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Someone had already set up and for a second, she pitied the poor sod who’d been up even before the shieldbearers. She’d take clean-up duty in the armoury any day over set-up duty before dawn.

Racks of weapons had been laid out along the edges of the clearing. Spears, longbows, crossbows, throwing stars, slings and quivers of arrows stood waiting for them. Pieces of parchment with thick painted targets had been pinned to the trees.

Thea was just as aggressive as Kipp and Cal in shoving her way to the front of the group so she could see everything up close. This was different to being in the armoury or in a sparring session – she was finally going to wield real steel.

Torj the Bear Slayer crossed his arms over his considerably muscled chest, leathers creaking, and waited. His mere presence was powerful enough to demand silence,his build as imposing as the other Warswords.

His piercing blue gaze skimmed across them, pausing on Thea for a moment with a flash of recognition. He offered her a subtle nod of greeting before focusing back on the group before him.

‘Our purpose today is twofold,’ he stated without ceremony. ‘First, you will learn the nature of the totem you will be instructed to seek in your shieldbearer initiation test.’ The golden-haired warrior held one between his fingers.

Thea licked her lips as she studied it: a pair of crossed swords, the emblem that signified the first rank of a Thezmarrian warrior:Guardian.

‘These are worn by every Guardian in our forces on their right arm. However, those of you who are new to our units may not know that these totems are more than just a symbol of rank within Thezmarr. All are imbued with an echo of ancient magic that allows them to recognise any worthy warrior. During your initiation test, the totems will call to those destined for Thezmarr’s guild, emitting a signal to deserving shieldbearers only. Once you have one, it is yours for life. Without one, you are no Guardian of the midrealms, no warrior of Thezmarr. When the time comes for your trial, you will find them in the most unlikely of places, in situations that will challenge you. Fail that challenge, and you no longer belong amidst our ranks.’

The Warsword’s words weighed heavy on Thea and she suddenly itched to move, to train. There was no point in standing idle when there was a totem somewhere out there, waiting to test her worth.

Torj cleared his throat. ‘So with that said, we are also here today to ensure you find a preferred weapon. For those of you who are already inclined towards something particular, follow your instinct.’ His eyes landed on Cal as he said this. ‘For those who are less experienced, I urge you to try several and determine what feels most right to you. We have the entire morning at our disposal, so take your time. Thezmarr is not interested in Guardians who rushed through the basics only to discover they can’t shoot for shit later.’

One or two shieldbearers laughed.

‘Is it true that Warswords are masters of all weaponry?’ Thea asked loudly, half expecting to have her head bitten off.

‘Yes,’ Torj replied.

An awed silence followed.

Until Thea spoke again. ‘Will you give us a demonstration?’

‘What?’

‘A demonstration.’

Torj stared at her, his brow furrowed as he considered her request.

Thea panicked.Gods, have I insulted him? Asking him to perform like some act in a troupe? I should have kept my big mouth shut. Wren’s right. I bring myself nothing but trouble.

A wide, unexpected grin split across the Warsword’s face, the expression almost appearing a little manic with those ice-blue eyes. He strode to one of the racks and slid a spear from its position.

Thea blinked just in time to see a blur of movement streaking through the thicket.

A loud thud sounded.

Thea gazed with the rest of her cohort where the spear was deeply embedded in the target, right on the bullseye, its end still wobbling from the sheer force of Torj’s throw.

Mouth hanging open, she turned back to the Warsword, only to find him nocking an arrow to a longbow. Thea was struck by how powerful the warrior looked as he drew the string, his chest expanding as he did; an unwelcome reminder of Hawthorne’s prowess, punctuated by gentle touches.

The arrow whistled as it carved through the air.

Another thud sounded as it, too, hit the target.

Someone let out an additional noise of appreciation, and a moment later, Thea saw why. The arrow had shaved off a piece of the spear’s timber as it had shot into the target.

Before they could turn back, a trio of throwing stars flew between the trees, whipping so close past a shieldbearer that they sheared several loose threads from his cloak before piercing the mark in a perfect semi-circle around the arrow and spear.

‘Is that demonstration enough for you?’ Torj asked smugly.

He was met with only awed stares. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Get to it.’