Chapter 267: Bind
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Chapter 267: Bind
Six months after leaving Sanshu and coming to the Wall, Jorani was finally growing accustomed to his new life. Waking hours before sunrise inside his roomy, private yurt, he took a moment to lament his solitude and ignore his aching body before getting up to greet the day. After getting dressed, he tidied his bed, shaved his stubble, brushed his teeth, and headed out into the chilly morning to visit the jakes. Finished with his morning routine, he made his way to the recently constructed mess hall for a nice hot breakfast of congee with dried meat, pickled vegetables, and a plate of dumplings.
Enjoying the simple, hearty meal with a pot of refreshing butter tea, he reflected on how different his new life had become, a world of change from his bandit days. Sleeping in the dirt or hay until noon, rinsing his mouth with a swig of wine, and eating nothing but hardtack or dried fish for weeks at a time, itd been a sorry existence even on the best days. The bad ones lacked wine, food, and sometimes even sleep and security as he ran from guards or rival bandits alike.New novel chapters are published on
Honestly, if not for all the exercise, beatings, tooth-pulling, and people trying to kill you, being a soldier wasnt half-bad. They even got one day a month to rest and recuperate thanks to Jorani, since he was the only one with the balls to ask for it. Not too shabby at all.
While the bossman harboured unreasonable expectations and pushed his soldiers hard, he treated them well outside of training. Hot food, warm clothes, and sturdy homes, it was more than they deserved in Jorani's opinion. The other soldiers lived twelve men to a room while everyone in the bossman's retinue had their own yurt. No wonder he didnt split the loot, between their pay and accommodations, Falling Rain spent his gold like it was burning a hole in his pocket. Not just on his soldiers either, Jorani had seen the bossmans school grow from a tiny hut with a handful of children into a thriving academy with dozens of happy students, human and half-beast alike, practising the Forms and their numbers day after day, never having to worry about going hungry or sleeping cold.
Ma wouldve loved it here. She wouldntve been excluded by the others for raising a half-breed son, wouldntve rubbed her hands raw washing clothes from sun-up to sun-down in frigid channel waters, wouldntve spent so many nights crying because her boy came home from a beating she couldn't stop...
Fuck that old bastard GangShu. Pigs would fly before Joranid call him Pa, he didnt deserve it.
That was the best thing about the Bekhai, they were a close-knit community. Every last soul was looked after, though they would not abide lazy shirkers or cheats. Jorani had lost count how many times Ravil or Bulat had to drag him out of bed in the morning, the devilish duo taking great delight in parading him around the camp in his poofy nightclothes. A year ago, Jorani wouldve thought about knifing them in the dark for the humiliation but now, he thanked them for it. Soldiers who showed up late got ten lashes in the public square for dereliction of duty, so a little loss of face was well worth it in comparison.
Everyone looked out for one another, thats how it was here. They were comrades in arms now, all of them brothers and sisters who were suffering through Falling Rains hellish training regimen together. Not everyone stuck it out, their original five hundred winnowed down to a paltry two hundred and eighty, which was a hundred more bodies than Jorani had wagered. In fact, only the house won in this particular gamble, which explained Bulats knowing smirk while accepting everyones bets. The scheming sergeant knew the bossman wouldnt toss people out on their asses. Anyone who left did so by choice, unable to take the rigorous demands and gruelling pace set by the number one talent of the North. Even then, those wash-outs found cozy jobs patrolling the roads and guarding Bekhai shipments for the low price of taking an Oath of Secrecy, a tempting prospect for many.
Especially Jorani. He had no delusions about his character, a cowardly shirker who lacked both brains and brawn. He had no place on the battlefield, he was no hero or fighter, he was a survivor, a scavenger, one with no desire to ever face the Defiled again. In spite of all this, he still showed up for training every morning, feigning enthusiasm and playing his part as the no-nonsense Hangman Jorani for reasons he didnt wholly understand.
Pulling out his pocket watch, Jorani flipped it open and admired the glittering jewels before interrupting Rals daily hand-holding session with Chey. No longer did the sight stir up feelings of jealousy, only resigned melancholy as Jorani idly wondered when itd be his turn to find a lady love. Sorya and Anrhi were still a part of his life, but they were adamant to play the part of his little sisters and not his lovers. Times a wastin, he said, cursing his luck and gathering his dishes. Told the squad to meet up before we go.
