Galen stood in a large room inside the Fortress. There were small, narrow beds in rows throughout the room. Each bed had a small bedside table with three sets of draws in which to keep personal items. As he entered the Fortress, he was given two sets of novice clothes which consisted of two black shirts, two black pants, and a pair of black boots.

Galen looked around the room trying decide what bed he would like to take. He had hoped to get one in a corner or at the far end of the room so he could be alone as much as was possible in such a place. As he was scanning the room, his friend Tomas caught his eye. He waved at Galen, motioning for him to come to him.

Galen walked up to Tomas who was setting up his bed at the far end of the room. He had already changed into his new novice clothes.

“I saved that bed for you there next to me,” said Tomas. “I had to cross words with three different men so I hope you will take it.”

Galen looked at the bed. It wasn’t at the very end of the room, but it was close. He considered if it would be wise to be sleeping near Tomas. Tomas liked to talk, and Galen didn’t want to be kept up late or away from his studies by some nonsense from his friend. Still, Roderick and The High Captain said it was important to make connections and form comradery. He supposed he might as well start with someone familiar.

“I will take this bed, thank you, Tomas,” said Galen as he put his new clothes on the bedside table. He picked up the simple sheets that were folded at the foot of the bed and quickly made the bed up. He noticed there was one small pillow and a thin blanket as well. Galen arranged his bed neatly and then stood up, looking around.

“Where should I go change?” asked Galen looking at Tomas.

“There is a large washroom through there,” said Tomas. “Or you could just do it right here. We are all men. I am sure we will all have to get used to seeing more of each other than we would like to.”

Galen thought Tomas probably had a point, but he still took his new clothes into the washroom. He walked into a wooden cubicle there and quickly changed into his new uniform. On the way back to his bed, he was met by two young men he didn’t recognize. They were not children of lords he knew, or anyone who went to the lower academy with him.

“I’m Bax, and this is Bolton,” said one of the boys. He was tall with broad shoulders. His hair was straight and dirty blonde. It fell just below his ears. His friend Bolton was shorter and slim with light brown hair.

“I’m Galen,” said Galen politely.

“Are you the son of some lord?” asked Bolton looking Galen up and down.

“My father was a lower lord of the court. My oldest brother is now Lord Ellis of Low Hill,” said Galen calmly.

“Well, my father was a baker, and Bolton’s owned a farm. Does that bother you?” asked Bax with narrowed eyes.

“No,” said Galen. “Why would it bother me?”

“I hear a lot of your fancy lord’s sons don’t like it that the Sentinel is letting us be novices. We’ve been educated, you know,” said Bax looking at Galen’s side to Tomas who had walked up.

“You clearly haven’t been educated on manners, have you?” asked Tomas with a sneer. “Are you hoping to pick a fight with us, because it sounds like you might like to fight.”

Galen rolled his eyes slightly at Tomas. This is not what he needed on his first day at the Sentinel. He knew the High Captain, not to mention his own brother would be watching him closely to see how he handled himself as he trained as an elite and a student at the Royal Academy.

“I don’t care who your father was, or where you grew up,” said Galen. “If the High Captain thought you were worthy to join as novices, then that is enough for me, as it should be for all of us. We serve her, after all.” Galen turned and gave Tomas a pointed look.

“True, Galen,” said Tomas as he looked at Bax, “I don’t care if your father slopped pigs as long as you can handle yourself, but if you are going to walk around accosting fellow novices, I hope your skills are sharper than your words.”

Bax grinned slightly and turned to his friend. “Come on, Bolton, let’s go outside and get ready. These two pretty boys aren’t worth the time it would take to get to know them.”

The two boys walked away towards the exit of the room as Galen walked to his bed quickly to put his old clothes away. Tomas followed him.

“You do know that was very unnecessary, don’t you?” asked Galen as he stood up from putting his old clothes in the bottom drawer. “Why did you want to make enemies our first hour here?”

“They were rude, and they needed to be put in their place. I really don’t care if farmers and merchants are training with us, but such rudeness was unnecessary. It is clear they wanted to make you an enemy. I couldn’t let you stand alone,” said Tomas smiling.

“I don’t need any enemies,” said Galen. “I could have easily diffused that situation. I have enough on my plate without any added drama.”

“Come on, Galen,” said Tomas as they both started to walk out of the room following most of the other young men. “A little drama can be fun, and those two clearly did not want to be your friends. You are going to have to play the game a little, you know. You can’t just hide in your own little world here, not like you did at the lower academy.”

Galen nodded. He knew Tomas was right. The Sentinel was a much different world than academics. Galen had chosen this for himself. If he wanted to hide away, he could have just enrolled in the High Academy with no thought to the Sentinel, but he wanted to improve himself. This was part of his improvement, learning how to live with others.

