The selection competition for Eastern Officers had been organised to take place over the course of a week. The first four days were mandatory for every participant, and were essentially an elimination of hand-to-hand combat rounds. With a little over a hundred thousand participants, the square was lively, and first round of competition lasted from dawn on the first day well into the night. The second day was much the same. By the time the fourth day had come to pass, Saorise, Isiah and many of the Eastern nobles had already begun to recommend and select officer materials soldiers.

“They are not what I expected,” Isiah admitted as he watched the fights below.

Saorise raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”

“Sorry,” Isiah mused, “I just…they’re all so precise, so…I struggle to think of another term aside from lethal”.

Saorise smiled, “There is little time for fancy movements when one’s life is on the line. Besides, the Eastern build is far more suited to speed than it is to strength as the Wendolans are”.

“I see that,” Isiah nodded, “You are a gifted people”.

Saorise hesitated before she spoke, “I know you mean it as a compliment, but you must remember that despite our skill, we are not a war mongering people. We would choose peace over war given the option”.

“But you are of Wendolan now,” Isiah spoke as he turned to look at Saorise, “And if given an option, a Wendolan will always choose war. Our King will always choose war”.

It was a warning if ever Saorise heard one. She nodded her head in acknowledgement.

“What of the two other events that have been planned?” asked Isiah, “I heard tell of them, but I admit that in the logistical nightmare this event was I do not consider myself knowledgeable enough in the other events”.

Saorise turned back to watch over the fights below as she explained, “The first event, the Hunting Race, is a day long event. This event is mandatory for everyone who made it to the 8th round and beyond in the hand-to-hand event, and optional for all others. Each participant randomly draws a number, and they are partnered with the participant who holds the same number. The first to draw the number selects whether they wish to be the Hunter or the Hunted in the first round, then they take a numbered cloth that is tied to their waist. Once everyone is paired up, the Hunted must shed all their weapons and aids, leaving only the clothes on their backs, and they are given a fifteen-minute head-start on the Hunting route. The route is a four hour-long trek across the Elsthope Basin. The Hunters are given a bow and a quiver of twenty-four dulled and painted arrows.

“The goal is for the Hunted to reach the finish line on the opposite side before the Hunters catch them. If the Hunters manage to hit their target with a painted arrow, they receive 10 points. If they hit a target that is not theirs, they receive just 2 points. If they manage to hit and incapacitate their prey, carrying or escorting their target over the line, it is 100 points. If the Hunted makes it over the line without being hit, they receive 500 points. Every hit they receive from a Hunter they lose the amount of points the Hunter gains. If they escorted over the finish line, they receive no points”.

Isiah took in all the rules with a frown, “How do you keep track of which hunter has hit which target”.

“If they are hit, the Hunted must carry the offending arrows with them, each arrow has a number engraved on the shaft. If there are not the same amount of arrows at the end that there were at the beginning, the missing arrows turn into points deducted from the pair who owns them. 20 points for each missing arrow,” said Saorise, “But we usually do not have to enforce that rule”.

“They are so honest?”

“If the paint marks on their person do not add up to the arrows they have retrieved, it’s obvious who the culprits are. Not only are they ostracised for their foul play, but they are often targeted by the pair they offended,” said Saorise.

“And the broken shafts?” asked Isiah.

Saorise shrugged, “So long as the part of the arrow that displays the number is in the Hunted’s possession, it is counted”.

Isiah nodded, “And then in the afternoon the pair swaps roles, yes?”

Saorise nodded, “Indeed. The game is not often played on the scale so large, but it is entertaining nonetheless”.

“And the last event?” asked Isiah, “An overnight event, yes?”

Saorise nodded, “We call it Capture the Flag”.

“An often-played event?” asked Isiah.

Saorise smiled, “It is often played between Lords to determine unit strength. The ultimate goal is to retrieve a flag from a pre-determined and guarded location, and return safely. Though, with the scale we will have, it is likely to turn into a battle royale of sorts”.

Isiah’s eyes lit up, “Do tell”.

“The 500 individuals who earn the most points in the hunting event will be eligible to participate. They may select their own teams, five individuals per team,” said Saorise, “They only items they will be given is a fifty-metre rope, a blank map of the game’s area with only the flag’s location marked, a hunting knife each, two bows with 24 arrow quivers, and a choice between a pair of short swords, a long sword and a broadsword. The teams all start in different parts of the map, though their own location is not disclosed to them. They must, before sunset on the second day, have retrieved one of the flags, returned it to their drop-off location, and guarded it successfully. The catch is that there are only 10 flags”.

“10 flags for 100 teams?” asked Isiah, “Are alliances allowed?”

“Of course, but only the team whose territory the flag is in at the end of the time period is declared the winner,” said Saorise.

Isiah looked away thoughtfully, “It sounds like quite the entertaining game, and it tests teamwork, both offensive and defensive skills, strategy and leadership”.

Saorise agreed, “It is a favourite among the lords”.

“I’m sure Peter would find such a game…intriguing,” said Isiah, “Much of the Wendolan Court would”.

Saorise just smiled, “I have no doubt. Perhaps you might propose it to him”.

“Me?” asked Isiah, clearly confused as to why Soarise wouldn’t do so herself.

“I’ll be imposing enough Eastern traditions on the court without suggesting this,” Saorise reasoned, “Better the court hear it from someone they consider to be on their side, no?”

Isiah could not help but smile as he turned away, “Incredible”.

“What is?”

“You have not even set foot on Wendolan soil, and you are already countless steps ahead,” Isiah mused.

Saorise just continued to smile as the cheers rung out for the final winner of the hand-to-hand combat round. She stood with Isiah, applauding the man.

“His name is River Thirmaul, yes?” asked Isiah, “Of common origin?”

“He is,” Saorise continued to clap. He was also, much to Saorise’s amusement, a member of her Shadow Messengers.