The Champion did not move once the order was given. His spear was grounded by his feet and he held it negligently in one hand. He glanced around as Lupa, Trintor and Killip started to spread out and surround him.

“Well look at you showing some basic tactical knowledge.” Aketeon called out. “Bravo all of you. The last time I did this they all rushed me at once and it was over within seconds. You four have already lasted longer than they did. Congratulations on not being the worst people I have ever fought. But, enough talk. It looks as if you’re all ready, so, let’s play, shall we?”

At that, from a standing start, Aketeon leapt high, unnaturally high into the air to launch himself towards Trintor. Niall started to sprint towards them and saw both Killip and Lupa do the same but he feared he would be too late to affect the outcome.

Instead of his spear and shield Trintor had chosen to carry two short swords. Even before Aketeon had landed Trintor had launched into an attack, one sword slashing at the champion’s midriff while the other cut low towards his knee. However, Aketeon had not stayed still while he was in the air. He had swung his spear around until it lay diagonally across his body, as he landed, he spun the spear so that the shaft caught both of Trintor’s swords in a single motion. The swords flew out of Trintor’s hand’s and he fell backwards. Aketeon had not finished though and the spear continued to twist in the air until Aketeon plunged it deep into Trintor’s stomach the pulled it out with a jerk.

As blood started to bubble out of Trintor’s mouth the Healers rushed over to him, but Aketeon had already dismissed his first opponent and turned towards the others. The whole exchange had taken a brief moment and Niall had taken it in, even as he ran towards the Champion. The three remaining Patrol Leaders paused as they reached Aketeon.

He grinned at them. “One down, three to go. Who would like to play next?”

“Close in,” Niall called out. “Don’t let him pick us off one by one.”

Aketeon’s grin grew wider. “Oh, look at the little man trying to play the big man. Listen to the boy the rest of you, that’s excellent advice. Sophisticated. Unexpected.” He paused and turned his grin into a fake frown. “Wait a minute, no it’s not, it’s conventional and boring, for that, I will dispose of you next.”

He crouched down and started to run towards Niall. Niall could not believe how quick he was. Despite wearing armour and carrying his weapons Aketeon accelerated at a superhuman pace, blurring towards Niall. All Niall could think to do in the fraction of a second before the Champion was upon him was to crouch behind his shield. He braced himself for an impact but nothing happened. Before he could peek up a shadow fell over him and he looked up to see Aketeon blocking out the sun. “Boo!” Aketeon said.

Niall spun to one side and stabbed out with his spear. Despite the speed and accuracy of the strike Aketeon dodged it without difficulty. Not only that, but he flung his own spear towards Lupa who was charging towards him. The spear ripped Lupa’s shield apart and pinned her to the ground. Niall could not pay her any attention as Aketeon drew his sword and stepped towards him.

Without quite knowing why, Niall moved his shield to his left. His intuition paid off as Aketeon’s sword tore through the shield like it was butter. Niall dropped the, now useless, shield and crouched ready to attack with his spear. He saw a flicker of movement behind Aketeon and launched an attack towards the Champion’s feet in the hope that he could distract Aketeon.

The hope was in vain. Aketeon swung his sword in a wide sweep that chopped the head from Niall spear. Niall could not stop his own momentum as he fell to the ground thrusting out with the headless shaft of the spear. He briefly felt some resistance before he collapsed into the dirt.

Aketeon ignored him as he continued the swing of his sword. He spun around and his sword sliced through Killip’s shield and cut deep into his leg. As Killip fell screaming to the ground Aketeon continued to spin to face Niall once more. Blood flecks flew from the Champion’s blade as he did so.

In what felt like a bitter twist, Niall realised he had sufficient Perception to spot the blow that was aimed as a killing blow toward his head, but not sufficient Agility to dodge or block it in time. Involuntarily he shut his eyes in anticipation of the blow.

It never came. Instead, a thunderous clang rang out across the training field. Niall opened his eyes to see Lieutenant Bligh standing over him her muscles straining as she blocked Aketeon’s blow with her longsword held in both hands.

“What are you doing Lieutenant?” Aketeon said through gritted teeth. He pushed his blade harder against the Lieutenant’s but, somehow, she held firm.

