《Aris Cretu》Chapter 73: The Chronicler

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Aris Cretu let out a long breath, "part of me wishes that the Ironbark Mercenary company would come into being again, but that is not to be. They were hard men, the first founders of Ironbark, landless men with only pike and coin to call their own in a world with no room for mercy and second chances that had to be taken at sword-point.

"I have been building Trebor into a place that would be anathema to such men. I hope that this convent will become a place of learning as well as one of worship. I pray that the towns in this area will grow large and prosperous, without fear of the ravages of war, secure within a Kingdom worth their loyalty and with the might to defend itself. The Ironbark of old would find no employment here, save perhaps by one who wished to destroy it.

"The Ironbark that marched free from Westmarch after the war there was a different beast entirely. We had cast off the contract for the sake of coin that would have seen us dead in favor of a contract of cause with the men and women of Westmarch. That was a people and a place worth standing for. A place where a man was judged not by his race but by what he did, what he strived for.

"The Ironbark of Westmarch, I would like to think, would find a similar place here in Trebor. Not as a Mercenary Company, but as a regiment of the Althiem Royal Army."

Lord Wavethunder whistles silently, "my queen, I second this motion. You know how much of the Royal Army is currently comprised of fyrd troops, and a second permanent standing formation would strengthen the Army significantly."

Queen Shalahai nods, "and would provide a further bulwark against some of the more audacious Lords. I think they are starting to wake up to just how much power we have been diverting into Royal hands."

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Aris bows deeply, "then may I suggest that the Ironbark Regiment be comprised in the large part by commoners? Soldiers sworn to the Crown directly, led by other such men, bound together by shared experience. They would be resistant to the blandishments and bribes of the Lords if for no other reason then the mutual disrespect between commoners and Lords."

Lord Wavethunder frowns, "gutter-born men you mean, men with no honor or courtly manners. Just the sort of men the Navy loves so dearly because they have fewer airs and a willingness to work and endure hardship. It will stick in the Lords collective craw..."

Ilelahne SiDabolo snorted, "let it. It'll bait one or two into the open where the Crown can squash them the way they deserve for undercutting its legitimacy. And by the time they wake up to what the Ironbark Regiment really is, it'll be too late for them to take the field and win. But for that to work, we do need to establish that the Regiment is the successor to the Company. It needs to be a separate entity and develop its own identity, its own traditions. I think a new standards is in order."

Queen Shallahai nodded, "it would be good to formalize the Royal Guard into a discreet regiment as well, and perhaps form a third Regiment on Bera as well, so that nobody feels left out. What changes would you propose for the Ironbark standard, Lord Cretu? Perhaps keep the silver tree and black sky, but at a green field?"

Aflia poked her head through the open door, "Apologies for the interruption my Queen, Lords and Lady. The Dance is About to begin, and a figure has been spotted in the woods near the convent."

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