Warren had been more busy lately. Filling in for the role of Captain, trying to actively keep an eye on every group for their weaknesses, making sure those in their mandatory six were getting properly trained and handling any needs and concerns in between. He had an on-going investigation into what he believed were some kind of back-alley dealings that had led to murder and theft, and a few soldiers who he was keeping a personal eye on because he believed they could be strong leadership material, which many of the soldiers had been severely lacking. Their time of peace had softened too many of them, and now they had to crack down on it.

On this day he'd been out in the field observing. Many groups and individual soldiers were working through exercises, but one in particular had caught his eye and he'd made his way over to the edge of the field. Lady Aveline stood beside him with parchment and quill in hand, taking notes that he relayed to her as things caught his eye that certain teams or soldiers would need to work on.

"Are you hoping she'll take my place, Lieutenant?" Aveline asked. Warren glanced at her, then shook his head. Lady Aveline had been his assistant for years and she'd picked up on the work quickly, but her eighteenth name day came during Hiems and she was choosing to no longer remain in the military. As a woman of noble birth, she could do just about anything she wanted, so while it was no loss for her, it was for Warren. He'd have to train an entirely new assistant.

"She's only just begun her lessons," he shook his head. "She wouldn't be prepared in time to take your place and with my position changing, the workload will as well." Lady Aveline merely shrugged. Besides her, and Warren's mother, he'd told no one else that he was paying for a tutor for Zarha. But her aspirations went far beyond being an assistant.

He watched quietly, hands behind his back, as she spoke to her teammates. While some of them appeared to have no desire to be there, others seemed touched, maybe even driven, by her words. They seemed very aware of Warren's presence, he thought, so it was possible they thought doing this would make him happy. As long as they accomplished their goals, what else could he ask for?

"If you wish," he agreed when Zarha asked, and gave her time to get back into position. When she was, he nodded. "Begin," he barked loudly, for all to hear. As they did so, he watched them closely.

Zahra as promised been working really hard on her writing and reading, like she struggles in areas she was setermind like normal, Wanting soo badly to do this. She have kept her mouth quiet about who been paying for them. If anybody asked her she would explained that it was just a friendly noble who just wish to remain nameless because they didn't want their generosity to be taken lightly.

Zahra gave lady Aveline a small nod out of respect knowing thaat she has higher standing then she does, both of nobility and even though she was an assistance, she till have rank over her. Zahra then looked at Woodwick and smiled. "Thank you Liutanent." She quickly harried back making sure that she was being careful with her energy.

Hearing Warren call out to start. Her compatative side wanted to come out soo bad, but even though the first three seconds of quickly running forwards wanting to win, she slowed down as she started running with the group as they got to the first chellenge a wall with three ropes. I looked between Ally and Bethan who are good soldiers, their are atrong enough to boost up with me. They both nod back as we quickly got to the base and started to boost our group up.

Warren walked forward as the soldiers began to run toward the wall. He saw Zarha restraining herself. What good would be exhausting oneself to get there first when you just had to wait for at least one other soldier to help you up anyway?

The more powerful soldiers were left toward the bottom to help boost others up, which was standard. But halfway through the group, those soldiers would begin to get tired. "Two new soldiers, take their place. You, you," Warren said from the sidelines, pointing to two others. "If the same soldiers boost the whole group, they'll be tired before they're over the wall." The soldiers seemed to understand his commands easily. There was a time when Zarha's group might have floundered a bit under the instruction. They were improving. "Good. Keep going," he said as they switched and the second set boosted the remaining soldiers over the wall. "Always stagger positions."

His eyes followed the last soldier as they went up and over. He nodded, waiting to see how they would tackle the second obstacle.

Zahra heard Warren asked a couple of gaurds to swap with two of the others. Well, she was still at the bottom. 'Come on Zahra let me help you up, we don't want to get you tired.' Rajko Koumans a 6ft 3 soldier in his early twenties, stepped forward get in a coaching position and smiled.

"I got this Rajko." She was trying to be her bitch self.

