Troubles at hand

Warriors awaken through three methods- naturally, under intense training or through battle. Kain's intense training brought out the warrior spirits among the bandits. But it was rare that only three days of training, however intense it may be will bring out such results. It was not that easy at all.

However, there were several other factors that should be taken into consideration. The refugees had been living in a natural conflict zone for more than a year since the war began. Even though, the former Viscount had been kind enough to give out food from the granary, it was only twice a week. The rest they have to acquire by themselves.

Moreover, living as vagabonds were fraught with danger. Their survival depended on their desire to survive - what they can do for it and how much they can sacrifice to survive. As such, the refugees had to regularly fight for their survival.

The refugees had travelled around a hundred kilometres north to reach the territory. The travel must have fraught with danger, especially when they were trying to cross their own nations. Wars were not only fought by soldiers on the battle but by the innocents back at home.

The culmination of the struggle and the intense training regimen was what brought out the warrior spirit of the fifty. Most of them were bandits who participated in the fight against the Dark Bane and Red Band.

Kain decided to leave the training of the regular troops to Surfi and focused on training the newly formed warrior corp.

The warriors were given proper armors, the ones that were looted from the other crews and weapons of their choice, which were looted from the bandits or the ones made by the blacksmiths.

It came as no surprise when Kain found out that the new warriors could not fight very well. A few days ago, they were just mere homeless vagabonds after all.

"Your strikes should be precise, hard hitting and quick,"shout Kain. It was the routine training with weights pouches on their body except that the weapons they were practicing with were large and the weights had increased by threefold.

The pouches were distributed among the body parts which had joints such as the ankle, thigh, elbow, hip and arm as well as shoulder, belly and back.

Each of the fifty warriors were practicing on dummy made of woods, which were made by the carpenters. The practicing weapons were blunt claymores, which were twice as heavy as a regular claymore. In that way, they were building strength as well as training their skill.

Most of them were sweating and panting heavily. It had been more than six hours since they had started training. Most of them had no more energy to keep continuing.

The sound of hooves were heard and a few moments later, a horse messenger arrived.

"Chief, Sky Mask and his group had returned," Said the horseman, jumping down from the horse and bowing low.

"Alright everyone," Said Kain, clapping his hand to get their attention,"The morning session is over. You can have your meals. After that, help out on the construction. Evening session will begin an hour before dusk."

Groans and moans of happiness were heard throughout the training ground. Many were frantically untying the pouches on their body, dumping the rocks inside at the huge mound of rocks, which will be used as building materials the wall of the hillfort.

"Let's go," Said Kain, jumping on his horse.

They rode out towards the hamlets.

The training ground were in the centre of the clearing meant for the building of the hillfort.

The area covered atleast two hectares. The construction had barely started but due to the large supply of labors and materials, it was going on smoothly. The only thing to built was the wall afterall.

The two of them reach the hamlet. The hamlet were bustling with activities. After the land for the hillfort had been cleared, most of the bandits crew had been evacuated to the site. The only people living in the hamlet were the craftsmans and artisans and the Calvary, who were incharge of guarding the hamlet. The carpenters and blacksmiths were working busily on the building materials while the leather workers were working on making leather Armor for the regular troops.

A dozen carts driven by draught horses were outside the granary, which had been built by the residents of the hamlet previously. The hamlet was not a big one. It was only a clustering of several forge, storehouses for ores and some few cottages.

"Youn... Chief," Said Robert, bowing low,"I have returned from the errand."

"Welcome back, Sky Mask," Said Kain, smiling for the first time in weeks,"So how did it went?"

"It went well, Chief," Said Robert,"I have brought back enough food to last a month and ten carts."

"Well done, Sky Mask," Said Kain, getting down from his horse,"Let's go inside. We have lots to talk about."

"Off course, Chief," Said Robert, as stoic as ever while following Kain into the cottage.

"Alice," Said Kain as the girl greeted him,"make us tea. I will also like some of Sylvia cookies."

"Yes sir," Said Alice, blushing before she Scamp off to the kitchen.

"Young master,"Said Robert, sounding a Little stern,"I hope you didn't lay your hand on these girls."

"Worry not," Kain replied, bemused at the man's reaction,"I haven't."

"You must not, Young master," Said Robert, relief clearly heard in his voice,"You are a noble. Having illicit affairs are common among nobles but it's a thing a person of your statutes must avoid or it will bring needless troubles."

"Regarding nobility," Said Kain,"I have something of great importance to speak with you."

A few moments later, the two of them were in the office next to Kain's bedroom on the second storey of the cottage.

"What?" Cried out Robert, his mouth twitching in worry and anger,"Why did you do that?"

"If we keep with our initial facade, then sooner or later, the truth will have been found out. It was better that way."

"And they bought it?" asked Robert, looking at Kain intensely.

"Yes, they did,"Kain let out a small guffaw, "down to the last detail. Now they are willing to work as hard as they can since they knew I was a noble who has a fair chance for the lordship."

"So, why not tell them you are the Viscount then?" asked Robert, giving out a sigh of relief, "That will even work better according to your reasoning."

"That will not work," Said Kain,"it will not fit the plan and will result in our disadvantages."

"Is that so?" Said Robert,"anyway, I have a letter from the Duke, which was delivered just after we left."

Robert handed out a blue enveloped. Kain check the seal. It was the Malfyx's family crest alright - A triple headed bear.

"What?"shout Kain angrily, shooting up from his chair anger,"What gives them the right to meddle in our affair?"

.

.

.