it, to see the lack of experience, was unsettling.
Tolan shook his head, and then looked back up at them. One lifted his hand in the back. “You.”
Pim turned his head to see Jun with his hand raised. “I once fought a tusked Trow. Ran it off from my father’s farm.”
Tolan paused for a moment. “Alright… that’s better than nothing. Did you use a sword or an axe?”
“A garden hoe… and… the Trow was half-starved…”
“Uh-huh.” Tolan was unimpressed. “Well, good improvisation with your, ah… garden hoe.”
The Wiverings laughed.
“Alright!” Tolan glowered at them. “This is not a laughing matter. We don’t have time for this… people are going to die. Your friends, your loved ones, you! We are in great danger, and these creatures show no mercy. They mean to destroy us all.”
Pim eyed Ono, who held back a grin. Silence swallowed the grounds. Everyone stood at awkward attention. Tolan whistled, and a group of Cardoon soldiers exited the barracks. They joined Tolan’s side, Geyess with them.
“Training begins now,” Tolan said.
“This is who we’re training?” One of the soldiers said.
“What of it?” Tolan asked.
“They all look so… delicate. I would hate to muddy their fair skin.”
The men laughed, grunting and slapping each other on the backs.
Pim’s heartbeat thumped, and his adrenaline surged. He ran from his friends and launched his fleet. In the blink of an eye, he raced past the Cardoon soldiers to the one who’d made fun. Pim unsheathed the soldier’s sword, and before the man could flinch, he drew it to his throat.
The soldier’s eyes widened, and he raised both his hands. “I yield,” he said.
Tolan turned, sliding up behind Pim, and swept his legs out from under him. “Very nicely done, young one,” Tolan said. “But one must be aware of all of his surroundings. There are many enemies in all directions. Performing tricks on one target will get you killed.” He put out his hand out to Pim. The young Wivering took and it and pulled himself up. He felt the blood rush to his face. There was nothing worse than being embarrassed in front of his friends. “You are with me,” Tolan said. “The rest of you, find a partner. Let us begin.”
###
Pim and Tolan faced each other with swords. The young man noticed Tolan was wearing his best armor, decorated with many runes, glittering jewels, and tinted plates. His knee and elbow joints were crowned with spikes; his gauntlets were studded with bolts.
“Sword fighting is like a dance,” Tolan said to him. “You must make eye contact, anticipate the enemy’s move, parry and defend, lunge and swing all to gain an advantage, and move in for the kill.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
“Excuse me, young Wivering. Why don’t you show me your skills?”
“You’ve experienced only a fraction of them.”
“Your fleet is indeed astounding, but without being able to fight and defend, you will be using it for escape. Your disarming trick is good, but once revealed, is all too predictable. You need to have many more moves in your arsenal to keep your foe off his feet.”
“Like I said, you have only seen a fraction.” Pim lunged for him.
Tolan side-stepped him, and Pim crashed to the ground, landing on his face. “Too headstrong,” Tolan called.
Pim grunted, jumped to his feet, and gritted his teeth. He ran toward Tolan again, swinging his sword like mad.
The two clashed, blade against blade, until Tolan pushed him back and swung his sword hard. Pim ducked the blow and laughed. He never saw the kick coming.
He went down hard again, tasting dirt in his mouth. He spit and cursed.
“Swords are not the only weapons,” Tolan warned.
The young Wivering screamed and threw himself at Tolan, unleashing his fleet.
A shimmering blur shot at the soldier. Pim caught the warrior’s eyes in his sights, and took his sword in both hands, heading directly for him. His heart pounded in his chest. His feet burned. His eyes tingled, but the feeling ceased at the last moment before impact.
Tolan anticipated using Pim’s momentum against him. Pim watched the warrior crouch low, dropping his sword, and lashing out with both fists. It was too late for Pim to change his direction. Tolan caught him in the ribs, and threw him into the air.
Pim landed in a water trough, used for washing by training soldiers. He huffed and puffed, soaked and exhausted, as soiled water ran down his face. His sword sank to the bottom of the basin. Tolan walked up to him, laughed, and extended his hand.
Pim took