Derek's eyes snapped open, his reflexes kicking in, ready to face down the looming threat before him. But, in a split second, he realized it wasn't just him, everyone was marked by an archer, only Alexander was awake. The familiar garb of an Azma archer, spurned relief to course through him, but his mind was quick to unravel the knots of doubt and confusion that lingered in its wake.
"Nice reflexes, you two," Commander Kanlor observed coolly. "But if it were a real enemy, you'd be dead."
It was only a test, Derek breath a sign of relief.
Kanlor took a deep breath, and his voice boomed across the room. "Wake up!!" he bellowed, rousing Liam, Ivan, and Taven from their slumber in a flurry of panic and confusion.
Liam, his face twisted in terror, cried out, "Oh-my! Oh-my! I'm dead!" His words poured forth in a deluge of woe and despair. "I've never tasted a brown lady!"
A collective gasp of amusement escaped the mouths of all gathered, including the archers, whose expressions softened to reveal the barest hint of a smile.
"It was a test, chubs," Derek said, his relief tinged with a dry amusement.
Commander Kanlor, his eyes steady and grave, ordered, "Dismissed." The archers saluted and departed, their steps swift and silent.
Kanlor turned to face the gathered scouts, his voice hard-edged as flint.
"Who gave you all the okay to relax?" he demanded, his gaze piercing and unwavering. "Who said I was not an enemy? Did you move around to make sure of that? Did you inspect the town?"
Derek, stung by the rebuke, held Kanlor's gaze, unflinching in the face of the commander's ire.
"Congratulations, Squad-leader. You've just lost your team and your life," Kanlor concluded, his voice carrying a grim finality. "Lesson one, trust no one, even your superior is a traitor." He narrows his eyes at Alexander then at Derek.
Derek was not pleased, but there was no mistaking, Kanlor had just passed a message to him and Alexander, one which may come in handy later on.
"Meet me outside town, your training has begun," the commander said, his voice hard as steel. His words left no room for argument or delay, and with that, he departed.
The morning was a crisp, cool blanket draped over the town, a quiet hush falling over the few townspeople who ventured out in the early hours. Teams twenty and fifteen found their way to the bridge with some difficulty, having lost their way twice in the unfamiliar terrain.
Kanlor sighed in mild annoyance at their tardiness. "Come on, lads," he urged, gesturing for them to follow.
Their journey took them east, deeper into the forest, and then into a mix of Ironwood and Oak trees, the contrast of their vibrant leaves painting the forest in an almost unnatural beauty.
Ten axes stood at attention, eager for their wielders to take their mark. Commander Kanlor selected one, hoisting it onto his shoulder with practiced ease. He turned to face his pages, a grin stretching across his features.
"Today, we will be felling some Ironwood," he declared, the words carrying an air of excitement and challenge.
Rave, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, piped up with a note of protest. "Captain said weapons training, not hard labor, Commander sire," he insisted, his voice laced with confidence.
Commander Kanlor, unamused by Rave's objection, let his gaze flicker over the team, his countenance darkened.
Rave, swallowed hard, suddenly aware of his potentially dangerous predicament. He glanced nervously around at his teammates, all of whom had retreated from the Commander's intimidating gaze.
"Who's in charge?" Kanlor asked, his voice a low, dangerous growl.
Rave's voice reduced to a feeble murmur. "You, sir," he managed to croak out, his gaze fixed on the ground at his feet.
Kanlor's mood seemed to shift with Rave's response, his features softening ever so slightly. "Who is more experienced in weapon training and handling?" he questioned, his voice still commanding but with a touch of amusement.
Rave's body rembled with apprehension, "You, sir." He replied meekly.
Commander Kanlor stepped back, assuming his position by the side of one of the Ironwood trees. He gripped the axe in both hands, his right on the handle's midpoint and his left at the base, his stance strong and sure.
"Everyone must be in this position to prevent unwanted situations," he warned, his voice holding a note of caution. With a wide swing, he struck the base of the tree, his size and strength barely putting a dent in the iron-hard wood.
"That was all his strength," Alexander whispered, his voice tinged with concern.
"Then how are we to chop this down?" Derek wondered, a frown marring his brow.
"The team with the highest cut gets to eat steak!" Commander Kanlor declared, his eyes dancing with mirth.
Liam rushed to grab an axe, his eyes glistering with expectations..
"Chill, chubs," Taven said, attempting to temper Liam's enthusiasm.
