If the previous fortnight spent staring out of the window while the four lords grieved was an awkward trip, then reaching the corn fields, surrounding village and city walls under the rising sun was an extraordinary end and the trip was worthwhile.

“What is the name of this city?” Rabbit couldn’t help but ask.

“This is the capital of the west, Fieldon.”

Riding the carriage along with the other travellers who were entering Fieldon that morning morning, Rabbit watched as The Great Drawbridge lowered for the first time that day, revealing a marketplace packed with people. These people traded with merchants who had their wares set in front of large three story buildings.

Rabbit noted that most of the commoners looked either muddy or covered in dust, likely from a hard day’s work. These people are living in normalcy, neither rich nor poor, neither scientist nor experiment. The commoners represented the lives of the guards to Rabbit. The guards lived in the barracks back home, ate by the fire with their families, and had been able to search out a trade in their life. As the carriage strolled through the marketplace, Rabbit wondered if he could ever join the ranks of the middle class.

Eventually, Rabbit noticed that they moved away from the crowd and towards an extravagant mansion with a fenced off yard. The lords began to lively up themselves in the thriving city.

“Ah, we have to give this poor soul to General Marker.”

“He’ll soon know what it means to live with a woman who always hits her mark.” A chuckle rose throughout the carriage.

They rode up the driveway of the mansion, past the green grass and decorative trees, and stopped at the entrance porch where guards were posted along the left and right hand sides of the steps. A woman in a general’s uniform covered in emblems and badges and with a sword at her side waited front and center of the double doors.

One of the lords got out of the carriage and marched up to meet the general while the other lords directed Rabbit out of the carriage and towards woman at the top of the steps.

The lord bowed down below the great breasts hidden within the general’s grey uniform and while still bowed said, “General Mark, we’ve brought the new recruit as directed.” The lord directed his hand towards Rabbit and continued, “He stands there, the were-rabbit who retained his sanity.”

“Dismissed,” General Marker said clearly and sternly.

“Of course, General,” The lord rushed down the steps and into the carriage that immediately departed and, following, General Marker stepped down the steps.

When Marker reached the place where Rabbit stood she stared Rabbit in the eye. Rabbit nervously glanced away, catching now the beautiful scent of flowers arranged in the garden below the mansion’s windows.

The general smirked and prodded Rabbit’s arms and legs with her index finger. “It seems like you’ll need some strength training.” She said, “Follow me and we’ll see what else needs to be added to your program.”

Mark led Rabbit up the stairs and into the mansion. The first room looked like a throne room, a large rectangular room with white circles painted on the floor and armor and weapon racks near the walls and two guards posted at the doorway on the opposite side. Marker and Rabbit walked past the throne at the far end of the room and through a secret door, they entered a room identical to the first, and past that room was a third room identical to the first. Past the third room they entered the outside garden.

High walls made sure nobody could see in or out, wooden dummies lined the back porch, and tiles of perfectly carved stones constituted the ground for the garden. Finally, Rabbit realized that these were training grounds. The entire bottom half of the mansion was space for fighting. Rabbit had gotten himself into a warzone, though he wondered if all guards were trained here and almost felt better.

Marker unsheathed a training sword from the wall and tossed it just in front of Rabbit’s feet, “You will pick up the sword and attack me.” She said.

Rabbit studied her tall stature, her confidence, and her short manly hair. This request would surely result in physical pain.

“Now! or I’ll attack while you’re unarmed.” Marker withdrew another training sword from the wall and held it at the ready.

With a nod, Rabbit bent down and picked up the sword, standing in a low stance. Rabbit had never held a sword before and simply did what felt right.

Marker approached Rabbit steadily with her weapon held low, by her hip. Once she was close enough she struck, slamming her training sword into the left abdomen of Rabbit with an impact that made an audible wham.

Rabbit coughed and heeled over onto the ground. He had never been hit so hard before.