Page 30 of Frostforge, Passage Four

Water parted beneath the wooden hull, gleaming like polished obsidian in the early morning light.

Thalia dipped her paddle with practiced precision, her muscles remembering the rhythm from countless hours spent training on the fjord.

Behind her, the four first-years matched her pace, their strokes cutting through the glassy surface with varying degrees of confidence.

She glanced over her shoulder at the other canoes fanning out across the water, each carrying a third-year mentor and their assigned recruits.

The northern shore loomed ahead, its rocky beach giving way to dense pine forest that climbed the steep mountainside like an army advancing uphill.

Thalia's chest tightened with a familiar tension — not quite fear, not quite excitement, but that peculiar blend that had become her constant companion at Frostforge.

"Keep it steady," she called softly to Felah, who sat directly behind her. The Southern girl's paddle wavered slightly with each stroke, threatening to turn their canoe off course. "That's it. Find your rhythm."

Felah nodded, her short curls bouncing with the motion. Her dark skin gleamed with a thin sheen of sweat despite the morning chill. The girl had grown stronger over the term, but her nerves still betrayed her at critical moments.

"Anyone see Brynn's team?" Daniel asked from his position in the middle of the canoe. His bronze skin had darkened further during their outdoor training, and his black hair whipped around his face in the light breeze.

Rasmus snorted from behind him. "Probably trying to cut us off at the eastern inlet. She likes to be clever."

Thalia allowed herself a small smile at the Northern boy's assessment.

There was none of the disdain that had colored his early interactions with the Southern recruits.

The incident with the capsized skiff had changed something fundamental between them.

When Daniel and Felah had risked themselves to pull Rasmus from the churning waters two weeks ago, old prejudices had begun to dissolve.

Only Sigrid, manning the rear paddle, maintained her cold distance. The copper-haired Northern girl performed her duties with precision but seldom joined in conversations. Her freckled face remained impassive as she scanned the water behind them.

"Calloway's falling back," Sigrid reported, her voice clipped.

Thalia twisted to look. Instructor Calloway's canoe glided gracefully several lengths behind the student formation.

The Northern woman's silver-streaked dark hair was pulled back in a severe braid, her icy blue eyes watchful as she guided her craft with minimal effort.

Beside her sat Kaine, his broad shoulders and muscular arms making his paddle look like a child's toy in his hands, and Marr, his glass-strand cloak rippling like the water beneath the canoe.

Kaine and Marr had volunteered to aid Calloway in the administration of this final Command Challenge.

"Eyes forward," Thalia reminded herself as much as her team. "We're almost there."

The water grew shallow, the canoe's bottom scraping against the first of the submerged stones. Thalia raised her paddle. "Prepare to disembark."

As their canoe slid onto the pebble-strewn shore, Thalia leapt out first, the cold water swirling around her boots. She grabbed the bow and pulled, steadying the craft as her first-years climbed out one by one. The wooden hull wobbled precariously with each shifting weight.

"Careful," she cautioned as Felah nearly lost her balance. Daniel caught the smaller girl's elbow, stabilizing her. Rasmus and Sigrid disembarked with the practiced ease of Northerners who had grown up around boats.

Around them, other teams were making their landings.

Some emerged dripping from capsized canoes, their leaders barking commands to salvage what gear they could.

Brynn's team had indeed reached shore first, already assembling in a tight formation at the tree line.

Brynn caught Thalia's eye and offered a curt nod — not friendly, but no longer laced with the pure contempt of their early days.

The sky overhead had begun to change. What had been scattered clouds were merging into a continuous gray canopy, darker at its western edge. A natural storm approached, not one of Instructor Morrow's manufactured tempests.

Calloway's canoe cut through the water with perfect efficiency, arriving last but most gracefully.

The instructor stepped ashore without so much as dampening the hem of her heavy coat.

Kaine followed, scanning the gathered students with a critical eye before his gaze settled briefly on Thalia.

The corner of his mouth twitched — not quite a smile, but an acknowledgment.

"Gather round," Calloway called, her voice carrying across the beach without apparent effort. The students formed a semicircle before her, squad leaders at the front with their first-years clustered behind them.