Yes Jor. Got it Jor. With his customary grin, Ral saluted three times and nuzzled Chey in farewell. The daft fool saluted for everything because he couldnt remember when hes supposed to and figured it was better to be safe than sorry. Swallowing the rest of his substantial breakfast in a single gulp, the big bastard caught up with a single stride, falling in behind Jorani as always. Ral was getting bigger by the day and his appetite followed, but his soft cheeks and rounded belly were gone now, replaced by a strong jawline and chiselled abs. Hair washed, beard trimmed, straight-backed, and head held high, he looked every bit the Bekhai Khishig in his long, fur-lined jacket. In a matter of months, the soft, dopey buffoon transformed into an intimidating, dopey, warrior.
Not even Falling Rain could turn Ral into a hardened killer, but this was close as hed ever get. Truth be told, Rals hard work and dedication surprised Jorani most of all, the dog-eared oaf pursuing strength with such single-minded perseverance he seemed like a person reborn. In this, his stupidity was an advantage, not smart enough to realize the bossman expected too much of them. His strength and skill reaching heights unknown, Rals meteoric rise served as motivation for Jorani who worked harder to not to fall behind. Feeble-minded and kind-hearted, Ral was just dumb enough to die doing something moronically heroic so Jorani had to be strong enough to stop him.
Striding out onto the meeting grounds, Joranis squad gathered around him, waiting to hear from their leader. Aside from Dastans elites, Joranis squad had the lowest number of wash-outs, with only a handful of former bandits slinking away in shame. Even Wang Baos former Butcher Bay Bandits and Ulfsaars hardened cutthroats had more wash-outs, a point Jorani took great pride in. His squad comprised of former Freebooters and Mongrels, men and women whod known him at his lowest, seen him bowing and scraping for their former bosses Kabi and Kosal. They all knew Hangman Jorani was a sham and hed worried it would cause issues, but far from it. They respected him more than they should, revered him for his false reputation, their eyes filled with faith and adoration as they hung on to his every word.
They were idiots too, but they were his idiots. Another reason for Jorani to work hard and persevere.
Listen up, he said, trying to sound gruff and gravelly. All serious warriors were gruff and gravelly, not squeaky and melodic like his natural voice. Got wind of somethin I shouldnt know, so keep it down. The bossman himselfll be joining our squad fer a surprise inspection. A chorus of muted groans rose but he stifled them with a snarl. Nuff o yer bellyaching, shut yer ungrateful traps.
Gathering my fluffies, I lure them over to the empty obstacle course with a healthy helping of treats. After drawing Peace and Tranquility, my pets fall into formation, knowing when weapons are out, playtime is over. Dressed in stylish cotton vests and knitted hats, Jimjam, Aurie, and Sarankho form up behind me while Banjo and Baloo take the flanks, their glossy black fur and resplendent scarves flapping in the wind. Ever the lazy bear, Banjo rears up on his hind legs and tries to climb onto my shoulders, but a firm no is enough to dissuade him, the sweet yearling rubbing his head against my leg in search of forgiveness.
Stay strong, dont give in. This is serious business. Were training so they know what to do if we ever need to make a run on foot. Shooing Banjo back to his position, I clang my weapons twice and set out towards the first obstacle, a series of chest high-hurdles. Well, waist-high for most people, but Im short, so chest-high it is. Unfair. Cycling Chi throughout my body, I Lighten myself and clear the hurdles with ease, glancing back to see my fluffies in action. Its too cute, the wildcats leaping over the hurdles while the bears try their hardest to do the same, treating each obstacle like a single stair as they climb over and jump down to the ground, happily grunting the whole while.
In another year, theyll probably be big enough to crash through the hurdles, but until then, theyll need to be nimble.
The next obstacle is the short wall, standing at three and a half meters tall. No ropes here, but thats no problem. Stopping at the base of the wall, I Lighten my body once more and concentrate on the timing, successfully Amplifying my jump on the first try. There are few things better than the hang time after vertically jumping twice your height, the euphoria sending me into a fit of giggles as I land neatly atop the wall. Scorning my achievement, Jimjam bounds over in a single leap, sitting prettily while the other animals climb over like mere mortal animals.
To Jimjam, this much is nothing. Ive seen him parkour all over the mountain, leaping from tree to tree like a damn monkey. To be fair, the bears are nimble climbers too, though you wouldnt know it by looking at them. Youd think a creature so butt-heavy would be terrible at climbing, but they zip up trees like over-sized squirrels, much to the chagrin of the actual, normal-sized squirrels.
