Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns: Dragonia Empire, Volume 1 by Craig A. Price Jr

Author:Craig A. Price Jr. [Price Jr., Craig A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub

22

The first sun appeared over the horizon, its red glow lighting the courtyard. Devarius stood at attention, Aquila and Paedyn standing on each side of him. A few others of his party had come as well, but most stayed behind. He couldn’t blame them; they were exhausted. Though, admittedly, not everyone was meant for fighting. The Resistance would not be able to survive if everyone was a fighter. Some of his party would be put to use with their other skills. There was a blacksmith, a baker, and several seamstresses, which would be just as valuable to the Resistance as a fighter. Devarius didn’t know what his talents were. He hoped to learn by training.

Tynaer studied each of them, his hands behind his back, his head shaking as he studied one person, then the next.

“Many of you have been training with me for a while. Others”—he paused, glancing to Devarius—“have just arrived. All of you still have a lot of training before you will be useful at all. I expect hard work from each of you. There can be no less. We’re not going to defeat the Dragonia Empire without hard work.”

“How are we going to defeat them?” Devarius asked.

Tynaer stepped in front of Devarius. “Excuse me?”

“They have dragonriders. Do we have a way to defeat such creatures?”

“That is not an answer you will have before your first day of training. Do you understand?”

Devarius’s lip curled. “Yes, sir.”

“We have ideas, strategies, and plans. More ideas are being developed, but you will not have access to such things your first day with us.” Tynaer glanced to the others. “Is everyone ready to begin?”

A chorus of, “Yes, sir,” echoed through the field.

“For those of you who have been sparring, continue to do so. Remember the sword forms we have been studying. New recruits … we have to condition you. We have spare platemail for you to put on.” He gestured to neatly arranged piles of platemail. “Then you will follow me.”

“Follow you where?” Paedyn asked.

“We will jog through the mountains.”

“Wearing that?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, sir.” He sagged his head to the side. “You sure don’t ease into it. Are you sure we can’t jog through the mountains one day without the armor first?”

Tynaer stared blankly at Paedyn.

Paedyn shrugged. “Guess not.”

Devarius, Paedyn, Aquila, and eight others from their party dressed in the platemail, from steel helm to steel boots. Each of them felt at least a hundred pounds heavier.

They followed Tynaer out of the city and around the mountains. They kept up with him better than he seemed to think they would. But they were exhausted. They were used to traveling, used to being pushed hard by Devarius. But they weren’t used to so much weight. Devarius was grateful they were in the south and winter was approaching. He couldn’t imagine wearing the thick platemail in the northern summer.

They took breaks during their hike, but not many, and each one less than ten minutes. Tynaer pushed them hard. He seemed impressed all of them were able to keep up.

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