June 28th, early dawn before reveille: A booming morning

Vickery sighed, and glanced at Torrington. "No, sir. I had not met him before today. I was hoping to become better acquainted with him to help him to better understand the workings of the Army, however."

Edward hat with all due deference acknowledged the Colonel, but now shook his head.

"No, Sir. As he is from nearly the same branch of the service as I am, I felt it my duty, however, to assist him in this difficult situation."

"In any case, Captains, I hope you realise that Captain Fraser has been very lucky to have you intervening on your behalf. If you decide to embark on any sort of friendship, I would ask you to try and instil in him the value of politeness."

Had it really been that bad?

Well, of course it had been; Vickery himself had been going to lay into Captain Fraser at one point, if things hadn't come to a stop.

"I am sure we shall do our best, sir," he replied, not quite daring to glance at Torrington again.

Edward himself rather pointedly did not look at Vickery (or Duff, for that matter) either. He had been close to wringing the Captain's neck himself, and who knew what might have happend if Vickery's words and Fraser's apology had come a few words later.

"Certainly, Sir."

He kept it at that, because frankly he had no idea what else he could say. He wasn't even sure he could keep that promise, after all - if Fraser started to behave offensive again, his best might very well be rather bad.

Alexander has not served sixteen years for nothing. He looked from one Captain to the other with a shrewd look in his eyes. His expression softened a little: "I am not trying to extract a promise from you, Captains. I doubt anyone would blame you should you happen to lose your patience with him."

Vickery gave a wry smile. "Colonel, even if you were to make us promise, I could say nothing other than that I will do my best, and I do not know how good my best may be."

Edward nodded again, his expression neutral.

"As would I. But let us all hope that it was just a case of overexcitement at a new command, and that he settles down quickly. After all, he can hardly expect respect from his subalterns if he does not grand the same to his superiors."

"Very good. I thank you gentlemen. I must return and settle my regiment down. Let us hope the day will pass without further incidents. Good day to you."

Fraser, now mounted and overlooking the battery, wondered what the three officers were talking about. Then, it probably wasn't the weather.
The men were mostly sitting down, lazy and a little bit annoyed that they hadn't been able to fire with real ammunition.
Their captain was looking as if he had no idea what to do, but suddenly his voice filled the calm air.

"Battery! Mount up!"

The sergeants were the first to react, jumping up and re-shouting the order into ears.
Calmly Fraser counted the seconds. Nine. He smiled.

"Battery! In column of 1! To the right! March!"

This meant that every cannon made a 45 decree turn to the left, their caissons directly behind the cannon it belonged to.
In the front was the howitzer, in the back the 9-pounder. Parade-drill. In battle, they would be riding as fast as they could, in any direction but from the enemy.
"Battery! Left shoulders forward! Slow pace...March!"

The howitzer was first to react, going into step and at the same time making a turn to the right.
The other cannons followed. Duff and the 2 other officers were standing to its right, and as the battery passed by them, Fraser, riding besides the howitzer, ordered:
"Faaaace...right" and gave a salute.

Duff acknowledged the salute, his face expressionless.

Edward reined Trueno in until the stallion stood in parade posture next to the colonel's horse. When he touched his hat, he forced his mouth into a small, encouraging smile - even if it was more for the men than for Fraser.

Vickery also reined his horse around until Brandy was in parade position, to return the salute. After all, the mistake was the officer's, not the gunners' - and they had a smart enough turn-out, all things considered.