After horses, it was lunch time. They all walked into the hall following three Elites. The Elites led the Novices to tables on the far right side. They ate from platters that were filled with meat, cheese, and bread. There was also fresh fruit available. Galen ate enough to make himself full, but no more. He knew they would be working hard the rest of the day, and it was getting hot outside.

Galen made sure to drink plenty of water as well. The two sessions they had left were weapons, and mystics. Both would take a lot of energy, and Galen wanted to be ready. He wanted to make a good show, and not be sent away in shame the first day. He looked around to see other Novices stuffing their faces and sipping water. Galen did not look forward to seeing the affects of this overindulgence later in the afternoon.

After lunch, Galen’s group was sent to Elite Dilwyn for a mystic session. Galen felt very sure of this session. Before the group was a large group of stones, an empty fire circle, and a well. Each Novice had to stack the stones into a high of stack as possible, light a fire in the fire circle, and then put it out with water from the well.

Galen stood back and watched many other Novices go through the session. Most did a decent job. A few struggled with one element or another. The red hair woman did well with fire and water, but she couldn’t stack her stones well. Galen could see her stance was not strong. Stones did not respond well if you weren’t well grounded. Bax was actually decently skilled on each mystic element, but he was nothing special.

Galen took his turn towards the end. He walked up calmly to the group of stones and planted his feet. He reach down into himself, feeling a power welling up from his gut. He took a deep breath, and then raised his hands. The stones rose up quickly, and stacked upon each other. Galen knew he was showing off a bit, but at the very top he stacked two onto one stone.

Galen walked up to the fire circle and placed his hand over the left side of his chest. He felt a slight warming over his heart, and then moved his hand over the fire pit. A bright fire sprung up in a pillar. It settled into a strong, controlled flame. Galen then looked at the well. He felt a sense of calm run through him, and his arms and his hands felt tingly. He waved his hands slightly and a stream of water rose from the well. Galen had it circle the fire before dousing it. Then he couldn’t help himself, he closed his eyes and felt a pressure in his head. He raised a hand, and breeze circled around him and then blew at the smoke from the smoldered fire, making it swirl around.

Galen turned and walked back to the rest of Novices. Elite Dilwyn looked at Galen with a small, smug smile.

“I don’t remember asking for any wind, Novice.”

“No, and I shouldn’t have done it. I know I should learn control,” said Galen putting his head down.

“I don’t know, I rather like a good show. A little flair never hurt anyone,” said a man who walked over to stand near Elite Dilwyn.

Galen looked up to see a tall well-dressed man with sandy blonde hair standing there. Galen wondered when he had walked up. He seemed to come from nowhere.

“Your highness,” said Elite Dilwyn bowing low.

“Please, not out here. I went through the Disciplines. I like to think of being a bit of an honorary member of the Sentinel out here.”

“I suppose that is up to me,” said the High Captain walking up with Roderick by her side.

“I am the Crown Prince,” said the prince smiling slightly at the High Captain as she walked up to him. “I am sure I have some say in the matter.”

“When you are the king, perhaps you can make that decision, until then it is up to me,” said the High Captain. She curtsied slightly. “Your highness.”

The Crown Prince gave the High Captain a half smile. “Very well, High Captain,” said the prince holding out his hand.

The High Captain looked at the Crown Prince for a moment before taking his hand. He looked at her and bowed over her hand, giving it a kiss.

“Now,” said the High Captain. “I believe you have interrupted this session. Please go on, Elite Dilwyn.”

Galen turned to watch the next Novice go through his session, but he saw his brother’s expression out of the corner of his eyes. Galen turned to see his brother watching the High Captain and the Crown Prince with a very dark look on his face. Galen watched his brother for the rest of the session, wondering what could make his brother look in such a way, but the whole time Galen watched his brother, Roderick’s eyes did not leave the High Captain, and his expression did not change.

When it was time to move on, Galen went to follow the rest of the Novices. He was stopped by the Crown Prince coming up to him with the High Captain.

