The morning started as usual, with Altai waking up to the sound of Helge's voice shouting at them to get up and start working. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from the previous day's labor. As he got dressed and walked out to the field, his mind was filled with thoughts of Eliot's plan.
He knew it was risky, but it was the only chance they had of escaping their life of slavery. He thought about the soldiers and the army being gathered, and how they could potentially be chosen to join. The idea of fighting in a war was daunting, but it was still better than being a slave for the rest of his life.
Altai spent the whole day working in the fields, his mind occupied with thoughts of their plan. When they finally finished for the day and returned to the barn to sleep, he couldn't help but talk to Eliot again.
"Are you sure this plan will work?" he asked, feeling nervous.
Eliot gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm not sure, but it's worth a try. We have to take a chance if we want to be free."
Altai nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over him. They spent the night planning, discussing every possible scenario and how they would handle it.
The next day, when they went out to the field to work, they kept an eye out for any signs of the soldiers. It wasn't until the afternoon that they finally spotted them, riding on horses toward the mansion.
Altai's heart raced as they approached, and he felt Eliot's hand on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. When the soldiers reached the mansion, they were greeted by Helge, who gave them a short tour of the property. Altai and Eliot waited patiently in the fields, hoping they would be noticed.
Finally, one of the soldiers spotted them and called out. "You two, come here!"
Altai and Eliot exchanged nervous glances before walking over to the soldiers. The soldiers looked them up and down before asking them a few questions about their strength and fighting abilities.
After a few moments of conversation, the soldiers were hesitant and said, "You two aren't the best but you'll have to do. You're coming with us."
Altai and Eliot couldn't believe it. Their plan had actually worked. Helge wasn't happy with it, her two most capable slaves were taken from her but she had no other choice, she was a relative of the Chieftain, so she had to provide men to the army in times of war.
Altai and Eliot were overjoyed, they couldn't believe that they were actually leaving that place. They quickly gathered their belongings, which were only a small bag of clothes each, and followed the soldiers out of the village.
The journey to the army camp was long and tiring. They walked for days, passing through forests, hills, and rivers. Altai and Eliot had never traveled this far before, so they were amazed by the sights they saw. They saw villages that were bigger than their own, castles that were taller than any building they had ever seen, and mountains that seemed to touch the sky.
They had other fellow recruits with them, people from different backgrounds. Slaves, commoners, volunteer veterans...
When they finally arrived at the army camp, they were greeted by hundreds of soldiers. Altai and Eliot felt a mixture of fear and excitement.
The camp was bustling with activity. Soldiers were training, cooking, and repairing equipment. Altai and Eliot were immediately put to work, receiving their weapons and armor, and being assigned to a training squad.
Their armor was as simple as it could be. They were given stout linen cloths and were equipped with wooden shields and axes.
Their training was rigorous and demanding, but Altai and Eliot were determined to make it through. They learned how to set up and break down a camp. They also learned how to take care of their equipment.
As they continued their training, they began to form bonds with their fellow recruits. They shared stories about their past and their hopes for the future. Altai and Eliot found themselves becoming close with a group of veterans who had fought in previous wars. The veterans taught them about strategy and tactics and shared valuable advice on how to survive in battle.
One of these veterans was called Daeren, the Wind.