Sweat was dripping from Alaric’s brow, the cold air did little to change the heat he felt in his muscles, his opponent was standing a couple of feet away from him, one arm tied behind the soldier’s back.

Al stretched his fingers for a moment, gripping his shield tighter and raising his stick. He charged forward shield raised above his head, aiming for the left leg of his opponent, with one swooping motion his target kicked the feet away from under him. The movement had been to quick for him to react to, another failure.

The frozen ground was hard and all too familiar for Alaric, when he hit the ground he tried to get back to his feet but a foot sunk on his chest as he tried to raise.

Train lowered his stick to Al’s throat.

“It seems like you just died again… good idea to change your tactic but you should try to perfect one before you start finding new ways of getting beat every single time you attack.” Alaric, frowned, he had never attacked the same way twice so far, it had seemed logical to try something new if the attempt failed.

“All of you, you have been with us for two weeks now and this Scribe is showing the most promise from all the recruits… I am not sure that’s a good thing.” Silence followed as Train reached down and helped Alaric back up.

The boy stretched for a moment before giving back his stick and shield, this would mark the end of his training and the birth of a new way to win this war. Alaric had spent the last couple of weeks talking to the survivors of Summer’s soldiers and hunters that had joined up with the cause.

According to the people he had spoken to the failure of the enemy soldiers to properly navigate in the forest had been the number one reason the Shock-troops had been so effective.

Blackriver might not be able to compete against Goldhill on an open field but hunters had joined them by the dozens. If they could form small units of soldiers like the Shock-troops to interrupt enemy advances and bleed them before they got past the pass and into Blackriver territory the enemy would have to either deploy more troops or meet them in an environment they were unfamiliar in.

The only things he and Era were lacking now was information about the actual forces of Goldhill and their plans. Information they would not be able to receive until the weather got warmer and the pass cleared again.

He just hoped the Spies left in the city managed to stay hidden, the few reports they had managed to smuggle through to Blackriver before the winter fully hit had been concerning.

A recruit and a mage with questionable methods would not have been his first choice but it seemed as if the purge had stripped them of any true volunteers.

Then there was the whole mess with the stabbing during the training, a spy should stay invisible, hiding in plain sight, always around but never suspected.

One of their spies had butchered an enemy, what exactly the circumstances were was beyond him but Alaric was hoping the spy had her reason.

“Hey, Al, wanna join us for drinks?” Letra asked as he got rid of his sweaty shirt, out of all the scribes his friend was the one who had changed the most. There was more confidence in him now, the once so frail looking kid had changed into something different, his hair was longer now and Alaric noticed a couple of boys watching him changing.

The fact that he still looked like a girl made things awkward for most of the others around him, even if Al had gotten used to it.

“If you keep staring you gonna have to treat me to a drink…” Letra’s voice called him back from his thoughts, he smiled at the boy.

“Sure, drinks on me tonight. Let’s get Era, spirits know she could use the distraction.” A split second something like a frown appeared on Letra’s brow, then it was gone and Alaric wondered if he had imagined it.

The way back to their chambers was without a word between them, Al used the chance to walk through the craftsmen district, the new workshop was getting along nicely, once done the Blacksmith guessed he could employ about twenty workers to help him with spears and axes, blades were rare and required more time and a finesse that was difficult to teach the new workers within a short period of time.

The armoury was well stocked with lance heads and axes, but if the rumours about the mercenary army was true then they would need far more tools to stand even the slightest of chances.

The carpenters had been hard at work, making shields and poles for the spears, still Alaric could not shake the feeling something was missing, something vital for this endeavour to work.

When they finally arrived, Alaric’s mood was on a low there were so many variables, so many things he didn’t know.

“If you are going to be sulking the whole time while we are out drinking I am going by myself Al!” Letra yelled after him before closing his door behind him, Alaric smiled and changed his clothes, there was no use worrying about this now, now was the time to let off some steam.