Moving on, we zip across the balance beams and over the long jump, making good time through both. The wall traverse, window jumps, and pillar steps all present no challenge for my fluffies. Banjo and Baloo arent really built for vertical jumps, but soon its their time to shine as we move on to the heavy lifting. While I Reinforce and lift a lead-core log over my head, my pets have weighted sleds attached to thick ropes to pull with their mouths, though it took a lot of practice to get them to play along. My tanky bears power through this part but the wildcats arent built for sustained power, dragging the sleds behind them in jerky bursts of speed. After travelling a hundred metres with our heavy loads, I give the command release and they all happily drop their ropes, enjoying the game as Ive taught them to.
Im enjoying myself too, but for different reasons. Its great seeing all my hard work pay off as my fluffies build both strength, confidence, and obedience. Gone are the days when I have to keep a close eye on Aurie to make sure he doesnt wander off or pay for food Jimjam steals from the market stalls. While I wouldnt say my fluffies are domesticated, theyre so well-trained its almost the same.
At least until the hormones kick in.
After clearing the tall wall, a series of tunnels, a ramp jump, and a log climb, we finish our circuit with a celebratory lunch while I check my fluffies for injuries. With all the hard work Ive put into training my pets, I now see just how amazing quins really are. Surets pups learned how to clear the obstacle course in a single run, running, leaping, and chirping happily the whole time, chasing one another through the course and dragging sleds around for fun. I stopped running it with them because theres nothing worse than being judged by an oversized, bipedal otter for moving too slow.
Cuddling with my pets for a short break, I take in the scenic, mountain view of frosted forests and mountains, sighing in contentment. Things at the Wall have been quiet of late, as if time itself were frozen by winters chill. Who knows how long this calm will last? With things in the Southern Province equally uneventful, an uneasy peace has settled across the Empire, but only because weve no news of the West. Eventually, the Defiled hordes will grow bored of razing the West and come pouring into the Central Province in search of fresh bodies to maim. Tens of millions of murderous Defiled warriors charging across the open grasslands of Central, may the Mother have mercy on anyone in their path.
Thats not even all of it. The Imperial representative arrived at Sanshu two months ago and still has yet to pass judgment, so theres still a chance the city will be Purged. Then theres the Defiled horde which disappeared from outside our gates, which brings a slew of other worries. Are they still North of us, waiting for springs thaw before marching on the Wall once more? Or did we get lucky and they all froze to death?
I doubt it. Nothing is ever easy.
Either way, theres nothing I can do except keep training, since matters to do with the grand scheme of things are way above my pay grade. All I can do is ensure my pets and soldiers are prepared for battle. Before heading down the mountain with Dastan for our daily sparring session, I watch my retinue running their drills, my chest swelling with pride at the sight of my warriors standing shoulder to shoulder in a shield wall, practising their maneuvers under Rustrams supervision. I can see it now, my front line armed to the teeth with Spiritual spears and Runic shields, holding off the Defiled hordes like an immovable human fortress while the back line peppers the Enemy with bolts and arrows.
Its nowhere close to a reality yet, but a man can dream.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 267: Bind
Six months after leaving Sanshu and coming to the Wall, Jorani was finally growing accustomed to his new life. Waking hours before sunrise inside his roomy, private yurt, he took a moment to lament his solitude and ignore his aching body before getting up to greet the day. After getting dressed, he tidied his bed, shaved his stubble, brushed his teeth, and headed out into the chilly morning to visit the jakes. Finished with his morning routine, he made his way to the recently constructed mess hall for a nice hot breakfast of congee with dried meat, pickled vegetables, and a plate of dumplings.
Enjoying the simple, hearty meal with a pot of refreshing butter tea, he reflected on how different his new life had become, a world of change from his bandit days. Sleeping in the dirt or hay until noon, rinsing his mouth with a swig of wine, and eating nothing but hardtack or dried fish for weeks at a time, itd been a sorry existence even on the best days. The bad ones lacked wine, food, and sometimes even sleep and security as he ran from guards or rival bandits alike.New novel chapters are published on
Honestly, if not for all the exercise, beatings, tooth-pulling, and people trying to kill you, being a soldier wasnt half-bad. They even got one day a month to rest and recuperate thanks to Jorani, since he was the only one with the balls to ask for it. Not too shabby at all.
