"Get your asses in line!" the knights of Lockshi'Ria yelled.

Revvil and the others stood as straight and tall as their stumpy legs would allow while an older knight paced in front of them. From the front of the formation, it was clear that this knight had seen many battles in his time. His face was aged by conflict, and a long, jagged scar scraped from his left cheek toward the back of his head. The top of his ear was missing along the path of the scar.

He wore a polished mail with gold trim that seemed to glitter in the sunlight. The crest of the Kingdom of Isgard, a dragon's head encased in a shield, had been etched into his breastplate, then lined with gold to make it flourish. It was clear to Revvil and the other dwarves he was the Knight Commander.

It had taken them the better part of the month to reach the city. The knights leading them allowed for little rest, which had taken its toll on those who didn't have a wagon or means to travel other than their feet. Most of the recruits likely had never left Muttle or the smaller communities they stopped at along the road in their lives. Some were fresher than others, which meant they'd called the city their home.

Revvil held his breath as the knight stopped in front of the formation.

"Let's get some administrative details aside first," the commander growled in a low raspy voice. "Many of you came here with personal effects. After today they'll be sold save for a few necessities. Any who come with weapons or armor may keep those. Funding a war is expensive, and the royal army doesn't need to spend more coin than needed. Otherwise, the clothes on your backs and any religious items should be all you need. Is that clear?"

Everyone looked around as they wrestled with giving up their belongings. However, Revvil and the others wrestled another beast. Sam had never returned from leaving with Saidy's master. They assumed he'd run off after Saidy with him and pleaded his case to the knights before they left, but they'd already sealed his fate at the mention of his absence.

"You were asked a question! You will respond with sir!" the knights began shouting as they tore through the ranks of the poor excuse of a formation.

Their aggression snapped Revvil from the thought of what became of one his brothers. "Y-yes, sir!"

"Yes, sir!" came like popcorn from the ranks.

"In unison, damn—"

"We'll work on it, Hamel," the Knight Commander said.

"Yes, sir!" the knight saluted before returning to his side.

"Now that that's out of the way, we'll see who all was brave enough to show up."

The Knight Commander took a rolled-up parchment from one of his knights and unfurled it. Revvil's breath caught in his throat while jolts of fire and ice shot through his body. How far down was Sam's name? Would he be able to plead a better case with this knight?

The Knight Commander gazed over the parchment for a moment before looking up at everyone. He curled the parchment back up. "Let's get one more thing straight. I am Galdwin Dalcarn, Knight Commander of the Royal Army of Isgard! Many of you might think me a noble, but I was just a commoner when I joined. Your birth will never determine you worth here. Prove yourself a soldier and you will be shown the respect worthy of one, prove yourself a knight, and you will be made one!"

Galdwin folded his hands behind his back, crumpling the parchment. He began pacing up and down the formation, keeping his gaze fixed on the recruits. His compliment of knights stayed centered on their individual formation. Revvil's heart slowed a bit, and he saw his brothers relax their shoulders.

But the inevitable would come, and if Revvil couldn't plead Sam's case to the Knight Commander, Sam's fate would be one Revvil had feared since the day he'd found Sam.

"However, not one of you shits have earned the right to be called a soldier of Isgard!" Galdwin continued. "Do not think for one moment that signing your name makes you a soldier!" Some of the men's chests sank a bit at that statement. "It is my job to turn you into those soldiers! You will spend every day until we march into the Garden of Life training to be the soldiers you signed up to be!"

Galdwin pivoted on his heels. It was a crisp motion. He then began pacing the down the line the other way.

"Look to the men and women who stand next to you, in front of you, and behind you. Those are the only people who will save your life on the field of battle. Many of them you will also bury, so if thoughts of valor are what linger in your head, remove them. Think only of those that stand with you as valor holds no place on the field of battle." He paused and faced everyone. "You either kill or die. I pray you choose the former."

