Second Guard Read Online Free PDF

her fellow pledges. Several of them exchanged glances, and Tali wondered how many would make the same decision as Brindl. Now that they were standing before the
stern-looking commander and his centurios, reality had begun to sink in. The year ahead would be no game.
    “Tequende has enjoyed centuries of peace due to the strength and renown of our army,” continued Telendor. “Though none has yet dared wage war against us, we must not take ease
from this, but stand stronger instead. Outside our borders, the Far World continues its conquest of neighboring realms. We must not be one of them.”
    Telendor paused then, and Tali felt herself stand taller under his sweeping gaze, her body stiffening with resolve. She had never been prouder to be a Tequendian than this very moment.
    “Those of you who pledge to protect this realm will spend the next year training with the best of my centurios,” continued Telendor, gesturing to the four warriors behind him, who
bowed in unison. “They will train you in weaponry, horsemanship, hand combat, and endurance. I expect complete obedience to their methods. Your life and honor depend on it. First, I introduce
your instructor of weaponry, Centurio Jessa.”
    The slightest of the centurios stepped forward, and Tali was shocked to see a female face with short gray hair appear as Jessa removed her helmet. She must be older than Father, Tali thought, as
several pledges murmured their own surprise. Jessa’s fierce blue eyes blazed, as if daring them to even
think
her too old for service. In one fluid movement she unsheathed a large
dagger from her belt and flung it across the hall. The weapon somersaulted through the air in a perfect arc, landing with a
thunk
in the mouth of a growling puma, whose stuffed head had
been mounted on a beam over the double doors. The crowd of pledges gasped. Centurio Jessa nodded curtly and stepped back without a word.
    Next, Centurio Abelino spoke a few brief moments about proper horsemanship, then Centurio Saraky gave a clipped speech about hand combat. Though Tali tried to focus on their words, her eyes kept
drifting back to the puma, wondering if she would ever learn to throw a dagger that fast. The commander’s authoritative voice brought Tali’s attention back to the stage as he introduced
the last centurio.
    “Your instructor of endurance will be my own son, Centurio Jaden,” he said, turning his stern gaze upon the man who stepped up beside him. Jaden removed his helmet, and Tali could
see that he was by far the youngest person on the platform. As father and son stood shoulder to shoulder, the resemblance between them was remarkable: the square jaw, the deep-set eyes, the jagged
sweep of black hair that fell upon broad shoulders. The only clues giving away the commander’s older age were the grooves that lined his brow and a few gray streaks striping his mane. But
both men wore the face of power, the face of men who believed themselves invincible.
    Tali shivered. What must it be like to look upon an opponent so full of confidence, so sure of his own greatness? She could not imagine battling such a man. Maybe Brindl had made the right
decision. The odds were against her and the other girls, that much was clear. They would be competing against male pledges who were mostly bigger and stronger than they, like Zarif and Chey. Even
if Chey couldn’t wield a sword, he would have a year to learn, a year to surpass her. For a brief moment, she understood the temptation to concede now before she made a fool of herself.
    Jaden stepped in front of his father to address the crowd. His eyes scanned the hundreds of pledges, but his gaze finally rested upon Tali, as if reading her thoughts.
Hide your fear,
she told herself.
You are Tali, daughter of Alondro Sanchez and Cora Kalloryn. You will be a warrior, not a servant.
Her heart beat furiously in her chest, but she dared not look away from
him. Even as he spoke to all, his eyes remained locked on