The field of war was large enough for... maybe a thousand men or so, the thirty people standing on it with some observers from afar, it looked almost empty.
As we walked towards them, the test was already underway with a lanky man they named Spider, if I remember, was pummeled with small balls one after another.
On the side, there were several others just laying on the ground, caressing their injuries, and not looking forward to the next round.
"He was right... of course. I already feel better about ourselves," said Demelza, sharing some smiles with us.
I felt that as well, from the looks they were just as bad if not worse than us. Taking into account that some of these people had a head start of half a year or more of Zephyr's training... our progress wasn't that bad.
The firing squad consisted of all the captains, meaning five balls came at the unlucky ones, but to be fair, the Revel brothers and the Monroe sisters were much better trained and couldn't be compared to those five men who were capable in their own rights, but it wasn't with the bows.
"Hey, you guys, why are you here?" asked Carlos the first to notice us.
"Zephyr sent us to take a look and see the others... why do you force this on them?" I asked.
"It's not to them... it's for them. We just want the best possible result, no casualties or accidents... at least nothing we caused," he answered my question.
Demelza and Eli were admiring their man in their new armor... this look of black and white really was the right choice, and that Phoenix was the perfect symbol as far as being unique.
"So tell me... found out something good about... you know... your mom?" he asked almost in a teasing tone.
I was a little ashamed with everything that was happening. I sort of forgot all about it.
"I'm sorry... I'll do better once we return," I promised.
He nodded with understanding and looked towards the man who was being lectured by Manata and Stuart of all people.
"Alright... next! We rested enough!" shouted Stuart.
The boys went back bombarding the next poor bastard who was hit continuously.
I spotted Lizzy with her son near the benches and soon joined her.
"Hello, ladies... look at my Norman there. He is by far the best at avoiding the balls," she said without taking a single look at us.
Norman was up there with immense concentration, mostly dodging them... she wasn't wrong, he did look a lot better than the others.
"He sure looks to be in form."
I smiled how much the rays of love shone lately on her and well... everyone, really.
"You guys doing the same training, right?" she asked.
"Well, more or less the same, but our torturers are more of an expert level," answered Eli, keeping her eyes on the target.
"Well, I can see some... signs of it."
Lizzy took a closer look at our state and our bruises, particularly Demelza's eyes. She tried to pull some hair to hide it, but her style was very much against it.
"Whatever, I'm proud of it... means I was willing to sacrifice my body and, most importantly, face to prove myself capable," she said after failing to hide it.
"...Look."
We all looked towards the middle as four members attacked one another.
There were fighting like brawlers in taverns and such done by the inebriated and the unskilled, and there was this...
For whatever reason, they went at it like mortal enemies, landing blow after blow... not much for defense of any kind, teams were obvious since they helped each other out.
Lucian, as the nominal successor of master Zephyr, stepped up and separated the men.
We couldn't overhear what was said, but one pair of men looked ashamed and ended up running away towards the tavern. The other two stayed, and Lucian tapped their shoulder, ushering them back to their brother in arms.
"What was that about?"
Demelza asked her husband as he closed in.
"Those two were arguing about the need for this and very much offended the others sooo... they have to ask Zephyr now," he answered, shaking his head in disapproval.
"He won't be hard on them... right?" Lizzy asked all of us but kept her eyes on me.
"Who knows... he is not one to predict, you see," I answered my honest thoughts.
"Either way..." Alexander took a look behind him. "...this training was genius from little brother... and he said he has even more ideas with them."
Again, they mostly looked at me...
"I honestly don't know... we don't tell each other everything."
I wasn't joined to him on the hip, although it makes sense that if anyone knows it, it would be me.
"Whatever it is... he will let us know when we need to know."
Alexander's words were infused with absolute confidence, and he was right... he will continue to surprise and amaze us one way or another.
The next afternoon arrived like an ambush... my back garden, though, had much more mundane things planned. Now was a permanent training ground for our family.
Yesterday, we had a much better time with the balls than before, as if seeing how difficult it was for everyone, it gave us a boost, and by the morning, we comfortably took my husband's suggestion to skip the morning training and rest.
By the time we all gathered, Demelza and Eli were laser focused like myself.
Everyone decided to watch us and the others, and even the Monroe family came... plus a bunch of men working hard under the watchful gaze of Saam, making arrows with the improved heads on them.
"Lucian... tell those idiots this is not a kids' corner... make them pick up the pace."
I was sitting in his lap wearing the most comfortable outfit I had and looked at the poor devils getting an earful from Lucian who didn't leave them, after he was done and stuck around to make sure the speed remained constant.
"You still angry?" I asked.
Last night, he came home more annoyed than I saw him for a while, and he didn't hold back with the punishment... the half dozen men here were dropped from the hunt and made to do all sort of chores instead of training.
Other than the original two, he asked everyone who agreed with them, and those four idiots raised their hands.
"They think my methods are useless... so from here on out, they will never touch a sword or weapon of any kind ever again... that's not angry."
"...Of course."
I wasn't going to touch that wasp's nest.
He was clearly furious, and my bet was, it had very little to do with them... and have everything to do with Mother Nature, cursing women with this monthly affliction. Five days without sex was clearly getting to him... I'll talk when we return to lessen that sentence.
For now, let this test begin.