TD - 15th Hussars HQ

George moved one of his pawns too, trying to remember all the attacks and defences he was taught.

Moving the knight, he leaned back. "Have there been any other presentations the riflemen held, when you departed?"

George tugged at a lock of hair. 'No, I don't think so. There might have been, but I fell asleep during the Rifle's Competition, and though Needham tried to wake me, I did not go to see anything else'

"You have missed a mighty great deal then, sir. ..The riflemen also had a presentation at which you could try firing one of their weapons." He smiled fondly at the thought. "Fire and aim at the target just as they had at the competition. Of course, with far lesser success. No less. "

And then after a move he added: "Have you seen the other presentation also. Of a Giradoni. Some strange new weapon that they wished to present also."

'No, I think I was...er... sleeping at the time' George blushed slightly, and looked at the chess board intently.

Willoughby looked amused as he waited for Hunter's turn. "As long as the riflemen do not hear of it. " He glanced at the board , watching what move Hunter would make. " And.. you have slept through all of the firing? " A greenhorn would have been unable of course.

'Oh, yes. Even through all of the cheering. That is there was a moment of wakefullness, when Needham and Fernao elbowed me from two sides, but they were ordered to go to hell'.

".. And they have gone where then?" He sounded amused. " Surely not to hell."

'Well, I don't know where they went, but since I was not woken again, I did not really care much'. Tugging at hair again, George moved a rook.

Moving a knight after a few minutes of thought Willoughby nodded. "You do not have any obligations for today, sir?..." He hesitated a moment. "The one who has organised the competition must be granted all the congratulations.. for he had done a fine job!"

'Well, I do, but we were given time by Wellesley to attend, so I am somewhere out there, attending'. George grinned at Willoughby. 'Yes, Vickery and Sharpe did a good job'.

"Ah." He smiled. He knew Vickery personally, and Sharpe by fame. He wondered if he would have a chance to meet or see how he worked some time. If the reorganisation would keep the first and second division together, he might perhaps have a chance. That was however IF his present problems were solved in his favour.

Then again, one officer would perhaps not wish to see a flogged soldier.. if that was how it would happen. He looked more somberly at Hunter. "So.. 'tis only the writting that you need to have done,.. and you are mostly free, today?"

'I honestly do not know, Wellesley has not given me any tasks, and to be honest, considering this is my second day on the job, I might be missing something.' George shrugged, moving another piece. 'Sharpe said to me that ADCs do nothing but look pretty and fawn over the General, and I've no particular desire to do either'.

"Yet it is a place where you can advance yourself more easily.. is it not, sir?" He asked. "And learn from one.. such example to lead men as is his task, no?"

'Maybe, maybe...' George frowned looking at the board: the boy was obviously underestimating his skill. If George was not careful, he might well end up losing.

Willoughby wouldn't have dared win against an officer, however he was not playing in a manner that he would hold back. He was truthful in saying that his skills were not on par. He played chess a couple of times, but his grandfather might have complained that the boy fidgeted in his seat more than he did in a saddle at any given time.

He smiled and moved another piece then turned to look at Hunter: "...us , we often think that officers have an easier life, yet it isn't so. Yes, sir?"

'I think it depends on the officer. If it is a good for nothing idiot, then he'll have an easy life. If it is a decent hard-working one, then he has his amount of troubles'.

"I do not understand, sir. " He looked at Hunter, waiting for him to elaborate on his thesis.

'Well, if an officer does nought but shout at his subordinates, and thinks he is there just to receive glory, while everything else will be done by soldiers, then he is not going to have a difficult life, is he? And a good officer who knows how much depends on him, will have to work hard'. George was not sure he could explain himself better than that.

"Ah." He understood now. It was the manner of how an officer thought. He could care but for his glory else care for the men that he lead as well. "What type of officers.. do you believe are more common, sir?"

'Truly, I don't know, I have not met them all, but I think it is usually a mixture of the two extremes. The world is not black and white, it is all kinds of grey shades in between'. He moved his queen to capture a knight.

Willoughby nodded and moved a pawn, taking one of Hunter's own.

'If it is any consolation to you, I think the officers of 15th that I have made my acquintance with today, are good ones'.

"They are." Even if Pierce had been a damn strict one and also that he had made it clear what he believed of him, how he had yelled at him and accused him, he would not have said it no differently.

"They are fine officers." He nodded leaning back slightly.

George studied the lad.
'Well, I think Captain Pierce will be disappointed. From what I understood he went to a great trouble to scare you'. George grinned.