Author's Note: Heya folks, back with some more for ya! I will apologize now for what likely are very grammatically problematic chapters. I'm really only trying to put out the chapters, not necessary make them as clean as I would normally strive for. Come early December, expect some minor tweaks all over the place.

The two of us continued our tireless journey back to Winter's Claw, finding the rest of our journey void of troubles. Conversation was sparse, but meaningful.

"Sejuani...why do you care so deeply about me? You have never shown such favor for even your greatest warriors, and yet before today, I was merely your steed."

I turned to him, still becoming accustomed at having to look so far upward to meet his gaze. "Bristle, we have fought side by side for years now, and not once have you ever given reason for me to find fault in your actions. Even my most loyal soldier doubts me and my leadership, but through every battle we have waged together, you have had multiple opportunities to abandon me. Respect is a right to be earned, and you gained mine a long time ago."

"I see. I know better than to tamper with that respect, and I will do what I can to safeguard it. I hope that my new form does not complicate our relationship." He looked up and pointed off into the distance. "Winter's Claw is near, I can hear the sounds of the warriors from here."

I looked out in the distance, failing to see past the thick blanket of night that had just recently swept across the tundra. The sun was low on the horizon to our right, currently blocked by a glacier, meaning that the land before us was shrouded in almost complete darkness. "Have your ears always been that strong? I did not realize that was a trait of boar-kind."

He looked at me, a curious expression across his face. "I thought such hearing was normal, you mean to tell me you don't hear the camp?" I shook my head. "Then...I suppose you haven't been able to detect the sounds of the frost wyrm following us?"

"No, that would be a good thing to know about! How long has it been tracking us?" I immediately stopped in my tracks, remembering the massive beast that had attacked us only a few hours ago.

"I don't think it ever stopped, it's just been hiding under the ice this whole time. What are your orders? I am without a weapon, unfortunately." His hands clutched emptiness, as if grabbing onto the hilt of a sword that wasn't there. "I will not be of much use to you until I am armed."

I reached for his shoulder and turned him around, forcing him to acknowledge my command. "We will stand and fight, for we cannot afford to bring this beast closer to the camp. As for your problem, if necessary, you are able to fight with your fists, or are you nothing without your tusks?"

"Very well then. I will not fail you, Sejuani. The beast has been following at a distance, but it appears to be gaining ground since we've stopped moving."

I hefted my flail, dropping into both hands. "Let it come. I have faced legions of warriors and returned victorious, one creature of the elder days is a task fit for a training exercise. Consider this yours. Should we prove victorious, you have earned your place among your ranks. If we are not, then I am not fit to rule the Freljord."

Bristle nodded his understanding, crouching down to the ground. I was extremely curious as to how his boar-like fighting style would translate for a human. Though we did not have any weapons that would translate well to tusks back at Winter's Claw, dual swords would have to make due for the time being.

I watched the subtle movements of his body, finally realizing that he was tracking the movements of the wyrm through subtle vibrations in the ice. It was impressive, the amount of knowledge he could glean just from standing still, and it would translate to a trait very desirable for tracking enemies.

"It is close. Be on your guard." He stood back up, bringing his fists up in front of him, forming a very sloppy guarding position. I sighed to myself. It would have to wait. It was then that I too started to feel the vibrations of the oncoming frost wyrm, which meant that it had to be close.

Sure enough, it wasn't but five seconds later that the beast emerged from the ice, towering several stories above the ground. Instead of immediately burrowing back into the ice like before, it remained uncovered, allowing me to finally see its reptilian features. Slitted eyes sat high and centered on its face, and ghostly white fins adorned the sides of its head. At the very front, several jagged horns protruded above its maw, certainly designed for chewing through the ice before it got to its large, gaping mouth.

Without allowing time for hesitation to enter my mind I rushed at the colossus, shouldering my weapon as I quickly gained ground. Behind me, I heard Bristle's guttural battle cry ring out as he, too began picking up speed, until for a brief moment, we stood side by side.

