18th of May - 15th Hussars.

The darkness was heavy, when Pierce went to make an inspection of his troop. The horses have already been taken care of, and most preparations complete. Some men were hastily finishing up their breakfast, being of the opinion that horses and their well-being came first. He left his cornets and liuetenants somewhere behind, and only Sergeant Parker kept him company.

'The 15th are to be part of the forward cavalry screen, as you well know, and our troop to be at the very front of the regiment.'
Parker thought it over.
'The Colonel wasn't happy, was he, sir?'
Pierce, his gaze firmly on someone's horse.
'If you are saying, what I think you are saying, you'd better shut up, Parker.'
'Yes, sir.'

They continued on in silence, until Pierce came up on a still somewhat drunk hussar. Once finished with him, Pierce walked back through the group to check on his mount.
'Put Willoughby in front, Parker. With all these black marks against him, he'd better show what he is made of on the battle field.'
'You think, there'll be battle for us soon, sir?'
'I damn well hope so, or I'm going to have to start flogging men for getting into trouble, because they have nothing better to do.'

Willoughby had sipped away at his last bits of tea and returned to Herrero, which stood, as always high of his mind and only slightly impatient. He tested the saddle and how tight it was set. Well enough to have him heaved up and not to slip to either side during the ride. He stroked his steed's nose a few times and then turned to gaze accross the many horse's heads and men, some in groups and some by their horses.

He yawned and rubbed his arms, his back aching a little and his muscles tender, but himself in good spirits. They were marching, though he hadn't yet heard the order in which and who was to be at the front.

(not still in bed...)

The cavalry formed, and upon the given order and in the given order of march, the 15th Hussars moved ahead, leaving the town behind.

The darkness was lighter now that they were on the road, the sky greying at the edges. Pierce rode in silence, his mount stepping slightly ahead of the first line of his troop. He did not like riding in such poor light in unfamiliar country, always apprehensive that someone's mount would have a mishap.

The young cornet by his side was obviously restless: glad to be finally on the march that would surely bring them to battle and near bursting with desire to talk of it. Pierce ignored him.

He had been ordered to walk his horse at the front of the column. It did not surprise him though it hadn't been as if he spared too much thought on the lineup. Herrero behaved and walked in step with the other horses, making neither a sound nor an indication that he wished to go elsewhere than his rider. Being near first seemed to have flattered him, perhaps being a type of horse who wasn't the follower and would nip at the horse infront of him, if he was made to do so.

He held his head up high and important, giving Willoughby very little need to make effort in guiding him about.

As the 15th settled down in camp, Pierce left his horse in Parker's care for the moment and strolled down to the field where his troop's horses were tethered for the night. Not that he did not trust his men, but he liked to make sure that the mount were always taken good care of.

Humming to himself softly, Timothy was brushing away down Herrero's flank. His belly was clean, and the mud that collected on his legs had been scrubbed away. He patted the animal and thought of Richard. It had been quite a long while since he'd last seen him. Did he even remember him still? He hoped he had learned not to chase after dogs and that he did not add to the gray hairs of his father.

Taking a look at Herrero's long mane, he lifted it up and continued to brush from that side of the neck, back again.

Pierce nodded to a group of his troops in acknowledgement, then proceeded down the line of horses. He stopped as he spotted Willoughby brushing down Spotted Dick.
'I hope you remember, this isn't the only horse that requires your attention.'

He sighed and then placing a look of mere obedience to his face he turned to meet Pierce, and saluted him in greeting. ".. Yes sir. All the others...that I've been assigned to." What the other men did while he did their work, he didn't know, but he hoped they wouldn't try have him get in trouble just so he could do it instead of them for much longer. Brushing down horses was more tiring than one thought it was. WIth all the properly dirty steeds that is. And though Hussars dressed rather perfect, they still rode through dirt, rivers and mud.

"Is there anyhting else.. you want me to do, sir?" He asked deciding that Herrero was as spotless as he could get and wished he had Bella again. That horse, she was a bad tempered lady but...atleast she wasn't the laughing stock of the whole of the 15th Hussars, and possibly some others too.

'You just make sure you do this well first. You don't seem to be in the habit of doing things properly.' Snapped Pierce: it looked to him as if there was a put upon air about the lad, and it was grating on Pierce's nerves. After all. someone else would have had him flogged for what he did.

He held back a frown, even if barely. There had sure been things that he did wrong, but never had he done badly with horses. Atleast he'd thought it was so,and the day before the stables were considerably well cleaned. He knew that much!

"Yes sir." He said instead, though a hand at his side was given to frustration and had to suffer a set of nails digging into the soft flesh.

"May I...sir, may I ask..uh have permission to ask something?"

Pierce frowned and seemed to consider the request.
'Make it quick.'

"..How long will my punishment last, sir?" He did not mean to ask that it should not be prolonged nor that he ought to be pardoned but waking up every day and wondering if there'll be someone standing ready to brief him for another day of additional duties,..it wasn't to complain for, but knowing wouldn't be half bad either.

'As long as I see fit, trooper.' Pierce scowled. 'Is this all?'

He didn't like the answer, for it did not really answer anything. Pierce wasn't known to be a man of the kindest heart and there was probably not a single man of the Hussars who wished to be on his bad side. Here Timothy thought he'd crossed to the said side already.

"Yes sir." He paused but then added. "Well,.. no sir. ..may I.. have another question?"

Pierce sighed in resignation: it seemed that the boy was bent on making himself a nuisance. 'Yes, what is it?

"...Has Lord Edrington .. said anything to you about my person.."It was a forward question. And it was certainly one he hadn't thought of before saying it. Not enough at least that he would know whether it was proper that he asks, or whether turning on his heel and moving to a new horse was to be a better sort of choice.

'He has not, Willoughby. Captain Vickery has confirmed the story of how you got to travel with the 2nd Division. I doubt Colonel Edrington is going to bother himself over the fate of a cavalry trooper.' And I am not going to bother bothering him.

He felt relief, for it wasn't the trouble he had asked about - nor exactly about that rifleman's injury. Though it could've been his next question if he had not just received this answer. Well one of the two at least. Good. Lord Edrington had not spoken of knowing him, nor of his real status. His secret seemed safe.

"Certainly sir. " He smiled, though managed to keep most of his emotion still quite in check. "And the lieutenant rifleman....sir?" All well and forgotten, that was the kind of answer he would be gladdest to hear.

'Have not heard from him either. Perhaps, he decided that stupidity was a sufficient reason not press charges against you.' The lad seemed edgy, but then it was understandable: assaulting an officer was a very serious offence.

That was more relief than he'd have expected and he was moments from showing it all on his face. "Thank you, sir." All questions were answered. Others he was sure to learn from his fellow troopers, atleast what with the night's plan and all.

Not accused of such an assault, it meant he was safe, safe to live even rather than just from harm.

'I'd rather you stayed out of trouble than thanked me trooper.' Pierce patted Herrero on the neck and moved away to finish his inspection.

Timothy Watched Pierce go before turning back to his horse. Stay out of trouble.. had he any say in it, he'd have never gotten into it in the first place. He patted Herrero's neck twice before taking a step to the next horse. He picked the brush that belonged to the animal, and went on to do the same as with Herrero. Couldn't help if trouble went looking for him and stuck to his body just like the feistiest of leeches.