While the bossman harboured unreasonable expectations and pushed his soldiers hard, he treated them well outside of training. Hot food, warm clothes, and sturdy homes, it was more than they deserved in Jorani's opinion. The other soldiers lived twelve men to a room while everyone in the bossman's retinue had their own yurt. No wonder he didnt split the loot, between their pay and accommodations, Falling Rain spent his gold like it was burning a hole in his pocket. Not just on his soldiers either, Jorani had seen the bossmans school grow from a tiny hut with a handful of children into a thriving academy with dozens of happy students, human and half-beast alike, practising the Forms and their numbers day after day, never having to worry about going hungry or sleeping cold.
Ma wouldve loved it here. She wouldntve been excluded by the others for raising a half-breed son, wouldntve rubbed her hands raw washing clothes from sun-up to sun-down in frigid channel waters, wouldntve spent so many nights crying because her boy came home from a beating she couldn't stop...
Fuck that old bastard GangShu. Pigs would fly before Joranid call him Pa, he didnt deserve it.
That was the best thing about the Bekhai, they were a close-knit community. Every last soul was looked after, though they would not abide lazy shirkers or cheats. Jorani had lost count how many times Ravil or Bulat had to drag him out of bed in the morning, the devilish duo taking great delight in parading him around the camp in his poofy nightclothes. A year ago, Jorani wouldve thought about knifing them in the dark for the humiliation but now, he thanked them for it. Soldiers who showed up late got ten lashes in the public square for dereliction of duty, so a little loss of face was well worth it in comparison.
Everyone looked out for one another, thats how it was here. They were comrades in arms now, all of them brothers and sisters who were suffering through Falling Rains hellish training regimen together. Not everyone stuck it out, their original five hundred winnowed down to a paltry two hundred and eighty, which was a hundred more bodies than Jorani had wagered. In fact, only the house won in this particular gamble, which explained Bulats knowing smirk while accepting everyones bets. The scheming sergeant knew the bossman wouldnt toss people out on their asses. Anyone who left did so by choice, unable to take the rigorous demands and gruelling pace set by the number one talent of the North. Even then, those wash-outs found cozy jobs patrolling the roads and guarding Bekhai shipments for the low price of taking an Oath of Secrecy, a tempting prospect for many.
Especially Jorani. He had no delusions about his character, a cowardly shirker who lacked both brains and brawn. He had no place on the battlefield, he was no hero or fighter, he was a survivor, a scavenger, one with no desire to ever face the Defiled again. In spite of all this, he still showed up for training every morning, feigning enthusiasm and playing his part as the no-nonsense Hangman Jorani for reasons he didnt wholly understand.
Pulling out his pocket watch, Jorani flipped it open and admired the glittering jewels before interrupting Rals daily hand-holding session with Chey. No longer did the sight stir up feelings of jealousy, only resigned melancholy as Jorani idly wondered when itd be his turn to find a lady love. Sorya and Anrhi were still a part of his life, but they were adamant to play the part of his little sisters and not his lovers. Times a wastin, he said, cursing his luck and gathering his dishes. Told the squad to meet up before we go.
Yes Jor. Got it Jor. With his customary grin, Ral saluted three times and nuzzled Chey in farewell. The daft fool saluted for everything because he couldnt remember when hes supposed to and figured it was better to be safe than sorry. Swallowing the rest of his substantial breakfast in a single gulp, the big bastard caught up with a single stride, falling in behind Jorani as always. Ral was getting bigger by the day and his appetite followed, but his soft cheeks and rounded belly were gone now, replaced by a strong jawline and chiselled abs. Hair washed, beard trimmed, straight-backed, and head held high, he looked every bit the Bekhai Khishig in his long, fur-lined jacket. In a matter of months, the soft, dopey buffoon transformed into an intimidating, dopey, warrior.
Not even Falling Rain could turn Ral into a hardened killer, but this was close as hed ever get. Truth be told, Rals hard work and dedication surprised Jorani most of all, the dog-eared oaf pursuing strength with such single-minded perseverance he seemed like a person reborn. In this, his stupidity was an advantage, not smart enough to realize the bossman expected too much of them. His strength and skill reaching heights unknown, Rals meteoric rise served as motivation for Jorani who worked harder to not to fall behind. Feeble-minded and kind-hearted, Ral was just dumb enough to die doing something moronically heroic so Jorani had to be strong enough to stop him.