"I will launch you upwards. It appears to have a weak point just beneath its head. Once you are on the beast, your flail should be able to shred through its scales." I looked up to the creature's neck, trying to spot the weakness Bristle had mentioned. Sure enough, just beneath its lower jaw, by the fins, a thin vein of flesh was exposed, presumably for it to hear.

"Good eye. I will follow your lead." The two of us kept up the charge, Bristle moving significantly faster than I was, until we were about thirty yards from the base of the monster. Suddenly, Bristle dropped to the ground, cupping his hounds out in front of him.

Nodding, I ran forward several more steps, planting one foot squarely in his grasp, preparing myself for what was to come. Bristle brought his arms up rapidly, propelling me into the air.

The rush of the wind passed rapidly around me as I rocketed towards the beast. I gripped my flail with two hands, twisting my body with all my might, until I felt the sickening crunch of the blunt end of my weapon lodging itself in the beast's scales. Quickly, I grappled its hide, until I had climbed onto its back, retrieving my flail.

I looked up, seeing that I still had over a dozen feet left to go until I was at its weak point. From beneath me, I could feel Bristle repeatedly attacking the wyrm at its base, each forceful blow sending small vibrations through its entire body. From beneath me, I heard his bellowing voice. "I'll distract it, you land the killing blow!"

Nodding to myself, I took a few careful steps upwards, finding each step easier than the last as I approached the base of its head. All of a sudden, I felt the beast leaning down, and I clung tightly to its scales, barely finding grip. I saw as Bristle rolled out of the way, and I felt the earth-shaking impact of the wyrm shattering the ice as it dove down. I quickly released my grasp on the beast before I would have been crushed by the ground, rolling breathlessly to the side.

"I'm tracking its movements, it should emerge...there!" He pointed to the ground, and I followed his gaze. "My turn."

He ran towards the spot, as a slight rumbling began filling the entire ground. I stood and watched Bristle, every muscle in his body tensed and ready to strike. He leaped into the air, seemingly at nothing, though I knew better than to doubt his timing. The wyrm emerged from the ground only a split second later, and Bristle grappled onto its neck, only inches from the creature's exposed flesh.

The creature hissed at me, the grinding shriek almost deafening, and launched itself at me, but I dodged deftly to the side, spinning around and landing my flail squarely on its underbelly. It started circling around me, trapping me inside the scaly prison and slowly started to draw closer, constricting my range of movement.

"Any day now, Bristle!" The wyrm's scales were pressed against me now and I held onto one last, deep breath as the edges of my vision quickly turned to black. From the last remains of my hearing, I could hear the beast squealing in pain, until eventually, everything faded from consciousness.

When I woke up, I found myself inside my tent, wrapped in my bedroll. I took a deep breath and immediately regretted it, feeling the bruising around my midsection, and I let out a pained cough, resigning myself to short, frequent breaths. I walked over to my desk, finding a candle still managing to flicker despite the bitter cold, which was somewhat masked by the flaps of the tent.

I put on my helmet, never realizing it'd been taken off, and walked outside, gazing up into the sky. Every star was shining brightly tonight, twinkling in their own, individual splendor. It took my breath away for just a split second, before I walked around to the side of my tent, finding just what I'd expected. Bristle slept huddled in a corner next to the tent, shivering constantly from the snow and ice seeping through the cracks in his armor.

I stood there in silence, weighing my options. I had intended to allow him in for the night but...I couldn't allow it. He was a soldier now, and even the most loyal of my men were treated the same as the worst. His night would be a chilly one, but I would make sure that a tent was constructed for him the following day. I walked back into my tent, wrapping myself in my bedroll, before closing my eyes.

I sat there for hours trying to fall asleep, but the bruising all around my body prevented it from being restful. Multiple times throughout the night I found myself gasping for air, desperate to fill my lungs through my wheezing.

By the time morning came, my eyelids were heavy from my discomfort throughout the night, and my lungs still stung from struggling to fill themselves without my active attention. I peeled the flap of my tent back, bright sunlight penetrating my vision as I stepped outside. Waiting for me, Olaf stood outside my tent, axes crossed in front of him.

