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Disclaimer: The Old Code doesn't belong to me.
Kara stood before her already tired trainees. They had been forced, by Kara, to run around the whole camp since first light and the sun was now fully up. " Look lively, hah..hah, get in place," she yelled as she tried to regain her breath from her run, she too had been running since first light because she didn't believe in giving orders she herself could not do. The trainees moved into place slowly, even exhausted they respected Kara and knew better then to disobey her. " Al'right we'll start where we stopped yesterday. First two rows listen to me. Today you will learn the old code – why haven't you began?" The others began working on strikes they learned the other day in rows of nineteen in at least 50 rows in the middle of the tent camp. "Now", Kara began again, "when you came here you were told you must swear, but not to Bowen or me, to the people and the old code. This code will hold you to higher standards then others'n me'n the King will, as leaders of the people, try you for any wrong doings. Do you understand?"
They all nodded, yes.
"Then repeat after me, a knight is sworn to valor". The repeat came in unison. "His heart knows only virtue his heart knows only virtue , His blade defends the helpless his blade defends the helpless…"
Bowen paced the length of his study, really his and Kara's bed chamber. He had been thinking up battle plans and receiving information on his enemies since before first light and now he couldn't think any more. He was tired, not just from this restless night, but from many restless nights. Four of almost straight war with many enemies had done its toll on the old knight. The lines on his face were deeper, his hair almost all gray, his eyes were darker and wiser, the old man was tired yet his enemies kept coming. They were getting smarter; three armies were marching against the kingdom, his spies told him. He could not defend against them all; if he pulled from the West to protect the South, he would leave the West vulnerable. Finally Bowen stopped pacing, he would contact an ally that owed him to defend the West so he could pull the army to attack the Northerns, The Occults, army east. The South would be closer to his castle and Kara than he liked, but if all went well he would be back a day or two before the army even got to the outermost edge of the forest.
"Al'right break for midday," Kara yelled, as the trainees dragged themselves off the field and to the fires.
"Mommy, can we join you?" begged the twins, emerging from behind a tent.
" Were did you leave your Nanny this time?" Kara asked.
"She was put'in Arthur down," Amilla said.
"Fine you can stay, but only cause your Nanny needs a break. You'll have to teach the old code, though."
"The right can never die…"they began.
A/N: Dragons promised in the next chapter.