Striding out onto the meeting grounds, Joranis squad gathered around him, waiting to hear from their leader. Aside from Dastans elites, Joranis squad had the lowest number of wash-outs, with only a handful of former bandits slinking away in shame. Even Wang Baos former Butcher Bay Bandits and Ulfsaars hardened cutthroats had more wash-outs, a point Jorani took great pride in. His squad comprised of former Freebooters and Mongrels, men and women whod known him at his lowest, seen him bowing and scraping for their former bosses Kabi and Kosal. They all knew Hangman Jorani was a sham and hed worried it would cause issues, but far from it. They respected him more than they should, revered him for his false reputation, their eyes filled with faith and adoration as they hung on to his every word.
They were idiots too, but they were his idiots. Another reason for Jorani to work hard and persevere.
Listen up, he said, trying to sound gruff and gravelly. All serious warriors were gruff and gravelly, not squeaky and melodic like his natural voice. Got wind of somethin I shouldnt know, so keep it down. The bossman himselfll be joining our squad fer a surprise inspection. A chorus of muted groans rose but he stifled them with a snarl. Nuff o yer bellyaching, shut yer ungrateful traps.
Gathering my fluffies, I lure them over to the empty obstacle course with a healthy helping of treats. After drawing Peace and Tranquility, my pets fall into formation, knowing when weapons are out, playtime is over. Dressed in stylish cotton vests and knitted hats, Jimjam, Aurie, and Sarankho form up behind me while Banjo and Baloo take the flanks, their glossy black fur and resplendent scarves flapping in the wind. Ever the lazy bear, Banjo rears up on his hind legs and tries to climb onto my shoulders, but a firm no is enough to dissuade him, the sweet yearling rubbing his head against my leg in search of forgiveness.
Stay strong, dont give in. This is serious business. Were training so they know what to do if we ever need to make a run on foot. Shooing Banjo back to his position, I clang my weapons twice and set out towards the first obstacle, a series of chest high-hurdles. Well, waist-high for most people, but Im short, so chest-high it is. Unfair. Cycling Chi throughout my body, I Lighten myself and clear the hurdles with ease, glancing back to see my fluffies in action. Its too cute, the wildcats leaping over the hurdles while the bears try their hardest to do the same, treating each obstacle like a single stair as they climb over and jump down to the ground, happily grunting the whole while.
In another year, theyll probably be big enough to crash through the hurdles, but until then, theyll need to be nimble.
The next obstacle is the short wall, standing at three and a half meters tall. No ropes here, but thats no problem. Stopping at the base of the wall, I Lighten my body once more and concentrate on the timing, successfully Amplifying my jump on the first try. There are few things better than the hang time after vertically jumping twice your height, the euphoria sending me into a fit of giggles as I land neatly atop the wall. Scorning my achievement, Jimjam bounds over in a single leap, sitting prettily while the other animals climb over like mere mortal animals.
To Jimjam, this much is nothing. Ive seen him parkour all over the mountain, leaping from tree to tree like a damn monkey. To be fair, the bears are nimble climbers too, though you wouldnt know it by looking at them. Youd think a creature so butt-heavy would be terrible at climbing, but they zip up trees like over-sized squirrels, much to the chagrin of the actual, normal-sized squirrels.
Moving on, we zip across the balance beams and over the long jump, making good time through both. The wall traverse, window jumps, and pillar steps all present no challenge for my fluffies. Banjo and Baloo arent really built for vertical jumps, but soon its their time to shine as we move on to the heavy lifting. While I Reinforce and lift a lead-core log over my head, my pets have weighted sleds attached to thick ropes to pull with their mouths, though it took a lot of practice to get them to play along. My tanky bears power through this part but the wildcats arent built for sustained power, dragging the sleds behind them in jerky bursts of speed. After travelling a hundred metres with our heavy loads, I give the command release and they all happily drop their ropes, enjoying the game as Ive taught them to.
Im enjoying myself too, but for different reasons. Its great seeing all my hard work pay off as my fluffies build both strength, confidence, and obedience. Gone are the days when I have to keep a close eye on Aurie to make sure he doesnt wander off or pay for food Jimjam steals from the market stalls. While I wouldnt say my fluffies are domesticated, theyre so well-trained its almost the same.
At least until the hormones kick in.
After clearing the tall wall, a series of tunnels, a ramp jump, and a log climb, we finish our circuit with a celebratory lunch while I check my fluffies for injuries. With all the hard work Ive put into training my pets, I now see just how amazing quins really are. Surets pups learned how to clear the obstacle course in a single run, running, leaping, and chirping happily the whole time, chasing one another through the course and dragging sleds around for fun. I stopped running it with them because theres nothing worse than being judged by an oversized, bipedal otter for moving too slow.
