Furry-Within

He listened with rapt attention, Something about the lord Captain caught his attention.
my father?
   He knew very little about the man, only that he held some sort of important tittle. What ever it was, he was protected from it because his name was not even like his fathers.
  He had his mothers name, and a bastards last name. He took a deep breath, the smell of what ever he was smoking was slightly soothing. Calming his nervous anxiety.
     As short of a time he was here, he was starting to get the feel of the place. The images of Myzar that had formed in his head now shattered and scattered to the far winds.  Already most of the recruits stayed away from him. The tension around him where ever he went felt thick, So much so that he could cut it with a knife.
   Still he had his instruction's to fallow.Walking and watching as he Watched the one they called "Ormr" Admiring his prowess, As well as the only female to get in do her work.
  It wouldn't hurt to have friends like them, Strong, determined.  Wondering the yard for a while he looked for the one Called "Morristan". Though it didn't take long for him to find the old instructor. He stood back, watching the old man teach what little students he actually had. Puzzled slightly by the way he taught his class. From what little he had scene there didn't seem to be any set form or function in his teaching. Not that he had any right to judge the instructor.
  Finally seeing his opening he stepped forward speaking softly.
    "Instructor? The Lord Captain has assigned me to your class. I was sent to find you and inform you that the Lord Captain has sent me".

It didn't seem to matter much whether her attackers used weapons or not, the feline was consistently victorious against those she was pitted against.  Her trainer was less unkind as he was pitting her against more and more advanced attackers as if she were climbing a ladder of skill.  She was struggling to hold her own now as older and advanced recruits swung at her.

Her fur was blooded and matted in some areas but to look at her you'd think she hadn't sustained a scratch and that her muscles weren't screaming in pain with every movement.  The feline's face was calm and serene, not betraying a stray thought or emotion.  Her ears flicked in order to hear every sound that their was to hear from her opponent and if anyone was sneaking up behind her, which happened at least once.  She didn't hope or dream for a break, she didn't even think of one.

She just kept going.

Morristan was very proud of the girl, she was facing off against recruits that had trained for years under the Myrzar and was succeeding, she'd not lost a single match yet to his eyes. He clapped his hands when her match was finished and called her over to the bench to sit and have some water. So she could watch while some of the other recruits fought. "Very good, now sit . . . one of the most important lessons a Myrzar can learn . . . is to take in what others are capable of . . . these men will be your brothers. You must know their strengths and weaknesses or you'll never be able to help them nor they you when the time comes." Then he heard the Bastard come to him, he turned and looked at the boy. "Ahh . . . yes, the Bastard, so the Lord Captain wants me to train you? alright . . . get in the ring, let's see what you can do shall we?" He called over one of the other recruits who was unarmed and watching him closely. The Recruit came into the ring, grinning and got ready.

She nodded as she was finally allowed to sit.  She clutched a bit too tightly on a skin of water that had been produced, her claws still extended, but she was careful not to puncture the bladder.  She was very tired but she refused to yawn as she carefully watched the next fight begin with that panther who had fought the Lord Captain.  He didn't look to be in such great shape after the fight yesterday but no matter the injury one could still fight.

He looked into the ring. Shit!! more hand to hand???
  A soft little growl escaped his lips, This was something he didn't really train for.
he started to make his way to the ring. Stopping a short moment as he Touched the only other feline that was here.
  Gently he patted her on the shoulder. "Looking good out there, glad your on our side".
He didn't wait for a response, not wanting to draw trouble her way.
   Letting out a deep breath, he let it out slowly. Again moving his hands, never keeping them still.
      Thus the fight began, The fight itself was long. But it was clear the Wolf had more training then the panther. The panther himself was out classed, It seemed sheer willpower alone kept him getting up time and time again.
    The panthers movement's where a little stiff, he kept at it for as long as his body would. Each time he was knocked down he got back up, no matter how vicious the blow he took. But it was clear on the long run who the victor would be.

"Did you get that?" Ormr nodded. "Good. He has a point. You need to know the strengths and weaknesses of your allies, in order to know what plans will work, and what won't." His instructor said, as they walked past the training areas. He felt a little spoilt in comparison to the others-- while everyone else seemed to be training near-constantly, here he was taking breaks in between his physical training to speak with strategisers and tacticians. His mind, though, felt like it was about to explode; he was being instructed (or more like forced) to learn as much as he could about anything he witnessed here.

