For three ga’os among the K’houko Tribe, the trio dwelt and gradually grew accustomed to the ways of its gentle and friendly people. Yet that season of ease did not last long.

  Agud’Aga Voznugaid summoned them to the Kocurang Steppe, for Lyndorin had sent word that the three henans were ready to join the Warhost. They were overjoyed, at least until they presented themselves before agud’A Skichip.

  ‘Agud’Aga has entrusted me with the charge of training the three of you,’ Skichip said dryly. ‘You will submit to my discipline. There shall be no exceptions. For a time, you will be set apart. In your present strength, you would not be able to keep pace with the others. Fix your minds upon your training. See that none of you lose heart before you set foot upon the battlefield, or perish before ever facing the enemy host.’

  “Hmph. Isn’t that laying it on rather thick, old man?” Hudyn muttered. “I’m not afraid of your scare tactics. Look at that face of yours, stiff as a stone, as if you—”

  He broke off when Skichip’s cold, piercing gaze fixed squarely upon him.

  “If you’re going to speak ill of someone, at least keep your voice down,” Katuo whispered, giving Hudyn’s arm a small nudge.

  “Lower it or not, they can hear you all the same,” said Ramii. “Have you not seen their ears? Two times the size of ours, if not three.”

  Only later did the three come to understand that Skichip had not spoken idly. Under his hand they were driven without mercy, until breath and strength alike were nearly spent.

  In the early stages, he made them haul long logs and push great stones along a wide circuit. At times he sent them into the forest, where they were forced to climb to the crowns of towering ancient trees. At other times, their training took place along the great river: they had to swim against the current or dive to the riverbed to bring up weighty stones. Every seven blue-ga’as, they were also required to trek up steep, treacherous mountains to help the ownan herd the p’mopo.

  Whenever one of them collapsed from exhaustion, fell from a great height, or sank into the river, the warriors assigned to watch over them were always there in time to pull them back from death.

  ~~~

  The trio trained under Skichip’s guidance in this fashion for the span of a full ga’onax. Not once did he so much as speak of the arts of orO’ or orokO’.

  Among the three, Hudyn remained the most diligent. The bruise at the center of his face had long since faded, yet the wound in his heart had not. He treated it as fuel for his training. His habit of heedless speech had also lessened compared to before—though, in truth, only when Drill Master Skichip was present.

  Hudyn darted his eyes about as the three of them strained together, shoving heavy stones across the ground. Under his breath, he muttered,

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Where in blazes is old Skichip, anyway? It’s been ages, and he’s still keeping those miracle tricks under wraps. I once saw an Ogos call forth a beast ten times bigger than these rocks. I swear, I nearly cried from sheer self-pity just watching it.”

  Ramii reached out and rubbed Hudyn’s sweat-soaked hair. “So you feel sorry for yourself because you still can’t get your personal revenge?”

  “Hmph. Like you’ve ever taken a stroll through my guts,” Hudyn grumbled. “Worry about yourself. Half the time I slow down just waiting for you to catch up so we can talk. Otherwise, I’d have pushed twice as many stones already. I’ve been lumped in more times than I can count just for waiting on you. Honestly, the thing I dread most is hauling back piles of p’mopos’ stinking dung from the mountains to fertilize the fields.”

  “It only smells a bit strong. It’s not that bad. Share the good, share the bad, right?” Ramii laughed loudly. “Those punishments of his are vicious, no kidding. All the same, Master does teach us the staff and whip inside out.”

  “Hmph. That’s what’s been bothering me,” Hudyn grumbled. “He keeps making me grind through those dull drills day after day. When we finally hit the battlefield, I won’t even know how to fight him—no, I mean fight the Goyk. The only days I’ve truly enjoyed were the ones spent riding the g’loor.”

  “Aye, I’m crazy about flying and weaving through the woods too. Katuo is the same. But when it comes to staff and whip, you and I are still no match for the Aguds, let alone agud’A Skichip. He said that if we finish moving all these stones, he’ll teach us how to ride k’lax. Just picture it. Galloping across the plains atop that beast. It would be pure bliss.”

  “I favor Master Voznugaid’s white beast. Every time drops out of the heavens,” Hudyn gave a low whistle, “its mane flares wide. Looks like a war god. Skichip’s green one’s got some presence, I’ll grant that. But it doesn’t hold a candle.”

  Ramii and Hudyn kept prattling on about beasts until they gradually caught up to Katuo. It wasn’t that she was faster, for by the time they had gone three rounds, she had scarcely finished one.

  “I… I can’t… take this anymore…” she panted.

  Hudyn stopped and looked her over, shaking his head. “You’re just about done for. That rock’s even bigger than you, twig.”

  “You look like you’ve only got half a life left,” Ramii said with concern. “Go back to your p’mopo and rest. Hudyn and I will take it from here.”

  “I can’t,” Katuo said between breaths. “If Drill Master finds out, he’ll punish me. He’ll probably make me push even more rocks. I’ll just rest a little, then keep going.”

  “That old man really is a tyrant!” Hudyn fumed. “He won’t even spare a girl—well, not exactly a girly girl, I suppose…” He hesitated for a moment. “Still! That gives him no right to treat you like a man. I ought to go see him and get you some justice!”

  “Come on, don’t do that,” Katuo said. “Master Skichip thinks I’m too weak, so he makes me train more.”

  “You really are spoiled straw!” Hudyn barked. “Does that even make sense? If you’re weak, then he ought to ease up on you, not pile it on. You can be weak in strength if you must, but you can’t be spineless. You and I should be speaking reason to that old man.”

  “Easy, easy,” Ramii grinned. “Leave the talking with the Drill Master to me. You just focus on training until you’re strong enough to match him. Then you can talk. By then, your words will carry more weight.”

  “Hah, there’s sense in that! Just you two wait and see. One day, I’ll challenge Skichip and beat him!” Hudyn declared.

  No sooner had Hudyn spoken than a sudden gust of wind swept down from above. He looked up and flinched. Skichip had returned without a sound. Astride a green beast with powerful wings, the agud’A called out:

  ‘OaaRagun ~ Oawgi Tiknahah has summoned the henan. Come and present yourselves before the Master!’

  ~~~