When the caravan finally came to a stop, Yin had calmed himself down in preparation for the fight he was going to have. Was he even ready for it? He really wasn’t sure, but it didn’t matter he had to step up to do it. If he couldn’t do this, how was he going to be able to step up into the Sect tryouts. This was just as much about confidence he reasoned as it was his physical skills.

  After everything was set up for camp, Yin walked with Leif to the gathering of camp guards, the same ones from last time. Liú seeing the captain, quickly shot to his feet and all the other guards did. Seeing Yin with the captain, earned worried looks, from what Yin knew their lives had been unpleasant for the last few weeks. Seeing him they might have thought things were going to get worse.

  The guard who had delivered his beating to Yin was there, after a few weeks his face had mostly returned to normal. Anger still simmered in those eyes, and he wasn’t trying to hide it. ‘Lucky for him then’ Yin could only think, knowing what Leif was going to make happen.

  “Alright. We are going to end a few things before we get to Valecroft. Your punishment is over with less food and extra watch shifts.” Audible breaths were released with that from the guards and a few hopeful smiles.

  “You all act like that again, and you’re gone or I’ll kill you myself. Understand me?” “

  “Yes Captain!”

  The response from all the guards came in unison. Leif nodded, satisfied, then his eyes focused on the guard he had punched. “Guard member Gāng come forward.”

  Now Yin had a name for the name, something he could have asked weeks ago. At the time it didn’t seem to matter, all that mattered was what happened and how to push forward. Not only that, but he was going to leave the caravan eventually and if he pressed forward then he would leave Gāng well behind, right now however he was very much right in front of him.

  “I’ve thought a lot about what to do with you. You’ve been punished like everyone, but you also went too far in what was supposed to be a spar. You tried to dictate our guest’s life first so I’m going to put your life in his hands for the moment.”

  That caught Yin off guard, he had just expected a spar, not all of this. Quickly looking to Leif as the man looked to him. Those blue eyes unreadable now, as he watched Yin.

  “So, will you have him kicked from the Caravan? Or will you allow him to stay on and work here?”

  “Capta_”

  Gāng began to yell out but was silenced with a look from Leif and quickly shut his mouth. Those eyes that had been filled with anger now looked at Yin pleadingly. Yin had been in situations like this before. Remembered how such looks meant nothing to him and had someone like Gāng done something to him similar in that past journey…

  “He should be able to stay.”

  His eyes met Leif’s, he didn’t know what type of person he would be in a few years. Right now, though, he wanted to at least do the right thing. Or what he felt was right, at that moment.

  Leif nods, then smirks and then laughs drawing confused looks from everyone. Seeing the tall guard captain laugh like that would perhaps be recorded in the annals of history; it was so rare.

  “You’re all so serious. I wasn’t going to let Yin decide someone’s fate he has already been paid in compensation. Watching you squirm Gāng was worth it though, so remember that next time you act up.”

  In that moment in unison, without a word spoken between all the guards and Yin they all agreed the captain truly was evil.

  “Alright, now to the serious business. Gāng if you want to move on, then you and Yin are going to spar. I’m going to give you the choice of whether you want to use your spear or fight hand to hand which Yin will be fighting. No wrong answers, he will have to get used to both.”

  Admittedly, Yin was more nervous about fighting against the spear, there was no getting around the advantage a weapon had. Leif had drilled in how to maneuver against one, but he had to accept he was going to be at a disadvantage. Still, whatever Gāng decided he would do it.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Hand to hand.”

  That statement caught Yin off guard, but looking at the other man he figured he knew why. With the anger still in his eyes, that the man just wanted to get his hand on him and beat him down.

  “Hand to hand it is, you two get ready and let’s get this over with.”

  It didn’t take any more convincing for both and they moved to an open spot as the group circled around them. Yin shook out his arms and got the blood flowing in his body as he watched Gāng. They were both relatively the same height, though the man seemed to be more physically in shape.

  “I know you’ve been training with our captain. It doesn’t matter, I am going to beat you this time. You can’t just wake up one day and decide to join a sect with no skills.” His voice dripped venom as he stared at Yin.