"Go ahead. Onto your next training set." His instructor told him, as they approached another sparring ring. Weapon combat-- something he wasn't too keen on, but had to learn nonetheless. He felt even less confident when his opponent stepped into the ring, wielding a rather large two-handed mace. He gulped, and just shucked on his training leathers, though he doubted they'd do much against the blunt weapon, and began to quickly go over the information in his mind.

[Blunt weapon... two handed.. heavy end... meaning lots of forceful swings and motions, but somewhat slow and--] His thoughts were interrupted as the fight started, and that mace came whizzing down at him. He ducked to the side, heading that thunderous 'THUMP' the head of the mace made into the ground, his eyes widening. [Holy shit!]

The Lord Captain was pleased. The recruits were proving their worth in the rings and around the tables, things were looking up. He moved to the first of the instructors, looking toward the recruits and then back to him and started whispering. He pointed vaguely toward the feline, the only girl in the recruits, and the Instructor nodded. Then he was off to the next one.

He came to the instructor the Bastard was under, and grinned watching the fight, he was tempted to say something . . . but thought better of it. He'd wounded the bastard enough already, and before their careers were done he'd end up hurting him  a lot more through his service. He whispered still, to the instructor just as he had with the rest. Again pointing vaguely toward the ring. Then moved on once again.

He finally came to the tacticians, and whispered a conversation to the instructors, apparently the hybrid was talented at putting troops in the way of his opponents, flanking them without the opponent knowing. He had a talent for it, and for dodging strikes from enemies. The Instructor says he seemed to calculate the foe's moves in the instant they are performed, he could use someone like that . . . he made sure the instructor knew that. By tonight he'd be dining with a small group in a special room, telling them they're going to put their lives on the line from morning to evening each day . . . possibly killing hundreds of people a year.

The morning and afternoon went on like that, The first few hours where torture as they pushed him through hand to hand, Finally moving up through various weapons to test his prowess.
  But like is hand to hand, his spear work, shield work, bow work.Where almost all Amateur at best.
All but his bladed skill work  was exceptional. Progressing pretty quickly it was almost clear what his style was. The blades in his hands moved almost like water, an extension of himself. When he held a blade.. any blade he felt as if the whole world faded into nothing. All that mattered where the blades in his hands, and his opponent in front of him.
  Finally when the instructor was satisfied he was allowed to rest. His thick fur covered in sweat. His body smelling like a primal savage, But it felt good.
  But the news of a his dinner taking else ware and not in the common area with everyone else disturbed him a little.
  He took a bucket of water, drinking deeply as he moved around to watch. His two picks seemed to do very well. The only female, and the one they called "Ormr" watching the fight against the other trainee with the mace for a short while.
   Dinner was fast approaching, Wanting to get cleaned up he inquired about that. Until they pointed him out to a small lake for that purpose.
   It didn't take him long, nor did he want to linger in the frigged waters. He was quick to dress and dry before heading to where he needed to be. Standing outside that door for a long long moment...

Her clothes were barely still capable of clinging to her body as she approached the lake.  Arashi didn't notice her as she slunk over to the shallows a kilometer or so out of his way to ensure that she wouldn't be seen as she peeled the rags very slowly off of her body.  First she submerged herself in the frigid lake just enough so that when she was crouched her shoulders were wet.  She loathed the feeling even as the blood left her matted fur.  She took a bit longer to groom than others as she wanted to make sure that she didn't appear wounded as she arrived for dinner.  After her body was clean she shook herself off and set to work rinsing the rags very carefully so she had something to wear to the private dinner she was informed about.

Finally she was ready and she walked back, he fur drying as she ran swiftly to the location she was instructed off and managed to arrive without being too late.

He was tired, dead tired, after everything he'd been through. It felt like he'd been training for a good week or so, and his body ached with pains that hadn't dared surface in his life with the couple. Not to mention that mace-wielding brute had landed a couple good hits to his ribs. He winced as he placed a hand to them-- the healers promised him that they were fine, but he felt broken and battered inside despite it all.

Still, he felt proud after today. It wasn't like any of the information wasn't being retained-- he could run over any scenario against any of the people he'd fought today, and was able to pick out what had worked, what didn't, and what he'd need to do better, or work on. He was about to head back to the hall to eat with everyone else when one of the trainers had stopped him.

