instantly went crazy with their cheers that immediately spread to the entire crowd surrounding the castle on all sides. Sam raised his arm and waved. The cheers swelled to an even louder volume. He walked around the wall on the tallest spire in Castle Gardner and waved to everyone that had come to welcome him home. The cheers reverberated and those still in the city that didn’t know, discovered that the Duke was home. They knew it was too late to get there, so they rushed to the nearest monitor and watched their newest Duke greet the citizens of Ross. Dort looked at Gon and said, “I know what we’re fighting for.”
Gon smiled, “He’s like his ancestor.” Dort frowned, “He doesn’t possess self-importance. He’s all he should be.”
Dort looked out at the cheering multitudes, “And more.”
• • •
Jixie wondered why these creatures wanted to stress the bodies of their trainees so savagely. It didn’t make much sense. She could not use her talents because she had to play by their rules. However, she came to understand as her body grew in strength. She didn’t need sleep so she spent the night taking the food she ate and sending it to the areas of her body that were in the most pain. She was usually pain free by morning. She found out quick that she would cause problems if she didn’t moan with the others each day. The first day she jumped out of bed and Carella said, “How are you able to do that? I can barely move.”
Jixie saw everyone staring at her and she quickly fell to her knees and gave a small squeal, “Uh, I won’t try that again.”
Carella laughed and said, “Serves you right for moving that fast.”
Another trainee said, “I’m surprised you could.”
Jixie looked to see who said that and saw the woman that she had followed into the library. She had not noticed her earlier. Her group of trainees were brought in after Jixie’s unit had finished orientation. Jixie’s group had gone first and she was not in the same place as the woman during the first day. Jixie walked slowly up the barracks and said, “Do I know you?”
Jennifer looked at Jixie and shook her head, “I don’t think so. I don’t even know my own name after what they put us through yesterday.”
“You just looked familiar; my name is Jixie.”
“Hi, I’m Jennifer.”
Jixie felt relief. Humans were not able to sense the essence of others. “I’ll see you.”
“Bye, be careful.”
“Oh I will.”
Jixie looked at all the females in her memory that were called knock outs and Jennifer certainly qualified. She needed to stay near her, so males would give Jennifer all their attention.
Jennifer watched the blonde walk away and thought, “Boy, I’ll have to stay away from her or no one will be interested in me.”
Jixie heard the thought and paused. “That woman doesn’t know how beautiful she is. I wonder why?” She decided she needed to find out. There was something to be learned and she wanted to know. She ran out with the other trainees and assembled in formation. Jixie chose a place directly beside Jennifer. The Trainer told them that whatever position they were currently in would be their place in the formation for the rest of training. Jixie smiled. She was in the front rank. She should be able to observe the others without any problems.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING LOOKING AROUND! DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY.”
Jixie dropped and stared her pushups. Perhaps she wasn’t going to be as free to look around as she thought. Jennifer kept her eyes to the front and thought, “She talks too much; that’s going to get her in trouble. I need to tell her.”
Jixie thought, “You already have.”
• • •
The final day of training eventually arrived and the women faced their own obstacle course. Jixie sat beside Jennifer at the starting line staring at the beast ahead and heard her say, “I’m going to fail this.”
“Why do you say that?’
“I’m not able to clear the bog; I always hit it and