Galdwin unfolded his hands and opened the parchment again. "Let's see who's brave enough to face the oni!"

A trickle of sweat rolled down the side of Revvil's face. The summer sun had not spared any of its warmth as it hung high in the sky. The moonstone cobbles of Lockshi'Ria were especially white today.

"When I call your name, you will acknowledge me with sir! Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir!' Revvil and the others tried to bellow louder than those around them.

"Haldir Cromwell!"

"Here, sir!"

"Jordal Shoesman!"

"You mean Jordal The Demon Slayer, sir!" the man next to Revvil responded.

Revvil craned his neck to look up at the man. He was noticeably young, and an unknowing grin had crossed his face. Galdwin looked up from the parchment at the man. The lines on his face deepened as he marched over to Jordal. It had only taken him a few brisk steps before his nose nearly kissed the man's.

"Tell me, you fuckin cock maggot, have you ever seen an oni?" he snarled. "I'm not talking about the half breeds that walk our streets. I'm talking about a true oni. The ones with horns that your mother would tell you about to scare the piss out of you at night. If you had, you wouldn't be so arrogant." Specks of spit plastered Jordal's face. Galdwin then turned his head so his scar was all Jordal could see. "Do you see this scar? That was given to me by an oni after he'd already slew four of my comrades and been stabbed and cut multiple times."

The color seeped from Jordal's face at that statement.

"Listen here you fucks!" Galdwin shouted backing away from Jordal. "If any of you think you have the balls to call yourself a demon slayer like this shit bird here, then I will tell you only once. The ghost stories you've heard about the oni are true! Every fuckin one!" He scanned the formation as he spoke.

As his steely eyes fell upon the recruit's, those who met them quickly looked away until they fell on Revvil and the others. Revvil and Golag held his gaze as they stood stoically. Galdwin marched over to them, and both had to rear back their heads to continue holding it.

"Are you scared little dwarves?"

"No, sir," Revvil stated.

"You should be."

"We're wine merchants from Le'Dria. We've seen our fair share of oni."

"Well, then!" Galdwin chuckled. "What's your name half-pint?"

Golag growled, baring his teeth through his beard, but Revvil put his arm out.

"Revvil Leatherwork, sir."

"Alright, Leatherwork, since you're our resident oni expert, why don't you tell us all about them. Come on, step out here and tell us!" Galdwin beckoned.

Revvil hesitated a moment but stepped out and turned around. He hoped that by speaking about their enemy it might garner some respect from the commander. If it were enough, maybe he could be swayed.

"Go on."

He cleared his throat: "What the Knight Commander says is true. The oni are the work of nightmares. Each one is worth at least three men—well trained at that. Their magic is unparalleled, and their brutality is indiscriminate. Anyone who does not fear them is a fool. I've only known one person who could fight like—"

"Get the fuck back in line, dwarf!" Galdwin scolded.

Revvil stumbled as Galdwin shoved him by the shoulder.

"Guess I don't have to ask if you're here. Golag Shoemaker!"

"Aye, sir."

"Bertel Mudwater!"

"Are, sir!"

"Sam... err," Galdwin hesitated as he made sure Sam had no last name. "Sam!"

Revvil and the others looked at each other. The color ran from their faces. This was the moment they would have to argue for Sam again in hopes of a better sentence. They'd tried to reason with the knights back in Muttle, but his fate had already been decided by them when he didn't show to leave Muttle.

"Sir..." Revvil spoke. "Sam was one of ours. He went to help a friend with somethin and never returned. Please, I beg you, he would never desert. If we could find him and—"

"Shut the fuck up, dwarf! The law of treason is absolute!" Galdwin's face narrowed. "Let this be a reminder to any of you who might be feeling some cold feet! The punishment for desertion is death! That was made clear when you put your names down. There are no exceptions!"

He turned back to Revvil. "If we find him. I will personally carry out his sentence, unless you'd like the honor?"