Danel gasped for breath. George had been kicking his ass for several hours and calling it training. George had magically made several spears appear out of thin air and tossed one to him. It had started with some light practice as George showed the different ways to use a spear. Danel had only thought you use it to stab someone but he had been so wrong. George showed how to stab, parry, guard, sweep and throw. The last one required special throwing spears. After that he had proceeded to hammer into Danel any time he made a mistake. He had made many mistakes.

"You are a demon!" he wheezed.

"The exact opposite in fact. Now stop being dramatic and recover yourself."

"What are you talking about?" an edge of anger slipping into Danel's voice.

"The mind-scape follows your rules. You're tired only because you believe it."

"What?! I'm only exhausted because I think I should be?"

"Yes."

Danel wheezed in and out and then took a big gulp off air and slowly let it go. After doing that several times he felt better. Actually, he flexed his arms and legs, he felt pretty great. He did not feel fatigued at all.

"You could have told me about this sooner."

George smiled "Where is the fun in that."

After several real world hours spent in the mind scape he left it for his next meal. When he stood up he felt woozy.

"George," Danel whispered "why do I feel so weak? I just spent a month learning how to use a spear. I should be stronger than this."

"Thats only in the mind-scape. Your real body has just been sleeping on the deck of a moving ship."

"Then what was the point of it!" he hissed.

"Now you know how to use a spear. Don't worry, gaining muscle is easy. Technique is harder."

Danel thought on that. He could become a master of any weapon if given a week of dream-walking, that's what he called it when he is in his mind. He will have to train in the real world as well but that didn't bother him, can't be worse than that angel.

Danel stretched and heard his back pop. He felt well rested. Maybe he can do the dream-walking instead of sleeping.

He walked over to the ships chef as he handed out bowls of gruel again. Not much variety on a ship. 'Did I already say that?' he thinks 'Still true.'

"You alright?" one of the sailors, a small thin Carthaginian, asks.

"Yes, why?"

"You've been sitting at your spot for hours. I don't think you even moved."

"Uh...yes. I was just resting, almost dying really exhausts a man."

"Alright." the sailor nods his head but a doubtful look is still on his face.

Now that the sailor said it Danel noticed some of the other sailors giving him a sideways look. 'Note to self, dream-walk in private.'

Thankfully the captain of the trireme started to shout an announcement.

"Good news lads! The storm only slowed us down a little we will be making landfall in Lilybaeum by midday tomorrow."

A cheer sprung up from the sailors. Being on solid land after a terrible storm sounds very good to a lot of people.

"Now back to work!" the captain shouted. Danel returned to his spot and sat back down. The people on this ship already thought he was odd might as well get some training in while he can.

The next day land was sighted, as the trireme moved closer to land other ships were spotted but thankfully they were not Syracusans but fellow Carthaginians. After a hour a handful turned into a dozen, another hour into two dozen. As a city came into view the ships numbered close to fifty. The ships were an even mix of sleek warships and fat supply ships.

"That's definitely Lilybaeum." It was the sailor that had talked to Danel yesterday.

"How do you know that?"

The sailor pointed north "Do you see that island right there?" Danel nodded "That is Motya, former city of Carthage. It was destroyed about a hundred years ago by Syracuse. Lilybaeum was founded because it was easier to make a new city then rebuild from what was left."

Danel was quiet. He knew that Carthage and Syracuse had been fighting over Sicily for a long time but it is easy to forget that when you live in far off Africa. Here they stare at reminders every day.

"What is your name?" Danel asked.

"Ascus."

"Danel. Tell me about yourself."

Ascus did and Danel learned that the small man had a uncle and older brother die on Syracusan spear tips, that he had basically lived on a ship since he was twelve and that he hoped to steal a ship from the enemy so he could have his own and become a merchant. Ascus is good people.

The warships headed north to beach themselves on the coast while the supply ships made their way to the docks. Triremes crowded the port, every single one of them wanted to unload their passengers and supplies. Danel was stuck and all he could do was watch the chaos. It was more entertaining watching the soldiers to the north as they swarmed the beach like ants.

Hours later Danel finally left the trireme and stood on the harbor of Lilybaeum, the center of Carthaginian power in Sicily. The port was bustling with people. Many army ships were disgorging supplies guarded by soldiers so the streets were crowded with well armed men.

Danel waved goodbye to the ship, only Ascus waved back, as he dived into the city. Like all big cities this one smelled like shit, literally. A proper sewage system was not built and the draft animals left piles of dung everywhere. Merchants hawked their wares and he spied some dockside whores plying their trade. They were pox scared and missing several teeth and very aggressive. Danel kept a firm hand on his money pouch and made his way to find an arms merchant.

A few streets away from the harbor he found one. It was not a wealthy shop judging by how rundown it is but that is fine, he wasn't wealthy either.

"What can I do for you." the merchant said. He was not a young man, he had dark leathery skin and a bushy grey beard but the armed man standing behind him was intimidating enough for the both of them. A son judging by appearance.

"A spear, shield, and helmet." that's all Danel could afford.

The old man waved towards his son who ducked down and produced what Danel asked for. George appeared at Danel's shoulder and inspected them "A good six feet long spear with a sharp tip, minimal rust, a dented aspis shield and a corinthian helmet, no plume. A good starting set."

"How much?" Danel asked.

The merchant quoted a number.

"That's robbery!" Danel made counter offers and pointed out imperfections in the products, even made up ones.

The leathery merchant and Danel haggled for a good ten minutes before they settled on a price they could both agree too. Danel left the shop penniless but with a whetstone to keep his spear sharp and old leather armor that the old man claimed he wore when he was young but Danel doubted that. All in all he believed he came out of it better than he should have.

Danel left Lilybaeum and made his way to the army camp forming to the north of the city. Time to rejoin the army.