Cuddling with my pets for a short break, I take in the scenic, mountain view of frosted forests and mountains, sighing in contentment. Things at the Wall have been quiet of late, as if time itself were frozen by winters chill. Who knows how long this calm will last? With things in the Southern Province equally uneventful, an uneasy peace has settled across the Empire, but only because weve no news of the West. Eventually, the Defiled hordes will grow bored of razing the West and come pouring into the Central Province in search of fresh bodies to maim. Tens of millions of murderous Defiled warriors charging across the open grasslands of Central, may the Mother have mercy on anyone in their path.
Thats not even all of it. The Imperial representative arrived at Sanshu two months ago and still has yet to pass judgment, so theres still a chance the city will be Purged. Then theres the Defiled horde which disappeared from outside our gates, which brings a slew of other worries. Are they still North of us, waiting for springs thaw before marching on the Wall once more? Or did we get lucky and they all froze to death?
I doubt it. Nothing is ever easy.
Either way, theres nothing I can do except keep training, since matters to do with the grand scheme of things are way above my pay grade. All I can do is ensure my pets and soldiers are prepared for battle. Before heading down the mountain with Dastan for our daily sparring session, I watch my retinue running their drills, my chest swelling with pride at the sight of my warriors standing shoulder to shoulder in a shield wall, practising their maneuvers under Rustrams supervision. I can see it now, my front line armed to the teeth with Spiritual spears and Runic shields, holding off the Defiled hordes like an immovable human fortress while the back line peppers the Enemy with bolts and arrows.
Its nowhere close to a reality yet, but a man can dream.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 267: BindSix months after leaving Sanshu and coming to the Wall, Jorani was finally growing accustomed to his new life. Waking hours before sunrise inside his roomy, private yurt, he took a moment to lament his solitude and ignore his aching body before getting up to greet the day. After getting dressed, he tidied his bed, shaved his stubble, brushed his teeth, and headed out into the chilly morning to visit the jakes. Finished with his morning routine, he made his way to the recently constructed mess hall for a nice hot breakfast of congee with dried meat, pickled vegetables, and a plate of dumplings.Enjoying the simple, hearty meal with a pot of refreshing butter tea, he reflected on how different his new life had become, a world of change from his bandit days. Sleeping in the dirt or hay until noon, rinsing his mouth with a swig of wine, and eating nothing but hardtack or dried fish for weeks at a time, itd been a sorry existence even on the best days. The bad ones lacked wine, food, and sometimes even sleep and security as he ran from guards or rival bandits alike.New novel chapters are published onHonestly, if not for all the exercise, beatings, tooth-pulling, and people trying to kill you, being a soldier wasnt half-bad. They even got one day a month to rest and recuperate thanks to Jorani, since he was the only one with the balls to ask for it. Not too shabby at all.While the bossman harboured unreasonable expectations and pushed his soldiers hard, he treated them well outside of training. Hot food, warm clothes, and sturdy homes, it was more than they deserved in Jorani's opinion. The other soldiers lived twelve men to a room while everyone in the bossman's retinue had their own yurt. No wonder he didnt split the loot, between their pay and accommodations, Falling Rain spent his gold like it was burning a hole in his pocket. Not just on his soldiers either, Jorani had seen the bossmans school grow from a tiny hut with a handful of children into a thriving academy with dozens of happy students, human and half-beast alike, practising the Forms and their numbers day after day, never having to worry about going hungry or sleeping cold.Ma wouldve loved it here. She wouldntve been excluded by the others for raising a half-breed son, wouldntve rubbed her hands raw washing clothes from sun-up to sun-down in frigid channel waters, wouldntve spent so many nights crying because her boy came home from a beating she couldn't stop...Fuck that old bastard GangShu. Pigs would fly before Joranid call him Pa, he didnt deserve it.That was the best thing about the Bekhai, they were a close-knit community. Every last soul was looked after, though they would not abide lazy shirkers or cheats. Jorani had lost count how many times Ravil or Bulat had to drag him out of bed in the morning, the devilish duo taking great delight in parading him around the camp in his poofy nightclothes. A year ago, Jorani wouldve thought about knifing them in the dark for the humiliation but now, he thanked them for it. Soldiers who showed up late got ten lashes in the public square for dereliction of duty, so a little loss of face was well worth it in comparison.Everyone looked out for one another, thats how it was here. They were comrades in arms now, all of them brothers and sisters who were suffering