The stranger looked carefully at the Dwarf and then at the now growing crowd of gawking villagers eyeing the scene with semi drunken amusement.

“Very well, far be it my master intent to disturb your friendship gentlemen. We withdraw, but instead before we leave let me offer the hospitality of the Manor to any that wish it. My Master has instituted some changes that you may begin to see. There will be no more disrespectful behaviour of any of the soldiers in his employ in your towns and villages no instead we will be offering you our neighbours help and assistance at very fair rates in the future to reflect our common holding of the land. But…” and here the man paused to fix the Steward with an eerie look. “..we will expect more respect than evidently you were used to granting the previous commander of the Manor! One day you may need us and your greeting will be remembered.”

You were one of the last few to drift away as the Justice Moon Soldiers struck their camp-site. The dark skinned stranger stayed away for the most part and allowed the soldiers to do the bulk of the work. So you studied them a little.

Naturally you had seen a few of them over the years come riding through the village at break neck speeds or come swaggering into a village Tavern and demand to be served right away no matter who had been waiting ahead of them. Arrogance was part and parcel of the job you guessed for such as them.

Still looking at them work, so was swift hard labour. In fact seeing as how you had struggled with the set up of more than a few tents just a couple of days before it was marvellous how swiftly they disassembled the heavy cloth tent and stowed it into a surprisingly small set of poles and bundles of cloth.

Interestingly this set of them were a damn slight cleaner than you had noticed before. All of them were clean shaven save one that sported a half beard that just failed to hide a scare on the lower part of his face. But even he was neatly groomed and washed. By heaven they were actually approaching smart? Whomever this “Zathabariaus” was he had wrought some swift changes in his troops. Idly you wondered how much money he had offered the once surly mercenary band to straighten up so far so quickly.