Thalia positioned her team carefully, keeping them close enough to hear but with clear sight lines to potential threats. Even in training exercises, vigilance had become second nature.

"This is the final trial of the Command Challenge," Calloway announced, her pale hands clasped behind her back. "Fourth-years, your performance today will determine your final rankings, which, as you know, will significantly impact your military placement upon graduation."

A murmur rippled through the assembled students. Thalia’s hands tightened into fists. This was her chance to make up for her prior failures, for the sabotage Einar and his friends had inflicted. This was her chance to prove herself.

"The objective is simple," Calloway continued.

"You will ascend to the summit." She gestured toward the mountain that rose behind her, its peak obscured by the gathering clouds.

"Instructor Marr will await you there and will be recording the order of finish.

The first team to reach the marker at the top gains maximum points.

Each subsequent arrival receives progressively fewer. "

Thalia studied the terrain. The climb looked brutal — steep in places, with dense forest giving way to rockier terrain near the top. Nothing they hadn't trained for, but challenging nonetheless.

"This will be a free-for-all exercise," Calloway added, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "You may engage rival teams. Disable, delay, distract — all fair tactics. The usual safety protocols apply. No permanent injury, no deliberate damage to essential gear."

Beside Thalia, Daniel shifted his weight nervously. She placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Weather conditions may prove... interesting," Calloway noted, glancing at the darkening sky. "Consider it an additional variable in your tactical planning."

The instructor's gaze swept across the students. "You have ten minutes to prepare. Begin."

The semicircle dissolved as teams huddled together, checking gear and strategizing. Thalia led her first-years to a spot near their beached canoe, out of earshot from the nearest competitors.

"Inventory check," she ordered quietly. "Weapons, water, emergency supplies."

Her squad began methodically reviewing their equipment. Thalia watched their movements, noting with approval how much more efficient they'd become since their first training exercise months ago.

"What's our approach?" Rasmus asked, tightening the straps on his pack. "Direct assault or flanking route?"

Thalia considered the question, studying the mountainside. "Most teams will take the obvious central path," she said. "It's steeper but more direct. We'll skirt northeast, using the tree line for cover. It's longer but less trafficked."

Sigrid frowned. "Brynn will have the same idea. Her team's already eyeing that route."

"Then we stay flexible," Thalia decided.

"Start northeast, but be prepared to adapt.

Our advantage is our cohesion." She looked each of them in the eye.

"We move as one unit, cover each other's weaknesses.

Daniel, you're our best climber — you'll scout short distances ahead when needed.

Felah, your detection skills are crucial — watch for traps or ambushes.

Rasmus, Sigrid — your combat skills will be our defense. "

The Northern pair nodded, grudging respect in their expressions.

"And you?" Daniel asked.

"I'll coordinate and adapt our strategy as needed." Thalia glanced at the sky. "That storm's moving faster than I expected. Be prepared for rain, limited visibility, and slippery terrain."

As her team checked their ice-metal weapons and adjusted their packs, Thalia studied the other squads. Brynn's team moved with practiced precision, their gear minimal, optimized for speed. Einar's team was well-outfitted, all equipped with full armor and two-handed swords.

"Time!" Calloway's voice rang out. "Take your positions at the starting line."

Teams assembled along an invisible line at the edge of the forest. Thalia led her squad to a spot that aligned with their planned northeastern route, deliberately positioning them away from Einar's team.

Kaine stood beside Calloway now, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the students. When his gaze passed over Thalia, she thought she saw a flicker of something — concern, perhaps, or a warning. Before she could interpret it, Calloway raised her arm.

"The Command Challenge final trial begins..." The instructor paused, building tension. "Now!"

Teams surged forward into the treeline, immediately diverging as they chose different routes up the mountain. Thalia led her squad at a controlled run, navigating between the dense pines.

"Stay tight," she called over her shoulder. The ground already sloped steeply upward, demanding powerful strides and careful footing. Pine needles created a treacherous carpet underfoot, simultaneously soft and slippery.