Kamei watched the drills Helaman Put the Two Thousand through. Some were striking upright logs with swords, others worked with bows on an open field. But Kamei only had eyes for Eder, who was learning to handle a spear.
A week ago, Kamei would have joked about "Eder the leader" but now, with the concept of battle hanging over the 2000's heads...
Bad enough that her childhood friend was among the 2000, but her own brother? It was almost too much to bear. She had been sure that Helaman would have told Samuel no-he was only seventeen, young compared to the others who were mostly nineteen and older-but that hadn't been the case. Mori had tried to volunteer, but he was thirteen; a child.
Helaman halted the training, and called the young men in. Kamei couldn't bear to watch any longer. She ran home.
*.*
Eder panted slightly, sweat running down his face from exertion. The training drills were intense, making even the most fit of their number collapse panting to the ground. Only Helaman wasn't drenched in sweat, despite all the drills he'd run them through individually.
"If we are to be a unified army," Helaman was saying, "then we must train together, work together, and pray together. We must also name ourselves."
"Why do we need a name?" someone in the back asked. "Other than for identification."
"The name is identification. It will tell all that we meet who we are. What we stand for."
"Then why don't we call ourselves 'The Two Thousand Young Warriors'?"
The laughs that passed through the circle died when Helaman did not appear amused. Rather, he thought about it with a surprising amount of actual consideration. The whole group was surprised. Helaman then asked if it was alright if they had a variant name-something else they could be called. No one came forth outright to answer. Then Samuel, Kamei's elder brother, stepped out of the crowd.
"We could be called the Sons of Helaman," he suggested. "We are brothers in arms after all. Helaman is our mentor, guide, leader...and father."
The other 1998 young soldiers talked about it and liked it. Helaman agreed.
"Come then, my little sons," Helamn called. "Let us return to battle training."
"Yes our father!" The two thousand young warriors cried.
