It was expensive as fuck. But I still allowed myself to hope it would be worth it.
Simply because a capable nation with professional warriors across the whole country wasn't a target to be toyed with.
First recruits bravely stood up and stepped forward, lining up before the scribe who quickly improvised and set up his attendance book on a nearby table, already finished weighing their options.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please forgive me the boldness, may I please have a word -" A young man caught up with me just when I stepped in front of my horse, listening to Isac's complaints once again.
I was surprised by his courage. Many people weren't able to speak up in my presence at all. I had one who peed himself as he tried to read out a letter from his master. This one seemed to be just - in a hurry.
He had probably waited for this moment, rehearsing his words countless times in his head. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness for interrupting, your conversation. It's about - my twin brother, Aurelius," he finally blurted out, his voice tinged with desperation. "He's all I have left since our father passed away last winter, and I fear for his safety if I leave him alone for another two years. Please, allow him to join the training with me I beg of you, Your Majesty."
I glanced behind him at a kneeling figure. It was one of these men I didn't pick for the second round of training. No, there is no way. This one was behind in every single practice, barely able to keep up with the training.
I beckoned him closer and sighed. Not even oversized clothes could hide how weak he was.
He was smaller, thinner, and much weaker in comparison to his twin brother, towering above him nearly by a head.
"Your brother will be allowed to join the palace guards after he is done with his training. But you have to go back home. There is no place for twigs like you in my army, Aurelius." I turned to face the saddle as I intended to hop on the horse not to let Isac wait any longer.
"Aurelia, my lord." That boy said with a weak voice and I froze. It took me a minute but once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it. It was a girl.
Her brown hair was cut short, the clothes she wore hid her lean figure. She was plain and boyish, no wonder it worked.
"It was my idea, I wanted to serve the nation, too. Please forgive my brother, he just wanted to keep me safe." She crumpled on the ground in a humble bow and I fought not to burst out laughing.
"Five -" I had to try so hard to keep a serious face "No. You will spend ten years as my personal maid for the lies you and your brother managed to plot behind my back, or I'll kill him here and now."
I wasn't serious, yet she jumped up and shielded him with her own body, clearly frightened for his life. She was all stiff when I pushed her up to the saddle in front of me.
"I'll get a good use of her, don't you worry," I called behind the poor man, on the brink of tears.
"You are the worst," Isac growled when I couldn't stop giggling, with my left holding the reins and her shoulder in the other hand to keep her from falling from the horse.
She was not as beautiful or clever as Valleria, but she was a woman and it has to be enough.
King's cortege joined us as soon as the training grounds disappeared behind the horizon.