The Sons of Satrina: A Sons of Satrina Novel (23 page)

“The rest of you will continue to train within the confines of the academy at the times when the others that are selected are out in the field.”

Now, this was an even bigger shock
.  Usually, anything like this, obviously not going out into the field because that has never happened before, they would embark upon it as one.  It was like sitting on pins and needles waiting to see who would be included in the first wave.  You could feel the heat and tension in the room as it started to rise.  This would be really interesting to see who would be chosen, and beyond devastating for those who weren’t included.   It would be a real kick in the teeth.  Sure, they all knew that their time would come, but to be chosen first?  It would be such an honour.

Master Warrior Kelton started to pace around the room as he spoke.  He wasn’t sure that this was something that Bartholomew would have allowed to happen, but seeing as he wasn’t here, it was the council’s call as to who was going out there.  Kelton himself didn’t really wan
t any of them going out there. He didn’t think they were ready, but he had to respect their choice and believe that they knew what they were doing.  The other warriors had also been assessing the students, so at least he had their support and backing.

The council were still bugging him, on top of everything else, about taking up the position of the leader of the Matris race and they weren’t in the mood to take no for an answer with regards to any ‘ideas’ that they came up with.  If Kelton didn’t care to rule, then he had to live with the decision that they made.  He knew that they were playing their position like a kids game to try and get him to
cave, but he wasn’t a leader. Not a political leader. Kelton had been dodging their phone calls none stop as much as he could, which wasn’t easy, especially with this field training exercise coming up.  They wanted constant updates.

Their community wasn’t huge, but it was a great burden to bear.  Their safety was paramount.  It wasn’t solely the Matris
community that they protected. They were also there for the humans that were around them and at risk from the Mortuorum.  Wherever the Mortuorum were, they were surrounded by danger and death.  This was why the Sons were there for them.  And without a leader at this current time, it was falling to Kelton’s shoulders to make arrangements for the Warriors, at the direction of the council.  Not that this was much different from before as Bartholomew had allowed Kelton to rule the Warriors however he saw fit. But it was a new thing having to follow orders from a bunch of office bound flunkies at the council and he had to work out how best not to get his trainees killed out there.  It was a tough place for him to be - the old rock and a hard place.

In a way, he couldn’t wait for a new leader to be appointed.  In another, he was dreading it.  Who would fill Bartholomew’s shoes?  Who could even try?  He knew for a fact that he wasn’t cut out for it.  Would anyone be?  They were big shoes to fill.

The council had put forward the directive that all the trainees in the school were to be integrated into field training as an advancement to their combat experience and no matter how much Kelton had voiced his concern and opposition, they stood their ground. So, now it was up to him to make the best of such a bad situation. A potentially dangerous situation at that.  He and the other Warriors had had an emergency meeting as soon as the council released which trainees were going out in the first wave.  The older trainees were not so much of a concern, but this bunch of first years?  It was a task he didn’t relish.

For Jackson and the others, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Fucking awesome!  Out there in the field?  With real warriors?  Watching their every move?  Watching them fight?  Up close and personal.  It didn’t get much better than that.

“Right. When I call your name, you will team up with the Warriors that are assign to you.” Kelton picked up a black clipboard with several sheets of typed white paper on it, as the class of trainees tensed up, fit to burst with nervous excitement.

“Master Warrior Wrenston, you will be teaming up with Master Warrior Johan in the field.  He will be joining you shortly as he has been unavoidably held up at the council.”  Warrior Wrenston nodded and the excitement ran like an electric current through the trainees.   This was it…..

“Wrenston, you will have Miles and Raines from the graduate team,” and the two grad students marched over to stand to attention next to the warrior, “And the trainees shadowing you will be…”  Kelton didn’t mean to make for a pregnant pause, he simply need to double check that he had made the right decision with the names, “Masterson and Scott.”

A cheer went up in the room  as Trey and Dylan bounced up from their seats, high fiving and bumping fists as they made their way over to stand next to Master Warrior Wrenston, grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats as they stood there proudly.

On the whole, Kelton had been satisfied with the selection that the council had come up with for the first lot of trainee’s to enter the real world.  Trey and Dylan had picked up the defensive moves with ease, never faltering.  That was all he could ask for right now for the task ahead.

“Next up, Master Warrior Verynai will team up with Master Warrior Nolange in the field, who is also still at
the council offices.  Graduate warriors are….Cillines and Nox.” The graduates walked over to stand next to Warrior Verynai, who was a scary, pierced and tattoo covered giant among men.  “Your team will be shadowed by…  Thormond and Smithson.”

Another roar went up from the crowd of graduates, clapping Jackson and the other trainee, Roman, as they made their way to the front to stand with their team.

Jackson couldn’t hold back the grin as he stood facing the rest of them.  It wasn’t like he was gloating or anything like that, but the competition was hot for these positions and there were only two more places left up for grabs.  Initially, Jackson had thought that if he was chosen, he would stand up there, legs apart, hands behind his back, a serious expression on his face like the other graduated warriors, but there was no way he could contain his excitement like that.  He was practically bouncing on the spot.  He’d secured his spot.  It showed that Warrior Kelton and the council had faith in him.  It was a truly amazing feeling.

