Before I'd turned myself into rest with the rest of the conscripts, wild chatter was going off throughout the army.
"Who led those conscripts?"
"How could a bunch of poorly armed peasants so one-sidedly defeat a cavalry charge?"
The tales of Landyn's detatched conscripts swept through both Salleria's army, and the Grand Duchy's. So much so that the commanders of the Lord's army now sought out "the leader of the rabble" whereupon they'd met with many of the conscripts that partook in the clash.
"I'm sorry ser, but I didn't catch his name, he merely told us that we'd be more like to survive if we'd followed him. Honest ser!"
messenger: "I don't care if you don't know his name, surely you know where he is? The commanders demand to know who gave you the orders to detatch from the main force!"
Conscript: "...."
I could see how this situation would escalate if I did not intervene, should I do nothing, many of the conscripts could face punishment, which could be as cruel as death. While it would be unwise to make myself noticed to the Lord's army and their commanders, allowing for the potential execution of my comrades in arms would serve to benefit none bit Kotesh. While weakening the kingdom is a necessetity to change it, that weakening cannot be at the expense of the commkn people, but rather at the expense of the lords, the nobles, the elite.
Landyn: "Sir, you seek the leader of the detatched conscripts?"
Messenger: "No I seak an audience with the king of Kotesh and the noble maidens of Rorvik for fine wine and tea. Yes you daft fool, I seek the leader or whatever you rabble call him! I presume you know their wherabouts? lest you wish to incur the commander's wrath for wasting all of out time!"
Landyn: "Of course I know his whereabouts, it's me. I led them, I accept any cause of reprimand for my disobedience to the Lord's Army captain, sir."
Messenger: "Hmph! A young lad like you led them? Not that it's my place to pass down your judgement, but should you be lying to me to cover the true leader's hide, well, I shouldn't need to tell you how dire your situation would be then."
Landyn: "Has his Lordship or the commander's requested my presence?"
Messenger: "Don't get cocky you brat, follow me, and do not speak unless the commanders or his lordship demands it of you, am I clear?"
Landyn: "..."
Messenger: "Good, this way then."
I'd followed the messenger through the camp, passing through the camp belonging to the professional soldiers, where the soldiers had enjoyed finer meals than what was provided to the conscripts. The camp was cleaner, basic latrines were made to keep stricter sanitation than there was within the conscripts camps. Though even here talk of the detatched conscripts was almost all that could be heard, most of it being in ire of our actions.
"Damned conscripts, those bastards think theu can disobey direct orders from the captain?!"
"Much as I agree with you, they were quite effective in the battle earlier, i've never seen a group of peasants withstand a cavalry charge relatively unscathed."
"That's not the point you asshole! what about Vince ober there? He's sitting in the medical tent with a lost arm because a bunch of stupid peasants couldn't obey orders!"
"Enough, much as I despise the conscripts, even had they followed orders, Vince would still be there because he'd charged headfirst into the enemy's line. He's only himself to blame there, so settle down and eat your food. Not like our dead brothers are going to eat it for us..."
"...Right."
They were right, this war had not only affected the commoners, bit so too did it effect the soldier-class. they're brothers-in-arms died as a result of this war, as a result of the petty greed between the Lord of the Grand Duchy, and Oswin. Our disobedience of the captain did them no favors, though some of them did appreciate the thinning of the cavalry, many of them could not overlook the loss of their brothers, seeking someone to blame, opting to blame the peasants not because that's who they should blame, but because that's all they could blame, as to blame the lord, or the commanders, or the nobles would be aking to blaming Sarellia, akin to treason.
We began approaching the royal camp, guarded by the more well disciplined royal guards. They said nothing, or if they did, it was beyond the range which any could hear it, and withing their own personal quarters.
Messenger: "Wait out here, I or the commanders will notify you of permission to enter."
The messenger then made his way within the large war tent, declaring to the commanders.
Messenger: "M'lord, commanders, i've brought the disobedient whelp from the conscript's camp. He remains outside the tent, at heed of your call, and awaits your punishments, whatever they may be."
Oswin: "Dismissed."
Messenger: "Yes m'lord."
As the messenger made his way out of the tent he'd said nothing, and began making his way ti the main camp.
Oswin: "Well, do you intend on making is wait any longer? Get in here!"
I'd silently walked into the tent, awaiting whatever punishment they'd have in store. If my own punishment could preven the punishment of a hundred others, then such was worthwhile.
Aiken: "Well, don't just stand there! What is your name, conscript?"
Landyn: "Landyn, sir."
Captain Becketxs eyes grew wide hearing me announce myself. In utter disbelief that a petty merchant's child could bringabout disobedience and organization amongst a bunch of conscripts.
Becket: "Landyn, surely you know the punishment for lying to us?"
Landyn: "I do, captain Becket"
Becket: "So then who lead those conscripts?"
Landyn: "I did sir."
The captains and commanders whispered amongst themselves, Oswin however maintained a poker face, making no indication of emotion.
Aiken: "Your orders were to advance with the army and meet the enemy force in combat, why did you disobey orders? Did you intend on betraying Salleria? Believing Kotesh would allow you lot to leave the field?"
Landyn: "No sir, we had not intention of betrayal, nor was our intent to leave combat."
Aiken: "Then why did you disobey direct orders?"
I had to choose my next words carefully, as one slipup could well mean my own rather premature death.
Landyn: "I'd wished to minimize our losses sir, while maximizing the enemy's."
Aiken: "And you did this by disobeying orders, detatching a group of conscripts from the main army, and placing yourselves beyond reach of the main army, before Kotesh's cavalry?"
Landyn: "Yes sir, by detatching ourselves, we baited an enemy attack on us, from there we'd assembled a formation with the intent of halting and countering the cavalry charge."
The commanders and captains began whispering amongst themselves again.
Oswin: "Enough! Landyn, is it?"
Lamdyn: "Yes, m'lord."
Oswin: "Listen well then, Landyn. this is not some village. I know not, nor care not how you mudslinging fools conduct yourselves in villages, so long as your taxes are paid and basic duties are followed. However, this is not some mudslinging, rat-infested, backwater village. This is the Lord's Army. Disobedience henceforth will under no circumstances be tolerated!"
Landyn: "Yes m'lord"
Becket: "Your lordship, please forgive my rudeness, but while he did disobey direct orders, he and his conscripts deeds in the battle were undeniable."
Oswin: "Captain Becket, you know as well as any other man here that discipline is key to an army, and that any disobedience is not to be tolerated. However, much as it displeases me, their disobedience were positively impactful for our side. I will leave up to the you lot to sort out his punishment, I must retire to my chambers."
Captains: "Yes m'lord."
Atkin: "Now, Landyn, the typical punishment for disobedience is no meal and solitary confinement, though it can even result in death. However, as CaptainBecket had stated, your actions were net-positive for the army. Thus you'll only be sentenced to solitary for the next 2 days. Upon return you will be expected to return to your post, weapon ready, until either the end of this war, or until completion of 2 years service, or until your death. Any objections?"
Landun: "...No, sir."
Atkin: "Good. Guards!"
Two heavily armored guards had entered the room, heeding Atkin's call.
"Yes sir?"
Atkin: "Please escort this whelp to the nearest solitary chambers."
"As you command sir."
The guards led me to a small tent, within being a small cell, presumably this was what they'd used as solitary, good treatment was not something I could expect during my time in here.