Eder couldn't focus. Not on his breakfast, not on walking, and definitely not on working. His hand throbbed where he'd banged it on the doorframe of his house. He ignored it.
Helaman's words kept repeating in his mind: The Lamanites had entered the land of Jershon.
He knew Kamei was worried: she'd barely been able to wave at him she was so lost in thought. He wanted to tell her it would be okay, wanted to embrace her and comfort her. But it was impossible. He too was afraid.
Eder's friend, Leshon, was more distracted than usual as well. He-like many of the young men in the city of Ammon-still remembered what the Lamanites had done to their people, the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's, before God had instructed Ammon to bring them to Jershon. Eder had lost a father and sister to the massacres.
"Hey, look!" Another young worker called. "Something's happening! Down in the city center! It looks like an argument!"
Eder ran to the city center, all the workers behind him. Wading through the large crowd that had gathered there, he found one of the men-a ruler of the city-standing on a platform.
"We must protect out land! We must help our brethren the Nephites!" he cried to the tumultuous mass of people. "Even if it should mean the end of our covenant with God."
"No!"
Eder turned and saw Helaman himself mounting the platform. The crowd became quiet to hear what he would say.
"To break the promise you made with God is not worth assisting the Nephites! Anti-Nephi-Lehi's, do you not remember the blessings you have been given? I fear that if you break the covenant, your very souls may be lost to the depths of fire and torment!"
"Then what would you have us do?" the city ruler asked. "Shall we stand by and see out brothers slaughtered?"
"I will fight."
Eder was surprised as anyone to hear those words leave his mouth. His logic took effect a moment later, enraged at his foolish outburst. But he meant it.
"Who saith such a thing?" Helaman asked. Eder rose his arm and stepped forward.
"I say. I hath not taken the oath of my father to fight no more. I will join the battle for our freedom."
"As will I," Leshon declared. And then another young man said the same. And another. Before long, every able-bodied young man who hadn't made the covenant had volunteered to fight. Two thousand in all.