Guard Ranking

Rick closed the door behind him, looking into the training grounds and at his fellow guards.

Goleil heard a sigh, and a voice said, "Get up, Guardsman."

Goleil looked up and saw a large man approaching. Goleil was taller, but the man looked like a suit of muscles protected him. He reminded him of Sir Jagan Alfrun, only the Qutarian version.

"I am Guard Captain Guyan, but just call me Guyan. If your title is true to your purpose, you're very similar to us," The man said as he rubbed his dark eyes. "It should be us apologizing to you, not the other way around."

"Why would that be, Captain?" Goleil asked as he straightened, bringing his fist to his chest in salute.

Guyan brought his fist to his chest as well. Even if it wasn't his custom, it was a sign of mutual respect he intended to reciprocate.

Guyan looked around at the other guards angrily. "Gwen and the rest of us provoked you with the death of your entire nation. I would say you were in the right when you kicked all of their asses. They should've been the ones to end up in the City Dungeons, not you."

The other guards looked down and away in embarrassment.

The Captain shook his head. "If I had been present, I would've shut that down instantly. You have my apology, but I was a bit preoccupied working on an operation for Lord Colm. You'll have to forgive me, and it won't happen again," he said and looked back at his men. "Isn't that right?!"

Most gave back half-hearted nods and words of affirmation.

Guyan chuckled. "I've been working them to death for the past couple of days in repentance. They're pretty tired, so cut them a little slack."

Goleil chuckled. "I know what that's like, Captain. I came here to see how my strength has improved over the past few days, so I can join you all."

Guyan raised an eyebrow. "You sure, Guardsman? If you knew what we were doing, you might not be so eager to join."

Goleil shrugged and said, "I can only wait and see then."

Guyan grinned wolfishly. "As you've been contracted to work with us for a couple of months, we might as well start bonding now. I'm glad you're joining us, Guardsman!"

Rick looked at Goleil as if he were crazy. "Your loss, Goleil. No way I'm doing this. Sorry, Captain, I've got to run!"

"Get your ass back here, Rickhoff! You'll do this whether you want to or not!"

"Rickhoff?" Goleil asked with wide eyes.

Rick nodded sullenly. "Yeah, Rick is just a nickname Mord gave me. He found my name too hard to say."

"Sounds like Mord..." Goleil said as he walked into an open position.

"Alright, men! Get on your faces!"

Rick and the others groaned.

Goleil couldn't help but feel nostalgia as he performed his pushups. That feeling soon went away as he felt the burn beginning to build up.

The City Guard exercised for two hours. While Goleil wasn't comfortable by the end, he also didn't feel tired. He could certainly do more, much more.

He went to the weights he had worked with the first time he was here and picked them up with ease.

Rick limped over to him. "Still not tired? You really are a monster, Goleil."

Goleil only half nodded as he made his way up the weight rack, each weight as easy to lift as the last.

As he picked up the heaviest weight with only a little trouble, he looked over to Rick.

His eyes were the eyes of plates. Not only that, the entire City Guard had the same expression as they stared at him.

Guyan laughed heartily as he saw what Goleil had done. "No wonder you're not tired! You're far too strong for this place. Gwen can't lift those, and she's the second most powerful in the Guard!"

Goleil put the weight down, disappointed. "I heard Mord is number one. Is that actually true?"

Captain Guyan frowned as he heard that. He walked over to the wall, waving Goleil over. As he stopped before a board, Goleil saw a list of names and ranks. The top four were all familiar, except number one.

"Who is Mordekai?" Goleil said, squinting at the number one position.

Rick shook his head. "That's Mord's actual name, but no one calls him that."

Guyan pointed to the number one spot. "Unfortunately, that madman is the strongest, and not by a small margin. He can't train here, and he has to go to the Colosseo's training facility, which I'm sure you'll use from now on as well."

He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. "Usually, the strongest would be the Guard Captain and Commander of the Praetorian Guard. Mord lasted in that position for a single day before Lord Colm almost had him executed. That's why he gets away with so much and why Lord Colm refuses to speak to him."

Goleil had to stifle a laugh. 'Was he really that bad?' He thought, then thought of everything Mord had ever done and had to agree.

"Why not Gwen? She is number two, and you're number three."

"She refused the position because she was recruited by Lady Tyria Colm for her personal guard," Guyan said and sounded a little relieved.

"She couldn't do both?"

"No, the Praetorian Guard only protects the Keep and the Lord Commander. She wouldn't be able to protect Lady Colm if she was Guard Captain and Commander of the Praetorian Guard. Mord was shoved into her detail by Lord Colm."

"And what about William?"

Guyan patted Rick's shoulder. "Lord William Colm doesn't like guards. But when he needs, Richkoff here is his personal guard."

Goleil nodded. "That makes sense," he said. "Captain, could you tell me what training facilities you're talking about when you said Mord trained in the Colosseo? I'd like to try them."

Guyan grinned. "Of course, Guardsman. I'll bring you right over there. You'll want your armor, as the only thing beyond exercising here is pure combat."