Protect Life

[Bjorn]

Bjorn smiles back.  "I was wondering if Sir Shivershaft's weapons had been recovered, in fact," he says.  "They were not with him in the hall of heroes."

[Brian]

Stuarts pauses again, as though accessing some mental record.  "I'm not certain," he says cautiously.  "But ... the westernmost tower detail of guardsmen -- the ones who would have taken, or seen who'd taken the weapons -- are the ones here," he says, gesturing to the men who are jogging about with stacks of spears.  "Peter!" he yells, at one of the men, who skids to a halt, quickly handing his spears to another soldier.

"Sir!" Peter calls, jogging up to Stuarts and then saluting both Bjorn and
Stuarts (in that order), before standing at attention.

"Sir Bjorn has some questions about the detail for two nights ago," Stuarts says, nodding to Bjorn.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods at Peter.  "Just a quick question.  You were one of the soldiers who found Sir Dorian after the end of the fourth night's siege, Peter?" he asks.

[Brian]

"Yes Sir," he says, nodding at Bjorn.  "I was on the watch for the towertop that he was on -- where ... where Sir Liandral lost his hand."  He grimaces at that.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn keeps his face still at the mention of the gruesome injury.  "Do you know what happened to Sir Dorian's bow?"

[Brian]

He looks thoughtful.  "The bow should have been on the towertop ... and, let's see ... we ran up to the tower to take ... Durant into custody."  He grimaces.  "Ah ... after that was done, Dorian's body was left, and the tower was sealed.  I remember that we came back for Dorian's body after handing Durant to John's patrol, in the keep.  When we returned...."  He frowns.  "Come to think of it, the bow was gone -- one of the crew must have taken it.  I didn't think anything of it, since the tower was sealed, so it must have been one of us."  He looks confused.  "Is it still missing?"

[Bjorn]

"It seems to be," Bjorn confirms.  "Can I ask you to take a moment to check with the rest of your men?"

[Brian]

"Certainly," he says, his face become stern as he wheels to face his subordinates, and barks out some commands.  They quickly assemble into formation -- two colums -- as he interrogates them on the whereabouts of the bow.

One of the men looks guilty and nervous, and Peter pulls him aside, growling at him in a quiet voice until the man flinches away, bowing his head in shame.  Peter yells a command, and the flinching soldier (and two others) run off into the keep.  Peter shakes his head, and returns.  "My apologies, Sir Bjorn," he says, looking a bit irate.  "Jennings thought it would make a good trophy -- it's being fetched now."

Stuarts gives Peter a look that conveys -- quite clearly -- without words that he's not impressed.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods in acknowledgement, but doesn't say anything.  His silent disapproval, he thinks, will probably motivate both Peter and Stuarts sufficiently to make sure the same doesn't happen again.  While waiting for the man to return, he turns to Stuarts.  "Yesterday, I had one of the prison guards relieved of duty to help recuperate his wounds.  Do you know how he's doing?"

[Brian]

Stuarts blinks.  "Him?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.  "He had his bones reset by Lord Ekim, and then was healed back to battle readiness by the priestesses.  Last I heard he was in the assault yesterday ... boosted the morale of his unit.  Not well enough to earn a commendation -- yet -- but he's faring well.  Hasn't died, anyway."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods at that.  "What was his name again?"

[Brian]

"Brad, I think," Stuarts says.  "Is he a friend of yours?"

[Bjorn]

"No," Bjorn says.  "I thought he showed potential."

[Brian]

Stuarts nods.  "That he might," he admits.  There's a moment of silence before Peter comes back, holding the bow in one hand and shooting annoyed looks at the soldier who took it.  He's also got a quiver of arrows with it.

When Peter reaches you (the other soldier remaining as far away as he can, watched by the two who lead him to his room), he offers the bow and arrows over.  "My apologies, Sirs," he says, hanging his head.

Stuarts frowns, but says nothing, looking to Bjorn questioningly.

[Bjorn]

"An understandable mistake," Bjorn says gently, taking the offered weapons.  "No harm was done, however."