#Chapter 112: The pit

A cool wind whipped across the palace grounds, drying the mud and sweat on our bodies into a hard crust. Kayden and I returned the tools to the shed and then parted ways, hurrying to our rooms to get ourselves cleaned up. We met back on the training field just before the break of dawn. The pack came trooping out of the palace minutes later, jogging over to the field in perfect time with the rising sun. Their chatter died down, pace slowing as they neared me and Kayden. “Good morning, men.” They inclined their heads in to acknowledge me. “We’re going to start with sparring practice this morning. Find a partner you haven’t worked with in a while and let’s get going.” The pack did as I instructed, spreading out across the field in pairs and beginning their fighting practice. Kayden and I paced between them, watching. Counting landed blows. Confirming some things we already knew about who was in good fighting shape and who was moving too slow, taking too many hits or touching the