THE EIGHT INITIATES remain with Olayinka for about a week. Emphasizing her scholasticism over her martial prowess, she spends the most time continuing her series of lectures on the ten ages of Zafanyan history. The Founding and the Occupation are periods Zakkai finds only sporadically interesting, but the First Age of Heroes is full of enthralling tales of bravery and bravado Olayinka relays with vigor.

Despite her overemphasis on academic enrichment, Olayinka does show the visiting Bladesmen the smaller sparring chamber the Librarians use. It lacks the generous lighting of their own practice room, but its torchlit interior oozes a homely warmth of its own. Here, she permits seven of the initiates to further their training by performing drills with the more highly trained warriors she oversees.

However, in keeping with Okafor's disciplinary measures, she forbids Zakkai and Ejike from joining them. Instead, she confines them to either spectating or studying further from the books in her library. Ordinarily, the exiled prince would eagerly bury himself in studies when presented so many volumes for review, but the circumstances sour his experience.

Olayinka and her First Elder oversee a crop of more mature Rukisu, Zakkai comes to learn. She only looks after two initiates of her own, one of whom is a shy young lady named Maraye who had snagged Zakkai's attention from the first moment he had seen her. Her knowledge of the library's layout is extensive, however, so he often finds excuses to seek her guidance in locating books on a certain topic, just to spend some time in her presence.

A week after leaving his group in Olayinka's care, Elder Okafor returns. However, instead of taking time to greet the initiates like a father reunited with his children, he focuses his attention on his fellow councilman. Whatever he has seen in his time down south has shaken him, and he will not elaborate, no matter how much his students beg for clarification. He summons Olayinka and magenta-clad First Elder Dubaku Karuhk to an emergency meeting of the Council.

Okafor's initiates had been instructed to keep busy and assist the Librarians in tidying up the space, but instead, they spend most of their time pacing and speculating on what their teacher has found. Zakkai proposes he has found another resurrected enemy moving in the south, but Ejike will not consider anything so fantastical. The Kalguri are simply seeking allies not subject to Zafanyan rule, and logically, north and south are the only directions to go in pursuit of that support.

Thankfully, their fruitless debate passes the time well, and before they know it, Okafor returns to the library and summons his initiates with a wave of his hand. He quietly leads his brood back around the walkway to the Bladesmen's section and lines them up in the practice chamber. Ever observant, Zakkai notes a nick in the elder's leather armor that was not there when he departed a week ago. His scarlet robe covers it a second later, but he tucks the clue into the back of his mind.

"When I departed from here," Okafor begins, his voice echoing off their spacious walls, "war was a threat and a rumor only. The Kalguri had rattled their sabers, and her majesty only laughed. But from what I saw in the south, it is a certainty. War is certainly upon us, and we must prepare."

"What did you see in the south, exactly?" A question uttered by Zakkai, but at least three others speak alongside him.

"One of the Kalguri tribes has proceeded from Mejanno to make diplomatic contact with the Supreme Lordship of Tei-Gata. Any ambitions Tei-Gata has in this region are blocked off by the mountains at the southern edge of the savannah. Only by contending with Zafanya herself can any progress be made. The Kalguri have made a blood oath with the Supreme Lordship that if either party launches an attack on Zafanyan soil, the other will come to lend their aid."

"How did you come by this information?" Rafi asks, "Did you disguise yourself as one of those savages and infiltrate?"

"I would not stoop that low. I snuck into the camp at night and overheard whispers not meant for my ears. My only blunder was that I underestimated the vigilance of the Supreme Lordship's guards. I was forced to fight myself free and flee home."

Ejike exhales loudly. "So the keeper of the south has his sights on our land. This can only mean war, as you said."

"I will need you to train with all diligence. The Rukisu are not numerous, and this war will span a broad swath of the Zafanyan Empire. We will be spread thin. If I can ready you all for war within the next year or two, by the time it reaches its peak, we may not suffer for our previous failure to prepare."

"In a year or two, will the war still be active?" Rafi asks.

"The Council's opinion is that Tei-Gata's involvement could draw out a conflict for at least a decade. As far as Zafanya reaches to the west, Tei-Gata extends to the south. We speak of a powerful, organized army as sophisticated as our own in collaboration with a mobile attack force accustomed to ravaging the savannah and disappearing without a trace."

"Do you agree with the Council's opinion?"

"If we destroy the Kalguri in one swift campaign before either party attacks Zafanyan soil, it may be over sooner. The blood oath is no longer in effect if there are no Kalguri alive."

Zakkai shakes his head. "If this Lordship seeks expansion into this region, will he not attack whether or not he has allies? From the sounds of it, he has the power to do so with or without Kalguri assistance."

"With the Kalguri gone, we have only our southern border to protect. Spreading our forces between N'graza, Esovidda, and maintaining a defense in the south while also chasing the savages across the savannah ... this is unsustainable."

"So we ought to wipe out the Kalguri and funnel all forces to the south."

"The Council disagrees, and Riuki is the one who will be given a chance to offer the queen his opinion." Okafor releases a heavy sigh. "I did not come to discuss war strategy with you all. One way or another, war is upon us. We need as many battle-ready Rukisu on our hands as we can get. So—"

"I volunteer to go forth and strike down the cannibals!" Jabari shouts, pumping his fists upward.

"None of you are anywhere near ready. But I need you quickly to become initiates no more and brothers in arms instead. So in six months, whoever is readiest, I will have inducted into the proper ranks of the Rukisu Bladesmen. Take this as incentive to study hard and practice harder."

Zakkai steps forward. "In six months, you shall be pleased to charge into battle alongside your most ambitious student."

"Make it so. War is upon us, future Bladesmen. We shall not let it overtake us."