through Falling Rains hellish training regimen together. Not everyone stuck it out, their original five hundred winnowed down to a paltry two hundred and eighty, which was a hundred more bodies than Jorani had wagered. In fact, only the house won in this particular gamble, which explained Bulats knowing smirk while accepting everyones bets. The scheming sergeant knew the bossman wouldnt toss people out on their asses. Anyone who left did so by choice, unable to take the rigorous demands and gruelling pace set by the number one talent of the North. Even then, those wash-outs found cozy jobs patrolling the roads and guarding Bekhai shipments for the low price of taking an Oath of Secrecy, a tempting prospect for many.Especially Jorani. He had no delusions about his character, a cowardly shirker who lacked both brains and brawn. He had no place on the battlefield, he was no hero or fighter, he was a survivor, a scavenger, one with no desire to ever face the Defiled again. In spite of all this, he still showed up for training every morning, feigning enthusiasm and playing his part as the no-nonsense Hangman Jorani for reasons he didnt wholly understand.Pulling out his pocket watch, Jorani flipped it open and admired the glittering jewels before interrupting Rals daily hand-holding session with Chey. No longer did the sight stir up feelings of jealousy, only resigned melancholy as Jorani idly wondered when itd be his turn to find a lady love. Sorya and Anrhi were still a part of his life, but they were adamant to play the part of his little sisters and not his lovers. Times a wastin, he said, cursing his luck and gathering his dishes. Told the squad to meet up before we go.Yes Jor. Got it Jor. With his customary grin, Ral saluted three times and nuzzled Chey in farewell. The daft fool saluted for everything because he couldnt remember when hes supposed to and figured it was better to be safe than sorry. Swallowing the rest of his substantial breakfast in a single gulp, the big bastard caught up with a single stride, falling in behind Jorani as always. Ral was getting bigger by the day and his appetite followed, but his soft cheeks and rounded belly were gone now, replaced by a strong jawline and chiselled abs. Hair washed, beard trimmed, straight-backed, and head held high, he looked every bit the Bekhai Khishig in his long, fur-lined jacket. In a matter of months, the soft, dopey buffoon transformed into an intimidating, dopey, warrior.Not even Falling Rain could turn Ral into a hardened killer, but this was close as hed ever get. Truth be told, Rals hard work and dedication surprised Jorani most of all, the dog-eared oaf pursuing strength with such single-minded perseverance he seemed like a person reborn. In this, his stupidity was an advantage, not smart enough to realize the bossman expected too much of them. His strength and skill reaching heights unknown, Rals meteoric rise served as motivation for Jorani who worked harder to not to fall behind. Feeble-minded and kind-hearted, Ral was just dumb enough to die doing something moronically heroic so Jorani had to be strong enough to stop him.Striding out onto the meeting grounds, Joranis squad gathered around him, waiting to hear from their leader. Aside from Dastans elites, Joranis squad had the lowest number of wash-outs, with only a handful of former bandits slinking away in shame. Even Wang Baos former Butcher Bay Bandits and Ulfsaars hardened cutthroats had more wash-outs, a point Jorani took great pride in. His squad comprised of former Freebooters and Mongrels, men and women whod known him at his lowest, seen him bowing and scraping for their former bosses Kabi and Kosal. They all knew Hangman Jorani was a sham and hed worried it would cause issues, but far from it. They respected him more than they should, revered him for his false reputation, their eyes filled with faith and adoration as they hung on to his every word.They were idiots too, but they were his idiots. Another reason for Jorani to work hard and persevere.Listen up, he said, trying to sound gruff and gravelly. All serious warriors were gruff and gravelly, not squeaky and melodic like his natural voice. Got wind of somethin I shouldnt know, so keep it down. The bossman himselfll be joining our squad fer a surprise inspection. A chorus of muted groans rose but he stifled them with a snarl. Nuff o yer bellyaching, shut yer ungrateful traps.Gathering my fluffies, I lure them over to the empty obstacle course with a healthy helping of treats. After drawing Peace and Tranquility, my pets fall into formation, knowing when weapons are out, playtime is over. Dressed in stylish cotton vests and knitted hats, Jimjam, Aurie, and Sarankho form up behind me while Banjo and Baloo take the flanks, their glossy black fur and resplendent scarves flapping in the wind. Ever the lazy bear, Banjo rears up on his hind legs and tries to climb onto my shoulders, but a firm no is enough to dissuade him, the sweet yearling rubbing his head against my leg in search of forgiveness.Stay strong, dont give in. This is serious business. Were training so they know what to do if we ever need to make a run on foot. Shooing Banjo back to his position, I clang my weapons twice and set out towards the first obstacle, a series