"The man beside your tent brought you back in last night, he calls himself 'Bristle'. I was tempted to cut him down for taking the name of your boar, but I decided to wait for your verdict. What is his fate, Chief?"

I eyed my officer scrutinously, before finally speaking up. "The man is Bristle, officer. The magic of the Gelid Vortex turned him into a human, like us. As to his fate, he has already proven himself worthy of joining the ranks of the militia. I order that a tent be constructed for him immediately, and that I will personally see to his training for the day. That is my order."

Olaf nodded, turning towards the side of my tent. "Bristle, wake up! Just because you're new doesn't mean you get to sleep in." He turned back to me expecting some sort of reaction, but my face remained cold and emotionless, showing my approval. Today was a new day, and Bristle was just a regular, if not very tall, soldier. I would show him no mercy during our training, just as I expected from him.

I walked over to the side of my tent, still finding him curled up in the snow, shaking profusely. I kicked at his side, my boot bouncing off of the crystal on his shoulder. Bristle's eyes snapped open and he jumped into the air, coming to rest on his feet, looking down at me.

"I apologize for my disobedience, Queen. What are your orders?"

I looked him square in the eye, a slight smirk forming across my lips. "You will get a half portion for breakfast due to your disobedience. After that, I will take you out on the ice for training, and I will gauge where you will be of most use in my army. You are dismissed, Bristle."

He turned on a dime, he followed me into the mead hall for his meal, gazing around at it with curious intent. The inside was well lit, with hollowed-out antlers filled with burning oil, hanging from the ceiling as impromptu chandeliers. Along the walls, pelts from our more successful hunts covered the cracks in the outer canvas, serving both a practical and artistic purpose. The floor was covered with hastily-crafted rugs, allowing for a maximal number of people to dine at one time.

As I approached the front of the line, I ripped a small chunk of meat off of the bird in front of me, moving on to gather a small handful of grain. I watched intently as Bristle ripped off a significantly smaller chunk of meat.

"You are allowed more than that. You will need as much energy as you can afford for today's exercises." He reached back at the bird, taking another small portion of meat before moving to the grain, grabbing a few. He walked over to the side of the tent and silently began eating his meal, while I stood near the front, with Olaf.

"He will make a fine soldier Chief, I can tell that much. He's big, tall, and if he's anything like he was as a boar, he knows how to put that size to use. I'll be checking in on your two's sparring to see his progress." Olaf sunk his teeth into the bird, chewing on a large hunk of it. The outside was nearly burnt, but it filled the stomach, which was more than my people had gotten in recent moons.

"His fighting style will be quite unique, I am sure. I will allow him into the armory to choose his weapons of choice, because even I cannot ignore the fact that he will be quite different from our average soldier. However, once we are on the field, I will treat him no different than I would anyone else.

Olaf chuckled. "If that's the case, then maybe when I go visit you two I should bring a medic just in case you've knocked the poor sod out. I was thinking though...assuming he fights well, he'd make a good champion to take to the northern tribes. With his strength and size, he's probably unmatched in one-on-one combat."

I took a moment to mull the thought over. It seemed...perfect. He was our newest warrior, and I had no intention of bestowing leadership upon him, at least for the time being. "Agreed. If he is able to hold his own with me, then he should have no problem besting any of the champions of the northern tribes. I will see to it that he is fit for the challenges that he will face. We will turn him into a warrior worthy of the Winter's Claw name."

I stood up, immediately gathering the attention of everyone in the tent. "Today will be spent on gathering food, for those with the energy to hunt. All others will remain and hone your battle prowess." I turned to Olaf, who stood beside me. "Olaf will stay in camp today, for training."

With a battle cry, the warriors filed out of the tent, until eventually it was only me and Olaf remaining. "Make sure that you work them until they are unable to swing a blade. They have been fed, and their bodies are ready to fight. Make use of this while it lasts."

"By your orders." The two of us exited the tent and went our separate ways. I found Bristle standing by my tent, in the pen that he had stayed in the previous night.

