Free Shadows of Men (The Watchers Book 1) by M. Lee Holmes Page A

tip.  “And send someone to fetch the beast’s carcass.  That fur will make a splendid coat for me.”  She halfway smiled as she turned, bent down to lift her discarded bow from the ground and began to walk away. 
    Suddenly, she stopped and turned back around to Terryn and said; “and never enter these woods again until you’ve had proper training with that bow.”  He ha

Chapter 6
     
    R hada emerged from the shadows of the forest with a smile upon her face.  She knew the King was an impatient man and keeping him waiting would only make him angry, but that did not stop her from heading towards the training grounds first to tell Mayvard about the beast she had just killed.  She spotted him and quickly made her way towards him.
                  Mayvard was standing in the center of the training pit, holding a sword tightly with both hands.  He was slowly swinging it at a training dummy, showing the new recruits the proper way to swing a blade.
                  “Keep your grip firm upon the blade.” She heard him saying as she approached.  Not wanting to disturb Mayvard’s lesson, she leaned against a post and listened.  “If you do not have a good hold on your sword, it will fly out of your hands upon striking your enemy.  And a soldier without a sword is soldier without a head.  During battle, it is likely you will be running at your enemy.  A sideways slice is the best way to strike while in motion.  Though it most likely will not kill your opponent, it will be enough to slow them down so you can do a proper forward thrust.”  Mayvard proceeded to demonstrate his instruction.  He ran towards the dummy with full force and with the precision of a skilled warrior, swung his blade to the side and sliced along the chest of the dummy.  Its cloth shirt ripped open, spilling straw onto the ground.  When Mayvard regained his footing, he thrust the blade forward, jabbing the dummy right where its heart would have been if it were a living man.
                  The recruits began applauding their teacher.  He stood up tall and when he turned to face them his eyes fell upon Rhada and he ducked down into a low bow.  The recruits turned towards her and followed Mayvard’s example. 
                  “Madam Protector.”  He said in acknowledgment and a small chorus of ‘madam protector’ from the recruits followed.
                  “As you were.”  She commanded as she stepped forward to place the bow back on the weapon rack.
                  “Take a moment for rest.”  Mayvard said to the recruits and they all walked to the soft grass at once and found a place to sit.
                  “I take it hunting was a success?”  Mayvard said when he noticed the dried blood of the shadow beast that painted her face.
                  Rhada grinned proudly and nodded.  “I followed the beast most of the morning and found its lair.  There is another beast, smaller, most likely the female, and three young cubs.”
                  “You followed the shadow beast without it taking notice of you?”  Mayvard asked in amazement.
                  Rhada nodded again.  “I can be quite stealthy when I want to.”  She reached up and rubbed at the sticky blood on her forehead.  I will have to wash it away before presenting myself to the King.
                  “How did you kill it?”  Mayvard asked impatiently, waiting for the rest of the story.
                  “It heard something approaching its den and left to defend its family.  I chased after it.”
                  “What did it hear?”
                  Rhada’s smile faded.  She looked out to the forest’s edge and saw Terryn emerging, dragging her sword upon the ground, apparently unable to carry its weight.
                  “Him.”  Rhada nodded towards Terryn and