Hello! I was on vacation, so I couldn't update for awhile, so this is a fairly long chapter!

Slowly, little by little, I saw the boys improve. They were able to keep their balance, run longer, fight harder. And slowly, little by little, I felt my doubt start to slip away. They were becoming an army. My army. But as the final day of training approached, I felt my old fears return. I knew I was going to have to step up training, and then they would be ready. Or so I hoped.

"Troops!" I barked. They all assembled within seconds. I paced in front of them. "Now I know we are supposed to meet the troops in less than a months time," a wave of murmurs drifted through the line, but my firm gaze silenced everyone. "But I don't believe you're ready. At least not yet. You have a lot of work to do, and I expect you to rise to the challenge. If not," my eyes swept over the crowd, warningly, "Then you will not join us. Understood?" I got a consensus of nods as a response. I nodded back.

"Good, then. Sparring. Ping. Now."

I watched as Ping's eyes widened, and then as he stepped forward. I wasn't being unfair, I was just, well, ensuring that allowing him to stay was the right decision. Right?

I backed up and took on a fighting stance. Ping mimicked my movements, and we circled each other. His fist shot out, and I crouched and swung my leg around, to which he jumped over. A series of hits and blocks followed. We dodged each other, too closely matched to triumph over the other. We were both tiring. My punches were becoming more and more inaccurate, my dodges were slower. I noticed the same in Ping. Sweat dripped down his face, his breathing became laboured.

Suddenly, his arm stabbed upwards, and my hand shot up and barely blocked it. His free hand swung around towards my head, but I brought my arm between us, and brushed him away. I swung my arm forcefully towards his head, but found it instead whistling through the air. I jumped back towards him, but hadn't righted myself when Ping's foot collided with my jaw.

My head snapped backwards and I flew backwards. The impact knocked my breath away and I tumbled into the grass. When my body stilled, I opened my eyes to see colours swimming through my vision. When the world finally righted itself, I found myself staring into blue. I groaned and lifted my head.

Ping stood there, staring at his own hands in amazement, then looking up at me, his eyes shining. Once his eyes fell over me, his expression changed to concern. A wave of pride washed over me, and I absently rubbed my aching jaw. I couldn't contain myself. A smile swept over my face.

Ping rushed over and offered his hand. I grabbed it, my palm swallowing his thin fingers. Once I was on my feet, I brushed myself off.

"I suppose I have no reason to worry, then, do I?" Ping's face turned into a wide grin, his eyes lighting up. I shook my head.

"Next. Chien Po." As I began for another round of sparring, I tried to ignore Chi Fu's disapproving glare.

-

That night, I made my way back to my tent. The other men were planning to go to the lake, but I preferred my privacy. Besides, I had been beaten around today. I couldn't help but smile again at the thought. So they were ready. And with that all of my fears, all of my doubts, melted away.

"Captain Li?" I turned to face a man standing at the entrance to my tent.

"Yes?"

"Chi Fu requests you to join him in his tent." My mood sank but I nodded anyways. Requests. As if I have a choice. I arrived at the door and swept open the flap. He sat at his desk, his body hunched over his writing, his spine curving to look like a feeding rodent. I cleared my throat.

"Yes, Chi Fu?" I couldn't keep the irritation from my voice. He turned to face me.

"Ah, yes. Have a seat. We need to discuss the training and future of your so-called army," he sneered, the last word leaving his mouth bitter with mockery. I raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. This should be interesting. I sat uncomfortably on the top of his short dresser.

"I know they have improved, somewhat, but, well, they aren't prepared for this! You cannot expect a group of boys to defeat an army of thousands of Huns, can you?" I sighed.

"I can, and I will. And they aren't boys. Not anymore. They're done. They're ready. You've seen what they can do, without weapons!" I absently rubbed my jaw again. Chi Fu scoffed.

"What, Ping? That boy wouldn't know who he is fighting and who's on his side! He is hopeless. You should have gotten rid of him when you had the chance!" That's it! Stupid oversized weasel.....

"There is nothing wrong with Ping! He has passed the training easily! Yes, maybe he's a little," my anger made it impossible for me to form the word, any word. "Odd, but he has achieved higher, and improved faster than any of the other men. He. Is. A. Soldier." my voice was rising higher and higher, and I was so angry I was seeing red. I forced myself to level my voice. "We only have a month, but I think if we just–"

"You think your troops are ready to fight? Ha!" He bent down to look me in the eye, as if I were a child. "They would not last a minute against the Huns!" My nails dug into my knees.

"They completed their training."

"Those boys," he dragged out the word, his voice full of scorn, "Are no more fit to be soldiers than you are to be captain!" If it was possible, my eyebrows rose higher. I pressed my lips together.

"Once the general reads my report," he said proudly, motioning to the neat symbols on his paper. Suck up. "Your troops will never see battle." He leaned over his board, scribbling in his obsessively neat writing, as if dismissing me. I stood quickly and grabbed the edge of the board pushing it down. I saw my own furious expression reflected in his beady eyes.

"We're not finished!" His cold, bony hands plucked mine off of his paper.

"Be careful, captain. The General may be your father, but I," he hissed, tilting up his chin, "Am the Emperor's counsel." He strutted towards the tent flap, but paused at the entrance. "And, oh, by the way," He let out a quiet, scornful laugh "I got that job on my own. You're dismissed." He pointed his chin towards the ceiling and swept open the flap. I clenched my hands at my sides. I marched out.

Anger boiled throughout me. Red danced in my vision, and even in just a robe I felt heated in the cool, crisp air. That stupid oversized rodent... I almost didn't notice Ping standing in front of my, and, at the moment, I couldn't have a rational conversation, especially with Ping and his strange quips and outbursts.

"Hey! I'll hold him, and you punch." He brought his fist into his palm. I know my expression was harsh, but I just couldn't deal with this right now. I brushed past him. He muttered some incoherent sentence behind me. I kept walking until his voice cut through the silence.

"For what it's worth, I think you're a great captain." That stopped me. I glanced back quickly. Ping stood, looking sympathetic and almost, well, understanding. Did he know what it was like to not be good enough? To never be good enough? I forced myself to keep walking. That, I thought, is actually worth a lot.

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