"I know you have but we need you to help us cross to the finish line and like quick wit said you'll be tired before you reach the top. I need you to trust me." The eyes was soft and it took a moment for me to internally pounder it as Zahra looks into his brown eyes for a moment before looking down. She knows she need to trust him, she need to trust people.

Without looking back up at him she nodded. "I do trust you." She smiled as she stood up straight going back enough before she look at him she need this. However she said she believed him and she needs to, wants to so she run forward and she got boosted up to the rope before climbing up. Once everybody was over and safe, they started running to the next tast. Which look easier.

They have to cross a stream without getting waited and there is a bridge however she explaine "there will be times where we might not have a bridge so we have to look for a way to face what infront of us with what around us." . The stream was shallow enough from them in reality just cross through it. Like it would be knee-deep for most of them. However, the task is trying to use what we got around us. Our surrondings to defeat the obscul in the way. They all looked around for anything.After several minutes they managed to find a tree long enough to reach the other side, small enough for us t get on and look strong enough to hold our weight. Through team work we managed to get to the edge.

Then Zahra and another witch muttered a few words to creat a gust of wind powerful enough to push it over and tip one end of the other side. They started crossing to the other side.

He continued to watch them, walking along the side of the obstacle course as they continued on. He eyed the soldier who helped Zarha up and over the wall, and turned to look at Aveline, speaking so that only the two of them could hear. "Make a note that I'd like to speak with that soldier, Mr. Koumans." Aveline nodded, scribbling on the parchment she held in front of her. As soon as he was done speaking, his eyes returned to the course ahead of him.

He watched the soldiers group up and decide on a plan. Although in any other circumstance you would always take the path of least resistance, they needed to be able to adapt to their environment when there was no other option before them. He and Lady Aveline took the small bridge that had been crafted over the shallow, man-made creek of water to the other side, nodding as the tree was knocked over and used as a means of crossing the water.

Zahra stayed near the back with Rajko as they helped abd waited for the last of their group, As they approched the next obsacle, which was going to be a task anyway. Zahra saw one of her fellow soldier fall down and pretend to have a broken leg. All she thinking was this was her idea and now a soldier have a broken leg. A pig of guilt filled her eyes, however she can't back down. Zahra need to forcus on this task and as promised no man is left behind.

As she got there Zahra bend on her knees beside her soldier as they all know if they couldn't do any major treetment out on the field because time is importanent, so they need. A couple of soldiers quick thinking and found stuff to tired the soldiers legs together as like a splint like fashion. Zahra stand up "Okay two soldiers help her up carefully. Then two others one either side support her legs. We will to listen to each other more with this one."

The next one there was several ropes going every direction possible between twenty polls each side it was about twenty eight feet long and eighteen feet wide. "possible best to send her in backwards. lets find a good path and then we just slide her carefull through the rope. Always making sure that her leg do not bend more then it has to." Zahra said with worry in her voice.

Rajko show that worry in her. Trying to boost her cofidence. "Aye, Aye Captain." He said quiet loudly which made Zahra laugh and shake her head. The soldier nodded along as they followed and walked out this Maze, They carefully guided the soldier through it all. It was a task to make sure that no more damange was caused. However they managed to do it.

With the words from Rajko word of confident boost her confidnce soo much. They can do it.

This particular task would be much more difficult with an injured soldier. It took speed and agility to get through at an even pace, but to be fair they weren't entirely concerned with speed today. Just getting them all through the course efficiently would be acceptable, and they could always continue to run the course together until they knew each other like they knew the back of their own hands.

Zarha, as she had before, began to exhibit more leadership behavior and her group continued to listen her. It was still unclear if they did so simply to get through the day without punishment or because they thought she was a good leader, but those feelings would all change depending on the outcome. If they did well, they'd begin to trust her. If they did poorly, they'd be less likely to listen to her in the future. That was okay. Learning to lead meant accepting that you couldn't always be right, but being open to criticisms made it a bit easier.