They followed the crowd of boys down the halls of the Fortress to the east entrance. As they reached the east entryway, they were joined by a group of five young women. The women moved in front of Galen and Tomas as one looked back at them. She had long, light red hair that she had pulled back with a ribbon. Her light blue eyes looked at Galen and then Tomas. Her full pink lips smiled slightly as her freckled nose lifted a little. She turned back to her friends, and Galen couldn’t help but notice her body filled out her novice uniform rather nicely.

Tomas looked at Galen with a sly smile and a raised eyebrow. “Not too bad,” he whispered to Galen. “I don’t recognize her, so if she is the daughter of a farmer, I do not mind the Sentinel letting in anyone they think might be worthy.”

Galen rolled his eyes as they walked out of the Fortress and into a large open field. There were several Elites lining up the novices into rows. Galen and Tomas were taken towards the front and lined up next to each other three rows back from the front. Galen looked up to see The High Captain walking to the front of the group with Roderick and her other second at her side.

“Good king’s gods, Galen, said Tomas whispering excitedly. “You could have warned me about the High Captain.”

Galen looked at the High Captain. She was dress in a black dress that had half sleeves. It hugged her body and flowed out slightly into a skirt that reached her mid claves. You could just see the tight black pants she wore between where her dressed ended and her boots began. She wore a thin black cape that was edged with silver stitching. Her hair was up in a circle braid with a few pieces curling to frame her face. Her eyes were bright, and her mouth was set into a straight line.

“What was I supposed to warn you about her?” asked Galen looking behind him to see other novices being put into lines.

“Look at her, Galen. How are we supposed to concentrate and make it through the Disciplines as she parades around in front of us?”

Galen looked at Tomas with a small smile. “I told you she was attractive.”

“Attractive? Your mother is attractive, Galen. Lady Wince is attractive. The High Captain might be the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Your brother gets to be by her side all day? How does he stand it?”

“My brother serves her with pride. He sees her as his Captain and leader. He respects her as a fierce warrior and fellow Elite,” said Galen. “I doubt her sees her in any other way.”

Tomas looked at Galen and shook his head. “Roderick is not blind. He might be almost as cold blooded as you, but even he could not be unaffected by her.”

“We shouldn’t be talking about this out here,” said Galen giving Tomas a harsh look. “She is our High Captain, and I think we are about to begin.”

“Right, we can talk about it later,” said Tomas with a smile.

Galen sighed and shook his head again, thinking he might need to expand his circle of acquaintances quickly. He looked around and notice that everyone seem to be in place. The Elites who had all gathered to the sides, turned to face their High Captain. Galen saw one at the far end nod towards the front. Galen turned and saw his brother whisper to the High Captain. She walked forward and looked out over the novices.

“Greetings,” she began in a loud, rich voice. “My name is Dracia Yates, but you will refer to me as your High Captain. I am pleased to welcome you all to the Disciplines of the Sentinel. You have chosen to begin an arduous journey that will be more than likely the most difficult thing you will ever do in your life.

“Some of you will not make it past the first week. Many of you might not make it past the first month. You must understand what you are undertaking. We will be training you to be amongst the fiercest fighters in the kingdom. You will be trained in mystics, agility, weapons, and on fighting while on horseback.

You will all be injured in some form or another. While we try to avoid it, but there have been instances where novices have died while in the Disciplines. We will push you to your very limits physically and mentally. I guarantee there will come a time where everyone of you will want to quit, and many of you will chose that path. Some of you might want to rethink what you are doing now, and I give you that opportunity. No one will ever be forced to continue here. If at any time you want to walk away, you are free to do so, but you can never enter the Disciplines again.

“You will obey the commands of your Elites in charge of your training, and ultimately you will obey me. If you ever take our oath as an Elite of the Sentinel, you will be taking an oath to the kingdom and to me. If you have any doubts of my leadership, you should leave now.

“Above all you will conduct yourself with the dignity that is expected of one of the Sentinel whether you are on Fortress grounds, at court, or in the town. Any disgrace that is laid upon you, is laid upon the Sentinel, and I will not have it.

“Today you will be split up into four groups, and my Elites will drill you in mystics, agility, equestrianism, and weapons. My Elites as well as myself will be observing. Some of you will be sent home today if we do not find you worth our time and effort to continue training you.

“I do wish you good luck in your endeavor. The Sentinel stands true.”

“The High Captain is strong and just,” replied all the Elites.

Dracia nodded to Roderick and then to Darron.

“You first five lines will go with Elite Smithy to the upper left side of the field,” said Roderick. “The next five will go with Elite Dilwyn to the upper right side. The five after that will go with Elite Farley to the stables, and the last five will go with Elite Darron to the back of the field. Go now.”