In vani it was unusual to have children actively training and working as palace guards.
Instead, the customary way of becoming one of the kingdom's official knights was to enroll in the annual examination, which was only available to soldiers aged fourteen and older.
During the examination, potential guards would go through a series of rigorous tests, both physical and ntal.
After the grueling week-long testing period, the top applicants would be invited to enter the palace directly while a secondary group would be granted the opportunity to train for a year at the palace before taking a slightly less grueling entry exam.
The final group of candidates were sent away with the instructions to return next year and try again.
There were so glaring expectations to this process, however.
The first of these was two children brought in by one of the kingdom's great generals, Itzae, who were raised on the training grounds of vani's palace from their early childhood years. Since the grounds weren't equipped for children, they received adult-level training from the beginning.
The second exception was the son of a famous soldier who was also allowed to enter the palace at a young age under the direction of his palace guard uncle, Barclay. He was allowed to take the examination at a young age and then granted imdiate entry into the knights after a year of additional training at the palace.
Though these kids were certainly envied by those who had to bide their ti until they could pass the exam properly, they were never treated rudely or scornfully by their fellow soldiers. In fact, anyone who ca to know General Itzae's two charming children (or Barclay's lively nephew) found them to be so of the most agreeable and talented soldiers of all.
Given their unique situation and irresistible likeability, the child soldiers grew up with the notion that the palace guards around them were their family and most trusted allies. While Kel and Dash had spent their early years alone on the streets and Leif without much attention from his busy father, they found a ho within the palace walls.
The older soldiers looked out for them and the younger ones looked up to them. As recompense for their lonely childhood years, they gained hundreds of new brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts.
Until the very end, Kel had felt that way about her forr colleagues--that they were people she could trust. The incident involving her companions abandoning her to be taken by Serin certainly put a damper on her fond feelings toward them, but it couldn't destroy the years of forged comradery between herself and the other vani knights.
With that unbreakable comradery filling her chest, Kel held perfectly still as Marcus's sword sliced through the air toward her.
The man's face was frozen with a grimace, but Kel could only see a smile--the sa one he'd worn each ti he ruffled her hair and told her 'good job, Kid'.
His blood red uniform was unfamiliar, but it was easy to picture the palace guard's uniform she had always seen him wearing.
While the other soldiers stood grouped around Marcus, each of their faces wearing a different unpleasant expression, Kel could imagine them gathered together underneath one of the palace's balconies, laughing as they passed bread and at around.
Her comrades.
Her most trusted allies.
Her family.
Swoosh!
The sword flew past Kel's ear, stopping just above her shoulder.
A sting suddenly shot through her arm, and she felt a tiny warm drop trail down her skin beneath the blade.
Well, the swing hadn't stopped exactly 'just above' her shoulder.
"You crazy-..why won't you move?!" Marcus cursed, throwing the sword to the ground. "Do you want to die!"
Imdiately, he dropped to his knees next to Kel, reaching for her still outstretched but now shaking arm.
"This cut is no joke, Kel," the man huffed, tearing a piece of scarlet fabric from the hem of his tunic.
His scolding sounded exactly as the ones in her mories. It sounded as if he was disciplining her for sneaking off with Dash to play rather than refusing to avoid his unfriendly sword.
The other soldiers stood in silence as the man wrapped the material around Kel's wound and tied it.
"Ha. Don't just stand there!" Marcus ordered, using his teeth to tug the makeshift bandage tight. "Get that boy!"
At once, the n moved toward where Taegus still lay helpless.
"No!" Kel pulled away from Marcus in an attempt to throw her body over the boy's. It was the only chance to protect him.
"And what do you think you're doing?"
Marcus growled in her ear as he caught her by the neck, pulling her back up.
The other soldiers hesitated montarily at the commotion. Perhaps, they still felt the sa sense of comradery toward Kel. Maybe enough for her to save her friend.
"Please," she choked, Marcus's fingers digging into her throat. "I'm begging you."
Marcus gazed at her intently. His eyes were full of anger but also sothing else... Pity?
"... Let her go," one of the other n spoke quietly, still hovering over Taegus's body.
Kel's eyes lit up. She had been right about them, after all. At least one of them rembered their bond.
"Seriously. You'll hurt her," the man spoke again, gently grasping Marcus's arm. "And you know what that ans for us."
Wait.
Sothing didn't feel quite right.
"You're right," Marcus finally released Kel, sending her tumbling backward in a fit of coughing. "Just leave that kid then. He'll be dead soon anyway."
"But, Marcus! We can't just-"
'I said," Marcus glowered at another soldier who had chid in, "leave him."
"Alright," the other man conceded, shaking his head.
It was obvious their orders were to leave no witnesses behind from their mission.
But what exactly was their mission? And what were they doing so close to the Serin empire's most fearso war camp?
"We've got Kel, let's just go," still another mber of the group agreed, producing a bundle of rope from his satchel. "You can use this, Marcus."
"That's not necessary," Marcus held up a hand to stop the man before turning his gaze back to Kel.
"You'll co obediently, right?"
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