Iorrjaer

Chapter 12

A group of cadets stood together for their final inspection. They were eight in total, three humans, a pair of halfling siblings, orc twins and a dwarf. They stood before their bunks as Captain Xen strolled down the aisle, looking menacing and meticulously inspecting their postures and state of their beds. Tapht, the Commander of the Inglegaard in Ockburt, was at the entrance with Bne, the Paladin Prime, and three of the Paladin Eight that saw to the cadets' training.

This was a big day for them. This was the day that would determine if they were to pass and become soldiers.

"What is the Inglegaard code?" Captain Xen barked.

In unison, the cadets' answered: "Vigilance! Diligence! Perseverance!"

"What is the Inglegaard creed? Sound off."

The human male, named Johell, started: "Abide your deity."

The human female, named Eva, continued: "Follow your command."

The halfling male, named Khor Rhel, stated: "Lead your heart."

The halfling female, named En Syad, claimed: "Keep your way."

The human male, named Nathan, said: "Trust yourself."

The half-orc female, named Rulf Dolg, specified: "Believe in your team."

Captain Xen looked back to Tapht and Bne, who both nodded approvingly. The Captain turned back to the three remaining cadets, a human male, a half-orc male and the dwarven male. All stood at perfect attention and were unflinching.

"Nathan! Guas! What is the Inglegaard motto?"

In unison, they answered: "We are the Inglegaard! Our Deities Bless Us!"

"Bodmir!" The captain roared. "What are the tenets of the Inglegaard code?"

Standing as still as a statue, Bodmir answered: "Vigilance – To stand against opposition! Diligence – To uphold the laws and decrees of the King! Perseverance – To always stand and lead!"

The captain did one more pass to see if any of the cadets would break and when none did, he pivoted and returned to the sides of the Commander and Paladins.

"At ease, cadets." Commander Tapht said. "Well done, all of you. Nathan, I am especially pleased to see your progress. Johell, Khor, Guas, Bodmir, well done in taking him under your wings. Eva, Rulf, En, well done in taking all these fools under your wings. It's 10am and your graduation is at 1600 hours. You have until then to rest and relax."

With that, he nodded to his fellow officers and they departed.

A wave of ease washed over the cadets as they returned to their bunks.

"That was a lot easier without Yophiel around." Eva said. She laid out on her back and put her hands behind her head. A position that usually made the boys uneasy but now that they had gone through cadet training and had all seen each other in more than one situation that was embarrassing and compromising, seeing her casually laying back was normal.

"I wonder what happened to her," Nathan said. "I mean, recently. I know how she was when she was here...but I wonder what made her that way?"

"Too much coddling." Bodmir said.

The others cracked smiles and found themselves nodding in agreement.

"How did she get into that mission to Ockburg, anyways?" Rulf asked.

"From what I understand, she bullied her way into getting Tapht to allow her on that mission." En Syad said.