Another tour of duty is over.

Months spent in uncomfortable accommodation on a bleak mountainside, 
with terrible food and even worse weather. This time they never so much 
as saw a zughru; the three fatalities suffered by Kanon's unit were all 
accidents; Arlu Harrish missed his footing on patrol, falling down a 
crevasse and breaking his neck.  Daleth d'n Havaluis' flamelance 
exploded in his face during target practice, giving him terrible burns, 
from which he died two painful weeks later.  And Vorluis d'n Tureyn was 
crushed to death when the wagon he was riding in overturned on a steep 
mountain 'road'.

So it's back to the city, with decent beds, good food, and good taverns.

As soon as they're officially off-duty, Kanon is swept along with the 
rest of his patrol to the usual watering hole for off-duty Legionnaires. 
  The Six Diamonds, just round the corner from the barracks.

They're not the only Legionnaires there, of course.  Quite a few of 
those based in the city assigned to patrolling the roads are already 
installed in one corner of the bar.  Among them is the drill instructor 
known universally as "Boots".

Boots is universally hated by new recruits on the drill field.  They 
tend to change their view of him once they've survived a tour of duty in 
  a combat zone.

"The wanderers return", Boots says when he spies Kanon's group entering. 
  "Since I bet you haven't been paid yet, the first drinks on me.  But 
don't overdo it.  You might well be called on duty tomorrow; a lot's 
been happening in the city!".