Chapter 17: Badges of Honor

Oliver rushed about his room a few minutes later, gathering everything he needed in a flash. Then he was flinging aside the door with a bang and out in the yard again.

Aldric and Kelley appeared less than a second later from their own rooms. Their faces were flushed and sweaty, and their eyes were burning with eagerness.

“Come on, Ollie!” Kelley said before rushing toward Camp Bracken’s gate, Aldric right behind him.

Oliver was quick to catch up. The three young men sprinted out of the cluster of log buildings and into view of the gate. A whole host of Crownseekers were gathered there, almost filling the practice yard. Their pure white cloaks snapped majestically in the wind and flared over the backs of their horses.

Nearly everyone was already mounted. Oliver, Aldric, and Kelley rushed up to the edge of the force, puffing mightily. “Where’s Brother Crane?” Aldric asked.