“Novice Galen,” said the High Captain. “The Crown Prince would like to be introduced to you.”

Galen stopped and nodded.

“Novice Galen, this is Leal Cassendar, the Crown Prince of Lanoxan.”

Galen bowed as the Crown Prince nodded.

Your Highness, this is Gallen Ellis, youngest son of Lord Ellis of Low Hill. He is a Novice of the Sentinel.”

“I am very pleased to finally meet you,” said the Crown Prince as they started to walk towards where Galen’s group had traveled. “I have heard many wonderful things about you, that so far appear to be true.”

“I hope to live up to your expectation, Your Highness,” said Galen.

“Work on living up to your own expectation, Novice,” said The High Captain. “You are the only one you have to live with when it comes down to it. In the end you only have to answer to yourself, and hope you are satisfied with what you find.”

“Are you satisfied with your choices, High Captain?” asked the prince looking over Galen at the High Captain.

“I haven’t seen the full consequence of all my choices thus far in my life. I am also rather young, I am sure I have many important choices yet to make. What about you, your highness. How are satisfied are you with your choices?”

“I am very satisfied with the choices I have made, and due to that I plan to stick with them. They have made me very happy,” said the Crown Prince.

“Novice, go catch up with the rest of your group,” said Roderick who was walking on the other side of the High Captain.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Galen,” said the prince. “I look forward to seeing what becomes of you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness” replied Galen. He nodded to the High Captain and then walked ahead to join his group who were gathered around Elite Darron.

Elite Darron was in front of a rack filled with dull, old sparring swords. He looked out over all the novices in front of him with a small, smug, smile.

“While Mystics are an important part of any battle for the Sentinel, there will be many times the use of a sword or other weapons will mean he difference between life and death for an Elite. You can be the most skilled Mystics user in the kingdom, but if you cannot use weapons accurately and proficiently, you can never be skilled enough to join the Sentinel as an Elite.

“You will be trained mostly with swords, but you will also learn how to throw knives and spears during your sessions. Today I would like you to spar with one another. You will not strike to injured one another, just disarm. Pair up amongst yourself. We will be one short, so one of you will need to form a group of three. Once you form your pairs or group, take time to spar at least twice. I and the other Elites here will walk around and observe.”

Galen looked around and saw Tomas nod at him. Galen made his way next to Tomas who was talking to the red hair girl from earlier in the hall.

“Galen, this is Cara. She is from Meadowslyn.”

Galen smiled slightly at Cara. “It is nice to meet you, Cara.”

Cara gave Galen a pretty smile that made her freckled nose crinkle. “It is good to meet you as well, Galen. Tomas said we could form the group of three. I hope that is alright with you.”

“Works for me,” said Galen looking at Tomas who was smiling brightly.

The three walked over to the rack and each took a rough sparring sword. They walked over and found an area away from others where they could have some space. They all three looked at one another, waiting for each other to say something.

“Why don’t you and I go first, Tomas,” said Cara with a grin. “Then the winner can spar with Galen.”

Tomas shrugged. “I have no objections, do you Galen?”

Galen shook his head. He was very happy to sit back and observe. He knew Tomas’ s style well enough, but he would like to observe Cara sparring before taking his turn with her.

Tomas and Cara walked a little away from Galen and faced one another. They nodded to each other as they raised their swords in front of them. They started by circling slowly around one another before Tomas struck out at Cara. She easily blocked his strike and turned away.

It become very clear to Galen early in the sparring session, that Tomas was slightly outmatched. Cara was quick with good footwork. She was stronger than she looked, and it was clear she was very well trained. They sparred for over five minutes before Cara was able to hit Tomas’s arm, causing him to drop his sword. Cara looked at Tomas with her sword pointed at him. She had a brilliant smile on her face.

“I yield,” said Tomas smiling back at her. He then turned to Galen. “Your turn, Galen.”

Galen walked up to Cara as Tomas picked up his sword off the ground. Tomas turned to Galen with a smirk and said, “Good luck,” before walking over and sitting on the ground to watch.