  “Apologies Gāng, but just because you gave up and didn’t make it, doesn’t mean I’ll quit. You hating me because of that isn’t going to make you feel better.”

  Yin knew that he was prodding the man and poking at his anger. He knew it was mean, yet after their last encounter he couldn’t help himself. His own anger boiled over now and he needed to release it. No matter what he was going to make Gāng feel it by the time this was done.

  “Bastard!”

  Gāng yelled and rushed in, blinded by anger throwing any form or technique he might have known to just bring a brutal haymaker of a right down at Yin. It hadn’t been Yin’s intention to make his opponent react sloppily, but he was going to take full advantage.

  Ducking the punch, Yin came back up with a yell and slammed his fist upwards, twisting his hips to get full force and driving it deep into the man’s solar plexus. The feeling of his own knuckles sinking into flesh was thrilling and cathartic as he released his pent-up anger.

  There was a wheezing gasp from Gāng and the man stumbled back before dropping down to the ground holding his chest. The guards in the circle were quiet, while Leif was grinning like a madman.

  Yin was shocked, Leif had beaten it into his head to drive a punch right into that area. He had listened and practiced but to see it be so effective really shocked him. Looking over to Leif who gave him an ‘I told you so’ look.

  Gāng was still sucking in air on the ground holding his chest when Leif finally spoke up to end the silence. “And this is why I tell you all not to fight angry. Or you’ll end up just like that, though in a real fight you’d probably just end up dead. So maybe now you will all listen to me.”

  There were murmurs through the guards who nodded their head as Gāng pushed himself back up to his feet. Hand on his chest he looked at Yin and finally dipped his head. “I lost. Good fight.”

  Yin couldn’t feel much anger towards the man anymore, most of it drained out after hitting him and winning. “I goaded you into an attack, had you kept your cool I’m sure this fight would have gone differently and if you would have used your spear much differently.”

  Gāng snickered. “I was the one who lost my head and acted rashly, it’s a harsh lesson but one that you and the captain have taught me.”

  Leif seemed even more pleased now. “Good. You’re both learning. Well, since we have time, you might as well show him how good you are Gāng when you aren’t being an idiot. We’ve got the time.”

  “Now wa..!”

  Yin was already right into the fight with Gāng, as he cursed Leif’s name and swore that he would have his vengeance upon him one day!

  By the time that spar had finished, Yin was aching all over as Gāng really was a good fighter and his physical prowess was nothing to sneeze at. Having eaten more than a few punches and slams from the man. He had held his own though and by the end of it, any animosity between the two was gone and a new form of respect had been forged.

  “Still got a long way to go...” Yin said with a wince and rubbed his cheek where a bruise was forming up. Standing next to Leif as they both stood on watch. The tall captain nodded. “We all do Yin. But you stood your ground, you’ve improved and while you aren’t some martial prodigy at least in hand to hand fighting you listened, you learned and that is important.”

  Smiling at the compliment, Yin felt a lot better than he had a few weeks ago when he first joined the caravan and certainly more than two months ago when he had returned home.

  He had taken these first steps on his own, and he had grown. It was just a little bit, and he was sure his growth was going to keep taking time, but he was growing and that was all that really mattered to him right now.

  “I’m going to miss the Caravan and traveling. Though I’ve heard it’s been really calm getting to the city. No bandit attacks and no beast attacks. So maybe I wouldn’t when it gets dangerous.”

  Leif considered that for a moment not saying anything. “Well, don’t worry too much, we still have one more day and night. If the roads aren’t being actively patrolled, then bandits love that area. So, you might get to see something. But I think it’s better when it’s peaceful. Someone you know getting killed is never easy. When it starts becoming easy…you’ve just started to see too much killing.”

  Yin looked at the captain, whose face had become unreadable, and he didn’t push it any further. The man was still an enigma to him and probably would remain one. He just stood there in silence with him. Enjoying the peace of the world and night while it still lasted. Once he got to Valecroft he knew that it was all going away. Tonight, he would savor it.