“The training bout is over, Champion Aketeon. You have lost.” Lieutenant Bligh said.

Aketeon straightened and started to laugh. He gestured with his bloody sword to the injured bodies of the Patrol Leaders scattered around the training field receiving treatment from the Healers. “This does not look like I have lost.”

Lieutenant Bligh straightened in turn. “The criteria was first blood. Patrol Leader Vendra got to you first.”

Niall looked down at the shattered end of his spear, it was coated in red. A look of disbelief on his face, Aketeon reached down to his calf. As his hand came back up it was stained with blood. The look of disbelief turned to fury.

“This scum caught me with a lucky blow. It doesn’t count.” Aketeon took a step forward. “Get to your feet, militia boy. We will finish this like warriors.”

“It is already finished Champion,” Lieutenant Bligh said stepping between him and Niall. “A lucky blow, as you say, but a blow that drew blood.”

Aketeon took another step forward then looked around at the onlooking Militia Company as Lieutenant Bligh did not back away. He let out a guttural yell, before turning and stalking away.

“Well, what excitement.” Niall got to his feet to see Lord Chandris approaching still with a goblet in his hand. “I’m pretty sure that was not how this particular scene was meant to play out. Fun though, wasn’t it? Aren’t you glad I had you join this militia cohort young Apprentice Blacksmith? Right, no more time to play. Carry on with the good work all of you.”

As Lord Chandris left Niall turned as there was another scream of pain. Killip was still writhing on the ground. The two Healers were still busy with Lupa and Trintor, and while a couple of the other militia were kneeling next to Killip it was clear they did not have the ability to Heal him.

Niall ran over and started to flood Killip’s body with Healing Spirit. The flow of blood from the wound slowed but Niall knew he could not Heal it himself without help, all he could do was to stop it getting worse. He dropped into a state of Flow and was aware of nothing except the process of pulling in and pushing out his Spirit. Every drop he had was needed just to keep Killip alive.

He looked up as he felt another, much stronger, Healing Spirit start to pulse alongside him. A man in a Healer’s uniform smiled at him. “You’ve done a good job. In fact, you’ve saved his life. I can take over from here.”

Niall stood up and realised another team of Healers had arrived, along with stretcher bearers to take the three injured Patrol Leaders away. Looking around he realised that it had only been a few minutes. The rest of the 3rd Militia Regiment was still clustered around the training field. While the Lieutenant and the rest of the staff still stood guard.

As the loaded stretchers were carried away, Lieutenant Bligh turned to Niall. “You were lucky, not smart, Patrol Leader. That’s not how you keep your people alive against a superior enemy. I’ve taught you better than that. Do you have anything to say?”

Niall looked down at his blood-stained hands. The thought of surrendering had not even crossed his mind. When had he changed from the person that would have happily surrendered to Killip on his first day? Eventually he replied. “I don’t like bullies.”

Lieutenant Bligh shook her head in disbelief. “You don’t like bullies. Extraordinary. For that idiocy you can run laps for the rest of this training session to think about what should have done.” She paused. “But lucky and alive is better than smart and dead. Now start running.”

***

After that incident, life continued as before for another week. After a couple of days in the infirmary Lupa, Trintor and Killip were back. The skills of the army Healers were not exaggerated and none of them showed any long-term effects from the battle. In that week the talk amongst the Militia was all about what they would do when they got home. Niall started to feel ever more confident they would not see any of the actual war, there was barely any time left before they would have to return to Camp Sedrun.

Then, one morning an hour before dawn, Niall jerked awake to a shout from Sergeant Strang. “Patrol leaders meet at the Lieutenant’s tent now. Militia Regiment assemble on the parade ground. Ten minutes. Battle array and overnight pack only.”

Bleary eyed, Niall emerged from his tent pulling the straps on his armour tight. The other Patrol Leaders were also appearing. Niall looked over at Trintor who just shrugged at him. Within a couple of minutes, all of them were assembled in the Lieutenant’s tent. Her living quarters were larger than the ordinary militia with room for a desk and chest as well as her cot, while still leaving space for all of the Patrol Leaders to crowd in. The space was lit by a candle that flickered with the wind that gusted in as each Patrol Leader entered.

