3 months later at the war games.

“Caden!  Good to see you, it’s been far too long!” came a voice as the Ventris family entered the temporary tent city on the hill overlooking the forest and plains which were to be used for the war games.

“Alric, how’s everything with you and your family,” replied Caden with a smile as he greeted the head of the Joran family.  “Ah here comes Edward with his family as well.” He said as he greeted the head of the Killian family.

“Caden, Alric good to see you two!” bellowed Edward as he greeted the two.  “It’s been a while.  A bit too long I think.”  He beamed as he smiled at his friends.  Soon they were chatting when another family entered the tent city.

“Lord Goodard, good to see you again.”  Called out Caden.  Like always, he didn’t get a reply however he get a courteous small bow.

Then from behind him came a voice, “What have we here, it looks like the Ventris family and company.”  Two men stepped forward to snicker at Caden.  Alric and Edwards stepped forward to say something but Caden stopped them with a hand on their shoulders, Goodard frowned but didn’t say anything.

“It’s good to see you to Lords Restav and Draco.”  Replied Caden as he patted his friends’ shoulders to get them to back him up.  “Best of luck to you on the field.”

“Best of luck?  Hahaha!  You must be joking.”  Lord Draco laughed as he led Lord Restav away.

When they were far enough away Alric grimaced.  “He’s never learned the concept of sportsmanship.  Someone should take him down a notch or two.”

“So where’s your son Caden?  I hear he’s growing up to be a fine lad!” Edward slapped Caden on the back as they walked off to the nearest restaurant to catch up on old times over some hot food and drinks.  But before they took more than two steps Caden stopped and turned.

“Goodard, you coming or not?”

“Perhaps next time.  There is much too still prepare for.”  Lord Goodard gave a slight bow before heading off to his area.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Next time then,” smiled Caden as he turned to follow his friends.

The next morning found all six of the families in the main tent overlooking the field.  Today’s exercise was between the Ventris and the Draco families.  As always it consisted of one hundred per side meeting on a field where they would meet in combat.  All weapons were blunted so that casualties were kept to a minimum with only leather armor allowed.  The hundred Draco guards faced off against the hundred Ventris guards.  Soon the two appointed leaders of the troops met in the middle of the field.  Although a bit odd, it had become a test of strength for the Draco guards who would send their leader to face off against the opponent’s leader before the two sides actually met in combat.  The two looked over each other as they waited for the signal to start.

“Hmm, who do you think will win this little bout?”  asked Alric as he looked over the two men from where they sat.

“Commander Christof will,” came the reply from a boy sitting to the right of Caden.

“Ooohhh, if it isn’t young Master Hiro!” smiled Edward as he looked over at him, “Why do you say that?”

“Three hits, that’s all he’s going to need.  A knee to the chest, an elbow to his cheek and an uppercut to his chin.”

“Ah the certainty of youth,” chuckled Alric before he heard the cry of the game overseer to start.  But what happened next stunned everyone into standing in disbelief – all except for Caden and Hiro.  The leader of Draco’s guards was down on the ground after exactly three hits. 

"Che...dammit he's still able to twitch so that means he's still alive," Christof spat as he swatted away some imaginary lint on his shoulder.

All exactly as Hiro said before; a knee to the chest and an elbow to the cheek followed by an uppercut to his chin.  The overseer shook his head at this before he sent out some men to check.  Sure enough the Draco leader was unconscious; they grabbed his legs and unceremoniously dragged him off the field to the healers.  This had never happened before so the Draco guards looked at each other before someone finally came forward as the temporary leader.  He and Christof said a few words before they both went back to their respective groups.

A few minutes later both sides faced off and charged at each other.  It was mass chaos…no rather it was mass genocide, followed by a sprinkling of mass destruction with a garnish of mass devastation.  Within fifteen minutes all of the guards from Draco were on the floor.  Some were still vomiting, some were groaning in pain, some were unconscious and some had even soiled themselves.

Christof and his men formed up in front of the group on the floor in various states.

“GODS ALMIGHTY, THIS SMELLS RANK!  WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT WHITE SHIT YOU MAGGOT?!!  IS THAT MILK FROM YOUR MAMA’S TITTIES??!!  YOU’RE STILL DRINKING FROM THAT FLOPPY SACK?  GET UP LIKE REAL MEN, WE ONLY TAPPED YOU A FEW TIMES!!!  YOU GOD DAMNED WORMS! ARE YOU ALL PUSSIES WITH NO BALLS??!!!”

Needless to say, what spewed forth from their mouths had people in awe.