"At midday, we will take a break, and build you living quarters for the night. As for now, it is time to arm you. Follow me to the armory, and we will see what fits you.

The two of us walked, and I threw open the flap to the armory, little more than an elongated tent. The inside was dimly lit, with various weapons scattered across the floor and walls, showing the productivity of our smiths.

Bristle sifted through the pile, before turning to me. "Am I allowed anything in here?"

I nodded. "I am not foolish enough to assign you to a certain role, and after discussing your future with Olaf, we will need you fighting how you are most comfortable. So yes, pick what will suit you the best."

Bristel turned back and looked through the pile again. Several times he lifted up various items, mainly swords, and gave them a few test swings, before putting them back on the ground. As he went, his choice of weapon continued to get heavier, moving from straightswords to broadswords, something that most of my men would require two hands to wield.

Eventually, he moved away from slashing implements, eventually picking up a variety of maces and cudgels, which seemed to fit his preferences a bit more. After several more minutes of testing, he dropped one of the maces, hefting a particularly long sword. "They will not be ideal, but if it is what I have available, then it is what I will use. I will admit they are not what I'm used to."

I nodded. I knew that he would search for something that would remind him of his tusks, and the odd combination of weapons were a little surprising, if I were to be honest with myself. The sword I could understand but a mace...didn't seem to fit. I suppose I would find out soon enough how he intended to use them. "We will see how you fight with them...against all varieties of weapons." I grabbed a variety of weapons from the tent and the two of us exited.

I walked him a decent distance outside the camp, finding a flat spot not too far away. I set down all the weapons I had brought except a sword, bringing it with me. Best to start him on something he would see the most. The weapon was long, but not overly so, and had a handle long enough to be used in two hands should the need for more power arrive. I took a shield and strapped it to my back, for later use.

The two of us stood roughly forty feet apart from the other, and I clutched the leather grip of the sword in two hands, as he readied his weapons. His stance seemed impossibly wide, with almost his entire midsection exposed. It was an oversight that I intended to exploit immediately.

With a roar I charged at him, bringing to my chest, pointing outwards. He, too began advancing, much slower, with each step deliberate and calculated. As we drew closer, now no more than ten feet apart, his body was still completely exposed, and I thrust my sword outward, intending to draw first blood.

With a quick flick of his arm, he brought the mace across his body and redirected the attack, sending my sword swinging wildly to the outside. My body still carried me forward, unable to stop, and it was only a moment later that I felt his knee meet my ribcage, sending me careening backwards.

"I still fight like a boar, Sejuani. My stance may be different, but that makes it far from ineffective." You'll have to use more than just brute force to land a hit on me."

Infuriated, I whirled around, bringing my sword down in a low sweep, attempting to break his balance. The arc collided directly with his leg and...stopped. The blade reverberated in my hands from the impact, and he brought his sword up for a swing, which I blocked with my armguard.

"And like a boar, your size is your advantage. Impressive." I took my sword and brought it upwards, again deflected by his mace. After another follow up jab from his sword, his strategy started solidifying in my mind. The mace and the sword both functioned like his tusks, just in different ways. His mace played the defensive role, in blocking my attacks, leaving me exposed, but still able to deliver a crushing blow if need be. Meanwhile, the sword was his goring implement, though it could still block a strike if necessary. There was a certain beauty that I could admire in his choice, and I wracked my mind for a way to get past his defenses.

I dropped my left hand from the hilt of the blade, reaching behind my back and grabbing my shield. "I've learned your tricks, Bristle, now let's see if you can learn mine." I took a few steps back, allowing a healthy twenty feet to exist between us once again, before making the charge to close the distance. I brought my shield up far in front of me, with the sword hidden right behind it. If he still fought like a boar, he'd only be able to block the shield, and my follow-up swing would be completely unguardable. His tusks weren't able to move independently, and it would take some time for him to learn what a human might consider combat basics.

Sure enough, the plan worked flawlessly. He brought the mace across his body, but I brought the shield up, blocking the impending strike. The steel of the shield buckled as the heavy swing of the mace crashed down upon it, but I pressed forward, allowing my sword to strike cleanly against his armor.