Bligh was sat at her desk when they arrived with the Sergeant and Corporals behind her. She looked at the Patrol Leaders arrayed before her for a moment then started to speak. “I have received confirmation that the long-anticipated push against the Bulvine will be begin shortly. We will be part of that attack. More details closer to the time. You have thirty minutes to brief your patrol and get them ready. It will be a fast, hard march to get there. I will see you back here then. Dismissed”

Niall headed out with the other Patrol Leaders and headed back to his tent. His patrol was lined up waiting for him when he arrived. Huff looked at him as he approached. “It’s on, isn’t it.”

Niall nodded. “We’re going into battle. We leave in thirty minutes. I don’t know much but I’ll tell you what I know”

Niall took a few minutes to pass on what little the Lieutenant had shared with him and pick up their rations. Then he led his patrol to their allocated mess tent to grab a quick breakfast. If nothing else, the months of training had taught him to eat when he could. As he passed through the camp, he could feel the crackle of energy as the soldiers prepared for war. Torches were planted in the ground illuminating the camp and all around them people were making their last preparations. As they passed the stables, they saw the grooms fixing heavy barding to the patient warhorses. Archers checked their bow strings and ensured they had sufficient arrows in their quivers. Everywhere, soldiers checked their armour and sharpened their already razor sharp blades. Niall could almost taste the brittle nature of the jokes many were forced themselves to crack.

The mess tent was busy but with an unusual lack of noise when they entered. The army chefs quickly and efficiently passing out large bowls of creamy porridge and bacon rolls to everyone that passed. It was not easy to force a meal down but Niall managed it while cajoling his patrol until they did the same. Eating did not take long and all too quickly they were back at their camp ground. Niall checked his patrol members’ kit and weapons one last time then had Tierra do the same for him. They then stood with the rest of the Militia company and waited.

Precisely thirty minutes after she had met with the Patrol Leaders Lieutenant Bligh emerged from her tent and nodded at Sergeant Strang who gave the order to leave. In short order the Militia Regiment had left the camp.

The Lieutenant was right when she had said it would be a hard fast march. In the centre of a line of Gwillish soldiers the Militia company marched for three days. Niall realised that, despite all of the patrolling he had done, this was not a landscape that he recognised. He mentioned this to Lupa when they were allowed a brief break.

She snorted. “Of course you don’t. You think they would have allowed us to patrol in the direction where they knew there was a lot of the enemy? Are you crazy? They gave us the safe Patrols. The ones in this direction have been dealing with skirmishes almost every time that they came out. I know you made contact with the enemy, but you were unlucky.”

The countryside became steadily less green and rockier as they marched. The army would start to move before dawn and stop only when the dark meant the risk of broken ankles was too high. The only fires that were allowed were carefully controlled to avoid smoke and flames being detected in pits dug by the camp chefs. They would provide a bowl of hot soup every evening before the fires were smothered.

On the fourth day the march was called to a halt late in the afternoon. That evening, the Lieutenant Bligh called the Patrol Leaders over to her. Once they had assembled, she launched in without preamble

“As you may have surmised, the attack will take place at dawn tomorrow. As expected, we will be in the reserve, under the command of Major Lukan ready to be deployed should we be needed. The plan is to use overwhelming force in order to strike a swift and decisive blow.

“We will be massing our forces with a view to taking out the entirety of the Bulvine 3rd Army. To that end the Gwilish 2nd army is here with addition support from the 4th and 9th Kings Own Heavy Cavalry Divisions and the 1st, 4th and 7th Lowland Light Cavalry. In addition, of course, we have the Champions and the Sage.

“Our Scouts and Rangers have done a good job of keeping the Bulvine Scouts away so they only have a broad sense of our numbers. However, an army this size is not easy to disguise and the Bulvine are not stupid. They know we are coming. We are assuming that there may be Bulvine reserves we are not aware of. Therefore, the Champions and the Sage will not be the point of spear this time.”

“Brief your Patrols and get what sleep you can. We assemble two hours before dawn.”