He was so pleased that his dedication and determination had paid off, and also that of his friends.  It showed that the extra time they had spent in the gym and concerted effort in the training rooms, going that extra mile, that it had all paid off.  It had all been worth it.  Every ache, every pain, paled in comparison to what he was feeling right now. 

Kelton paused for a moment, and took a second to compose his face.  He was not too sure with this last pairing.  He knew that they both had the defensive skills but he still wasn’t sure that they could be trusted out in the field.  He had to base his judgement on the defensive skills, though, and the rest of the Master Warriors had agreed with the decision of the council.  If he could have changed their minds, he would have, but they were having none of it.  This was their final decision.  Kelton just hoped that they wouldn’t live to regret it.

“Graduated w
arriors Lyndon and Davis will join up in the field with Master Warrior Merion and Master Warrior Dixon.  As will trainees…  McKenna and Kellerman.”

For a split second, the crowd of trainees were stunned, before another round of cheers erupted.  Aisline sat in her chair, staring dumbly forward as hands started to clap her on the back and push her to her feet.  There was no way on this earth that she could have heard that right.  Did he really just say her name? No way!  Did he? She even had to glance over at Warrior Kelton for confirmation and he nodded and tried to smile reassuringly at her, beckoning her forward to stand at the front of the class with the rest of the chosen ones.

If Aisline had been male, Kelton would have wholeheartedly agreed with the council’s choice.  He knew that she had the strength and skill, but sending the first female warrior out there?  He still wasn’t certain about that, but the council had overruled him.  They pushed for Ash to be in the first wave as soon as her skills became apparent.  They said that it made a bold statement to choose her over some of the male trainees.  Sure, Kelton had plenty of faith in her, but he thought that this move was too risky. 

With a look of sheer disbelief still plastered firmly on her face, Ash stumbled to the front and stood next to Master Warrior Merion who whispered, ‘congratulations’ to the pair of them.

Looking at each of the other trainees in turn who had also been picked, their jubilant feeling was contagious and she started to revel in the position she had been afforded.   HA!  She’d done it!

“The rest of you will continue to train in the confines of the academy on the sessions that the other will be in the field, or in training.  Please all bear this in mind - this selection will change.  Once in the field, there will be those of you out there who find that you are not ready to be out hunting our enemy, positions will rot
ate. This is purely an exercise and each of you will be expected to participate.  We want to make sure that we get the best out of all of you.  This is a field exercise and each and every one of you will get a chance to prove your worth.”  Warrior Kelton turned to talk directly to the ones who had been selected to stand by the Master Warriors for the first wave of the field training.  “We are putting a lot of trust in you.  This could be the making of you.  Or it could be the breaking of you.  If you have any questions whatsoever, direct them to the Master Warriors of your team.  Take note of everything involved in the strategic planning.  We want you all to learn and improve.”

Kelton moved back to the centre of the room, putting his hands behind his back, he adopted the stance of the Warrior.  “Right. Trainees that have been selected, you will now assemble with your teams to be briefed on your first assignment.  The rest of you will convene in the technology suite.  Professor Ranger will be there to set you your own assignments.   Thank you.  You are all dismissed.”

Chapter Twenty-Three.

There were a few disgruntled groans from some of the trainees as they left the sparring room to head over to the technology suite, but who could blame them really.  One person who stood out from the rest was Jase, who was jumping up and down like a mad man, attracting th
e attention of the rest of the warriors who were threatening to knock him out if he didn’t calm down, but only in a joking kind of way.  He was really excited for the rest of the guys who had been chosen and couldn’t wait to hear all the stories when they got together later.  He wanted to know everything they were doing down to the smallest detail.  Jase wasn’t bitter at not being chosen.  After all, he was one of the weakest at defence in their group of friends, so his name not being called was not much of a shocker.  He was pleased that his buddies had been put forward for this and couldn’t wait to get all of the juicy inside gossip.

As for the others, the grins were still firmly on their faces as they stood patiently waiting to find out what they were in store for.  Jackson, Dylan, Trey and Aisline all turned to look at each other and simultaneously burst out laughing.  None of them could believ
e that they’d all been picked. It was amazing.  Aisline didn’t even let the fact that she was paired up with Denver put a damper on her feelings.

Yes, Denver.  Exactly.  Not perfect, but she could ignore him just as well out in the real world as she could in the academy.

He was stood next to her, already preaching to the graduated students about how they should be doing things out in the field, and the warriors were doing their very best to ignore him.  Ash rolled her eyes at the other guys and they all erupted into fresh laughter.

“Attention w
arriors.”  Master Warrior Kelton’s voice belted out over the raucous laughter.  “You will now meet with your group to find out your assignment and to get prepared.  Each of the trainees will prepare a full evaluation, including safety measures for the group, back up plans, weaponry detail, etc… and have it on my desk by dawn.  This is not for fun.  This is for real.  This is part of your combat education and every aspect of this field training will be under taken with the utmost seriousness.  Your failure to follow orders could result in disastrous consequences, the least including immediate expulsion from the school if orders are not followed to the letter.  Your full attention and cooperation is required at all times.”

