POV Alexious
I sighed as I inspected my platoon once more. A shiny gold bar of a lieutenant adorned my uniform. They'd turned out perfectly, not a hair out of place, not that I'd asked for that level of perfection from them. Afterall several were not in the formation, seven dead and the fourteen hospitalized from various injuries. I nodded to my platoon sergeant and fell in beside the formation. The march through Heston would begin soon. A victory parade of all the regiments that would march past the Queen in Calur square.
Her majesty had requested my regiment lead the parade. Everything had to be perfect. There had been a memorandum pushed down from General Fulton on the expectations of the parade. Uniforms had been cleaned and armor polished, the feeling of dread hung over my shoulders. I was proud of the men and women under my command. But dreaded my mother's and sister's reactions.
Shit! I nearly jumped out of my skin when a hand suddenly grabbed mine. Lotara's eyes twinkled as she smiled. "You'll do great Alex."
She pressed her lips to mine amid rancorous cheers from the platoon. I felt my face redden with embarrassment as wolf whistles and cheers came from the rest of the battalion. "Lotara… now's not the time…"
She chuckled and held up our hands so everyone could see them. Two plain silver rings adorned our hands. I flushed red, remembering last night. It had just sounded so romantic, asking the woman you love to marry you, and getting matching rings. Lotara stared at me with a beautiful smile. "My fiancée, I want everyone to know we chose each other."
"By the gods, you actually did it?" Vivian appeared out of nowhere with a disapproving glare. I bit back a rude remark as the new sergeant major started muttering about a headache.
"I'll deal with both of you later, but it's time to start moving, the whole brigade is waiting on you two lovebirds… Tullio will have my hide..." Vivian split us apart and called the battalion to attention.
I cleared my mind as the battalion stepped off and started marching down the causeway lined with people. The drummers, fifers, and bagpipers played a jolly and energetic tune, some music from the Fulton's old world no doubt. But the song was beloved by the troops, so they raised their voices in song.
"When Julie comes marching home again, hurrah! Hurrah!"
"We'll give them a hearty welcome then, hurrah! Hurrah!"
"Oh, the men will cheer and the girls will shout. The ladies, they will all turn out, and we'll all feel gay when Julie comes marching home."
"And we'll all feel gay when Julie comes marching home."
I joined the choir as we marched into the square. The battalion snapped a salute to the Queen as we continued our march, continuing our chorus. The nobles looked on, aghast.
"Get ready for the jubilee, Hurrah! Hurrah!"
"We'll give the hero three times three, Hurrah! Hurrah!"
"Well, the laurel wreath is ready now to place upon her loyal brow, and we'll all feel gay when Julie comes marching home."
"And we'll all feel gay when Julie comes marching home."
I looked through the crowd and saw my mother looking at me, her lips pursed unhappily. A commotion a bit to her side drew my attention. Baron Fulton was doubled over in laughter, my sister seemed distressed as she tried to calm the Baron. I stifled a laugh and continued on.
We marched through the square and returned to marching normally, the song still echoing from the battalions behind us. We marched down several roads until we reached our designated stopping point, the sergeant major called the formation to attention before releasing the soldiers to their companies. As my platoon surrounded me I just chuckled. "Secure your weapons in the barracks, post a guard, afterwards get with your ncos."
The platoon cheered, already they started talking about which taverns and brothels to visit. I sighed and just smiled, they needed to cut loose a bit, after this hard campaign. No looting or reprisals had been permitted and it had grated on them, how harshly discipline had been enforced. So as long as they behaved and didn't get in trouble, I was happy to let them relieve whatever stress they needed to.
I went to my commander to report that I'd released my troops when she found me. "Release your soldiers, your Mother wants to see you…"
I nodded and started making my way to the square past the columns following behind my own battalion. All the soldiers of the Army of the Lobau, marching in orderly ranks with a professionalism other regiments lacked. I felt a mixed pride about it and a bit of shame as a royal. A mere Baron had better regiments than the royal family… It was quite embarrassing.
I walked into the manor after a quick look over my uniform to make sure I was presentable. It wouldn't do to embarrass the Baron after all he'd done for me. Then there was my position as Prince to consider. I strode into the manor confidently, several guards of the royal regiment directed me to my mother. I ignored the calls to 'see what a real soldier was made of' with a stony face and continued on. My own platoon talked dirtier than this.
I made my way onto the balcony and made my way to my mother. She was watching several regiments of the noble faction march past as she spoke with Duchess Erlan. I waited a polite distance away but close enough that the nobles didn't try to speak with me. As my mother finished her conversation I introduced myself.
"Alexious! I've missed you." Mother embraced me tightly before staring at me.
"It's good to see you as well mother." I replied. We chatted about my 'studies' and what I've been learning while in the baron's care. Mother's expression continued to darken as I tried to appease her anger, telling her I'd asked to be allowed to rise through the ranks and learn the hard way. After mollifying her a bit she settled down somewhat and turned back to the parade.
I stood by her side and watched the parade with a feeling of satisfaction. My platoon was clearly better at drill than these older, storied regiments. Doubtless the other nobles noticed as well. Though… it appears their fury was directed at the Baron for showing them up, no doubt his former laughter wasn't helping him much.
I looked about, not familiar with the various members of the many factions that vied for influence within the court as I was merely a prince, likely to be married off. I wasn't taught the political upbringing of my sisters. Though Baron Fulton had taught me much, I was still lacking as a politician, perhaps I always would.
"I'll be promoting the Baron to Viscount, his accomplishments deserve no less." Mother said quietly.
I stared quietly at the parade below and nodded silently. "It'll earn him ire won't it?"
"Indeed it will…"