Free Taken: The Life of Uktesh Book 3 by Aaron Hicks Page B

training you will be tested,” Three started softly.  Everyone could hear him easily, though they all strained forward to make sure they heard the next words.  “You are not warriors, you are not militia.  When you are done with your training you will return to your homes and life will return to normal, aside from an occasional patrol.  If the war comes to your home, you will be able to fight and defend that which is yours.  Sadly, most of you won’t make even make decent warriors,” he turned and pointed to Laurilli. “This girl could probably beat all of the lot of you in sword play.”  Murmurs arose from the crowd, the men to Laurilli’s right and left shot glances at her; some curious, most with more than a little heat.  “If you don’t believe me, then I challenge anyone with a wooden sword to outshine this radiant girl.  Girl, come up here.”
    Laurilli walked up to the stage thinking, this jackass is insane!  For all he knows I’m just wearing my fathers’ sword!
    I think there may be more than that.  He was probably goading you, and when you resisted he must’ve realized you’d been well trained.  
    That’s still not very comforting.
    She got to the stage and hopped up. Those who had not been able to see her suddenly knew the insult for what it was.  Soon one, then two, three, and four swordsmen with wooden swords moved toward the stage. Soon thirty-one people stood up on the stage.  Laurilli knew that they all had one thing on their minds; beat the cripple.  They cleared a space to fight, but before the situation got out of hand Thulmann stepped forward and said, “Of course, us being honorable Numbers, I’d be more than willing to play the role of gatekeeper.”
    Laurilli saw most of the men jump back off the stage, but Baloce remained, “What do I have to do to pass you, O’ Gatekeeper?”
    The crowd saw that it was a boy Laurilli’s age and they shouted, “Let them fight!  That’s as fair as it will get!”
    Thulmann’s jaw flexed several times before he laughed heartily and said, “A boy fighting a girl with one arm?  That’s entertainment you want to see?”  Scorn dripped almost palpably from his words.
    Someone in the back--Laurilli thought it sounded like Dekan--shouted, “Yeah,” into the sudden silence and after a pause the courtyard erupted into a wild cheer.  Thulmann was shaking with rage when he turned to her, “You don’t have to do this.”
    She took a deep breath and said, “I think I do.”
    Thulmann nodded, clearly not happy with the scene unfolding before him.  He walked back to where the other eight Numbers were standing, grabbed Three and threw him through the air to land in between Laurilli and Baloce.  Thulmann shouted, “You want a fight?  Instead of two beginners, will you accept a substitute of two of the best in Sinai?”
    The crowds’ roar of approval literally shattered the windows around the square.  Thulmann didn’t waste a moment. Suddenly his two swords were working their magic against Three’s staff.  Laurilli saw that her father, in his fury, that Three would risk injuring her, was making mistakes.  She shouted, “Calm down! You think Uktesh would’ve missed those mistakes!” 
    Thulmann paused, nodded to her, without taking his eyes off of Three, and pressed the attack again.  She backed away until she was standing with the remaining Numbers and watched.  It took much longer than Laurilli would have expected, and she more than understood how Three had earned his place in the Numbers, but with a loud crack Thulmann broke the staff and rested his sword at Three’s throat.  The crowd burst into cheers again, and started to chant, “Four!  Four!  Four!  Four!”  Laurilli hugged her father and was heading back to her group when Baloce jumped back on the stage and raised his hands for silence.
    He spun his wooden sword and shouted, “Let’s keep this party going!”  The crowd erupted in cheers again, and Laurilli