The next two weeks passed slowly. The splint on Moss's arm had just been taken off and he was tentatively moving around his hand and fingers. It took a minute, but he was quickly regaining all the flexibility in his joints. The strength in his arm was different story though. It felt weak in comparison to his other arm.
Mireya's apprentice nodded with satisfaction. "It's mended well. In a couple of weeks, you'll regain the strength in your arm and the bone will be as strong as it was before."
Moss smiled at her. "I'm glad to finally have that off. Thank you. You've really helped shorten the time it needed to heal."
The young woman hesitates and adds, "just remember to take it easy the next week or two. You don't want to rebreak the bone."
He nods. "I will."
The young woman starts to clean up the mess that was made from removing the splint. She asks, "I heard Lord Daniel Becker will be back within a week with the troops. The militia will no longer be needed to participate in the town's routine security activities. Thus, you will be missing much of the pay you were receiving from the being in the employ of the militia. What do you plan to do to compensate?"
Moss shrugs his shoulders, "I haven't figured it out yet. Perhaps I'll try to become a guardsman. I'd have to quit working in the stables, but I'd make enough to support myself."
She meekly smiles. "Guardsmen don't make that much. But they are fed, so you wouldn't need to worry about feeding yourself anymore."
Moss responds saying, "if you include the fact that guardsmen are fed, they aren't paid badly."
She keeps her head straight forward, but looks at Moss out of the corner of her eye. "You could join A Few Good Men, the local adventurer's guild. Once I finish my apprenticeship with Mireya I'll be trying to join."
He raises an eyebrow at the news. "When will your apprenticeship be finished?"
The young woman shrugs her shoulders as she looks at Moss. "I'm not sure, she's told me that I have all the necessary skills. I just lack the practical experience."
…
A few days later, Moss is watching as the Lord Daniel Becker's retinue follow his troops into the town. There seemed to be decent number of other people with them as well. They didn't look like slaves though. More like free craftsman and peasants. The returning men-at-arms would be returning to their duties as guards fairly soon. This would likely be the last week that the militia would have an active day to day role in keeping the town safe.
During peacetime, or at least during the wars off season, the militia would not be doing normal military duties. Rather they would be doing their normal day to day jobs. Moss's normal job was a groom, or in other words, a stable hand. He wasn't the head groom either, so he did not enjoy the extra pay or privileges of one. Most grooms were peasants or freeman who lived at the stables.
Sir Greenston rode out to meet the knight lieutenant, or head knight who was second in command of the military forces of the barony. The knight had accompanied Lord Daniel Becker out on campaign. Sir Greenston was also riding out to meet the old lord as well.
The three talked as they approached the gate, then Sir Greenston quickly rode back towards the castle.
…
Later that day Moss was in a meeting with all the militia and the leader of the Guardsmen. The Guardsmen introduced himself. "I am Agnar Auber." The name slightly surprised Moss. It was foreign and from the north. "I am, in effect, in charge of the guardsmen of Teglholm. Even though our head knight, Lieutenant Tegan Moore, and Lord Becker are still the ones officially in command. I run the day-to-day business of the town guardsmen. I believe most of you have met or seen me before."
Moss had indeed seen him briefly before, when he first joined the militia. The man continued talking and Moss looked back up to pay attention. "Now that the rest of the guardsmen are back home, they will be resuming their normal duties. All the militia will be demobilized over the next two days as you take your last shifts covering for them." Demobilizing, meaning that they are being turned back into normal freeman, and would not be taking part in day-to-day activities of the guards or men-at-arms anymore. They would only be called back up again when the situation required. Training would also only be conducted once a season.
The man cleared his throat. "Although the casualties of the men out on campaign were fairly light, we did still lose some men. Thus, Lord Becker will be in need of more guardsmen and men-at-arms. If you need a refresher on what the difference between the two are, listen up. There is none. Guardsmen are just responsible for day-to-day security of the town, while the men-at-arms are not. Men-at-arms are called out to countryside more often, while guardsmen are more likely to stay back in Teglholm. Their roles are easily reversable though, and it has happened before." Moss shrugged to himself thinking about it. There was no difference between guardsmen and men-at-arms. Only that guardsmen were organized into patrol teams to patrol around town and nearby roads. So, men-at-arms were more easily deployed into the countryside, as there would be no need to reorganize the patrols.
The old guardsman had a very deep voice, and was tall and muscular. He paused to look at everyone, as if judging their worth. "Anyone who wants to become a man-at-arms should report to the guards at the castle gates within the next two days. Lord Becker and his lieutenant will decide who they take and who they will assign as guardsmen. Now, let me explain how your demobilization will go."
The demobilization procedures were pretty simple to Moss. As most people who joined the militia were responsible for providing most of their own equipment, they didn't have much to give back. The lord of the barony would only give replacements for equipment damaged in the line of duty. They also gave an endless supply of spear poles, although the individual member had to provide the first spear head, and they were expected to recover any spearhead from any broken spears when possible.
Moss carefully thought about whether or not to ask to be accepted into the services of Lord Becker. He was pretty sure he would be accepted if he applied, but he wasn't sure he wanted back into the type of organization that could and would eventually control your whole life.
…
The next day after his shift at the stables, the stable master approached Moss. Lord Elicor, although not a "full" noble only a baronet, he still received much of the same courtesies as any other noble. Moss showed him proper respect, to ensure that he didn't insult his employer. The stable master looked as though he was thinking. "Moss, you are the best stable hand I have besides my head groom. If I did not already have a solid head groom when you got here, I would have already put you in charge. However, I already do. I am also aware that I cannot pay you enough for your standard of living. I believe it best for you to either move in with the rest of the grooms or take another job. I have heard from Sir Greenston that they are taking on more men-at-arms and archers. Either one of those would pay you enough to live the way you do, and they would feed you directly."
Moss sighed. He already knew this. Even though he did not spend much money, he was short on it. He still had to pay quarterly taxes on his property, plus feed himself. His taxes would have to be paid in coin, as he did not have any wealth in food, livestock, or other merchandise. He gave a half-forced smile as he responded. "Yes, my lord. I have been aware of this. As I don't want to give up my own home, I do believe it best for me to look for new work. I am no craftsman, so I have considered becoming an Archer."
Sir Elicor nodded as Moss spoke. "Good, I'm glad I'm not the one breaking the news to you. You will have this job for one more week. I have already found a replacement. He just needs to be told. I was waiting until I spoke to you. Truth be told. I'll miss you working here. Your replacement is still a boy who needs to learn the ropes. It will take him time to get used to the horses and the work."
Shrugging Moss replies, "I hope he surprises you. I was a young boy when I first started working with horses. They took a liking to me quickly."
The Baronet smiles. "I hope so too. You're a good man who may still have a good future."