Liam swiftly snatched up an axe, positioning himself for a mighty swing that would put the Ironwood tree in its place. With a deafening thud, Liam's axe bounced off the tree, flying back towards the scout, its sharp edge glinting with deadly intent.
As though expected, Commander Kanlor swooped in, catching the axe mid-air, his grip firm and assured. "Like I said, unwanted situation," he said, his voice a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation.
Kanlor casually tossed the axe back to Liam, who, relieved to still have all his limbs, grinned sheepishly at the team. As soon as Commander Kanlor left, the group's collective gaze turned to Liam, each face painted with concern.
The air was hot and heavy, pressing down on the sweat-soaked bodies of the scouts as they huddled in the scant shade of the Ironwood tree.
"This is impossible," Holms fumed, the words dripping with exhaustion. "There is no chopping this tree down in five days, let alone one."
"I've had my rest," Liam proclaimed, his gaze fixed on his portion of Ironwood tree. "That steak isn't passing me by," he declared, determination burning in his eyes.
Liam, despite his trembling legs, stood and grabbed his axe.
"Give it up, chubs," Taven warned, his voice laced with concern.
But as Liam began to strike the Ironwood tree with loud grunts, Alexander's interest piqued. He squinted at the strikes, there was no impact, not even a scratch, he thought, as though just noticing it.
Intrigued, Alexander stood, drawing the attention of everyone present.
"What got you so hyped?" Derek sounded skeptical but hopeful, he knew Alexander all too well.
Alexander, meeting Derek's gaze, couldn't help but grin. "What if Commander Kanlor showed us the wrong way?" he suggested.
"For once I agree with Alex," Rave declared. "Commander did try to kill us in our sleep this morning."
Alexander's proposition, combined with Rave's support, ignited a flame of excitement in the others.
With renewed determination, Alexander gripped his axe and assumed the proper stance. His hunch was right. The blade of his axe bit into the Ironwood tree with a satisfying crunch, biting deep into the wood, leaving a clean diagonal cut. The others, struck dumb by this revelation, gaped in awe as Alexander struck again and again, each strike driving the axe deeper into the tree.
And then, with a final, resounding crack, the Ironwood tree fell to the ground, and the team erupted in a victorious cheer.
As Commander Kanlor returned, his face a mask of shock and surprise. Everyone had chopped down their trees, waiting in anticipation. He eyed each member of the team, his gaze finally settling on Alexander. "Alexander had something to do with this," he surmised.
"Definitely!" the team responded in unison.
Kanlor, his face a study in amusement, continued, "As expected, rather, more than expected. Well, congratulations. Steak for everyone."
Mark, swept up in the jubilation, jumped up, shouting, "Yes!"
Everyone, astonished by Mark's outburst, could only stare with amusement.
With a bright smile that betrayed his inner mirth, Commander Kanlor turned his stallion around and called out, "Lesson two - Do not attack your enemy's weapon, your aim should be to put him or her down. Now, haul the trunks back to town."
Everyone glanced at him, even Liam was amazed at his reaction, for everyone knew that was Liam's role.
Groans of dismay and protest greeted Kanlor's order, but the commander was undeterred, giving a chuckle.
The days passed in a blur, the teams busy with their training, learning to ride horses, felling Ironwood trees and hauling them either to town or to the lake, where the Azma soldiers collected them for unknown purposes.
The monotony of their routine was broken, however, by the arrival of Commander Kanlor's family. His wife, Katlyn, a graceful beauty with short brown hair and a kind smile, arrived with their two daughters, Stacy and Elena, both mirroring their mother in complexion and charm, but with their father's eyes.
To look upon the commander's family was a risk that none of the scouts dared to take, knowing full well the fate that awaited them if they so much as met the gaze of his wife or daughters. But even in the shadows of the camp, they could sense the warmth and happiness that radiated from the family, a stark contrast to the harsh discipline of the commander.
And so, the days passed, the training continuing with ruthless efficiency, until a glimmer of reprieve shone through the gloom in the form of a letter from home.
No one dare laid eyes on them, they knew what it meant. They were also allowed to write letters to their families, Derek and Alexander waited for a long while before reply came to them from Victoria, they knew she was furious from how she wrote at the beginning but the care and worry came in at the end. They apologized in their next letter, adding to it how life had being in camp and how things were going now. The next letter from Victoria came with encouraging words and a news of her marriage to Paul, they weren't surprised at all, it was inevitable.