With one la
st glance at the trainee’s and warriors, Kelton nodded at the Master Warriors and walked out of the room, retiring to his office.  The second he left, the room exploded in animated chatter again, quickly hushed by the Master Warriors who ushered each group out of the sparring room and into their respective conference rooms to lay out the plans for their first field trip.

Kelton tried to keep a clear head as he moved away from the sparring rooms, but he couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling.  How did the council ever think it was right to take first years out into the field?  Sure, he had faith in them and he’d seen them fighting, and that was why he had mostly agreed with the choice of the council.  Each of them had excellent defensive skills, but he hoped that they wouldn’t need them.

But, first years?  The older students, sure, he could sort of understand the benefit of sending them out, but these trainees here weren’t ready.  No matter what they, or the council, thought.  Kelton knew they weren’t cut out for this and he just hoped that none of them got hurt in this little experiment from the council.  They were fools to put this into operation and he hoped that every one of them involved would come out of this unscathed.

Jackson and Roman followed the warriors out of the room, but before he filed out, Jackson turned to find Aisline still grinning at him.  His own smile faltered as he thought about the danger she could face out there, but her happiness was infectious and he couldn’t help but grin back at her.  Shelving thoughts of her safety, he knew that she was more than competent and that Kelton obviously shared that view when he’d picked her, Jackson sped up to follow the others down the corridor to where they were going to hold their meeting, leaving his concerns behind as he went.

Shutting the door behind him, Jackson took a seat across the table from Master Warrior Verynai, next to Roman.  The atmosphere had changed considerably and they were all ready to get serious and get down to business.  Excitement coursed through him as he thought that he would be doi
ng this for real in a few years’ time.

Master Warrior Verynai was shuffling through a pile of paperwork while he spoke quietly on the phone.  The others waited patiently, the laughter forgotten. This was the real deal right here.

Master Professor Verynai had decades of experience out in the field against the Lamia Mortuorum and was highly respected.  He looked about twenty-eight, as was the norm for a fully matured Lamia, with short, spiky dirty blonde hair and a matching goatee.  With a ring through the centre of his bottom lip, and a bar through his eyebrow, and tattoo’s covering every available inch of his skin apart from his face, he radiated lethalness.  Jackson would have been happy to have been with any of the Master Warriors, but Verynai had a fierce reputation due to his relationship with his Katana, and Jackson knew that he would learn plenty from him.

“Right, guys.  Warrior Lange will join us shortly.  First things first, I want to personally assess your physical abilities.  Only then, will we proceed with the planning of our operation.  Should you not pass the physical test I set you, don’t be disappointed, it just means that you are not good enough.” Verynai said, with a smirk.  The others chuckled nervously.

“Oh, come on! Have a bit more faith in yourself than that.” he laughed again as he stood up.  Jackson and the others followed his lead and exited the room, heading over to the gym.  What? He meant right now?  Oh crap.

Roman glanced apprehensively over at Jackson who could only shrug his shoulders in response.  God knew what Ve
rynai would put them through. He just hoped that he would pass the test.

And it was about as every bit as gruelling as they had expected, but Verynai seemed pleased enough with them to admit them all into the strategy meeting that would take place the next day.   Jackson was sweating with exertion and stress by the time they’d finished the circuit he’d set out for them.  It wasn’t like
he just stood there and assessed them, though.  No, Master Warrior Verynai worked alongside them, which Jackson respected.

The strategy meeting assignment deadline had been extended to the end of the next day.  Master Warrior Verynai had wanted primarily assess their physical capabilitie
s and wanted to put off strategic planning until they’d rested and the excitement had died down.  Clear heads were a must for this critical planning.

Kelton whole heartedly agreed with this.  Each Master Warrior led their group differently, either focusing primarily on the physical or academic and he was happy to leave them to their own devices.  They knew the guidelines that they had to follow and he trusted them implicitly.  As long as the students put in a full and comprehensive account, he didn’t really care which way they did it.  As long as it was drilled into the trainee’s how important the planning stage of operations was, he would sit back and let them get on with it.

He knew that this was also a major thing for the trainees.  Out in the field, he knew that each of the warriors led their teams in their own manner, and seeing the different approaches to combat and training would help the students find their own feet.  This was a world of change for them, and hopefully, the experience would make them stronger.

He hoped.

Kelton sat in his office and watched the trainees pass by down the corridor on their way to retire for the daylight hours.  You could tell by their faces which Master Warrior had been leading the groups - Jackson and Roman looked exhausted by the rigorous workout Verynai had put them through.  Trey and Dylan looked like they were nursing monster headaches from their information over load, as did Ash and Denver.

It was those two that gave
him cause for concern.  Aisline he knew she could more than handle herself, but he still had reservations about sending out the first female warrior in their history out into the breach.  And Denver?  He had the defensive down pat, but lacked discipline.  If he could just keep it together, keep his head down and keep his big mouth shut, then they should be alright. 

They would just have to wait and see what they were all made of.