you otherwise — there is only one word here — my word. There is only one law here, and that is the law of Tirguard — which is the law you will follow during your stay here.” He paused again and paced slowly to the front corner of the classroom. “You see, some of you … who arrived through MacArthur, may think you can travel unchecked. However, I am here to inform you that he has been detained … and you will now only move back and forth through me, by appointment. No exceptions!” he shrilled.
Auren and Ethan glanced at each other while whispering broke out within the classroom, which was immediately interrupted.
“If … you have a concern with this, I will be most happy to escort you down to the prison, where you may tell your woes and sorrows to a cellmate … of your choosing.” The class quieted down. “No questions? Good, I will move along then,” he said smugly. “There are a few things to keep in mind. For those of you who wish to spend any amount of time in Tirguard, know that thirty years here is equivalent to one year in Enterom. For those of you who remain uneducated…,” he peered over at Auren, “Enterom is where you came from, the other side of the Oroborus, so to speak,” he smiled, curling his lip.
Ethan grew more uncomfortable as Heinrich continued his lesson. “Some of you have interest in joining the Guard. Trust me when I say that the reward is great. If you excel in the Guard, you will have an opportunity to join with one of the armies of Tirguard. And, if lucky, could serve directly under myself … here,” continued Heinrich. “We have the most imperative job … here, in the army of Tirguard. We protect the city from the Mitan race. They are a murderous group. Outside the city walls, they have destroyed, pillaged, and hunted animal, beast, and man. For those of you that think travel is easy, let me inform you that you will not find horses in Tirguard — all are dead. Hunted down and killed by the Mitans. When they ran out of animals and beasts to hunt, they started hunting men. If you do find a creature in the wild, be wary, because it was most likely too difficult for a Mitan hunter to kill.” Heinrich peered around the classroom to look for a reaction.
“Now then, write your name, your family’s surname, and the town in which you reside on the parchment in front of you — indicate if you have interest in the Guard. After completion, take a copy of our laws which you will … abide by, and be on your way. Any questions? No? Good.” Heinrich turned on a heel, opened the door, and walked out.
“Well then,” said Auren. “That was fun. He seemed tightly wound to me, did he seem tightly wound to you?”
“Yeah — but what about MacArthur?” asked Ethan.
The boy with the decent-sized armor bag looked over at Ethan. “You lot are a distraction. Do yourselves a favor … leave.” He got up and placed his finished parchment on the front desk, took a copy of the laws, hurled his armor bag over his shoulder and walked out the door.
“Well then, we just made another friend,” said Auren quietly.
“You won’t last one day here,” threatened Marcus as he placed his parchment on the desk and headed through the door.
Ethan looked over to Availia. “Sorry about that. I hope we didn’t ruin your chances of getting in the Guard.”
“Well, my sister is one of the highest-ranking squad captains here, so I think I may still have a chance. But maybe it’s best to keep to ourselves for now, just in case,” said Availia, who was secretly disappointed.
Ethan and Auren agreed; they brought their parchment to the front and each took a copy of the laws before making their way out the door. Heinrich was waiting just outside for them.
“Can’t believe we have to take more classes from this buffoon before leaving the city,” whispered Auren.
“Considering he put MacArthur in prison, now we don’t have any way of getting back — well, don’t think we have any
Auren and Ethan glanced at each other while whispering broke out within the classroom, which was immediately interrupted.
“If … you have a concern with this, I will be most happy to escort you down to the prison, where you may tell your woes and sorrows to a cellmate … of your choosing.” The class quieted down. “No questions? Good, I will move along then,” he said smugly. “There are a few things to keep in mind. For those of you who wish to spend any amount of time in Tirguard, know that thirty years here is equivalent to one year in Enterom. For those of you who remain uneducated…,” he peered over at Auren, “Enterom is where you came from, the other side of the Oroborus, so to speak,” he smiled, curling his lip.
Ethan grew more uncomfortable as Heinrich continued his lesson. “Some of you have interest in joining the Guard. Trust me when I say that the reward is great. If you excel in the Guard, you will have an opportunity to join with one of the armies of Tirguard. And, if lucky, could serve directly under myself … here,” continued Heinrich. “We have the most imperative job … here, in the army of Tirguard. We protect the city from the Mitan race. They are a murderous group. Outside the city walls, they have destroyed, pillaged, and hunted animal, beast, and man. For those of you that think travel is easy, let me inform you that you will not find horses in Tirguard — all are dead. Hunted down and killed by the Mitans. When they ran out of animals and beasts to hunt, they started hunting men. If you do find a creature in the wild, be wary, because it was most likely too difficult for a Mitan hunter to kill.” Heinrich peered around the classroom to look for a reaction.
“Now then, write your name, your family’s surname, and the town in which you reside on the parchment in front of you — indicate if you have interest in the Guard. After completion, take a copy of our laws which you will … abide by, and be on your way. Any questions? No? Good.” Heinrich turned on a heel, opened the door, and walked out.
“Well then,” said Auren. “That was fun. He seemed tightly wound to me, did he seem tightly wound to you?”
“Yeah — but what about MacArthur?” asked Ethan.
The boy with the decent-sized armor bag looked over at Ethan. “You lot are a distraction. Do yourselves a favor … leave.” He got up and placed his finished parchment on the front desk, took a copy of the laws, hurled his armor bag over his shoulder and walked out the door.
“Well then, we just made another friend,” said Auren quietly.
“You won’t last one day here,” threatened Marcus as he placed his parchment on the desk and headed through the door.
Ethan looked over to Availia. “Sorry about that. I hope we didn’t ruin your chances of getting in the Guard.”
“Well, my sister is one of the highest-ranking squad captains here, so I think I may still have a chance. But maybe it’s best to keep to ourselves for now, just in case,” said Availia, who was secretly disappointed.
Ethan and Auren agreed; they brought their parchment to the front and each took a copy of the laws before making their way out the door. Heinrich was waiting just outside for them.
“Can’t believe we have to take more classes from this buffoon before leaving the city,” whispered Auren.
“Considering he put MacArthur in prison, now we don’t have any way of getting back — well, don’t think we have any
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