Together a few of them attached a splint to the fallen soldiers leg and lifted the soldier. With Zarha and the tall soldiers help, they began to walk through the maze of obstacles, guiding the injured soldier as best they could. No one ran ahead to finish early, no one was hanging too far behind. They were staying together. That meant everything.

He walked to the end of the course and awaited their finish.

The team managed together guide the 'injured' soldier through the task and the finishing line was in view. It did take all her power to make sure that she was the last one to the finish line. She wasn't hanging to far back but more running with the slowest which would be the strongest carrying the soldier. All the other soldiers made a formation around them one they been practising over the past couple of days. Making them look like a unit as they crossed the finish line.

There was no celebration till the last one crossed the line there was a few laughters as the soldier was slowly placed down. Zahra laughed as she saw that they was truly alright as she looked at Warren and smiled softly. Some of the group patted Zahra on the shoulders, "Well down Zahra. should do this again." "we couldn't of done it without you." Zahra give a smile as she looked down at the word of encouragement not sure how to respond.

As was expected, the entire group finished the obstacle. They did not leave their 'injured' soldier behind, but helped carry them to the finish line. Once they were all across, Warren continued to stand to the side to give them some time to congratulate each other and catch their breaths. It was clear Zarha had been one of the main soldiers to push them into working on this exercise and the doubt that some had did seem to be, at least temporarily, alleviated by their victory over the course.

A few minutes was more than enough for themselves to give each other a pat on the back. After that, Warren stepped to the group, his hands moving to his hips. "I appreciate the work you have all put into the teamwork you displayed today. It is difficult to restrain oneself from a task that can be finished sooner than others, and it is equally difficult to push oneself if you know you do not quite compare to others. I hope you all understand that teamwork takes a great deal of patience and compromise to accomplish, and while it can often be frustrating, it is preferable to being a lone soldier on a battle field."

Sometimes he felt a little silly when speaking to them about battlefields because none of them really understood. They'd never been on one before. But most also didn't know that the possibility of a war soon approached Nevermere, and that was when they would all truly be put to the test. "That said," Warren began, and already he could hear the sighs of a few soldiers who knew that he was about to lecture or reprimand them about something they had done. "Moving around in large groups is rarely as easy in war as it is on a training course such as this. Can anyone tell me why all of you arriving at your destination at nearly the same time could have been dangerous?"

They were all quiet for a moment, and finally a woman near the front raised her hand. "Because it makes us an easy target, Lieutenant!"

"Yes, that is one reason. Groups of three or four soldiers will always be better than ten or twelve. When forming smaller groups, it's ideal to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each soldier. No teams of four medics, for example. If you have four medics and they're all together, and they all die in an attack, what will the rest of the larger group do? Consider that. But there's another reason. What is it?"

This time people were silent. He gave them a moment to think it over, but no one answered. "Because your destination is not always safe," he told them. "Enemies are not always going to attack you head on. They may plant traps. They may attack from afar. If your destination is known by the enemy, how many of you do you suppose would have survived today had you all reached that location at the same time?"

The information hung in the air, a much heavier silence. "Consider these things. It may seem unnecessary on obstacle courses on your home land, but if you're not forced to think about these things here, you will learn them the hard way in the field." He looked them all over. "You're dismissed."

As the soldiers began to scatter - some of them surely remaining to converse, others leaving to head back to the palace, Warren approached Zarha. "I'll go speak with Mr. Rajko now, Lieutenant," Aveline said, and he nodded as she walked by them, nodding to Zarha on the way.

"You're improving, Ms. Sliva. I'm glad to see you've taken my advice to heart."

Zahra stood there for a minute as she watched everybody congrat each other it felt different but in a way that she didn't expect to like, a small smile formed on her face. Making sure everybody was okay as she went around and then Warren spoke. Zahra stood to attention, noticing that a few rolled their eyes, that would of been her a couple of weeks ago so she laughed in her head as he spoke, paying attention.

travel in groups of four is best and have a range of skills because the place you are traveling to might be dangerous and smaller groups are harder too pinpoint. She try and make a mental note in her head as they stood there. When they was dismissed she was going to talk to one of the soldiers. Zahra nodded to Lady Aveline as she walked passed. "lady Aveline." She placed a smile on her face as she bowed her head slightly.

