing this vendetta, or whatever it is. I will contact your colonels personally. Should there be any misbehaviour of that like, be assured I shall press most strongly for a swift, severe flogging for each of you."

Trevor paused again and glanced at Lieutenant Wiffort. "As to you, sir. I shall be recommending your own relief from your present duties. What I have heard of your conduct in relation to this matter is not at all befitting a gentleman officer. I do not consider you fit to act as quartermaster, in fact, and would happily send you packing entirely, were it within my power. Thankfully for you, you are not in my regiment."

He ignored the stiffening in the provost officer's back, as his gaze moved to Captain Vickery. "Your fellow has gained a little this evening, but I would caution him and his companions to keep their noses spotlessly clean. The same may go for his woman. As I recall, this entire foolishness was begun because of a bit of allegedly stolen bread - a charge I believe to be impossible to prove at all. I doubt their actions were as sterling as they were professed to be, which may be said for all involved, but that is irrelevant now. In future, your three Riflemen and whatever companions they have should take much more care in their comings and goings. It would seem a trifle more sense on their part may have been enough to prevent all of this."

The colonel stood up. "This court is adjourned."

Vickery nodded, grateful that it hadn't been in vain, though he would give his Riflemen a serious talking-to. It might even be prudent to have Pye, at least, rejoin the Company, where he could keep an eye on the lad. And there was the matter of holding a Company court martial on him, as well.

If there was any way to have Newbury up with them as well, Vickery would take it, but in his present condition it was much better that he stay with the surgeons. He doubted the Rifleman would be in any state to walk as far as the baggage without help at the moment.

"Thank you, sir," he said, addressing the Colonel, before turning to Blackwood. "Thank you as well, Captain. Your assistance is most appreciated."

An end. At last. Not perhaps the result he had hoped for, but it was better than nothing. Blackwood let out a quiet sigh. Now, with luck, they could be done with it all.

"A pleasure, Captain," he replied, offering his hand. "May I invite you to take a glass, before you go to attend your three adventurers?"

"That would be most welcome, Captain," he replied, shaking the offered hand. "I could wish that they had exercised a little more common sense, but all in all, it is not a total disappointment. Maybe it will teach those three miscreants to be a little more circumspect the next time they have authority over another."

"Indeed." Blackwood watched the now-former provosts being escorted out. Lieutenant Graham had already disappeared, but the fellow called Wiffort seemed reluctant to go - until, of course, a glare from Colonel Trevor got him moving.

"We had best make ourselves scarce, I believe," he said quietly, nodding toward the tent flap. "The fellows in my mess ought to have a bottle or two our by now, anyway."

"You. Woodpecker." Colonel Trevor's voice rose pointedly behind them. "Get back in here."

Yes, Blackwood thought. It was certainly best to be as far removed from the immediate area as possible.

Vickery was merely relieved that it was over and that he hadn't let his men down. He followed Blackwood out of the tent. 'Woodpecker'... He managed to contain the chuckle that produced until he was outside.

Now that it was over, he found that he was rather relieved it hadn't resulted in a flogging, although he wasn't sure how a mere reduction to the ranks could be any sort of real reparation for Newbury's injuries .

Newbury had gone off somewhere, leaving Cotton alone to hear the verdict. He scrambled to his feet as the tent-flap was pushed aside to let the provosts and other officers out. Vickery was the last one out, nearly, following the redcoated officer that Cotton recognised as the Captain of the Guards' Light Company.

He scrambled to his feet, set his shako on straight and approached the two officers, a little nervous about intruding on thier conversation. He saluted smartly - though probably not as smartly as the Guards officer was used to - and paused.

Vickery returned his salute. "The colonel found them guilty, and they are to be returned to their own regiments."

Cotton nodded, a little disappointed, but at least they hadn't been found not guilty and been let off.