"You have good defenses, Bristle, but your lack of training shows. You have yet to move your arms independently of each other, a fatal flaw that is easy to exploit once it is known. Let us see how you fare against another duel-wielder." I dropped the shield to the ground and lifted up a spear, finding the weapon light in my hand.

"You didn't expect me to be perfect immediately, did you? I am finding that there is a vast difference between being a boar and being a human. The range of motion I have now is still dawning on me." Without a moment's hesitation, he began charging at me, bringing both of his hands up to his left, winding up for what would most certainly be a brutal swing.

I took one step and threw myself down to the ground, sliding forward as Bristle ran over top of me. I brought one weapon out to either side, catching them on his legs, bringing me to a sudden halt. I quickly jumped to my feet and spun around as Bristle brought his arms around in a 180, and I ducked to avoid taking the full force of his swing.

Seeing him exposed, I brought the spear up, the tip coming within inches of his armor before I felt the sharp force in my own armor, as he brought his knee crashing into me. I stumbled backward barely able to regain my balance before I noticed his weapons forward, aiming straight for my face. I brought my arms up in defense, grunting as the flat of his blade struck me cleanly on the forearms. The wind was knocked from my lungs by the impact, and for the first time during the fight, I took a pause.

"You're covering your defenses well, though you still leave your body very open for attack."

Bristle paused, lowering his weapons. "While you bring a valid point, you have yet to land a successful attack on me. If I remain exposed but stay unscathed, then I fail to see the problem."

"Well then, allow me to prove you wrong!" I lobbed my spear at him, landing it successfully between cracks in his armor. "Your technique is weak against ranged attacks. Not every enemy will come at you fairly, and you must be able to handle all types of attacks."

Bristle ripped the spear from his armor, tossing it back to me. "Yes, arrows have always troubled me. My reflexes will sharpen as I become more use to this form. Now, let our blades clash once more."

With a smile, I dropped my two weapons, grabbing the final weapon in my arsenal: my flail. His technique, like many, would crumble under the unique style of my favored weapon. I advanced slowly towards him, swinging the weapon in circles, building up a steady but deadly momentum.

"Sejuani, I have seen you fight with a blade or a spear only a handful of times, but I have seen you use that weapon for many seasons. Do not expect me to be caught off guard as easily as your average foe."

"You are proving yourself well, Bristle. I am expecting more from you with each clash of steel." I kept up my steady advance as my weapon picked up speed, until it was little more than a blur attached to my hand. Bristle began charging forward, putting his sword to his side just as I had on our first clash. I rotated my flail to where it was in front of me, acting almost as a shield due to the sheer speed that I'd brought it up to. Several scenarios played through my head as the distance finally closed, each one a maneuver I'd performed countless times.

I felt the tug on my wrist as his sword collided with the chain of my weapon, and I brought my other arm forward, a disarming technique I'd mastered over the years. Just as I'd planned the chain wrapped several times around his sword, and I grabbed the far end of the flail, tightening the lock I'd created. As soon as I reached to rip his sword free, however, my plan quickly crumbled.

I felt my control ripped from me as he dropped the mace, bringing both hands to the hilt of his sword. With a groan I brought his arms upward, carrying the sword, and me, with him. I felt my feet leave the ground as he threw me up and over his head, and I swiftly let one hand off my flail before the connection I'd formed proved to be my downfall. Pulling forward, my weapon slipped cleanly from his blade, the chain uncoiling as I spun it around, following up with a counterattack.

I swung my weapon arm forward and down my body, my positioning completely lost, but knowing that my foe was somewhere behind me. The arc of the flail ran forward and behind me, and I felt the sharp thud reverberate through the chain as it collided with his back. I landed safely on the ground behind and whirled around, wrapping my flail around his leg and pulled, sending him falling to the ground.

"Very clever, but do not forget that I have mastered my weapon, while you are still learning yours." I helped him back up from the ground, but my attention was diverted by the sound of clapping.

