Tam shook his head with a grin. “Your rules, Rezkin. Training at dawn. You’re not the only one who can follow rules.”

Frisha gave Tam a sideways look that morphed into a scowl. She was dressed in her tunic and pants and carried her belt and throwing knives in her hand.

“What is this?” the general asked, remembering Rezkin had said something about weapons training. “What are you three up to?”

Tam, still grinning, said, “Rez has been training us to fight. He started teaching us both the sword, but then he switched Frisha to throwing knives. He said something about not wanting her to get close enough to the enemy to use a sword. Plus, she refused to carry one being a woman and all … not that it stopped Reaylin.” Frisha scowled at the mention of the young female warrior. Tam continued excitedly. “Look at this! He bought us weapons. Lieutenant Jimson said my sword is better than the one the army issued him.”

The general grunted. “It is not difficult to find a sword better than those. The one the lieutenant carries is probably better than most since he is an officer, but those issued to the enlisted are little better than scrap metal,” he remarked as he examined Tam’s blade.

“Then why do you use them?” Tam asked.

“If it were up to me, we would not,” General Marcum answered.

Tam furrowed his brow in confusion. “But, you’re the general of the army. Isn’t it up to you?”

The general shook his head. “I am in charge of the army, not the treasury. They are the best we can afford in bulk for the average soldier based on the funds I am provided.”

“So who decides how much money you can spend and what you can spend it on?” asked Tam.

“In this case, the king,” said the general. “King Bordran kept the army supplied well, but since King Caydean was crowned, our funds have been significantly reduced, and in the past few months, our recruitment quota has increased.”

“The king is building up the army?” Rezkin asked.

“Indeed. Makes one wonder why, does it not?” General Marcum commented.

“You don’t know?” asked Tam with surprise.

The general scoffed, “Not even I, the general of the army, knows why. I am not sure anyone but the king, himself, knows.” He handed Tam back his sword. “This is a good sword. I am glad to see you are taking the initiative to learn before you join up. If you perform well enough, you might even some day break through the barrier and become an officer.”

“Commoners can do that?” Tam said excitedly.