"Ah, Ormr was it? Come, come." His tactical instructor told him, as he found himself being led off elsewhere. He didn't quite understand, but he was too tired to complain. When he found himself standing amongst a small group of the recruits from the whole, he turned to ask his question but his trainer was gone. He looked back again. The King's bastard was there, and so was that feline. Both of them had been doing extremely well in their training-- there had been whispers of it going around. So what were they all doing here?

A guard soon approached the gathered group and opened the door near them and motioned for them to go inside. The room beyond them was a small dining room with a few top officers standing around near a long banquet table covered in food just like the first night they had been there. Unlike the normal food during training it was fresh, brand new and carefully crafted cuisine, not simply salted meats, hard breads and thick mead.

Mikkaddo was with the officers and nodded as they spoke, then the Officers all left and he followed them to the door. Closing it behind the recruits that had been led here. He silently walked to his seat at the table and sat down. Then, looking at the recruits said "Please . . . take your seats at my table . . . you are to join something special . . . you are all Myrzar, your training has proved that . . . but now, you are beyond simply a Myrzar. I will take you on missions . . . and you will be something else entirely."

he looked about at the banquet set out before them. The smells of it lingering int he air. Yet, there was something about it not quite right. A feeling of foreboding perhaps?
    Only kings ate this way, But it had a feeling as if this may be his last meal. He listened like the rest of them. Picking a seat opposite of the lord Captain on the far end of the table. Yet he didn't touch any food. Not quite yet, Out of all those in the yard, those he sized up. Only the strongest where here.  Both hands tucked in his lap, a thousand question played through his head.
   It is only a bad soldier that question's his Captain.
  That bit of advice ran through his head, What ever it was.. It must be for the good of the realm. At least that's what he hoped anyways. He watched the others as he took a bit of fresh bread. Slowly chewing it, he took his time. Waiting for the lord captain to elaborate more.. As was bound to happen. The others must be curious as well... He'd bide his time and wait for them to start asking.

He'd never eaten anything this fancy before. The mere sight of it made him feel somewhat overwhelmed by its presence. He wasn't about to complain about it; his stomach rumbled hungrily at the sight before him. Still--

He sat himself down, and blinked. Something else? He took a good look around and began to take a mental inventory. The only people here weren't just those who were doing well in their respective fields, but who were excelling. Separation from the main group, high class treatment, meeting with the Lord Captain himself?

This had to be a joke. A trick. Or it was real. There was far, far more running behind the scenes than he knew. And it all fell into place. Those rumors, the leads-- could he have been part of this as well?

She spent a very long moment at the door in hesitation.  The feline was in a new environment with new rules and she was uncomfortable having to guess at what the correct thing to do was.  Her heart raced as she firmly took a step forward and when no one stopped her she sat at the closest chair in a few quick fluid motions.  She didn't touch the food though as she just looked at her lord captain with an expressionless face.

The only sign of the feline's anxiety was her tail that entwined itself thoroughly around the chair that she sat on.  Her nostrils didn't even twitch as the delicious scents filled it nor did her eyes blink unnecessarily.  She just waited as if her brain was completely void of all thoughts.

They were not all eating yet, well it was a strange situation to put them in. "All of you need to eat . . . and get used to it, this is the food you will be eating from now on. As a Myrzar, you are the guardians of the Royalty and the people of this Kingdom. As one of my operatives, you will be going to other countries. Look upon your comrades, you are more than Myrzar now . . . as of now, you are all officially Banners. Warriors, Assassins, and otherwise talented individuals that are sent into the fogs of war . . ."

He grinned at them, taking a large goblet, "The Soldiers are sent to battle . . . we are sent to the castles . . . where the soldiers kill each other, we work behind the scenes to make sure as few of them die as possible." He looked across them,  "A Tactician . . . who will be able to study the movements of people in the other kingdoms, a woman, lithe and agile, able to move almost without a sound . . . to make certain we are not heard." He turned once more. "And of course . . . the King's Bastard . . . able to withstand anything that is thrown at him." He chuckled darkly, "The three of you . . . are my Banners, and the four of us . . . will work to end every war that threatens Asrath, or that she ends up in.