Galen and Cara walked a few paces away from each other. They nodded to each other and held their swords at the ready. Galen circled her, waiting for Cara to strike first. When she finally did, Galen almost didn’t get his sword up in time to block her. She was so fast and subtle with her movements, it was hard to tell when or where she was going to strike.

Galen held his own, remembering what Roderick had taught him. He kept his footing sure, and waited for his moments. The problem was it was hard to find the right moment to strike. Cara would look still and calm, and then lash out like a snake, striking so quickly, without warning. Galen was able to get a few hits in on her, but nothing that would cause her to drop her sword.

After ten minutes of sparring, Galen was getting winded. He felt sweat dripping in his eyes. He was glad he didn’t overeat at lunch, but even his meager amount of food was sitting heavily in his stomach. Cara looked non bothered. She looked like she wasn’t even sweating. She looked at Galen for a moment before coming at him with a series of moves and turns that made Galen take several steps backward. She finally slash out at him, hitting his leg, causing him to stumble and drop his sword as he fell.

Galen looked up to see Cara looking down on him with her sword point at him with a raised eyebrow. Galen put up his hands quickly.

“I yield,” he said as Tomas laughed, getting up from the ground and walking over to them.

Cara moved her sword away and offered a hand to Galen. She pulled him to his feet as he grabbed his sword.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” asked Tomas.

“My father and brothers taught me well,” said Cara putting her sword to her side and retying her hair up with her ribbon. “I have five older brothers, so I had to learn rather quickly to hold my own.”

“I say you do more than hold your own,” said Galen. “Are your brothers as skilled as you?”

“They are stronger so sometimes they are able to get the upper hand, but I am much quicker so usually I can take them.”

“Have none of your brothers tried for the Sentinel?” asked Tomas.

“No, my oldest will lead our village like my father. They other four have gotten married and settled throughout the kingdom.”

“Are you three planning on talking the rest of the afternoon, or are you going to actually do something?” asked Elite Darron as he walked over close to them. His eyes settled on Galen. “Should I tell your brother you spent the session flirting with some girl, Novice Galen?”

Galen felt his cheeks burn as Cara narrowed her eyes at Darron.

“No,” said Galen. “Because it would not be true. We were just about to start again. I only wanted to ask Novice Cara for any advice she has as she is obviously more skilled than me.”

“I will tell you what advice you need in this session, novice,” said Darron coldly. “Now get back to doing what I asked you to do.”

Tomas and Galen sparred as Darron walked away from their group to see what others were doing. Galen was able to disarm Tomas after a hard fought match. After that Galen and Tomas both faced Cara to see if she could disarm them both. She caught Galen off guard towards the end, but Tomas was able to disarm her as she was distracted.

As they returned their swords to the rack, Galen noticed Darron watching him with a frown. Tomas and Cara seemed to notice it too.

“What is his problem with you?” asked Cara as they walked towards the Fortress to clean up.

“I don’t know. I barely know him,” said Galen.

“You would think being second to the High Captain with your brother, would mean something,” said Tomas.

“So, your brother is Elite Roderick. I thought he probably was. I had heard a rumor and you do favor him quite a bit,” said Cara. “Well, maybe it does mean something that he is serving with your brother. Are there any problems between Roderick and Darron?”

“Not that I know of. They both serve the High Captain, so I figure they have to be on good terms in some way,” answered Galen.

“But you see who the High Captain keeps at her side as she sends the other out to train us,” said Clara looking over to her left.

Galen followed her gaze to see Roderick walking by the High Captain towards the Fortress. She whispered something to him, and Roderick shook his head smiling. Roderick whispered back before giving the High Captain a friendly small shove with his shoulder. The High Captain rolled her eyes, but Galen could see a small smile on her lips. He stopped for a moment and watched as Roderick and the High Captain continue to whisper to one another as they made their way into the Fortress.

“Sees her as just a fellow Elite, huh?” asked Tomas with a laugh. “Come on, Galen, supper will be soon.”