April 1632

[Private Ayes]

From the penny pamphlet, “The True-Life Adventures of Mssr. J.B.:

Captain J.B. and his squadron of Royal Dragoons were at the Front, defending France against her enemies once again. He was standing with the Marshal de Chef, observing the assault of the Gaul Guardians against the Italian Arquebusiers.

“Colonel BonBon is a most accomplished commander!” the Marshal announced.

“Indeed,” remarked Captain J.B., “I am fortunate to count him amongst my closest friends.”

The two officers watched the regiments close through their telescopes. The crash of muskets was audible in the distance. Captain J.B.’s eye was trained upon the Gaul Guardians regimental colours. Through the smoke of musket fire, the colours waived and fell back.

“Monsieur General,” Captain J.B. announced as he vaulted into the saddle of his horse, “I must to my friend ride!”

Captain J.B. and his bodyguards quickly cover the ground to the Guardians.

“Captain J.B.,” Colonel BonBon acknowledged weakly, a great wound upon his body, “I am mortally struck. Carry my undying love to Mlle. J…” And with those words, Colonel BonBon soul slip this earthly domain.

“I shall avenge you, my friend!” Captain J.B. swore. Wheeling his squadron, Captain J.B. descended upon the fleeing Italians. With pistol and saber, the Royal Dragoons left none alive.

“Your bravery shall be rewarded,” the Marshal de Chef promised.

“The cost of some honors are almost too great to bear,” Captain J.B. replied with a tear in his eye.

[Ymbert Montgomery]

OOC: If whoever is behind the Private Ayes account wants to IM me and let me know you're overdue some bonus SP.

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

If I claim it is me do I get the bonus SP! 😁😉

[Officer's mess waiter]

In an officer’s mess…

Captain 1: so, once more to the fray… I’m going to see Loretta today before leaving

Major: yes, we’re departing for Lorraine In two days

Captain 2: so it’s Lorraine?

Major: yes, things are not going well there and they need reinforcements. Why this worried face? We’ve been in such situation before.

Captain 2: I heard Baron Lagarde is fighting there with his Company…

Captain 1: yes, and so? we’ll have the support of some Royal Guards. That’s good, no?

Captain 2: well, this young baron seems to have been catching Jonah’s fame…

Major: What do you mean?

Captain 2: well, he seems to always be In the worst battles, and in campaigns where losses are heavy.

Captain 1: do you mean he’s not trustworthy? That would be a grave accusation…

Captain 2: no, of course. He’s said to be a valorous and loyal officer, and to care for his men, just he’s catching fame of taking bad luck to the battles he’s in. See, he was in the bloody invasion on Gascony in 1630, in Flanders latter where we had many losses (though it’s said he helped to recover the situation), and now he returns to battle and losses are heavy again. Not his fault probably, after all he only commands a Company, but, as I said, Jonah’s fame…

Major: leave superstition aside. I heard the commanders in those campaigns were quite incompetent, and he cannot be blamed, and the high brass seems to trust him, judging for his mentions and promotions records, and after all, both in Gascony and Flanders situation stabilized in the campaigns you talk about.

Captain 1: and it would not be the first time some malicious rumors about him are heard. I guess at those levels you have enemies that spread them…

Captain 2: you’re both probably right, but if one sees the casualty lists… They are long this time (again)…

Major: forget about it. Even if true, he will not even be in our Brigade. Let’s now rise our glasses for a successful campaign and the glory we will achieve there.

The tree men raised their glasses, though you caould still see a faint worry in Captain 2 eyes…

[Le Petit Oiseau]

First Voice: Madame De Fontenille! What a pleasant surprise!

Second Voice: Dearest Friend! It has been an age since I have seen you. We last met at…

First Voice: The wedding of Sieur Renald! Yes, it was a most splendid ceremony. Baroness Genevieve was positively radiant.

Second Voice. And yourself? Has your young man made any proposals to get you settled?

First Voice: Alas, no. With the enemies upon France’s doorstep and the publication of the regiments participating in the Summer Campaign, he will be engaged at present. But I have great hopes for the Fall!

Second Voice: When he does propose, you must give me the earliest information of it.

First Voice: I shall, but speaking of the Summer Campaign, I have heard of another worthy gentleman who is seeking appointment to Brigade Command.

Second Voice: Indeed?

First Voice: Yes, my gentleman writes of the martial prowess of Sieur Guy D’Avranches. Perhaps the Mashal would consider him if you were to drop his name?

Second Voice: I believe that he might. And now, Dearest Friend, we should attend upon the milliner’s shop. I am in desperate need of a new copotain for the Paris Derby.

[Casual Observer]

At the Regency´s

First Voice: Yes, you could hear Claude rant all along the rooms of the building.

Second Voice: Oh my, he always got excited quickly...

First Voice: He has to report to his Majesty on a daily basis, sometimes even every other hour.

Second Voice: And that gets him excited? He should never have applied as Minister of War anyway if this does set him up that easily.

First Voice: Indeed. The Lorraine situation has gotten worse and worse during the last months and he didn´t do anything about it. All of the territorial gains of the last year are at stake.

Second Voice: Yes. But you cannot hold him accountable for the incompetence of the officers.

First Voice: Why not? If the generals at that front are idiots, he should have put someone else in charge there.

Second Voice: It is not his decision alone.

First Voice: Maybe. But he actually is the Minister of War. And that gives him the ultimate responsibility for the last defeats. If the troops would have been successful, he for sure would have staged a giant parade for his own glory.

Second Voice (sighs): You may be right I guess. On both accounts.

First Voice (to the waiter): Maurice? Two more glasses of this fine Whisky please.

Second Voice: Thank you. But back to Claude. At least he did do the right decision by giving orders that the Third Army should take things over at the Lorraine front.

First Voice: It was overdue if you ask me.

Second Voice: Yes. And now we can see how this new Brigadier is doing.

First Voice: You mean this Avranches-guy?

Second Voice: The same. And it´s Guy d´Avranches.

First Voice (sarcastically): Really... his rise has been a little too steep if you ask me. Only a year ago he had been registered with the Picardy Musketeers. And now Brigadier? Come on...

Second Voice: Some people say he simply has done a good job.

First Voice: I say it was pure luck.

Second Voice (sardonically): Is your disappointment caused by the fact he is from Normandy and not Languedoc?

First Voice (upset): Of course not! it´s just... it´s just I have heard different.

Second Voice: What about a bet?

First Voice: A bet?

Second Voice: I say this Guy d´Avranches will get promoted to Marshal de Camp until the end of the Summer Campaign.

First Voice: Never!

Second Voice: So you are in?

First Voice: Of course! The usual wager?

Second Voice: Fine with me.

First Voice: Agreed. Oh, thank you, Maurice.

Both gentlemen toast to each other.