of chest high-hurdles. Well, waist-high for most people, but Im short, so chest-high it is. Unfair. Cycling Chi throughout my body, I Lighten myself and clear the hurdles with ease, glancing back to see my fluffies in action. Its too cute, the wildcats leaping over the hurdles while the bears try their hardest to do the same, treating each obstacle like a single stair as they climb over and jump down to the ground, happily grunting the whole while.In another year, theyll probably be big enough to crash through the hurdles, but until then, theyll need to be nimble.The next obstacle is the short wall, standing at three and a half meters tall. No ropes here, but thats no problem. Stopping at the base of the wall, I Lighten my body once more and concentrate on the timing, successfully Amplifying my jump on the first try. There are few things better than the hang time after vertically jumping twice your height, the euphoria sending me into a fit of giggles as I land neatly atop the wall. Scorning my achievement, Jimjam bounds over in a single leap, sitting prettily while the other animals climb over like mere mortal animals.To Jimjam, this much is nothing. Ive seen him parkour all over the mountain, leaping from tree to tree like a damn monkey. To be fair, the bears are nimble climbers too, though you wouldnt know it by looking at them. Youd think a creature so butt-heavy would be terrible at climbing, but they zip up trees like over-sized squirrels, much to the chagrin of the actual, normal-sized squirrels.Moving on, we zip across the balance beams and over the long jump, making good time through both. The wall traverse, window jumps, and pillar steps all present no challenge for my fluffies. Banjo and Baloo arent really built for vertical jumps, but soon its their time to shine as we move on to the heavy lifting. While I Reinforce and lift a lead-core log over my head, my pets have weighted sleds attached to thick ropes to pull with their mouths, though it took a lot of practice to get them to play along. My tanky bears power through this part but the wildcats arent built for sustained power, dragging the sleds behind them in jerky bursts of speed. After travelling a hundred metres with our heavy loads, I give the command release and they all happily drop their ropes, enjoying the game as Ive taught them to.Im enjoying myself too, but for different reasons. Its great seeing all my hard work pay off as my fluffies build both strength, confidence, and obedience. Gone are the days when I have to keep a close eye on Aurie to make sure he doesnt wander off or pay for food Jimjam steals from the market stalls. While I wouldnt say my fluffies are domesticated, theyre so well-trained its almost the same.At least until the hormones kick in.After clearing the tall wall, a series of tunnels, a ramp jump, and a log climb, we finish our circuit with a celebratory lunch while I check my fluffies for injuries. With all the hard work Ive put into training my pets, I now see just how amazing quins really are. Surets pups learned how to clear the obstacle course in a single run, running, leaping, and chirping happily the whole time, chasing one another through the course and dragging sleds around for fun. I stopped running it with them because theres nothing worse than being judged by an oversized, bipedal otter for moving too slow.Cuddling with my pets for a short break, I take in the scenic, mountain view of frosted forests and mountains, sighing in contentment. Things at the Wall have been quiet of late, as if time itself were frozen by winters chill. Who knows how long this calm will last? With things in the Southern Province equally uneventful, an uneasy peace has settled across the Empire, but only because weve no news of the West. Eventually, the Defiled hordes will grow bored of razing the West and come pouring into the Central Province in search of fresh bodies to maim. Tens of millions of murderous Defiled warriors charging across the open grasslands of Central, may the Mother have mercy on anyone in their path.Thats not even all of it. The Imperial representative arrived at Sanshu two months ago and still has yet to pass judgment, so theres still a chance the city will be Purged. Then theres the Defiled horde which disappeared from outside our gates, which brings a slew of other worries. Are they still North of us, waiting for springs thaw before marching on the Wall once more? Or did we get lucky and they all froze to death?I doubt it. Nothing is ever easy.Either way, theres nothing I can do except keep training, since matters to do with the grand scheme of things are way above my pay grade. All I can do is ensure my pets and soldiers are prepared for battle. Before heading down the mountain with Dastan for our daily sparring session, I watch my retinue running their drills, my chest swelling with pride at the sight of my warriors standing shoulder to shoulder in a shield wall, practising their maneuvers under Rustrams supervision. I can see it now, my front line armed to the teeth with Spiritual spears and Runic shields, holding off the Defiled hordes like an immovable human fortress while the back line peppers the Enemy with bolts and arrows.Its nowhere close to a reality yet, but a man can dream.Chapter Meme
