Chapter 4

"Why were we brought to practice at five in the morning?" - the girl wailed with sorrowful sobs.

I looked at her wearily. The princess was a princess, but her appearance caused only one disgust.

"Olga, but we are soldiers", - the young man tried to calm her down.

I saw all of them for the first time. The only people I knew here were Prince Oleg and his sister, Olga. The princess herself was beautiful, even in my opinion. A kind of blonde who can gently call and punch. She was very strong physically, but, as she said, training was a personal hell for her.

"Oh, Yara, you can't even imagine what kind of torments we have to go through!" - she said yesterday, taking me to a room.

Now Olga was sleepy and also angry. It is not recommended to touch her in this state, but the guy who was standing now and trying to calm her down, without knocking, stumbled into the room, waking the princess. There was an uproar and noise for the whole, it seems, not only the floor, but for the whole castle.

"Olga, stop whining! Look what an example you're setting for a new girl", - The guy nodded at me.

I moved my hands, which meant something between "yes, everything is fine" and "oh my God, I'm the same myself."

The girl fell silent. Her eyes bored into me. She instantly stopped "crying". Now Olga was looking seriously into my eyes.

"Just don't you dare tell Oleg about her behavior," - the guy forestalled her tirade.

"And what will I get for it?"- I raised an eyebrow.

"I'll throw you in the basement", - Olga hissed. - "Oleg does not like my whining and said that once again I would cry like that and he would remove me from the squad. And I really need to be here."

The last sentence was said in a whisper. I barely heard him. Apparently this information was not for other people's ears.

The guy clapped his hands, calling the other soldiers to him.

All twenty people neatly lined up around him in a semicircle. Olga stood next to me. Apparently she wanted to fix her cold gaze on me once again.

"So, everything seems to be in place. Winter holidays have passed and I hope everyone spent them brightly and not forgotten", - the guy smiled.

I felt the friendliness emanating from him. He spoke to me the same way, although he hardly knew my name. He was glad to see everyone. Perhaps that's why the prince made him commander-in-chief.

"We have some changes", - he coughed. "Firstly, a new member of our squad has appeared. Yara, I am very glad that you are with us."

The soldiers turned to me. I nodded awkwardly. Olga didn't push me hard on the shoulder.

"Yara, I didn't introduce myself. Please forgive me. My name is Pavel."

I smiled a little. For some reason, it was this name that first came to my mind when I saw him.

"Okay. Let's move on to other news. The Order finally confirmed the competition."

A couple of soldiers shouted loudly.

"Yes!"

"Well, finally!"

"We can show ourselves!"

Pavel clapped again, calling for silence.

"This means that we have only a month before the selection stage. We'll have to try. It will be a great success if someone from our squad gets into the main squad", - Pavel looked gloomily at everyone present.

"But Alexander will again use his dirty methods on all units!"- One of the soldiers shouted.

I looked around to see who it was, but I couldn't find the owner of the voice.

"It will be", - Pavel nodded. - "Yes, it will be. That's why we have to be ready for anything. Including a possible war between detachments."

I scratched the back of my head, already feeling three convolutions twisting in my brain. Although I felt superfluous here, people treated me as a close acquaintance, although I found out the name of Pavel, who has been "friends" with me for four days, just a couple of minutes ago.

"I think it's all news", - Pavel looked around the whole group.

"Shall we start training?" - One of the soldiers closest to the commander asked.

"Yes."

A terrible commotion began. Pavel put everyone in pairs. It took another twenty minutes before everything finally settled down. They stepped on my foot twice, shoved me under the side, which took my breath away and hit me so hard on the head with an elbow that it already darkened my eyes. The soldiers would have trampled me if it hadn't been for Olga, who dragged me away from this crowd by the hand.

She brushed me off.

"You'll be paired with me. You're a beginner, and I'm not a professional", - Olga smiled.

I rubbed my bruised side.

"So, everything! Scattered around the territory, let's start the warm-up!" - Pavel's loud voice rang out.

After giving instructions to those who had not yet obeyed, the guy approached the shade in which we were standing.

"Yara, have you ever used a sword?"

I honestly tried to remember. I didn't pick up a sword in the village. Daria took me to a fir glade and taught me how to use a sword there. For this, however, grandfather gave her a slap on the head, but Daria was happy and knew that I, if necessary, would be able to protect myself.

"Well, my sister taught me how to use a sword. I think some skills have been preserved", - I said uncertainly.

"Well, that's not so bad", - Pavel led me to the metal. Okay, okay, I'm kidding. Although from the point of view of physics, this is really scrap metal.

Pavel found a single one in the pile of swords. Not long, just in my hand. Judging by the thickness, it should not be so heavy.

I took a closer look at the end of the sword, at its very tip. There was something dark on it, resembling a pattern from afar. Looks like a dragon. Three-headed.

Pavel noticed my look and smiled shyly (or it just seemed to me).

"Ah, this is the sign of our kingdom. When we cut off the enemy's head with a sword, the imprint of our sword remains on his neck. Everyone has different swords, but this sign is necessarily present on each of them."

Olga slowly came up to us and also began to clink in the mountain of swords.

She pulled out a dagger or a sword. Somewhere in the middle. The narrow blade tilted to the side like a tooth and gave the weapon a sinister look.

"Yes, this mark is not only on swords, but on all weapons in the kingdom. On daggers, maces, clubs, throwing knives and everything in that spirit", - Olga showed exactly the same sign on the end of the dagger.

