Chapter 82 White Lion
Empire calendar year 540, autumn.
[Note: Winters was two years old, 18 years ago.]
The Great Wilderness, the Black Sheep Tribe's pasture, an unnamed river valley.
The Parlatu 1st Piaoqi Cavalry was "recruiting".
Two sentries brought a disheveled teenager before Colonel Alpad.
The teenager's arms were twisted behind his back, and he was still struggling desperately and shouting loudly; the two adults could barely restrain him.
Alpad, annoyed by the noise, gave a look to Lieutenant Haug.
The lieutenant walked over and delivered a hard punch to the teenager's stomach.
The latter curled up in pain like a shrimp, finally quieting the onlookers' ears.
"What's going on?" Colonel Alpad asked.
"This kid was sneaking around outside." The sentry answered, "He shouted 'Alpad' upon seeing us. We didn't understand anything else he said, so we brought him to you."