Training Grounds (1)

Uri and A-Narah went to a tent on the outskirts of the small tribal village. Here was where young, unmarried warriors tended to stay. It was closer to the training grounds and it allowed them to easily meet anyone or any danger that approached. The four of them had been given one tent to use between them. Only two of the men could fit in it at anyone time, and that worked fine for them. They rotated shifts. One would always be stationed to guard A-Narah and one would stay outside their own tent to guard while the others slept. During the day they would join the tribe's warriors in training and took care of their own daily tasks. They didn't socialize with the others, keeping to themselves. The only person they spoke to was Adom and Feme. They went to them for information on their friends and to learn more about the place that they had ended up.

When Uri and A-Narah approached, they didn't go to the tent, but the training grounds. There the guards could be seen practicing their skills. They had taken only a couple days to rest and had spent the last two days practicing and rebuilding their strength. They couldn't sit on their laurels. Who knew what dangers they would face next?

A-Narah stood off to the side and watched the men train. A hoard of young girls also stood at the side and watched. Blushes covered their faces as they whispered to each other, murmuring over the warriors. A-Narah wasn't interested in the warriors from the tribe. She only cared about hers.

Lael and Launch were training with their swords, and Uzzi was learning how to use a spear from one of the tribesmen. Uzzi picked up the spear and threw it, but was unable to hit the target. The man that was standing next to him then took his spear and threw. The spear tore apart the air and pierced the center of the target. When this happened all the girls were sent atwitter. They clapped and cheered for the man. Uzzi picked up another spear and threw, but it still ended up falling short.

One of the girls standing close to her snorted a laugh. A-Narah turned her head and glared at her. What right did this common girl have to laugh at Uzzi? The men of this tribe had been training with spears since they could walk. It was only natural that Uzzi wouldn't be as good as them. He had trained in the sword and had mastered the crossbow. When it came to hitting targets none could beat Uzzi, but a spear was obviously much different from a bow.

Leaning over to Uri A-Narah whispered in a low voice, "Why doesn't Uzzi use his bow? If they saw him using it then none of these uneducated girls would dare to laugh at him."

"Little lady, they can laugh all they like. It's good for Uzzi to learn a new skill, he has no need to show off. Also, it's best not to show off all of our talents. You need to keep some things hidden to survive. All they know is that we are good with swords. That means as long as they can keep us at a distance if a battle ensues, they have the advantage. But if they knew Uzzi was an expert marksman, they would be wary of him and plan to target him first if anything happened. When it comes to protecting yourself, it's important to have some surprises."

"I understand," A-Narah bitterly said, "but I still don't like these foolish girls laughing at him."

Uri laughed low in his chest and rubbed the top of A-Narah's head. Their little girl really hated to see him or any of his brothers looked down upon or treated poorly. They were very lucky to have been sent to protect her. She was a master one would gladly hand over their life for. For a servant there really wasn't anything more rewarding than to serve someone who cared for you, and he knew that their little lady treated them with sincerity. There were not many who were like her.

"Uri, who is that next to Uzzi? Everyone seems to keep cheering for him."

The man had thrown another spear and all the girls cheered again.

"That's one of our benefactors. His name is Adom."

So that was Adom. He was Feme's son who helped looked after Elon. Then she would have to be polite to him. If she was discourteous, he might withhold information about Elon.

"Uri," A-Narah tugged on his sleeve, "I want to talk to him."

"Sure, thing little lady, but we have to wait. It would be dangerous to disturb them while they train. It could lead to an accident."

"That's fine. I'm patient."

Uri forwent commenting on what A-Narah had just said and went back to watching the warriors train. The group was skilled, and it was easy to tell that the young Adom was one of their elites. Although, he thought that if Elon were well and Ira was here with them then they wouldn't have stood even the slightest of chances.

They had been gone for some time. Hopefully Ira had gotten the message and was on his way here. Even if Elon was saved it would take awhile for him to be well and hold his sword again. With only the four of them they were at a sever disadvantage. If Ira got here soon, then all of their troubles would be gone.

The trust the Uri and the others had in their leader's strength was immense. To them Ira was practically a god. He was undefeatable. If he was there wouldn't have to worry about hiding their true strength.

Lael and Launch sparring had also gathered a following. It wasn't often that the people of the tribe got the chance to observe sword fights from experts. A spear allowed for stabbing, jabbing and sweeping, but a sword let them do many techniques and moves. Watching them you could see just how brutal and beautiful swordplay was. The warriors who watched were interested, but would not voice it. They did not want to approach these outsiders from the east. They held a strong bias towards them. To them these men from the east killed for money and power. Indiscriminate killers, and often their swords were pointed at them.

Anis was one of the few girls who avidly watched the foreigner's sword fight. After her run in with them at the water hole she had felt embarrassed and ashamed. She learned that they were not bad men, but had not been thinking clearly. The men were in their late twenties, but handsome. They looked different and sounded different from the men of her tribe. But when she saw them pass by her, her heart sped up. She heard in other places that the age for marriage was higher. That the adulthood ceremony was later than in the desert. To these men she wouldn't be an unwanted old maid, but still a young attractive girl. With blushing cheeks, she watched them fight. Maybe them coming here was her good luck. Maybe one of them would fall in love with her.