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AARYN

Aaryn and Tarkyn watched silently as the seven Anima circled the field several times, then jogged into the center of the field, led by Tobe. The Equine directed then in a series of lunges and stretches, instructing the disformed when they lacked technique. Aaryn was glad to see the females all taking instruction and adjusting their stances or position of their arms, until Tobe nodded.

Hholdyn was still scowling, but appeared to have the best technique of the lot—or Tobe had simply decided not to press him. Either way, they all got through the exercises without mishap, then Tobe indicated they should get into a circle to begin the testing.

He pulled a blindfold from his back pocket and placed it over his own eyes, tying it in the back as he explained the purpose of the exercise—to use other senses to identify and block attacks from the other participants.

Aaryn watched with approval as Tobe demonstrated for a long minute, how the exercise would work—and proved very adept.

Unsurprisingly, when he asked for a volunteer to go next, Raichyl stepped forward and submitted to being blindfolded.

Aaryn smiled.

"She's bold, that one," Tarkyn said quietly enough that those in the center of the field wouldn't hear him.

Aaryn shook his head without looking away from his people. "Not bold, just willing," he said, equally quietly. And since Tarkyn had broken the silence, "Thank you for not questioning that the females were here when we arrived," he finished sincerely. "I expected more… pushback."

From the corner of his eye he saw Tarkyn turn to frown at him. "I have no issue with females," he said, an edge of anger in his voice. "I'll train anyone who has the spirit of the warrior. I've trained many females."

Aaryn's brows slid high. "I haven't seen them in the guards."

"Generally the females that have come to me either want the training for their own protection, of they have been especially skilled for specific roles. They aren't used to guard the royals or as sentries, but only because they have more valuable skills."

Aaryn never looked away from those in the field, but he hoped Tarkyn could sense his skepticism. "I don't remember any invitation to the young females to train," he pointed out.

Every year, the Alphas and Leaders of different aspects of Anima society spoke with that year's batch of adolescents who were looking to begin training or education in a field outside their own family or tribe. Aaryn had been at several—first when he was old enough himself, then alongside Elreth who often attended with her father, even after she was old enough to be in training herself.

"I've never restricted my call to the young," Tarkyn muttered. "But females rarely ask about becoming guards, or show interest in our training. I take any who do, that show the talent."

Aaryn remained skeptical, but didn't say anything. Tarkyn had accepted his females without protest. Right now, that's all that mattered.

They watched as Raichyl had her turn in the circle, then Despyna stepped forward and, once the blindfold was in place, took the defensive stance. Aaryn smiled. She was a spitfire. The males that tried to grab her would be in for a surprise.

Sure enough, a few moments later, Wylfgar clasped her wrist, intending to pull her into his chest to pin her with his greater strength.

But he soon found himself on his ass in the grass, the other participants laughing—including Tobe.

Tarkyn smiled and nodded his approval. "She's quick. We can use her. You said they've been waiting to prove themselves?"

"Yes," Aaryn replied with a certain amount of smug satisfaction.

"Why didn't you ever approach me? You've never asked for them to have a chance to train, or be evaluated before."

"They're all well past the adolescent training and disformed I assumed they wouldn't be welcomed."

Tarkyn was quiet for a moment, his arms folded over his broad chest. His eyes didn't move, but remained fixed, staring straight ahead. "You'll learn in time, Aaryn, that the world doesn't hand anyone anything. I know the disformed have been hurt and face prejudice. I speak against it whenever I see it in my sphere. But if they—you—expect to be accepted, you must stop retreating from the tribes. Not every gap in your lives is a result of the prejudice."

Aaryn wanted to bite the male, but he took a deep breath and kept his voice calm. "True," he said. "But being rejected on any level for something you cannot control hurts anyone. You can't blame them for being hesitant to put themselves out there when they've been hurt often."

"Agreed," Tarkyn said quietly. "But you also cannot be angry for prejudice that has not yet occurred. Don't let the villains of the past make you see threats where they do not tread."

Aaryn shifted his weight. The male spoke as if he knew prejudice when he was one of the most powerful, well-respected, and accomplished Anima in the WildWood. Did he really think he understood what life was like for a disformed?

Before he could ask, Tarkyn spoke again. "Do not fear. If they are as strong as you say, they'll be embraced, disformed or not. We will not only train them, we'll use them."

Aaryn took another deep breath—this time with relief. "That's good to hear."

Tarkyn chuckled. "Don't celebrate too quickly. They may curse you if I take them on. Your people are skilled, it's true. And they appear to show the heart for this work. But they lack discipline." He nodded at Hholdyn who was now in the center of the circle and flailing at every sound. He not only looked ridiculous. It was obvious Tobe and Khylan had confused him by approaching from his front and back at the same time, and he froze—just as Khylan hooked his ankle and took him down.

Aaryn winced.

But Tarkyn just laughed again. "Don't worry," he chuckled.. "I'll remind them who got them into this mess, every chance I get."