After getting back from the tailor General Mark told Rabbit to wait in the war room. Rabbit found himself hunched over with his hands on the War Table and staring at the large map, the geography of the land going completely over his head. Mark told Rabbit that he would have to memorize strategies and key locations but staring at the map only caused a headache for Rabbit, who grabbed at his ears and slumped against the wall since there were no chairs in the war room.
The door cracked open and banged against the wall on the opposite side of the hinges. General Mark stood and glared at Rabbit sitting on the floor and stomped forward with an angry look on her face. Rabbit was confused and went to stand up but he was stopped. A cruel fist struck Rabbits cheek.
“I will raise a fearless captain.” Marker’s balled fist connected with Rabbit’s opposite cheek. “I will mold the army that wins this war.” A steel boot kicked Rabbit in the ribs. “If you can’t kill then you’ll be killed, and I won’t have that.” Mark laid one more fist into the cheek of Rabbit who crumbled to the floor.
The only way that Marker could have found out about Rabbit’s resistance to being captain of the army and killing soldiers was if Aaron told her.
Marker paced in front of Rabbit and ran a hand through her short black hair, “In one month you will lead a garrison of troops up over the northern mountain pass and face off against the enemy, you will take no prisoners and continue down that path plundering every village you come across until you reach the capital of Mintz, where you will begin a siege of the city.” She quickly formulated a new plan once she finished communicating the current one, “If, however, you’re unable to even fight against the enemy, perhaps it’s a bad idea to send you.”
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Quickly, Rabbit thought of being sent back to Castle Bestia, “I haven’t ever fought in a war, is all.” Rabbit shyly looked away, hoping he maintained some sort of recognition with General Marker, at least enough to be kept in Fieldon.
“You’ll enter the gladiatorial contest at the Colosseum at the end of the week. That should prepare you for war.” Marker turned and began walking away, “Follow me.”
Rabbit struggled off the floor, still aching, and limped after Marker with a hand on his stomach. They walked out into the stone hallways and Rabbit noticed that they were headed in the direction of the outside training field.
During the walk Rabbit felt incredibly angry with Aaron for telling Marker about his disinterest in fighting. He’d probably never talk to Aaron again. Everyone in the city was absolutely terrible and Rabbit had nobody to trust. Something very slight in him told him it was still better than Bestia though.
“You’re schedule will include riding, fencing, mapping, and shooting. These activities will take up your day for the next month.”
Rabbit had trouble saddling a horse and felt uncomfortable riding as his weird feet needed new stirrups for sure.
The fencing was Rabbit’s favourite though, and he felt like he was getting better with every swing.
Sitting in the war room for long periods of time and memorizing the map gave Rabbit a headache.
Though Rabbit was getting better at shooting with a long bow he could never hit a consistent bull’s eye which upset him.
The days flew past with work and on the following week General Marker woke Rabbit up and said, “You’ll be entering the colosseum today.”