"Very impressive, both of you. Chief, if he has been this successful all day, then I am inclined to think that within several moon's time, he may outmatch you." Olaf walked briskly towards us, as I peered up at the sky. Though it felt like we had only been fighting for minutes, the sun shone from directly overhead, marking a break for our training.

"I have my size to my advantage, the Chief is still far beyond me in battle experience. It will be many seasons before I have a hope of a successful duel." Bristle walked back over to where he'd previously dropped his mace and retrieved it, letting the implement hang loosely by his side. "Her skill with a flail is unmatched."

I walked over to Olaf, pulling him over to the side. I spoke in a hushed tone, making sure that Bristle could not hear me. "He will be able to survive the champions of the northern tribes. He still retains all his memory from his past life, and his ability to deflect traditional attacks is impressive. Any foe that we put him against will be unable to adapt to his fighting style."

"If that is the case, then I wish to test his mettle myself." I nodded my approval, taking a seat nearby. Olaf walked over to Bristle, and whispered something into his ear, completely indecipherable from my location. The two of them took several paces out before turning around, drawing their weapons.

I was intent to see who would prevail in this fight. Olaf's ability to shrug off damage was inspiring, and I wanted nothing more than to see my head officer dance around my newest recruit. At the same time, however, it was hard to ignore Bristle's enormous height, almost a full foot above Olaf.

The two of them charged at each other, and Olaf immediately flung an axe at his opponent, the blade lodging itself in Bristle's thigh. Ignoring the attack Bristle lowered his stance and lunged forward, taking both of them to the ground. Bristle brought the flat of his blade down on Olaf's arm before standing back up, gripping his sword in both hands and bringing it swiftly downwards. A thin trickle of blood stained the ground as Olaf rolled to avoid the strike just a moment too late, and he swung his remaining axe towards Bristle, hooking it around the back of his heel.

Bristle took another jab downwards, sending another stream of blood out, this time from his opponent's leg. Olaf let out a battle cry and grabbed the axe he'd lodged in Bristle's armor previously, ripping it free before taking another swing. This one landed even deeper in Bristle's armor, and he removed it again, sending a gush of blood flying with it. The two of them looked like they were not about to stop any time soon, and I stepped forward, shouting.

"Enough, there is no need to inflict lasting injuries. This is a training session, not a deathmatch. You both fought well." I helped Olaf up from the ice, and the two of them nodded to each other.

"You fight well, Bristle. You will be instrumental in reuniting the tribes. Has Sejuani informed you of your role?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "She has not meant to, but yes, I overheard the conversation you two attempted to hide. I am willing to bear this responsibility."

I had forgotten about his unnatural hearing, but it did not matter in this instance. "That is good. We will break for midday, and construct your living quarters. You have reason to be proud of your performance this morning, Bristle."

The three of us walked back towards the center of the camp, back into the mead hall where we were treated with alcohol and red meat. Our training had left me with a gnawing hunger that the meal did little to sate, but it was better than the scraps I had become accustomed to eating.

I looked over at Bristle. The wound on his leg had quickly closed up as the bitter cold froze the blood flow, leaving a deep crimson gash across his leg that would last for many moons. After we both had consumed the meal, I stood up and walked back over towards him.

"It is time for you to build your tent. I do apologize for your uncomfortable rest last night, but there was little I was able to do about in my current state." I guided him out to the storeroom, which was filled with pelts and sticks, all the materials he would need to make a sustainable shelter.

"Am I allowed to rest where I did previously, or is such a location off-limits?" He gathered a thin spool of thread to aid him in maintaining the structural integrity, and the two of us left the storeroom after we both were sufficiently laden with supplies.

"If that is what you wish, then I will grant it to you. We are equals in here, I just happen to be the one that barks the orders."

"If that is the case, then that is where I'll live." I followed him to my tent and set down the supplies just outside, taking a seat. Though I had told him that we would work together, I had no intention of assisting him in any way, just as I didn't with every new recruit. They all handled it differently, and I was interested to see his reaction.