"Is it so that the enemies are afraid of us?" - I suggested, taking the hilt of the sword from Pavel's hands.

Olga giggled softly. Pavel's smile blossomed again. I realized that I had said something wrong.

"Okradea has long been the most famous. No, this sign has a completely different reason."

I was about to listen, but Pavel had already taken his sword out of its sheath and handed it to Olga.

"I'm sorry, Yara, but I can't tell you. It's a mystery", - Pavel said apologetically and walked away to the soldiers.

They had already completed their warm-up and were now idly twirling their swords in their hands. With the appearance of their commander nearby, the soldiers seemed to come to life. Those again lined up in pairs and began to practice simple movements, apparently moving from simple to complex.

Olga put me in front of her.

"Do you know anything about weak points?"

I scratched the back of my head. Apparently this was the answer, since Olga made a depressing chuckle.

"So nothing", - she concluded. - "Neck, abdomen, thighs and the back of the head."

I tilted my head to the side.

"Why the back of the head?"

"Because if you get hit on it, then you are very likely to pass out", - Olga said it as if I was ignorant and knew absolutely nothing about it all.

"I think there is no need to explain about the other points."

Olga raised her sword. I shuddered. Its tip was a couple of millimeters from my neck.

"Do you want to cut me down?"

"You're wondering why these are the weak points, right?" - and without waiting for my answer, she continued. - "Because if I hit you in the neck - you'll die, if I hit you in the stomach, it's like your lungs are going to blow out, it will give me an advantage. You have already understood about the back of the head, and about the hip and legs in general, too, everything is very simple — you will not be able to stand on your feet."

I nodded, mentally asking Olga to put that sword away. It unnerved me and caused a feeling that the blade would turn.

"What? Are you afraid?"

Olga grinned, but she put the sword away. I shifted my sword from hand to hand. The palms even seem to be sweating.

"And legs."

Olga tightened her grip on the hilt

"And legs" what?" - she didn't understand.

I had already prepared myself and sharply kicked her in the shin. She couldn't resist and fell to the ground. The sword she was holding stuck into the ground, forming a crack. Olga exhaled in amazement.

"I didn't expect it from you. It looks like you're a fan of sweeps and unexpected attacks."

I silently held out my hand to her, although her admiration in her voice flattered me. Maybe I even blushed a little.

"However, it does not always work", - Olga said, getting to her feet and shaking herself off.

"Does Alexander's squad also use these?" - I blurted out.

The рrincess instantly hardened. The look became heavy again. Apparently this topic was not the best.

"His squad uses even more dirty methods than cutting."

Olga straightened her hair. Pavel came up to us from behind. I shook my head and looked around.

The whole field was already empty.

"The soldiers have gone to lunch", - Pavel answered in my opinion.

"And we'd better hurry if we don't want to be late and stay hungry. It's still eight hours until dinner!" - Olga's eyes were filled with extreme anguish.

I sighed wearily. At least they accepted me and did not ask unnecessary questions, which is already pleasing. And my inability to improve quickly.

"Yes, Olga is right. Hurry up Yara!"

Pavel and Olga left. It was like waking up from a trance again. I never found out where the lunch was taking place. I could only follow my intuition and hope that I could quickly find the right room.

I walked around the whole field and turned into the exit. There was not a soul in the bright corridors of the palace. I felt panic rising in my throat. The chances of meeting a maid or someone in principle seemed impossible to me.

I moved towards what I thought was the dining room, but when I turned the corner, I saw Oleg.

I cursed and stepped back. The prince did not notice the movements and continued talking to the maid. Her black dress with a white collar was not harmonious, but cute.

"I don't understand", - Oleg frowned. - "The guards still haven't found the Steel Tooth?"

Jeanne shook her head.

"Are you sure it exists at all?" - Jeanne asked cautiously.

"If I wasn't sure, you wouldn't be looking for him."

"He was not found in the vicinity. And you know about Galren yourself."

"Yes, they won't let us even get close to their territory."

Jeanne bit her lip.

"But even your parents don't know about it, don't you think to tell them?"

"No, I don't think so", - Oleg replied sharply.

"Well, I will definitely let you know when new information appears. Yes, and remember", - Jeanne lowered her voice. - "It's a secret, Your Majesty."

Oleg nodded.

"I understand. No one but us will know about it."

Jeanne turned and ran swiftly up the stairs. Oleg turned his face. I literally pressed myself into the wall, as if I wanted to merge with it.

The prince had already approached the wall and I was about to slip out and start apologizing.

Come to think of it, I really apologized.

Oleg walked up to the wall in a couple of steps and glared at me with a frown.

"Yara. What are you doing here?"

I straightened a strand of hair.

"Yeah, I'm eavesdropping."

Oleg was almost close.

Did it get hot in the hallway or did it seem to me?

"Yara, you didn't hear something that wasn't meant for other people's ears, did you?"

I knew what would happen if I said what I heard.

A steel tooth.

I wonder what it is?

"No, I haven't heard. I went from training and I don't know where the dining room is."

"And hid on purpose?" - Oleg grinned in his trademark style.

"I didn't want to interrupt the conversation."

Oleg walked away. I took a deep breath. Well, at least it got a little colder.

"The dining room is very close. Let's go."

I, trying to give myself a more or less disinterested look, but opened my mouth a couple of times to ask about the steel tooth, but I knew what I would get for it.

They won't take any oaths from me.

The prince will simply execute me and be done with it.