Synry
Episode Three
The third time Mal took Hob's firrim, Hob decided that he had to do something more serious than just stealing it back that night. He walked across the parade yard and into Mal's barracks, and found him in the back, slapping back and forth with the weapon as if it were a staff. Hob watched for a second or two, then spoke.
"That's mine."
Mal looked at him, grinned, and said, "Then come take it, farmboy."
Hob looked him over from head to foot, and said, "Filthy whore-begot spawn of a cutpurse. Yer Ma ne'er told me ye took after yer father, but she likely didn't know him. ‘'Sides, her mouth were full at the time."
In the stunned silence, Hob took one step forward and drove his knuckles into Mal's throat. The firrim clattered to the ground, and Hob picked it up, spat on the writhing form on the floor, deliberately turned his back, and walked slowly out.
Into the arms of the Sergeant.
On the fifth day of punishment detail, Hob stood chest deep in the soon-to-be new latrine, and looked up at the Captain that had brought him into the army four years previous.
"Private Hob, I have been informed that you are being punished for striking a superior officer. Is that true?"
"Aye, Cap'n."
"Corporal Mal also charges that you made some rather offensive remarks concerning his mother. Is that also true?"
"Aye, Cap'n."
"Are you aware that Corporal Mal's mother is the Duke's lady?"
"Aye, Cap'n."
"What would cause you to say such things about the Duchess, Private?"
"Don't rightly know, Cap'n."
"You must have a reason, Private. If it's a good one, you may escape the lashes that Corporal Mal is attempting to have assigned to you."
"Couldn't say, Cap'n."
The Captain crouched down, and looked in his eyes. "Hob, tell me why you said it."
Hob pulled his eyes from their customary unfocused stare, and searched the Captain's face. Finally, he said, "There was four of them, Cap'n, an' Mal had me blade. I were unarmed, an' I di'n't want no one to get killed over Mal bein' a stupid thief. ‘'Specially me, with me own blade."
"As you were, Private."
Hob snapped back to attention. "Aye, Cap'n.".
The next day, Hob was sent to learn to be a Wizard.