However, there was none. He simply gathered a pile of logs and began fashioning them into the framework, and in a few short minutes, all he had left was to construct the outer layer. The efficiency that he worked with was impressive; his sheer strength able to make short work of the labor.

Grabbing the pelts, he laid them out in a circle and grabbed the twine, before coming to a stop. This was the second part of the test: how to deal with not having all the tools. Every sod knew that you needed a point in order to finish the task, and I never game them one.

He solved the problem as most did: with a weapon. Taking the tip of his sword he meticulously and plunged it into the leather dozens of times, until he had done enough work to accomplish his the task, dropping the sword to the ground. Stooping down to the ground, he grabbed the twine and began weaving it through the pelts, the size and thickness of his fingers making the challenge difficult. Several times he cursed under his breath as the string missed its mark, until finally finding success.

When all was said and done, however, his tent was successful. While he was working I grabbed him a bedroll and tossed it inside, before turning to him. "You passed. Only a handful of warriors do that without griping in one way or another."

"I know better than to question your actions, Sejuani. This was my job to complete, and I was confused all day why you worded it in such a way as to make me think you would assist me."

I reached to the ground and tossed him his weapons, before giving him a knowing nod. "Good. Now let us continue your training. You have yet to break your boar-ish habits, but once you do that, you will truly be a force to be reckoned with."

The two of us walked back out towards the ice, and I picked up a large, unwieldy greatsword, something that even I struggled to carry in two hands. "I want to see how you handle unusual weapon styles. You may have seen how I fight with a flail, but I assure you that your knowledge of a greatsword is severely limited."

"You would be correct. Such a weapon seems too large to be functional, though I assume you would not come at me without having knowledge of the weapon you are wielding." He took his typical fighting stance, and I dropped the sword to my right, letting it drag on the ice behind me. Though the sword was excessively long it was not overly heavy, and I knew that the speed with which I would swing would catch him off guard.

I charged at him and listened as the scraping of steel on ice filled my ears, swiftly closing the distance between us once more. As we neared each other, I turned my shoulders, intending to fake him out. I watched as he brought his mace to the side, in an attempt to block a strike that would not come. I charged past him as the mace swung at thin air before turning on my side, throwing my entire weight around, sending my sword crashing into his back. At the last second I rotated the sword, sending the flat of the blade against him, not wanting to cause him further long-term harm.

The blow buffeted him, and I followed up with another tap, this one hitting him with far less force. "Your reflexes are dull, and you swing at any attack you see coming. A crafty foe will make short work of you."

"I am seeing that, yes. I did not expect you to be able to stop the sword so quickly. May I take a look at it?"

I handed him the blade he took it in two hands, the massive size of the weapon looking significantly more normal in his hands. He gave the sword a few test jabs, nodding to himself before looking up at me. "The blade is lighter than I expected, but heavy enough for me to see its value. It would function well as a secondary weapon for me, should the need arise."

"Then it is yours. Your stature will make the length of the blade quite effective, however, you must learn to swing, not just poke. The sword is meant for crushing blows, not light jabs. Using it as you have your previous weapons will undermine its effectiveness."

He nodded, giving it a few swings. His stance and balance were far from acceptable, and I made sure to correct with each mistake that he made. Our training lasted into the late hours of the evening before I finally broke our training for dinner, returning our supplies to the armory. I supplied him with a sheath for his weapons, the two smaller ones at his side and the larger upon his back, before stopping him.

"Tomorrow, we will march on the first of many tribes. You will have to take a life there, and if you don't, then it will be your life to be taken. Be prepared."

He nodded to me reassuringly. "Sejuani, I have done just that for many seasons, and I have yet to be slain yet. Whatever the stakes are, I will succeed, as I always have."

"Good. Now, go eat your meal and get rest. You will need it for the trials of the day."

Word Count: 12923 (6536 this chapter)

Author's Note: This chapter was a load of fun to write, and I'm still way ahead of schedule, which I'm really excited about. I hope you all enjoy it, and Chapter 3 should be out in a day or two. I foresee a very productive week ahead of me!