"thanks Lieutenant, but this was a group effort." Zahra smiled as she looked at her group seeing Rajko and Lady Aveline, there was a smile on Rajko face and he looked at Zahra for a moment and then he looked dishearted, like he having to choice. Zahra give him a weak smile. She turned her head back to Warren/ "I could still feel like some was still would rather sit on their backsides then train? Anything we can do?" Zahra asked.

"A group effort, yes, but one that was encouraged because you were attempting to learn to work with your group instead of against them. This will benefit you all in the long run. Perhaps I should have the other groups of the same age range doing the same exercises. We may need to incorporate some challenges that better reflect what you would really be facing..." he said, more so thinking out loud as his eyes once again scanned the training course obstacles they had gone through.

"Regardless," he continued. "You will always have soldiers who are less willing to participate, or think that exercises are pointless. Perhaps having more successes in group work will encourage them to try harder, but there is no guarantee. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink. Unfortunately those are the soldiers who are lost first in real battle. They sometimes learn much too late the value of extra effort, so while I think we should always try to push them, it's equally as important not to waste our time once they've made up their minds."

His eyes moved to Lady Aveline and Rajko, who were still conversing. It should have been a fairly simply inquisition, but it was taking longer than expected. "You've begun your reading and writing lessons, have you not? How are you finding them?"

"I would of asked what better suited for what we might really face, however as this was trying to get us to work as a team i thought do these first then maybe incorporate different eliments next time." Zahra explained. "I have a few ideas for other training sessions, like the Prince of Ayrnn Frey taught me like the Yoga they do and i think it might be useful." Zahra was just running her ideas. Not really knowing if Warren knew that she interacted with the prince.

Zahra looked at her group some of the people who she felt were lacking had the potential to be some of the best soldiers out there. She wanted to encourage them just as Warren was encouraging her to be her best and she was really grateful. She wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for Warren trust in her to be better and see the potential in her to be better, and do better than what she thinks she is able to do.

Her eyes landed back on Warren she always feeling this strange sense of feeling comfort around him but at the same time finding him annoying. She feels like even though he is above her in rank she can talk to him, be herself, no need to be this bitch. "I have, it not easy, like there are aspect that i could feel myself getting frustrated over and angry that I am not getting. But Lady Ivayla Marino has been so patient with me when i been frustrated and find ways to turn that anger to passion. I've been writing at home in my free time too." Zahra has a smile from ear to ear.

"This is an acceptable course to begin with," he acknowledged of what had been put together. "It's a test of strength, agility, and teamwork, which I presume was the focus. Once each soldier learns it through and through, however, the challenge has been eliminated and it is best to include other, more difficult, obstacles. Ones that make a soldier think on their feet, rather than work through plans made ahead of time. We must be capable of both."

Her mention of Akagi surprised him somewhat at first, but the more he thought about it, the less surprised he was. While he respected the Prince's willingness to treat all people - noble or commoner - with the same respect and present them all with equal opportunity, he found the man to be a bit less humble than he would have liked. His spars with Warren's soldiers that day had been impressive, surely, but unnecessarily showy and theatrical. While some of the techniques and fluid movements Akagi had displayed could be incorporated in different ways into new fighting styles, Warren didn't think the style itself attributed itself to the kind of war that Nevermeran soldiers would eventually be fighting. There would be nothing flashy or graceful about such fights.

"Ah, so you've met Prince Llewellyn," he nodded once. "I appreciate your willingness to pass on knowledge taught to you by others, and I would not be opposed to looking into this...yoga, but if such training is to be implemented, we would need to adapt it to our own style." In other words, he didn't want Zarha going around trying to teach it to people when Warren wasn't really sure if it was worth the time and effort.

Hearing about her progress in her lessons, however, drew his thoughts away from Akagi. He nodded once more. "You've only just begun. I have no doubt it's difficult to learn as an adult, but there is no need to rush. You have plenty of time to practice and learn."