TD - 15th Hussars HQ

"No. She isn't trained enough to carry a horseman safely, let alone an...amateur .. or less frequent a rider, sergeant." He replied, still looking ahead at nothing particular.

Allday stared back at Willoughby. "Listen, Trooper. I loaned you that horse on the Colonel's instructions. For your use when we were on the march. I did not make you a present of her. Nor is she for you to prance around on now you're back with your lot."

Parker was starting to dislike the atmosphere. He laid a restraining hand on Willoughby' shoulder. 'Now, now, Sergeant, I'm sure Willoughby is going to give you back the horse presently. Aren't you, Willoughby?'.

"I do not prance around on her, sergeant. Captain Pierce has forbidden me leave until I am to be ordered to commit myself to stable's work. Which does not concern that horse." He answered again. His voice void of emotion, his expression the same, and his body stiff at attention.

When he was addressed by sergeant Parker, he responded in equal manner. "Yes, sergeant." No emotion betrayed in his eyes, nothing at all.

Allday did not bother to point out that the horse had been perfectly well behaved until Willoughby had ridden her for a couple of days. "I'm afraid 'presently' isn't quite good enough, Sergeant," he said.

Parker gripped Willoughby's shoulder firmer warning him against saying anything else.
'Well, Sergeant, I doubt that even the General himself could make her appear here this instant. Someone will have to go and fetch her, and it won't be Willougby: as he said, Captain Pierce has him confined for the moment. Now, Willoughby will tell us where the horse is stabled and I shall send someone to fetch her for you.'

In that Allday had been wrong. Bella had been lent to the Hussar as the least trained of the horses and as one, whose temperament had afforded her a reputation. She wasn't brought from the English lands. A Lusitano by blood she had been taken in Portugal. She was a horse that bit, and that if Allday would have questioned those that worked with the 'herd' might have known. Willoughby had not worsened the horse, but rather in his short time riding her, enabled a few tricks she had up her ... 'hoof', to be lessened if not the habit abandoned.

Seeing as he had not been addressed and was thus meant to be quiet, he remained silent. He felt a grip at his shoulder and looked to the sergeant, wondering if he was permitted to speak now, or no.

"Run his errands for him, do you?" Sergeant Allday hesitated. It was dark, and there were things to do before tomorrow's Grand Review. He was not going to hang around with this shower until they could find someone who would fetch the horse.

He nodded sharply. "Right. You send someone to get the horse, and bring it to me - at sun-up tomorrow. Wouldn't like to think of one of your poor lads out alone in the dark. I just hope for his sake that he can remember where he put her," he said, addressing the words equally between the Sergeant and the Trooper.

Sergeant Parker nodded grimly, ignoring the insults. His job was to keep Willoughby out of trouble, not get into it himself. Some other time, perhaps, if Allday wanted to pick a fight he'll let him.
'Very well, your horse shall be there. Good day, Sergeant'. He kept his grip firm, willing Willoughby to continue being silent.

The trooper remained silent. Not even a flinch or a flicker of his eyes to indicate that he'd have thought any of the sergeant's word. All that he waited for was to be dismissed so that he could return to his room, back to the book. If Bella's training was cut short so that she would return to her bad habits, it wouldn't really be his fault.

But then, this is why these were the regiment of Foot, and them , the Hussars - horsemen.

Allday nodded, seeing the way that the Sergeant restrained the Trooper. "Good night, Sergeant," he said. "And good luck." He turned to walk back to his billet over the stables.

Parker watched Allday leave than turned to Willoughby, finally freeing the boy's shoulder.
'You are going to learn how to keep your mouth shut, trooper. You won't always have someone to keep you out of trouble.'

Willoughby saluted Allday, and waited even as the man left. He still felt the hand restraining him, though he hadn't meant to say or do anything that might've warranted such an action. He dropped his hand to his side, his composure no less relaxed than a moment ago. Not untill his own sergeant would think it right.

"Yes , sir." he answered. He could have added that he did nothing that would demand fear for what could follow, but chose to keep his mouth shut instead. Unless asked to speak, a 'Yes sir' would suffice, seemingly. And those fingers might even leave a mark. Though probably not.

Parker grunted and led the lad back to the room.

Timothy followed, and stopped at the door, so it could be opened. "Permission to speak, sergeant." He said after a moment of thought.

Parker sighed, unlocking the door. Whatever Willoughby had to say, it was better he said it to him, rather than any of the officers.

'Granted'.

"Thank you, sir. " The Hussar stood, facing Parker, but again keeping his gaze in such a direction that it would not offend his superior.

"First. ..Would it be possible that we head to...well I need to relieve myself." That was awkward. Usually they could go and do such things themselves, but with the sergeant as his watch dog, keeping him locked in or so, he had to ask even for that.

Parker blinked in surprise, expecting something totally different. Then he smirked and bade the trooper follow him.

Willoughby nodded and followed. It might've looked entertaining to Parker - though he wondered what the sergeant would do, when it was his time - but it was hardly amusing to him.

He walked in a fair stride after the man, his pellisse, heavy wool in all, swaying only slightly as he walked.

Parker waited for Willoughby to relieve himself, chuckling to himself at the way the trooper almost pointedly waited for him to turn away.

He walked the man back, ushering him into the room.
'And what was the second thing you wanted to say?'

"Sir. Am I.. and thus you as well, to be stationed here for the rest of the evening and night? Or shall .. do you wish..are going to... you that is ...would enjoy the last of the sights that Coimbra does offer?" It wasn't what he had wished to ask, nor speak. It wasn't something he should have been asking. Not a superior who had been given a task he might have very much disliked.

'I'll be staying here as long as the Captain wants me to, trooper, and don't think I am going to shirk my duty in favour of some entertainment, which you should learn to do as well.'

"Yes, sergeant. " It was though the entertainment he had wished for , most. He looked at the room which became to look more and more like a proper prison cell. Nothing to do, nowhere to go and not much to enjoy.

"I did not..mean it so. Sir." He hesitated and decided to change the topic of their conversation.

"Did the others manage to return from the engagement with the French, sergeant?" He wished to know if everyone had survived or if there was another dead man or more on the conscious of those dragoons.

'Most of them. Two died, one is going to die soon, unless a miracle happens,' answered Parker grimly and walked to the door, to leave Willoughby on his own again.

He wanted to ask who it was that died, but already the sergeant was leaving. So with a stifled sigh he saluted the sergeant, nodded and took a step back, waiting for the man to leave and close the door behind him.