Harkin was looking at the floor. Only Pash saw his eyes go wide. He blinked twice, trying to suppress his shock. "…But honoured Earl, I was only promoted to sergeant a month or so ago."
"Were you?" The Earl repeated, hardly sounding bothered.
Sol patted Harkin in the shoulder. Rightfully, it should have been him receiving such a promotion. He had been a sergeant for far far longer. And yet, without a shred of jealousy, he congratulated him. "You're deserving of it. Even more than the Earl knows, putting up with us lot," he said, just quiet enough that the Earl couldn't overhear.
"And for the rest of you as well," the Earl said with a shrug, as if he truly couldn't care less. "You're all sergeants, aren't you? By the looks of your ruddy faces, you're veteran enough. If slaying the Giant King doesn't get you a promotion, then the others will think that nothing will."
